Indian Troubles Begin
Skill and Craftiness of the Apaches - Inez Gonzales - Her Capture and Rescue - Position Taken by Indians With Reference to Captives - Interviews by Commissioner Bartlett With Mangus Colorado, Delgadito and Ponce.
From the very commencement of the American occupation of Arizona, the
Indian began to give trouble. The United States had pledged itself, as has
been seen, by the 11th Article of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, to
protect the Mexican border as far as possible from Indian encroachments,
and, also, whenever Mexican citizens were made captives by the Indians, the
United States was to restore them to their homes. This was rather a mammoth
undertaking, for at that time, exclusive of the Navajo nation, which was
frequently at war with the whites, and which was a part of the Apache nation
who supported themselves principally through stock raising, there were at
least five or six thousand warriors of the different Apache tribes;
different entirely from the Indians of the plains in their mode of warfare
and tribal government.
These Indians never fought in the open, nor went into battle unless the odds
were all in their favor. They understood the country well and from the rocky
peaks, noted every wagon train and every party of whites that entered their
territory. Through smoke signals, they could telegraph from point to point
for many miles, and could call together at any time a formidable band of
warriors to concentrate at any given point. They could so disguise
themselves in the grass as to become entirely invisible to the naked eye.
The apparently casual turning over of a stone close to the highway had its
significance; the breaking of a few branches in the forest, which seemed an
accidental occurrence, had its meaning. "They were," says Cremony, "neither
more nor less than lithographic notices by which one party could know the
force of another - the direction taken - the extent and nature of the danger
which threatened, and impart the summons for a gathering."
An Apache never attacked unless fully convinced of an easy victory. They
would watch for days, scanning every move, observing every act, and taking
note of the party under espionage and of all their belongings. Their
assaults were never made on the spur of the moment by bands accidentally
encountered; they were invariably the result of long watching - patient
waiting, careful and rigorous observation and anxious counsel.
For the most part they were truthful and inclined to observe their treaty
stipulations. Their women were chaste, and polygamy, to some extent, was
practiced among them. Horses were the evidence of wealth among them, and
they were the most adept thieves known in any land, always on the alert to
drive off horses, cattle and four footed beasts of any kind.
Commissioner Bartlett, in his "Personal Narrative," gives accounts of
interviews with the Indians, which I quote elsewhere.
It was the habit of the Indians to capture Mexicans and execute the males of
age to bear arms with the most savage torture; adopting the children into
the tribe, and selling the women to a class of human brutes who shipped them
to Santa Fe, where they were sold for immoral purposes.
The case of Inez Gonzales, an instance of this sort, is described by
Bartlett as follows:
"On the 27th June an incident occurred, which will long be remembered by
everyone connected with the Boundary Commission. It was such as to awaken
the finest sympathies of our nature; and by its happy result afforded a full
recompense for the trials and hardships attending our sojourn in this
inhospitable wilderness.
''On the evening of the day alluded to, a party of New Mexicans came in for
the purpose of procuring provisions, etc., having with them a young female
and a number of horses and mules. By what dropped from them, in the course
of conversation, it was ascertained that the female and animals had been
obtained from the Indians, and that they were taking the girl to some part
of New Mexico, to sell or make such disposition of her as would realize the
most money. As all traffic of this kind, whether in mules or captives, was
strictly forbidden by the treaty with Mexico, I deemed it my duty, as the
nearest and highest representative of the government of the United States in
this region, to interfere in the matter. My authority for so doing, is
contained in the second and third sections of the eleventh article of the
treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo referred to, where it is declared that:
"It shall not be lawful, under any pretext whatever, for any inhabitant of
the United States to purchase or acquire any Mexican, or any foreigner
residing in Mexico, who may have been captured by Indians inhabiting the
territory of either of the two republics, nor to purchase or acquire horses,
mules, cattle, or property of any kind, stolen within Mexican territory by
such Indians.
"And in the event of any person, or persons, captured within Mexican
territory by Indians, being carried into the territory of the United States,
the government of the latter engages and binds itself, in the most solemn
manner, so soon as it shall know of such captives being within its territory
and shall be able to do so through the faithful exercise of its influence
and power, to rescue them and return them to their country, or deliver them'
to the agent or representative of the Mexican Government. The Mexican
authorities will, .as far as practicable, give to the Government of the
United States notice of such captures; and its agent shall pay the expenses
incurred in the maintenance and transmission of the rescued captives, who,
in' the meantime, shall be treated with the utmost hospitality by the
American authorities at the place where they may be. But if the government
of the United States, before receiving such notice from' Mexico, should
obtain intelligence through any other channel of the existence of Mexican
captives within its territory, it will proceed forthwith to effect their
release and delivery to the Mexican agents, as above stipulated."
''With this authority before me, I addressed a note to Lieut. Colonel Craig,
commander of the escort, requesting him to demand the surrender of the
female, and to prohibit the men, who intended departing at early dawn, from
leaving their encampment until further orders. This request, which was made
late in the evening, was promptly complied with under the immediate
directions of Lieutenant D. C. Green.
"The ensuing day the three principal traders of the party were brought up to
the fort, and separately examined, in reference to the manner in which they
had obtained, and the right they had to the possession of the captive girl
and the animals. These three persons were Peter Blacklaws, a trader in Santa
Fe, Pedro Archeveque, a laborer of Algodones, and Jose Faustin Valdez, a
laborer of Santa Fe.
"Their evidence was somewhat conflicting - more particularly with respect to
the female. It appeared that there was a party of about fifty men who had
been trading with the Indians north of the Gila; a portion of them still
remained there, whilst another portion (about twenty) were here, on their
way back to Santa Fe. The whole had been trading under one and the same
license, although it was acknowledged that the name of none of them, save
Peter Blacklaws, was inserted in it; he, however, declared that he was
authorized - which is hardly probable - to add to his party as many as he
chose. This license was called for, but not produced, it being, as was
stated, in the possession of the other portion of the party. They seemed to
consider themselves fully authorized, by virtue of the license, to purchase
any species of the property held by Indians, and this without any regard to
the manner in which the latter obtained it.
They seemed surprised that I should question their rights on the strength of
a treaty, the stipulations of which they knew nothing about.
''As respects the captive girl, who it was acknowledged was bought of the
Pinal Indians, even placing their conduct in the most favorable light, it
was quite apparent that she was purchased, like any other article of
merchandise, as a matter of speculation. According to part of the testimony,
the expedition was fitted out for the express purpose of buying her; while
others declared that the purchase was an incidental matter. It appeared that
her apprehensions at being taken by these men still further from her home,
instead of being restored to her natural protectors, had been quieted by
assurances that her purchaser was acquainted with relatives of hers at Santa
Fe; although his testimony showed, as might have been anticipated: that he
had no such acquaintances at all.
"The girl herself was quite young, artless and interesting in appearance,
prepossessing in manners, and by her deportment gave evidence that she had
been carefully brought up. The purchaser belonged to a people with whom the
system of peonage prevails, and among them, as a general thing, females are
not estimated as with us, especially in a moral point of view. The fate that
threatened her under these circumstances, being too apparent, I felt under
no necessity of regarding the protestations of Blacklaws, as to the honesty
of his intentions, inasmuch as the treaty prohibits purchases of this kind
under any pretext whatever.' I therefore deemed it to be my duty - and a
pleasant one it certainly was, to extend over her the protection of the laws
of the United States, and to see that, until delivered in safety to her
parents, she should be 'treated with the utmost hospitality' that our
position would allow.
"The substance of the following brief statement was furnished by this young
captive:
"Her name is Inez Gonzales, daughter of Jesus Gonzales, of Santa Cruz, a
small frontier town near the River San Pedro, in the State of Sonora. She
was then in the fifteenth year of her age. In the September preceding, she
had left her home, in company with her uncle, her aunt, another female, and
a boy, on a visit to the fair of San Francisco, in the town of Magdalena,
about 75 miles distance. They were escorted by a guard of ten soldiers,
under the command of an ensign named Limon. When one day's journey out,
viz., on the 30th of September, 1850, they were attacked by a band of Pinal
Indians, who lay in ambush in a narrow wooded canyon or pass. Her uncle was
killed, and all the guard, save three persons, who made their escape. She,
with her two female companions, and the boy, Francisco Paschecho, were
carried away into captivity. She has been with the Indians ever since. The
other captives she understands were purchased and taken to the north by a
party of New Mexicans who made the Indians a visit last winter. No improper
freedom was taken with her person, but she was robbed of her clothing, save
a skirt and under linen, and was made to work very hard. She spent the whole
period of her captivity at two of the regular rallying spots or planting
grounds of the Finals.
"This tribe, known as the Pinal, or Pinalenos, embraces about five hundred
souls, and ranges over an extensive circuit between the Sierra Pinal and the
Sierra Blanca, both of which mountains are near the Upper San Francisco
River, about five days' journey north of the Gila. Within this space the
young girl knew of at least twelve female captives, besides numerous males.
Generally, the Indians are very willing to sell, that being their object in
making the captives. The men spend their time in hunting and depredating,
and the women are required to do all the work in their wigwams, and
generally in the field. All females in this respect being treated alike,
their own faring no better than captives. Their food consists almost
exclusively of the root of the maguay, baked as I have before described.
"I never saw any of the Pinal Indians, though a band was met by one of the
surveying parties on the Gila. They were described to me as a fine looking
people. At first, they were shy; but when they discovered that our party
were Americans, and were well disposed towards them, they became quite
friendly. On inquiring of the Apache chiefs concerning them, I learned that
they belong to the same great tribe, but seldom have any intercourse with
the Apaches proper, being separated from them by broad forests and lofty
mountains.
"General Garcia Conde, the Mexican Commissioner, being encamped about
twenty-six miles off, I dispatched a messenger to him, requesting his
presence, to advise and cooperate with me in this matter. He accordingly
visited me, and upon inquiring, found that he was acquainted with the
released captive's father, a respectable citizen of Santa Cruz. He approved
warmly of my course, evincing, as it would, to his government, a
determination on the part of the United States to solemnly and faithfully
fulfill its treaty stipulations. He also particularly solicited that the
young woman should be kept under my protection until such time as she could
be restored in safety to her home.
"The fair captive was, of course, taken care of by the Commission. She was
well clad with such materials as the sutler of the escort and the commissary
of the Commission could furnish, and besides the more substantial articles
of clothing provided for her, she received many presents from the gentlemen
of the Commission, all of whom manifested a deep interest in her welfare,
and seemed desirous of making her comfortable and happy. But with all the
attention extended to her, her situation was far from enviable in a camp of
over a hundred men, without a single female with whom she could hold any
intercourse. She found employment enough in making her own garments, being
quite expert at her needle, and occasionally spent an hour in reading the
few Spanish books in our possession."
On the 23rd of September, the Commission having approached Inez Gonzales' home, she was, after having been with the Commission nearly three months, restored to her parents. Commissioner Bartlett describes this restoration in the following language:
"Before setting out this morning, two men started in advance to advise the
mother of Inez of our approach, and when within two miles of the town, we
saw a small party approaching, partly on mules and partly on foot, among
whom were the fair captive's mother, brothers, and uncle. As we drew nearer,
Mr. Cremony helped Inez from the saddle, when in perfect ecstasy; she rushed
to her mother's arms. Words cannot express the joy manifested on this happy
occasion. Their screams were painful to hear. The mother could scarcely
believe what she saw, and after every embrace and gush of tears, she
withdrew her arms to gaze on the face of her child. I have witnessed many
scenes on the stage, of the meeting of friends after a long separation, and
have read highly wrought narratives of similar interviews, but none of them
approached in pathos the spontaneous burst of feeling exhibited by the
mother and daughter on this occasion. Thanks to the Almighty rose above all
other sounds, While they remained clasped in each other's arms, for the
deliverance from captivity, and the restoration of the beloved daughter to
her home and friends. Although a joyful scene, it was a painfully affecting
one to the spectators, not one of whom could restrain his tears. After
several minutes of silence, the fond parent embraced me, and the other
gentlemen of the party, in succession, as we were pointed out by her
daughter; a ceremony which was followed by her uncle, and the others, who
had by this time joined us. We then remounted our animals and proceeded
towards the town in silence, and it was long before either party could
compose themselves sufficiently to speak.
"As we journeyed on, we met other villagers coming out to meet us, and among
them two little boys from eight to twelve years of age. They were the
brothers of Inez; and when they saw their sister, they sprung upon the
saddle with her clasping their little arms around her, and like their
mother, bursting into tears. Releasing their embrace, Inez pointed to us,
when the little fellows ran up to our horses, and eagerly grasped our hands,
trotting along by our sides, while the tears rolled down their cheeks. A
little further, we were met by another lad about twelve years of age. He,
too, embraced the returning captive, and like the others, burst into tears.
But those tears were excited by feelings very different from those awakened
in the other boys, the brothers of Inez. They were tears of despair - of
long cherished hope checked in the bud - of disappointment - of pain - of
misery. This poor boy was the child of the woman who was made a captive by
the Apaches, at the same time with Inez. She and Inez had left their homes
together, one year ago this very day, for the fair of Magdalena, where their
party was when attacked by the Apaches, and all but three killed or taken
prisoners. Of the three who were made captives, no news had ever been heard;
and the poor girl now returning, was the first intelligence that either was
in existence. The little orphan wrung his hands with despair as he raised
his eyes first to the companion of his mother, and then to us, thinking
perhaps that we might have regained his parent, as well as her. I was much
affected when Inez told me who this lad was, and resolved that I would make
an effort for her restoration too, as soon as I could communicate the
particulars to the government, as she is the person who was bought by the
New Mexican traders, and taken to Santa Fe, a short time before the purchase
of Inez.
''As we drew near the town, numbers of the inhabitants came out to meet us,
and welcome back the restored captive. When about half a mile distant, Inez
wished to dismount and walk thence to the church, that she might first offer
up her prayers for her deliverance from captivity, before going to her home.
Accordingly we all dismounted and accompanied her to the door of the
'Church; and there she was met by many more of her friends, when they all
passed forward and knelt down before the altar. We left them engaged in
prayer, and waited outside the church until their devotions were concluded.
They then passed out, and escorted Inez, her parents, brothers and sister,
to their home."
In a note Commissioner Bartlett says that he has spoken of the father of
Inez Gonzales; that he was in fact her stepfather, and named Jesus Ortiz;
that he seemed ardently attached to her, and told Commissioner Bartlett that
he loved her as his own'.
Commissioner Bartlett also gives an account of the difficulties attending
his first attempt to restore to their homes two Mexican youths, who had been
captured by the Indians, and sought his protection. The interviews
following, between himself and the leading Apache chiefs, show the position
which the Indians assumed, and which they defended with a great deal of
native ability. This incident occurred at the Copper Mines where the
Commissioner was encamped, and of it, Bartlett says:
"Two Mexican boys suddenly rushed into the tent of Mr. Cremony, which was
pitched in the outskirts of the place, and sought his protection from their
Indian captors. He at once brought them to my quarters, and on being
questioned, they stated that they had been stolen from their homes by the
Apaches. One, named Saverro Aredia, and about thirteen years old, had been
taken from the town of Bacucachi, in the State of Sonora, six months before;
the other, Jose Trinfan, ten or twelve years of age, belonged to Fronteras,
in the same State, and had been held a prisoner six years. Believing, from
what they had heard the Indians say, who had visited the Copper Mines, that
they would find protection with us, they sought our camp. They were both
intelligent looking boys; their hair was cropped short, and they were
entirely naked.
"When these youths were brought to us, Mangus Colorado and Delgadito, two
prominent chiefs of the Apaches, and a number of their tribe, were present;
they already knew of the escape of the prisoners, and at once proposed that
I should purchase them. I declined, telling them that the Americans did not
buy captives; and, furthermore, that having sought my protection, I should
not deliver them up. In vain I endeavored to make the chiefs comprehend our
treaty with Mexico, and the principles of justice and humanity on which it
was based. They did not, or would not, understand and left our camp
evidently much offended. I requested Mangus Colorado to come to me on the
following day when I would endeavor to satisfy him. The day arrived, but
Mangus did not appear; and I began to be fearful that the friendly feeling
between the Commission and the Indians would be terminated by this event. I
received intimations that the boys were not safe, and that an attempt would
probably be made to recapture them the first opportunity. Determined not to
be thwarted in this way, I sent them off at night, well clothed, in charge
of four resolute men, with directions to take them to the camp of General
Conde, and deliver them into his hands.
"After the lapse of several days, the chiefs with their people, including the owner of one of the boys, again made their appearance. The matter was again talked over, but nothing was decided, and they returned to their camp. After several fruitless conferences of this sort, the affair was at length so arranged that the captives should be retained by us, and our friendly relations not be impaired. As this last discussion was one of much interest, it was taken down by one of the gentlemen present. I give it, therefore, at length, as the arguments used by my opponents display to good advantage their natural shrewdness of character. It was commenced by Mangus Colorado, who thus addressed me:
"Mangus Colorado: - Why did you take our captives from us?
"Commissioner: - Your captives came to us and demanded our protection.
"Mangus Colorado: - You came to our country. You were well received by us.
Your lives, your property, your animals, were safe. You passed by ones, by
twos, and by threes, through our country; you went and came in peace. Your
strayed animals were always brought home to you again. Our wives, our
children, and women, came here and visited your houses. We were friends! We
were brothers! Believing this, we came amongst you and brought our captives,
relying on it that we were brothers, and that 3ou would feel as we feel. We
concealed nothing. We came not here secretly in the night. We came in open
day, and before your faces, and we showed our captives to you. We believed
your assurances of friendship, and we trusted them. Why did you take our
captives from us?
"Commissioner: - What we have said to you is true and reliable. We do not
tell lies. The greatness and dignity of our nation forbids our doing so mean
a thing. What our great brother has said is true, and good also. I will now
tell him why we took his captives from him. Four years ago, we, too, were at
war with Mexico. We know that the Apaches make a distinction between
Chihuahua and Sonora. They are at peace with Chihuahua, but always fighting
against Sonora. We in our war did not make that distinction. The Mexicans,
whether living in one or the other state, are all one nation, and we fought
them as a nation. Well, when the war was over, in which we conquered, we
made peace with them. They are now our friends, and by the terms of the
peace, we are bound to protect them. We told you this when we came to this
place, and we requested you to cease your hostilities against Mexico. Well,
time passed, and we grew very friendly; everything went well. You came in
here with your captives. Who were these captives? Mexicans - the very people
we told you we were bound to protect. We took them from you, and sent them
to General Conde, who will set them at liberty in their own country. We mean
to show you that we cannot lie. We promised protection to the Mexicans, and
we gave it to them. We promised friendship and protection to you, and we
will give it to you. If we had not done so to Mexico, you could not have
believed us with regard to yourselves. We cannot lie.
"Ponce: - Yes, but you took our captives from us without beforehand
cautioning us. We were ignorant of this promise to restore captives. They
were made prisoners in lawful warfare. They belong to us. They are our
property. Our people have also been made captives by the Mexicans. If we had
known' of this thing, we should not have come here. We should not have
placed that confidence in you.
"Commissioner: - Our brother speaks angrily, and without due reflection.
Boys and women lose their temper, but men reflect and argue, and he who has
reason and justice on his side, wins. I have no doubt but that you have
suffered much by the Mexicans. This is a question in which it is impossible
for us to tell who is right, or who is wrong. You and the Mexicans accuse
each other of being the aggressors. Our duty is to fulfill our promise to
both. This opportunity enables us to show to Mexico that we mean what we
say, and when the tune comes, we mil be ready and prompt to prove the good
faith of our promises to you.
"Ponce: - I am neither a boy nor a squaw. I am a man and a brave. I speak
with reflection. I know what I say. I speak of the wrongs we have suffered
and those you do us now. (Very much excited). You must not speak any more.
Let someone else speak (addressing himself to Mr. Cremony, the interpreter).
"Commissioner: - I want you to understand that I am the very one to speak;
the only one here who can speak (peremptorily). Now do You sit down. I will
hold no more talk with you, but will select a man (beckoning to Delgadito).
Do you come here and speak for your nation.
"Dalgadito: - Let my brother declare the mind of his people.
'Commissioner: - I wish to explain to our Apache brethren the reasons that
have actuated us in this thing. We know that you have not done this thing
secretly or in the dark. You came as braves in open day, and brought your
captives amongst us. We are obliged to obey the orders of our great chief in
Washington as much as you warriors are obliged to obey your commanders. The
great chief of our nation says: 'You must take all Mexican captives that you
meet among the Apaches, and set them at liberty.' Now this you must know we
cannot disobey. For this reason we have taken your captives from you.
"Dalgadito: - We do not doubt the word of our brave white brethren. The
Americans are braves, we know it; and we believe a brave scorns to lie. But
the owner of these captives is a poor man; he cannot lose his captives, who
were obtained at the risk of his life, and purchased by the blood of his
relatives. He justly demands his captives. We are his friends, and we wish
to see this demand complied with. It is just, and as justice we demand it.
"Commissioner: - I will now tell my Apache brethren what can be done for
them. The captives cannot be restored. The Commissioner cannot buy them,
neither can any American buy them; but there is here in our employ a Mexican
who is anxious to buy them, and restore them to their homes. We have no
objection that this Mexican should do so; and if he is not rich enough, we
will lend him the means.
"Dalgadito: - The owner does not wish to sell; he wants his captives.
"Commissioner: - I have already told my brother that this cannot be. I speak
not with two tongues. Make up your minds.
"Dalgadito: - The owner wants twenty horses for them.
"Commissioner: - The Apache laughs at his white brother! He thinks him a
squaw, and that he can play with him as with an arrow! Let the Apache say
again.
"Dalgadito: - The brave who owns these captives does not wish to sell. He
has had one of those (two) boys six years. He grew up under him. His
heartstrings are bound around him. He is as a son to his old age. He speaks
our language, and he cannot sell him. Money cannot buy affection. His heart
cannot be sold. He taught him to string and shoot the bow and to wield the
lance. He loves the boy, and cannot sell him.
"Commissioner:- We are sorry that this thing should be. We feel for our
Apache brother, and would like to lighten his heart. But it is not our
fault. Our brother has fixed his affections on the child of his enemy. It is
very noble. But our duty is stern. We cannot avoid it. It wounds our hearts
to hurt our friends; but if it were our own children, and the duty and the
law said, 'Part with them, ' part with them we should. Let our Apache
brother reflect, and name his price.
"Dalgadito: - What will you give?
"Commissioner: - If my brother will come with me, I will show him.
"Here the council dissolved and repaired to the commissary's stores,
attended by the Mexican purchaser, where goods to the amount of two hundred
and fifty dollars were laid out, which they accepted, and thus the business
was concluded."
In the meantime the boys had been sent by the Mexican Commissioner to Janos,
the nearest military post in Mexico, from whence they were taken to their
families.
Notes About Book:
Source: History Of Arizona Volume 1, By Thomas Edwin Farish, 1915, Printed
and Published by Direction of the Second Legislature of the State of
Arizona, A. D.
Notes about Online Publication: This manuscript has been ocr'd and heavily
edited. Many of the Native American words have been reproduced as clearly as
online publication will allow us, but not all are exactly the way they were
in the original work. The structure of this manuscript has been changed to
allow better online presentation.
