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August 18, 2018
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.
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