Came across a collection of documents this was one amongst them, will post a link to the other documents:
‘Greeting the Victors’ Victory Parade in Chihuahua City as reported in the Daily New
Mexican 2nd December 1880
GREETING THE VICTORS.
How the Mexican Troops with
the Scalps of the Apaches
were Received at Chihuahua.
Correspondent Chicago Times.
First one day was set down for the arrival, and then another until at last Sunday at nine o’clock,
was the hour appointed. Sunday morning broke clear and beautiful as it always does here at this
time of year, and I could not realise what I was to see until it burst with all it’s horrible reality upon
my astonished vision. The whole city turned out all classes and conditions. The house tops were
covered, the balconies were alive, and banners were flying from all the masts. The bands played,
and from the church and cathedral towers the bells rang out in tuneful clamor. At an early hour,
in company with some American friends, I was in saddle en route to meet the advancing hosts. I
traversed the densely crowded streets with difficulty, and at last reached the dry bed of the river.
From here we could see upon an eminence, on the hill beyond the crowd, and a little further on
we could discover some black objects against the sky like waving plumes of the knights of old. The
signal is given and the column move forward, and behold! these waving plumes are the ghastly
scalps of the fallen enemy, held aloft to the gazing crowd, who yell and cry, and follow along
perfectly wild with excitement. They are on poles about ten feet long, carried by the victors four
abreast. We count them, seventy-eight in number, sixteen of which are women and children. I had
of course expected to see scalps, but here I saw a long black line of terrible looking objects worse by
far than I had supposed. The whole head of hair had been in most cases taken.
First came an immense throng of people, men, women, and children, pushing each other to and
fro, mad with excitement. Then came a band, whose music was drowned from time to time by the
plaudits of the populace. Then came Colonel Terrazas and his staff of officers, looking worn and
travel stained. Immediately after came the prisoners mounted upon ponies and mules. They were
all women and children, from old age to infancy, except one Comanche whose life was spared by
Cruz, the scout. After the prisoners came the scalp bearers and pack trains. The men were bloody
and dirty in the extreme, as a natural consequence; but they could not equal the Apaches, who for
filth, dirt, and mean looks surpassed anything I ever saw or could imagine. I could not but think of
the ghastly scene that lay spread upon the mountain of Tres Castillos, and that all this might have
been prevented by the Indian Bureau had they met the emergency promptly.
From the time when the old chief Cozinillin [Cojinillin] ruled these warlike people they
have been gradually killed off. Chief followed chief – Philip, then Francisco, both of whom were
executed in this city for the terrible murders committed by them. There has long been a standing
reward of $200 for the scalp of a warrior, and $100 a head for prisoners, it having been found that
this was the only way to keep the state free of them. This campaign will cost the state not lass than
$50000 cash outlay, besides all the property destroyed by the Indians. The scalp of Victoria, tinged
visibly with gray, was carried by the man who was given the credit of shooting him.
I will now, after a lapse of five days (this being Friday, and mail day out to El Paso), finish this
letter by adding a sequel that will seem as strange as the scenes we have witnessed looked cruel.
When I saw these poor wretches, as they were carried through the principal streets of the city, I
322 Horses Worn to Mere Shadows
asked myself, “what do they think of these scenes and noises?” for the air was filled with bustling
rackets. They must certainly have thought that they were being driven to the stake and flame.
About 1 o’clock the procession halted before one of the large prisons or camp yards and the prisoners dismounted and passed in. The next day all the smaller children, up to girls of 13 years of age
were given away, and, strange as it may seem, they have been taken into the best and wealthiest
families in the city. Governor Terrazas took two, a boy and a girl. One gentleman took three. They
have been[?] cleaned up and dressed in citizens[?] clothes and are much improved in appearance.
An old bachelor took a boy and the first thing he did was to send for the barber who gave him a
clean cut, and then the gentleman told his mozo[?] to bring plenty of soap and go to the river and
finish up the process. I saw a girl in her new attire on the street with her arm around two little
children who belonged to one of the first families. I would as soon think of turning a rattlesnake
loose among my white haired children as these Indian children, fresh from the scenes of bloodshed.
The women were all confined in the city prison. They have brought these Indians to Chihuahua
from time to time and have always given them away – in the same manner described above. In one
or two cases they did well enough, but in many other they broke away and returned to the tribes
as savage as ever.
The slayer of Victoria has been presented with a suit that is neat and not gaudy either. The short
jacket is of crimson broadcloth, the vest and pants of black doeskin, trimmed with sliver lace.: the
hat a magnificent with fur broadbrim, and covered with spangles. He is a peaceful Farahumara
[Tarahumara] Indians, and bears his honors quietly
www.helion.co.uk/hwms-annex.pdf
