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Show 46 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY TERRITORY by robbing the mails, to acquire timely information of every expe. 4 P ‘ Pe oe ort) ® vi a4 -¢-@.- 3-8. ®,¢ §—b- eed of * Sted Per be ee Pe be et oa oe Dee P * eerie a dition that was set on foot against him. merely on a trading expedition, a friendly interview was immediately established between the parties. The American captain having determined to put these obnoxious chiefs to death under any clr cumstances, soon caused a little field-piece which had been concealed from the Indians to be loaded with chain and cannister shot, and held in readiness for use. The warriors were then invited to the ‘amp to receive presents of flour, which were placed within range of the cannon. While they were occupied in dividing the contents of the bags, they were fired upon and a considerable number of the party killed. The remainder were then attacked with small arms, and about twenty slain, including Juan José and the other chiefs. Thus was begun the fearful animosity which has always been en tertained by the Apache for the American. massacre became their own avengers Those who escaped this In a manner which proved terribly disastrous to another party of Americans who happened to be trapping on the Gila river not far distant. The enraged savages took summary vengeance upon these unfortunate trappers, and fall ing upon them, massacred every one, about fifteen in number. party was under the comman d of Charles Kemp.?” Beg Gregg, Josiah, Commerce of the : servations, Ms, 2-18, gives the most wenn © Party, having been camped on Prairies, i, pp. complete the Gila 80-81. account at the Benj. of the time. His This D. Wilson, massacre party REPUBLIC OF MEXICO 47 highly commended by the Mexicans who had suffere d so much from the depredations of these notorious chiefs. But in this he was mistaken, for the affair was received with general repreh ension, although the Mexicans had been guilty of similar deeds themsel ves. Previous to this date, the Apaches had commit ted but few depredations upon Americans, being restrained either by fear or respect. Small parties of Americans were permitted to pass the highways of the wilderness unmolested, while large caravans of Mexicans suffered frequent attacks. This apparent partiality produced unfounded jealousies, and the Americans were openly accuse d of holding secret treaties with the Indians, and even of supplying them with arms and ammunition. Although an occasional foreigner engaged in this clandestine and culpable traffic, yet the Mexica ns themselves embarked in it very extensively. This unjust impression against Amer- leans was partially effaced by the attacks upon them made about this time. The most dangerous place in New Mexico was on the trail from along On town Santa Fé to Chihuahua, south of Socorro, and particularly the Jornada del Muerto.*§ one occasion a band of Apache warriors boldly approac hed the of Socorro, when a battle ensued between them and the Mexi- ees also attacked me With his leans that he ae His lisson, and several men killed, Wilson being captured barely escaplifo, James Johnson never received the reward andfrom the Mexhad hoped for, and went to California, where he died in great accomplice in this massacre of the Apaches was a man named Wr oreke) Josiah, Commerce of the ii, pp. 297-298: ‘‘In the summer of 1839, a few Apache prisoners, Prairies, among whom was the wife of a dis- tinguished chief, were confined in the calabozo at Paso del Norte. The be- reaved chief, hearing of their captivity, collected a band of about sixty warors, and, boldly entering the town, demanded the release of his consort and Tends. The comandante of the place wishing to gain time, desired them to return the next morning, when their request would be granted. During the night the forces of the country were concentrated; notwithstanding, the 1, Ppeared, the troops did not show their faces, but remained concealed,Apaches while © Mexican comandante strove to beguile the Indians into the prison, under pretext of delivering to them their friends. The unsuspecting chief and twenty €fs were entrapped in lood; not, Owever, without thissomemanner and treacherously murdered in cold loss to the Mexicans, who had four or five wen killed in the fracas, Among these was the commandant himself, who had no Soon given the word, ‘Matan 4 los ecarajos!’ than the chief retorted, ‘Entétonees moerrita s tu primer cara un W4 THE The projector of this enterprise, says Gregg, had probably been under the impression that treachery was justifiable against a treacherous enemy. He also believed, no doubt, that the act would be The government of Sonora, desirous to make some efforts to check the depredations of the Apaches, issued a proclamation, giving a sort of carte blanche patent of ‘‘marque and reprisal,’’ and declaring that all the booty that might be taken from the savages should become the property of the captors. Accordingly, in the spring of 1837, a party of some twenty men, mostly Americans, spurred on by the love of gain, and never doubting that the Indians, after so many years of successful robberies, must be possessed of vast wealth, under the command of Johnson, set out to make war upon the murderous Apache. Ina few days they reached a rancheria of about fifty warriors with their families, among whom was the celebrated chief, Juan José. Along with Juan José were three other principal chiefs of the Apaches. On seeing the Americans advance, Juan José at once gave them to understand that if they had come to fight they were ready to accommodate them, but on being assured by Johnson that they were OF heart! 9 ‘ ke . o, jo!’ e and immediatel e s y stabbed him . to the |