No. 495.
Señor Mariscal to Mr. Fish.
[Translation.]
Legation of
Mexico,
Washington,
May 5, 1874. (Received May 6.)
Mr. Secretary: As long ago as last summer I
received papers and urgent appeals to represent to the Government of the
United States that great crimes were being committed in Sonora, in the
Mexican Republic, by the tribe of Indians whose chief is one Cochise, and
whose residence is in Arizona, on a reservation which borders on Mexico.
Inferring, however, that the authorities at Washington had official
knowledge of the facts, I refrained from taking this step, and confined
myself to consulting my government, which, in its turn, did nothing,
expecting that the Government of the United States would apply a remedy to
so lamentable a state of things, which had been brought about by the conduct
of its own agents. Nevertheless, no change in the situation has been
observed as yet, nor does it appear that any effort has been made to improve
it.
In view of these facts, my government has finally authorized me to call
attention to the matter, hoping that, when all the facts which characterize
it shall have been examined, effective measures will be adopted to prevent
the State of Sonora from continuing to be the scene of the depredations of
Indians who live under the tutelage of the United States.
Besides the information which is doubtless in possession of the Interior
Department in relation to this matter, and probably in that of the War
Department, I have seen in the documents on foreign relations, published
with the last message of the President, that the Honorable Mr. Foster, in
two successive notes, dated respectively August 15 and 27, 1873, informed
you of the excitement occasioned in the Mexican press by the depredations to
which I refer. For this reason I shall not dwell upon these crimes, or the
causes which gave
[Page 773]
rise to them. It
will be sufficient for me to remind you that there has been correspondence
in relation to them between Mr. Pesqueira, governor of the State of Sonora,
and Hon. A. P. R. Safford, governor of Arizona Territory, and between the
said Mr. Pesqueira and Brevet Brigadier-General George Crook. It seems to me
unnecessary to inclose copies of all those letters, as the Government of the
United States is undoubtedly aware of the nature of their contents. A
portion of them has been published and commented upon by newspapers in this
country, and I take the liberty of inclosing two articles from the Daily
Alta California, regretting that the language therein used is not as
respectful as it should be toward the Government of the nation. My only
object in sending you these articles is to call your attention to the
statements which they make as to the occurrences in Sonora, which statements
are entirely true. The letters, moreover, which they contain are genuine.
The one which is signed by Governor Pesqueira is an accurate translation
from the original, which has been sent to me. I also have evidence of the
genuineness of the letter which appears in the second article from the Daily
Alta California. Subsequently to the date of that letter, viz, January 9,
1873, General Crook addressed another to Mr. Pesqueira on the 9th of
February following, from which it appears that, notwithstanding his good
intentions, he was unable to make Cochise behave himself by reason of
obstacles which he had not foreseen. I inclose a copy in Spanish of this
second letter.
I likewise inclose two slips from the official journal of Sonora, in which
some account is given of the numerous crimes committed there by the Indians
to whom I allude, and it appears that the marauders had in their possession
articles from the United States, which make it evident that they belonged to
the tribe in question.
Finally, I inclose an extract from a note addressed to my government, under
date of December 31, 1873, by one of its official agents, who has been
observing the occurrences in Sonora from near at hand, and who reports
concerning the continuance of the hostilities of Cochise and his people,
which have never ceased since their beginning.
I abstain from commenting upon the fact that these savages, who have been
driven out of Sonora, have had a reservation assigned to them just on the
border of that State, or upon the alleged circumstance that they have been
excused from the daily roll-call, to which the Indians on other reservations
are generally required to submit. There may be some explanation of this
which will show the good intentions of the subordinate agents of the
Government. What is hoped for from the Government of the United States is
that the facts being known as they now are, together with their lamentable
results, it will remedy the evil as speedily as possible for the sake of
humanity, and in consideration of the friendly relations which unite the two
republics.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1.—Translation.]
General Pesqueira
to the Alta California.
Editor Alta: I have received and read with much
satisfaction your letter of April 15, and having information of your
conscientiousness and acknowledged impartiality as a writer, I have
ordered the collection of all the evidences of an official and private
character within the reach of the government of Sonora, going to show
that the Apaches, with whom peace has been made lately in Arizona, have
committed numerous assassinations and depredations this year in Sonora,
and they are inclosed to you.
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hostile apaches driven from
sonora.
Among the papers sent you is a record of the murders committed by the
savages’ and also a file of numbers of the Estrella de Occidente,
official organ of the government of this State.
From the beginning of last year the government of Sonora being unable to
submit longer to the barbarity and cruelty of these savages, and
notwithstanding the part taken by the people of this State in the
restoration of legal order, disturbed by the last insurrection, resolved
at great sacrifices to keep the Apaches within bounds, and, thanks to
the parties of national guards which traversed the country in every
direction, these enemies, who had done so much damage to Sonora, were
entirely expelled. In consequence of this steady and persistent pursuit,
which did not even allow them time to prepare their mescal, which is
their chief food, they retired to the neighboring territory. Although
some of them solicited peace in Sonora it was denied them, on account of
our long and bitter experience that these savages have no respect for
their promises.
This policy explains the causes why there are no Apaches living in Sonora
or Chihuahua, and the fact is attested by the national guards, who
frequently and periodically examine the mountains and places in which
the Apaches might seek shelter.
howard’s treaty.
Sonora had commenced to breath freely and trusted that this condition of
affairs would be durable, by the co-operation of the vast forces of your
great republic with the forces of our State, in continuing the same
system of attack adopted here successfully, until the Apaches should
learn the necessity of abstaining from their crimes.
This is no doubt the object of the enlightened Government at Washington,
in spending large sums annually in Arizona; but General Howard did not
understand the method of gaining it, for he granted peace to the
Apaches, with privileges which a conquered power might grant, because of
inability to help itself.
With reference to the treaty of peace made by General Howard with the
celebrated Cochise, I do not know whether he granted to the latter the
privilege of making war on Sonora, but from some of the documents
inclosed to you, I infer that he did not, although the arrogant savage
has claimed that he did. But if there was a prohibition, it is illusory
and without effect, since Cochise and his tribe were placed beyond the
jurisdiction of the forces of the United States, as you will see in the
communication of General Crook, and thus they were exempted from the
only method of enforcing a pact to keep peace with Sonora. Besides, they
were placed on a reservation which borders on our country.
savage auxiliaries in war.
It was certainly not the intention of the Government at Washington to
give the Apaches facilities for making hostile incursions into Mexico,
but it is certain that its agent did so. The laws of modern warfare do
not justify the employment of savages who are regarded by the laws of
nations as enemies of the human race. What, then, shall we say when the
settlements of a friendly nation are exposed to the cruelties as horrid
as any that can be practiced in war?
It is not strange that your conscience should have been aroused against
Howard’s course, and that the American people, jealous of their national
honor, should demand, when the truth is known, that this most grand
crime should end soon and forever.
reference to the documents.
From the papers which I inclose with this you will see the number of the
victims known to the government of this State. You will also see from
various private and official documents that no Apache or hostile Indians
live in either Sonora or Chihuahua, and this fact may be proved, not
only by the national guards but by many other persons. Consequently, all
the Apaches who have lately murdered Mexicans have come from Arizona,
needing only three hours to reach some of our settlements from the
line.
Various articles of personal property of Mexicans murdered by Apaches
have been found in the possession of Cochise’s Indians, and parties of
the national guards have repeatedly followed the Apache raiders beyond
the line, in the direction of their homes, as you will see from the
accompanying file of the Estrella.
I have thus answered your inquiry, and hoping that you will not cease in
your labors in this matter, I am your servant,
[Inclosure 2.]
Camp
Grant, January 9,
1873.
To His Excellency Ignacio Pesquiera,
Governor of Sonora:
Dear Sir: I have the honor to inform you that
after the 20th instant I will compel the Indians in the southern part of
this Territory, known as the tribe of Cochise, to
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submit themselves to daily roll-call, and
if they should refuse I will commence hostilities against them without
delay. Knowing that these Indians have been a terrible scourge to your
State, I take the liberty of requesting you to place strong detachments
near the line, to prevent them taking refuge in Sonora if they escape
the pursuit of our soldiers. Do me the favor to keep this secret until
the date mentioned above.
Your obedient servant,
GEORGE CROOK,
Brevet
Brigadier-General, United States Army.
[Inclosure 3.]
Lieutenant-Colonel George
Crook to the governor of
Sonora.
Headquarters Camp Grant,
Arizona
Territory, February,
1873.
Esteemed Sir: Your favor of the 27th ultimo has
been received. I regret that I am not authorized to hold the conference
proposed by you. I must inform you that I have met with obstacles which
I did not foresee when I wrote my last letter, and this circumstance
prevents me from taking any further measures against the Indians until I
shall have received additional instructions from my Government. When I
shall have received such instructions, I shall have the honor to
communicate them to you.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEORGE CROOK,
Lieutenant-Colonel
Twenty-third Infantry.
His Excellency I. Pesqueira,
Governor of Sonora.
[Inclosure 4.—Translation.]
SAVAGE INDIANS.
[From the Official Journal of Sonora.]
more robberies and more
murders.
Arizpe.—No depredations have been committed by the
Apaches in this district during the first fortnight of the present
month.
Magdalena.—The same may be said of this district,
referring to the week which ended on the 12th, (July.)
Sahuaripa.—In this district the citizen prefect
also reports that no damage was done by the Apaches during the week
ending the 11th instant.
Moctezuma.—According to a report from the
municipal president of Bavispe, two Apaches stole ten asses on the 28th
of June last from the estate of Messrs. Samaniego, and Bustamante. The
commandant of Bavispe was going to send ten men in pursuit of the
Indians, but the president was unable to report the result.
The municipal president of Tepachi reports to the prefect of Moetezuma,
under date of the 8th instant, that six Apaches, on the 4th, attacked
the citizens Benito Chaves, Francisco Fimbres, and a companion. They
killed Fimbres and wounded the companion, who died of his wounds the
next day.
As soon as Chaves reached the highway he met twelve Mexicans, who
accompanied him to the spot where Fimbres lay. They found the latter
still alive, although he died a few moments after their arrival. The
wounded companion, whose name was Ruiz, lay there also. As it was
necessary to take up the body of Fimbres and the wounded man Ruiz, the
party were obliged to return with them, reporting that the Apaches had
escaped, running off the horses of Fimbres.
On the following day the authorities of Tepachi sent out a force of
fifteen men in pursuit, but, rain having fallen during the night, the
trail of the savages was destroyed, and the pursuing party were
therefore obliged to return.
Eight days afterward the prefect was informed of the occurrence, but, in
view of the time which had elapsed, he deemed it useless to send a force
in pursuit of the savages.
Fimbres was a resident of Guásavas, and Ruiz of Los Broncés.
Magdalena.—In the official part of our paper we
print in full a report of the prefect of this district. It will thereby
be seen that among the articles that were abandoned
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by the Apaches in their flight were three
blankets, bearing the stamp of the Government of the United States,
which fact furnishes unmistakable evidence that these Apaches were of
the number of those who are at peace on the Arizona reservations, and
who cross over into Sonora for the purpose of robbing and murdering.
Ures.—The citizen prefect of this district
yesterday sent in the reports, which we condense below.
The municipal president of Rayon writes, under date of the 23d, that the
Apaches stole ten horses at El Pima, on the 21st, from the citizen
Guadalupe-Fernandez. The Indians were seen by some citizens of Rayon,
but they were so well dressed, wearing black hats and overcoats, like
those worn by the soldiers in Arizona, that they supposed them to be
travelers from California. When, however, they saw them go in the
direction of the mountains with the herd of horses, one of those who saw
them notified the herdsman of Fernandez, who at once went out to
reconnoitre, and reported, on his return, that they were really Apaches.
Fourteen citizens organized at La Paz and started in hot pursuit, but as
they had not yet returned on the 23d the result was unknown.
The municipal president of Opodepe says that on the 20th instant the
Indians (Apaches) attacked Doña Maria Flores, who was on the Realito
estate with another woman named Cecilia, and with her little son, ten
years of age. The lady and her child were killed, and Cecilia received
two wounds, but at the date of the report (23d instant) was still
living. A force of thirty citizens started at once from Opodepe, and
pursued the Indians until nightfall, when they were obliged to return
for provisions. They were then joined by twenty-three more citizens, and
started again, well supplied with provisions and munitions of war. They
had not returned on the 23d, and the result of the chase was therefore
unknown.
[Inclosure 5.—Translation.]
[Extract.]
Mexican Indian agent to Mexican minister of foreign
affairs.
San
Francisco, December 31,
1873.
* * * * * * *
During this month advices have been received of the continuance in the
State of Sonora of hostilities committed there by savage Indians from
Arizona Territory.
It is known that many new-comers have settled on the reservation of
Cochise’s band, among them not a few individuals belonging to those
bands whose settlements are at San Carlos, Jularosa, and White Mountain.
Cochise accuses these of being the invaders of Sonora, declaring that he
has no power to restrain them.
Mr. Delano, in his report of this year to Congress concerning the
business of the Interior Department, which is under his charge, takes
care not to mention the Arizona-Apaches, thus giving ground for the
belief that he does not propose to change the policy that has thus far
been observed toward those Indians, notwithstanding the knowledge which
he has of the depredations committed by them in Mexico. This
unjustifiable persistence is vexatious to the republic. If the United
States Government is powerless to prevent the outrages of its savage
Indians in the neighboring country, it should remove them to a distance
from the latter, but the fact is that it has not yet been shown that its
efforts to restrain and punish them are unavailing, for the reason that
it has made no efforts at all, hearing, perhaps, with contempt the
complaints of our unfortunate people on the western frontier.
To the Citizen Minister of Foreign
Relations,
City of Mexico.
