20030, 20031. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, October 14th, 1871, Indians At Kirkland Valley. The settlement invaded by Apache-Mohaves... (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory October 14th, 1871 INDIANS AT KIRKLAND VALLEY. The Settlement Invaded by Apache-Mohaves---The Invaders Repulsed---The Women and Children Flee for Safety---Colyer on the Scene, and Intrigues for the Slaughter of the Settlers. There are, in this vicinity, several hundred Indians who style themselves Apache—Mohaves, and several more who call themselves Apache—Yurnas. Both are made up of renegades from the Mohave, Chimahuava, Yuma and Apache tribes. When the whites first came here these fellows called themselves Yavapais, and professed friendship for all white men. It was not long, however, until they commenced stealing from the whites, and their next step was to murder the white people, which business they followed, unceasingly, for about five years———when all of a sudden they claimed to have struck a new vein of friendship, and were taken back into the white man’s confidence, and fed and clothed by them. Lately, however, they threw off the guise of peace, or, at least, many of them did, and started in to play their old games, of robbing houses, killing a few white men and threaten— ing to kill the settlers in Skull and Kirkland valleys. Well, all this has had its effects upon the whites, and the matter was brought to a climax, a short time ago, by a citizen of Peeples valley killing an Indian, supposed to be the murderer of Abraham Henning. The Indian killed was pointed out by a good Indian as a very bad man, and this, together with his well— known bad character and conviction that A. Henning had been murdered by him, caused the citizen, in a misunderstanding with the red scoundrel, in the course of which the latter tried to kill him, to shoot the lawless, red assassin, and then to secure a revolver and a gun-——doubtless taken from some white victim—--which he carried upon his person. On learning this, the dead Indian’s friends went after the settlers of Kirkland valley, for revenge, and, on Saturday last, after a well armed party of them had fired upon two citizens and chased them to Tom Roddick’s house, Roddick and others opened fire upon them, and caused them to leave in hot haste. Then, fearing an attack by the big band of savages, in the vicinity, the women and children were sent off in the stage that carried Vincent Colyer out of the country, and the men repaired to a house at the lower end of the valley and prepared for the worst. Upon arriving at Camp Date Creek the fugitive women informed the commander of that post of what had taken place, and of what might take place unless succor were speedily sent to their husbands and friends. But, no aid was sent them, as Vincent Colyer told a different tale, and, we believe, forbade the commander to send troops to relieve the settlers. But, T. Roddick came up here, told his story to General Crook, and, we believe that officer promised to order some cavalry from INDIANS AT KIRKLAND VALLEY- Continued. Date Creek to protect the farmers until they could gather and store their crops---of which crops, by the way, the Indians had been making sad havoc, for some time past. Now, some of our citizens felt disposed to blame the white man who shot the Indian, until it leaked out that the Indian was the same person who had murdered Henning, and that “Tom,” the peaceable Indian already alluded to, was ready and willing to prove the same. Upon learning this 60 citizens declared themselves in readiness to follow Mr. Roddick to the Indian village and kill the last brave they might find there. But, after having reflected that an act such as this would give Colyer & Co. another chance to shout “massacre,” they very wisely decided to let General Crook settle the matter. And thus, the “Irrepressible Conflict,” forces itself upon us, and will continue to trouble us until after the Indians are taught that the United States are not Mexico.