Silver City Enterprise — 1888-1890 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1889-11-22
source date: 1889
availability: public-domain

Early Pioneers The Men Who First Opened The Santa Fe Trail In the year 1830 a party of young men, well known in St. Louis, Mo., left that city on a peri- lous journey of adventure across the trackless desert to Mexico. Their names were : Hugh Stephenson, Lewis Dutton, Henry Dorlew, Lucas Doan, Joshua Sledd, James Kirker, Robert Mc- Knight and Esteven Cushie, a Frenchman. The two last mentioned were moneyed adventurers; the others were vigorous men of muscle and resolution to fight the battle of life to the bitter end. They were the first “old timers,” the ad- vance guard, who made the Santa Fe trail and marked the route traveled by thousands in after years; all honorable men, they never returned to their native country ; they were married here, raised respectable families and died in the land of their adoption. Arriving at Chihuahua, Kirker went to Guadalupe Calvo, a mining hacienda in the southern part of the state, belonging to an Eng- lish company, where he was employed as a boss for two years. Meantime, McKnight obtained a lease on the Santa Rita copper mines and writing to Kirker, requested him to come and go in with him. With much regret he left his Eng- lish friends to join the first good friend *he had after his arrival in America. At that time, this was the most fearful and dangerous enterprise that any man could think of engaging in; the

er, requested him to come and go in with him. With much regret he left his Eng- lish friends to join the first good friend *he had after his arrival in America. At that time, this was the most fearful and dangerous enterprise that any man could think of engaging in; the mines were more than a hundred miles remote from any settlement and surrounded as they were by two tribes of the worst blood-spilling Indians on the continent; it was like going through the gates of hell to get there. The town of Janos was a presidio on the frontier, midway between Santa Rita copper mines and the city of Chihuahua; he left his family there at a place of safety and engaged in the business of trans- porting the copper to Chihuahua. The whole country at the time was kept in commotion by Indian depredations; to the in- habitants they were a holy terror, and every trip they made there was an attack on the pack- mule train going or coming from the mines; but Kirker was so successful in repulsing them that he soon acquired a reputation as an Indian fighter, and some of the principal men of Chi- huahua held out inducements to him to raise a company to fight the Apaches.

on the pack- mule train going or coming from the mines; but Kirker was so successful in repulsing them that he soon acquired a reputation as an Indian fighter, and some of the principal men of Chi- huahua held out inducements to him to raise a company to fight the Apaches. Finally, after a consultation with Mc- Knight, he went to work and raised a company, composed of Shawnee and Delaware Indians, and some select American and Mexican fron- tiersmen. This proved to be a very efficient company, but as the Indians always took to flight at the sight of them, and would not stand to make a fight, Kirker found it necessary to change his tactics and trail by day and attack them in their camps at night, and thus suc- ceeded in killing a great many. His name, “Santiago,” as he was called, became a terror to the Indians all over the country and he be- came widely known to fame and to the Mexican people as a dashing, fearless Indian fighter.

tack them in their camps at night, and thus suc- ceeded in killing a great many. His name, “Santiago,” as he was called, became a terror to the Indians all over the country and he be- came widely known to fame and to the Mexican people as a dashing, fearless Indian fighter. In 1835 he managed to corral 300 Indians in the town of Gallina and he and his company killed the whole party with the exception of seven, who escaped to the mountains. They scalped the dead Indians and took the scalps to Chihuahua. There they strung them on a rope and stretched it across the plaza from the church to the east side, amid the wild huzzas of an excited populace. Whether the killing was fair or not, the question was never dis- cussed— it was a triumph over the common enemy, and the people shouted for joy, throw- ing up their hats in wild exultation. Barrels of tequila and mescal were opened and everybody enjoyed themselves reveling in a stream of riotous pleasure. From far and near the people came flocking in to see and participate in the ( 27 ) howling jollification, until the city was literally suffocated with the surging masses of humanity. McKnight subsequently bought the silver mining hacienda at Corralitos and worked the mines until his death at Chihuahua, in 1844.

locking in to see and participate in the ( 27 ) howling jollification, until the city was literally suffocated with the surging masses of humanity. McKnight subsequently bought the silver mining hacienda at Corralitos and worked the mines until his death at Chihuahua, in 1844. In the Mexican war in 1846 Kirker came to New Mexico and joined Col. Donaphan’s regiment. Remaining with the volunteers until the close of the war he went with them to St. Louis, and afterwards to California, in 1850, and died in San Francisco the following year. He raised a large and respectable family. Three of his sons live near Pinos Altos, in Grant County, one daughter died in Mesilla in 1860, and the other is married to a kell known Ameri- can, a pioneer of the territory and a veteran of the Mexican war.

co the following year. He raised a large and respectable family. Three of his sons live near Pinos Altos, in Grant County, one daughter died in Mesilla in 1860, and the other is married to a kell known Ameri- can, a pioneer of the territory and a veteran of the Mexican war. In addition to the salary they paid Kirker for his services, they gave him a premium of $50 for every Indian scalp he brought in; and as there are many harmless tame Indians in Mexico whose long black hair resembles the average Apache, some of his friends started a report that he occasionally killed some of these and palmed off their scalps for genuine Apaches. Although he could have done this without detection, if he had been so unscrupu- lous, still no person ever considered the report more than a good joke on Kirker, which he understood and seemed to enjoy as much as any- body. The body of the Lake Valley section boss, who was lost during the recent severe storm, has been found near Osceola station. It is thought that he met with foul play from some of the Mexican section men, with whom he had some trouble a few days before his disap- pearance.

The body of the Lake Valley section boss, who was lost during the recent severe storm, has been found near Osceola station. It is thought that he met with foul play from some of the Mexican section men, with whom he had some trouble a few days before his disap- pearance. Elijah Franklin, colored, native of Ver- mont, and for four years past cook at the peni- tentiary, will be released from that institution tomorrow, he having served his term of twelve years with good time allowance. He killed a negro in Grant County, at a gambling table, and was first sentenced to be hanged. This was commuted to life, and afterward again com- muted to twelve years. He has been a most faithful man and having violated none of the rules of the institution, the governor today re- stored to him his citizenship. — New Mexican. A Brutal Murder Quin Sing and Deah Poup Assaulted by Mexicans

to life, and afterward again com- muted to twelve years. He has been a most faithful man and having violated none of the rules of the institution, the governor today re- stored to him his citizenship. — New Mexican. A Brutal Murder Quin Sing and Deah Poup Assaulted by Mexicans Saturday evening, between the hours of 5 and 6 o’clock, Quin Sing and Deah Poup, Chi- nese gardeners, who have long lived on the Carwile place, only a short distance below town, were approached at their cabin by three Mexicans and asked for something to eat. Quin Sing was in the cabin, and his partner came in, got a dish of rice and was handing it to them when two of the Mexicans made an assault upon him. The other Mexican entered the cabin and shot Quin Sing, the ball entering his left arm at the wrist and coming out at the elbow shat- tering it in a horrible manner. The Mexicans on the outside knocked Deah Poup down with an ax and a pick, crushing in the whole top of his skull, and making a number of flesh wounds on his head and person. After shooting Quin Sing, the other Mexican beat him until he was senseless. The house was then looted, the Chinamen given another beating, and then the Mexicans left.

pick, crushing in the whole top of his skull, and making a number of flesh wounds on his head and person. After shooting Quin Sing, the other Mexican beat him until he was senseless. The house was then looted, the Chinamen given another beating, and then the Mexicans left. After awhile Quin recovered and made his way to the Carwile house, only a few hundred yards, and gave the alarm. Mr. Carwile had heard the shot fired, but as there were a num- ber of cowboys around the stock pens corraling cattle, thought nothing of it. The alarm was soon given, and Sheriff Whitehill and his depu- ties scouring the town for the Mexicans, and several arrests were made that night. The Chinamen were soon removed to the Sister’s hospital, and Dr. Stephens sent for, who did all in his power for them. Deah Poul’s skull was so badly smashed that the doctor aban- doned all hope of his recovery from the start. Pieces of the skull were removed from the brain, and a neat bit of trepanning done, but poor Poup was never able to speak from that time until his death, which occurred Wednesday. His right side was paralyzed, and he seemed to suffer terriby. Quin Sing’s wounds were dressed, and he is now on a sure road to re- covery.

and a neat bit of trepanning done, but poor Poup was never able to speak from that time until his death, which occurred Wednesday. His right side was paralyzed, and he seemed to suffer terriby. Quin Sing’s wounds were dressed, and he is now on a sure road to re- covery. On Monday four of the Mexicans arrested were taken before Quin Sing, who immediately recognized one of them as the man who as- saulted him, but did not recognize either of the other three. They were turned loose, and dur- ( 28 ) ing the day and that night five others were arrested. They were taken before Quin on Tuesday. He thought that one of them re- sembled one of the other two, but was not sure. He did not notice the two who assaulted his partner, particularly, but thinks that he will know them. The robbers and murderers secured $2 from Quin and probably $30 or $40 from his partner, which was in a trunk. Quin says that it is possible that his partner had removed the money, but don’t know, and as Deah Poup was not able to speak, it is hard to tell just how much money was received for this terrible crime. The kind-hearted Sisters did everything in their power for the poor sufferers.

that it is possible that his partner had removed the money, but don’t know, and as Deah Poup was not able to speak, it is hard to tell just how much money was received for this terrible crime. The kind-hearted Sisters did everything in their power for the poor sufferers. After Deah Poup’s death Wednesday, Judge Lucas swore in the following coroners jury: H. H. Betts, E. B. Chase, R. Black, P. B. Lady, J. N. Warner and J. B. Card. The Mexi- can who had been identified by Quin Sing, was brought into the room with about a dozen others. Sing immediately picked him out from among them. After an investigation into all facts obtainable, the jury returned a verdict to the effect that Deah Poup came to his death by blows on the head by some sharp instrument in the hands of Rafael Traevior, who was con- fined to jail to await the action of the grand jury. One other Mexican prisoner is also held in custody until further evidence can be secured. “I stood on the bridge at midnight, As drunk as a son of a gun. Two moons rose over the city Where there ought to have been but one”

to jail to await the action of the grand jury. One other Mexican prisoner is also held in custody until further evidence can be secured. “I stood on the bridge at midnight, As drunk as a son of a gun. Two moons rose over the city Where there ought to have been but one” About six years ago several Chinamen were killed near Fort Bayard, by Mexicans, who were subsequently captured. One of them was afterwards killed with the escaped train rob- bers, and the rest got light sentences in the penitentiary. Since that time the Chinese gar- deners at Lone Mountain have several times been held up and robbed, until it would appear that these renegades from Mexico consider the Chinamen their especial prey. Had the* Mexi- cans who killed the Chinamen at Fort Bayard been hung for their crime, it would have had a salutary effect, and would have saved the county and territory a large amount of money. The fact is that criminals as a class are dealt with entirely too leniently in this community. If a man is guilty of murder, he should receive the highest sentence possible under the law, and not be let off with two or three years in the penitnetiary. If Grant County juries continue this practice, there will surely be such a protest from the people one of these days that will land some of these hard cases in the “happy hunting grounds.”