Bisbee Daily Review

RUCKER TELLS OF THE YAQUIS AT NACOZARI

Was an Eye Witness to Their Murder of Three Mexicans and Suffered Loss of Clothes and Rifles.

DOUGLAS, Aug. 18.-(Special.)-

So far as can be learned there were no new developments in the Yaqui situation yesterday beyond the announcement that troops were being drafted at Agua Prieta, to increase the guard along the line and to proceed south against the warring party of Indians. Passengers from the south yesterday, some of whom had come from the close vicinity of the outrages, reported that the natives were much frightened and were leaving the small mining camps to seek refuge in the larger camps and settlements. T. J. Key had passed over the place of massacre on his way up from Cumpas and stated that from appearances many shots must have been fired, possibly about a hundred.

The prompt action of Superintendent James Douglas in extending all possible aid to the officers is bearing good fruit and tends to reassure the frightened Mexicans. He conscripted some of his best miners and best men from the other departments of the company and they are out in pursuit of the Yaquis under pay from the company.

E. G. Rucker, whose camp was raided by the Yaquis and who was present at the massacre yesterday, gave a Dispatch representative the following account of the affair:

"I was sitting in one of the houses Friday afternoon, patching a boot. The door was opened and several Indians, and one man I took for a Mexican, stepped in. I ordered them to get out, and do it quick. The leader of the party, at that, covered me with his rifle and said that they wanted all I had—arms, ammunition, food and clothing. I got mad and told them to get out or I'd shoot 'em up, but the chief repeated his demands, and I saw that they meant business and would kill me as they had threatened if I did not comply. So I told them where everything was—and they took everything.

They even took the clothes off my back, down to the underclothes. They let me go in and out but guarded me all the time. They put out a guard on the road.

"Presently two men were seen riding along, and the Yaquis called to them to halt and surrender. Instead they spurred their animals to greater endeavors. The Indians opened fire, killing one of the men very quickly. The other, though, kept riding on. They then shot his horse several times, and it finally fell, when the Indians got the rider. I made all kinds of motions to the fellow to ride for a thicket—and I feel sure his horse would have taken him that far, as it was a brave, nervy animal; but he did not seem to heed, and kept right along in the open. Well they sure filled him full of holes and then they stripped him. This excited them wonderfully, and for a time I thought they might turn their attention to me, but they never seemed to have a thought of harming me. Soon after they had committed these murders another Mexican came along and they took him prisoner. This one they shot down without a word of warning—just simply murdered him. The second man shot had a lot of nerve, too. Just as his horse toppled over in falling he jumped free of the saddle and started to run to the thicket. He got a bullet somewhere and toppled over to the ground, but in an instant picked up again and made a lively run for cover, but another bullet stopped him and he dropped dead. Several Indians went to where he was, returning with his gun, ammunition and clothing, as well as the accoutrements on the horse. The third man killed was so close when the shot was fired that the powder burned his clothes.

"I believe that if the Mexicans had stopped and surrendered when they were ordered to do so by the Yaquis, that the latter would not have killed them. They did not seem bloodthirsty until they had committed the first two murders after which they were dreadfully excited and ready and willing for anything. They wanted arms and ammunition, but when they had gotten a fight they seemed to want more."