Silver City Enterprise — 1888-1890 (full OCR, Internet Archive) — 1889-11-22
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chunk 2274 · paragraph 0
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
chunk 2275 · paragraph 4
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.
chunk 2276 · paragraph 6
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.
chunk 2277 · paragraph 7
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.
chunk 2278 · paragraph 11
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.
chunk 2279 · paragraph 12
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.
chunk 2280 · paragraph 14
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
chunk 2281 · paragraph 17
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.
chunk 2282 · paragraph 18
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.
chunk 2283 · paragraph 20
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.
chunk 2284 · paragraph 25
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”
chunk 2285 · paragraph 30
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.”