Salt River. While peace prevailed between the tribes a party of Apaches came to the Pimas to trade goods for ponies. When near the villages they divided into two parties, one of which came on to trade and the other went around to try to steal horses. The thieves were followed and when it was found that their tracks joined those of the party at the villages the Pimas went back and killed many of those who were trading. Some of the Pima warriors overtook the horse thieves and killed several of them.
Blackwater. A Pima was killed by Apaches while looking for his horses near Kâʼmatûk, the hill between Blackwater and the Sacatons.
1864–65
Gila Crossing, Salt River. This was the first year in which the Pimas were supplied with firearms (by order of General Carleton) and aided the United States soidiers.[1]
Salt River. The Pimas and Maricopas went on a campaign against the Apaches and met a band that had probably ambushed some American soldiers, for they had arms and other army property. The allies rushed the camp of the enemy and captured all that had been taken from the soldiers. When they returned with their spoils to the villages some whites accused them of having killed the soldiers. They told how they obtained the things, but the whites would not believe them. "That is why I do not think the white man is good enough to trust us," said Owl Ear. When several guides took the whites to the battle ground they were satisfied when they saw the dead Apaches there.
Blackwater. In a raid in this year two Apaches were killed and their ears cut off and nailed on a stick.
In an effort to establish peace with the Apaches, the soldiers and Pima scouts took a wagon loaded with rations to the Superstition mountains. The Apaches took it to be a hostile move and attacked the party, killing the driver of the wagon. The Apaches were pursued and several were killed before the trail was lost.
- ↑ John Walker, the first agent for the Pimas, in his report for the year 1860 stated that the tribe petitioned for more guns, as theirs were "few and old." See Report of Commissioner of Indian Affairs 1860, 168. In the report of J.L. Collins, superintendent of Indian affairs in New Mexico, it is stated that 100 muskets and 10,000 rounds of ammunition had just been given the Pimas. In ibid., 1862, 239, 1863.
Woolsey to make sure of a lame Indian with a lance, who wad eyeing him suspiciously. 'I'll look out for him,' was Lennan's reply, and the slaughter became general. * * * The fight, if such it could be called, lasted seven or eight minutes. Lennan had incautiously closed upon and shot an Indian near him, forgetting the lame one against whom he had been cautioned, who the next moment ran him through the body with his lance. Dye (a rancher) coming up, killed this Indian. The only person wounded was Tonto Jack, who was shot in the neck with an arrow. * * * Twenty Tontos and four Pinals lay dead upon the ground. Others were seen running off with the blood streaming from their wounds, and it is supposed some of them died." (P. 121.)
