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Show TERRITORY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO 33 It is certain that whenever the Mexican was successful in the many campaigns conducted against these Indians, his treatment of Indian captives was not at all commendatory. Quarter was rarely shown and the life of no adult warrior was ever spared. The Mexican soldier, whether in the regular army or volunteer, rarely showed mercy or pity and scalped the Indian or cut off his ears with the same spirit of cruelty and revenge as characterized the deeds of the most demoniac savage of the plains. In truth, whether waging campaigns against the Comanche, the Apache, the Ute, or the Navajé, the Mexican was as relentless as the Indian. In treating with the tribes of the plains the American officer seldom found the Indian willing to agree to maintain terms of friendship with the Mexican, whom he always regarded as a foe. The Indian and the Mexican both knew what to expect should the one fall into the hands of the other.®° Many years after the achieve- ELY/11 the narrow Space or amphitheatre as possible; and finding no chance entrance, which is about one hundred to the other. Here <> 2.%—% ST ee eS * ee ‘ ee ee ed 2-2 é alluded to. The besieged retreated as far to escape, they built a wall across the feet from one perpendicular mass of rock they were kept several days, when Come, and all, to the number Ruxton, in his Adventures mall eae ie eae Soin between them and the Mexicans. The Indians had been committing some depredations and murders in the settlements, and, being pursued, were traced to the Waco mountains. A party set off from E] Paso, and surprised them in Pe a JOGO IIC 5 80 Bartlett, Personal Narrative, p. 174. Mr. Bartlett describes an event in the Indian fighting of the southwest which shows how the Indian was treated when in the power of the Mexican. He says: ‘‘In a deep cleft in the rock, on the south side of the road, which we followed for one hundred and fifty feet into the interior, were many bones of wild beasts. Near this the hills expand, forming an amphitheatre, which is celebrated from its being the place where the Apaches used formerly to hold councils, and the scene of a contest they were finally over- of one hundred and fifty, put to death.’’ in Mexico and the Rocky Mountains, 1848, et seq., relates an occurrence of particularly barbarous treatment of y the Mexicans. In writing of conditions existing in northern the state of Chihuahua and southern New Mexico, he says: ‘‘It with hostile Indians, who ravage the whole country. . . These p. 157 the Apaches portions of is infested Indians are the Apaches, who inhabit the ridges and plains of the Cordillera, the Sierra adre on the west and the tracts between the Conchos and Del Norte on the 6 while scattered tribes roam over all parts of the state, committing devastaa On the ranchos and haciendas, and depopulating the remote villages. For eke Purpose of carrying on a war against the daring savages, a species of oe was formed by the Chihuahuefios, with a capital raised by subscripof fitt The company, under the auspices of the government, offered a bounty exter y dollars a scalp, as an inducement to people to undertake a war of an oe against the Apaches. One Don Santiago Kirker (James Kirker) tealtion man, long resident in Mexico, and for many years a trapper and Indian a .. the Far West, whose exploits in Indian-killing would fill a volume, Me pny at the head of a band of some hundred and fifty men, including Apach Shawnee and Delaware Indians, and sent en campana against the oe). In the month of August, the Apaches being then ‘en paz’ with |
