10044, 10045. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, August 22nd, 1866. Extinguishing Indian Titles.

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory August 22nd, 1866 Extinguishing Indian Titles. If we placed any faith in the theory that the United States government is bound to extinguish the Indian titles before the whites have any rights here, we should rejoice at the number of claimants to such titles extinguished in Skull Valley on the 13th instant, by Lieut. Hutton, Mr . Freeman and their men. We do rejoice whether the savages then slaughtered had or had not titles to our lands that they were so summarily and severely dealt with. Whatever titles they had are of little avail to them now, and the country is well rid of a lot of red—handed rascals always treacherous, idle, vicious and worthless . It seems that a number of La Paz Indians had formed a combination with the Tonto Apaches and meant to lay claim to the country about Skull Valley. The band, probably numbering a hundred in all, on the 11th instant had the audacity to stop Mr. Freeman' s train of seven wagons, and demand toll for passing over the road, the toll to consist of the wagons, their contents and the mules. They very kindly offered to let the teamsters go without molestation if this arrangement was made. In view of the number of the savages and the boldness of their manner, Mr. Freeman concluded to return to Lieut. Hutton's camp at Skull Valley, some eight miles back, and secure an escort. With this the train started again on the 12th instant, and on that day Lieutenant Hutton, who had returned to the valley, joined it. The Indians had a parley, and the Lieutenant being in a quandary as to what course to pursue, sent a messenger to Fort Whipple for the advice of the commanding officer. This, we presume from what followed, was to the end that if the red—skins attempted any interference they should be soundly whipped. On the morning of the 13th Mr. Freeman, who with his train was yet in the valley, desired to make headway, and was furnished with an escort of four men, Lieut. Hutton with other men being close at hand. At the distance of a mile and a half from the valley the Indians surrounded the train, and made such unmistakable signs of hostility that the Lieut. and his men closed in and prepared for fight. Although the savages had left their bows and arrows away from the train they all had knives , and an attempt to thrust one of these at Mr. Freeman began the contest. How well the Lieutenant and his men behaved is shown in the official report printed in another column. We also hear the best reports of the cool bravery of Mr. Freeman, Mr. Binkley, and all the citizens and teamsters engaged. The fight was close to hand and desperate. Twenty—nine men struggled most successfully with four times that number of Indians, and the battle, for such it deserves to be called, besides resulting in the death of thirty—three savages, and the wounding of as many more, will be likely to intimidate both friendly and unfriendly Apaches from any further combinations to stop trains in this part of Arizona at least. Extinguishing Indian Titles— Continued. Lieutenant Hutton' s report proves conclusively that the leading Indians in the conflict were from La Paz, or what are known as river Indians. They said that Mr. Leihy, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, wanted buckskins, and said they could get them wherever they pleased, but their stoppage of the train was as we have stated, to gather toll. Now we have no desire to mix Mr. Lei hy up in this discreditable matter, but he certainly owes it to the owners of the train, the military authorities, and to our people generally, to explain how it is that these Indians, who are under his immediate care, and mainly supported by the government, have been permitted to cross the line fixed by himself, and to combine with the wild Apaches. It has long been the opinion of our people that the depredations committed west of the Verde were chargeable to the so—called friendly Indians. The Hualapais were detected and promptly punished; the La Paz rascals have now been justly whipped , but this is not enough. Lieut. Hutton asks an investigation as to who allowed these friends to enter upon a robbing expedition with the Tontos, and who encouraged them to think the land, the grass and the water theirs . Such an investigation should at once be had, and henceforth it should be understood by Mr. Leihy, and the people of the Colorado that no dependence whatever can be placed upon the Indians whom they have thought so trusty, and that they are as much against us as any of the Apaches, and will be shot on sight.