Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1882 — The Arizona Indian War. [ARTICLE]

The Arizona Indian War.

Saw Francisco, April 26. A Lordsburg (N. M.) dispatch says a fight occurred on Saturday at Horse Shoe canor, between Indians and Indian scouts and troops. The latter were victorious. Four Indian scouts were killed and three soldiers; eleven soldiers were wounded. A small band of hostiles was seen going south over the Sansimon flats. A band of twenty or thirty crossed the Southern Pacific near here early this morning, going noi th toward the Burro mine. McDonald, a well-known contractor of this section, arrived from the Gila river this morning. He assisted in burying tho bodies of twenty men yesterday, and reports that several persons are missing. Among the killed are J. P. Risque, a rising voting attorney of Silver City-; Capt. John L mining superintendent ; Mr. Trescott, Alex. Knox, S. D. Pinkardand Pinkard’s herdsman; (uame unknown). The Indians number , .qvelr 300 bucks, squaws and children, as shown "by actual count while passing York’s ranebei The Indians are completely surrounded and oorraled in Doubtly canon. All the male citizens of Lietendorf, Shakspeare and Lordsburg are under arms.

The present Indian outbreak in Arizona is the most disastrous which has ever oocurred in that Territory. Over sixty people have been killed by them so far. Loco, a noted chief and son of the once-dreaded Cochise, are with the band, which is composed of Chiricahuas and the remnant of Victoria’s band of Warm Spring Indians, and numbers about 200 buoks aud 300 squaws and children. They declare their intention of slaying every paleface that crosses their path, in retaliation for the three Indians recently executed at Fort Grant. According to a telegram (April 26) from Shakespeare, New Mexico, the town of Gualleysville in Arizona, just over the New Mexican line was burned and completely destroyed by the savages. Thirty-five white people were killed. Hie Indians were scattering into small bands and making for the Cbiricahu* mountains In Mexico. Forsythe, with his entire command, was in pursuit. The pursuing force numbered fifteen companies of cavalry, but the chances of overhauling the murderous wretches was regard?d as very email, unless the Mexican Government acted promptly in driving them back. Ayers, a small mining camp iu Arizona, was surrounded by 150 hostile Indians, and three whites had been killed and one wounded. Stanislaus Mestas, aged 9 years, who escaped the massacre at Stevens’ sheep-camp, tells the followtug story of that ghastly affair : “ Before daylight the Indians attacked the camp while we were all asleep. My father and five other men attempted to get their guns, but too late. Tue Indians rashed in from all sides and overpowered them before a shot could be fired. The work of slaughter then began. An Indian put the muzzle of his gun against the head of one man and fired, blowing his brains against the floor and wall. I saw them kill my mother and two little brothers by beating their brains out with stones. They killed five. Tbey tied my father and tortured him most dreadfully. He begged uhem to spare him, but they only tormented him the* more. When they tired of torturing him, one of them split his skull with an ax. An Indian squaw, wife of one of the four friendly Apache sheep-herders, whe worked with us, saved my life by holding me behind her and begging them to spare me. When all the Mexicans were dead except me, the Indians left.”

Intelligence from Arizona, conveyed through a Tucson telegram of April 27, is to the effect that CoL Forsyth’s command encountered a band of the hostiles near old Camp Rucker and killed six of them. Four of the men were wounded and oue killed in the skirmish, after which the Indians scattered. The Mexican Gen. Fuero was marching north from Janos to attack the Indians going into the Cbiracahua mouutains. A fight occurred between Mexican soldii rs and Indians near the frontier in which nine of the latter were slaughtered. The American mining camp at Bachnachi, in Sonora, was raided, and all valuables carried away. At a large meeting in Tucson, resolutions were adopted to inform the President and Congress that nearly 100 pioneers had been murdered by Apaches within a few days. Gov. Bheldon ordered the militia of New Mexico under arms, and Gen. McKenzie, has gone to El Paso to arrange for the co-operation of the Government of Chihuahua. A fight occurred at Stein’s Peak between Indians and Capt. Tapper, of the Sixth Cavalry, and his Indian scouts. Fonr of the latter are reported killed, and two private soldiers. It is claimed six of the hostiles were killed. The Indiansfwere routed and took to tho mountains. The troops were unable to follow.