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Show UTAH STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WALCOTT-MCNALLY INCIDENT Slim Man came into the agency on May 5 A Navajo hogan in Monument and offered a report sharply at odds with that Valley. of the second Navajo scout. According to his account, when Man with White Horses first approached the camp the night before the shooting, he and the two miners shook hands and “hugged each other all around,” followed by a gift exchange of tobacco. The next morning after breakfast, the white men gave all three of the new visitors tobacco; Hashkéneinii Biye’ “was moving around all the time while the other two sat by the fire.” After the Navajo killed Walcott, he removed a pistol and holster that he had tried to trade for earlier, but had been refused. At this point, Man with White Horses returned to the camp, suggesting that they put a white rag on a stick, approach McNally, and then point him in the direction he should go to get home safely. Another Navajo man disagreed, and the group eventually decided to kill McNally. Slim Man explained the next day’s fight, adding that under the cover of darkness McNally had left his barricade before departing, gone into the camp, wrapped Walcott in some blankets, and piled his things around him. That night, although badly wounded, McNally travelled twenty-five miles before Hashkéneinii Biye’, Hashkéneinii, and “an old Navajo” caught up to the prospector and killed him. As for Slim Man, he felt sorry about the whole affair and did not hesitate to contradict Hashkéneinii, who had threatened to kill anyone who talked about it.16 Yet another actor in the drama came forth to testify—Hashkéneinii Biye’ himself, who arrived at the agency with his father and “a large 16 Ten-nai-tsosi (Diné Ts’0s7) “Story,” given to Riordan, May 5, 1884, Letters Received—Navajo Agency. 257 |
