CANNIBALISM IN AMERICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10079, 14 March 1896, Page 2 (Supplement)

CANNIBALISM IN AMERICA.

THREE PROSPECTORS DEVOURED. The existence of cannibalism among Moxioan Indians has lon# been suspected, bub authentic evidence Mint the supposition is correct has just reached Dcmlng, N.M., through John Martin, an American prospector, whose truthfulness is beyond question.

Tiie victims in this instance were three Americans—Frank Williams, John Hetherinnton, Hud J umoa TaylorprospeotinK ii» the goldliolds in the State of Sonora, about 300 miles south of Hermosillo. Theoaunibfilßare live Sadisavages, members of a tribe very like the Yaquis. it seems there has been a scarcityoffoodforsometimeamong theSadii, and, in fact, the tribe was practically broken up into small foraging parties, who had preyed upon everything possible to obtain food.

JoseCoajillo, a Mexican boy in the employ if the three Amerioatis who foil victims o the Sadjs, witnessed the cannibalism, le had been sont by his employers with a nessage to a small party of prospectors everal miles distant, and reached the camp in iiia return just as the assault was made, Che story ho tells was corroborated by the ive cannibals after their capture. Jose's story, as related by Mr. Martin, s to tlio effect that the throe Americans vera preparing supper, when the Sadis ipproached and evidently asked for food. iVliat conversation tool; place the boy canlot tell, as ho was not within sufficient listnnce of tho party to understand. Ho aid that the leader of tlio Sadis talked to detherington, who kept shaking his head. llie other two—Taylor and Williams ,vere laying no attention to the Indians. Suddenly and apparently at a signal from heir leador, the Sadis throw themselves ipon the prospectors, and, after a fierce truggle, overpowered them. Taylor and Miliums, the boy thinks, were killed during 'he light, but Hetiierington was only itunned by a blow from a club in tho hands if one of the Indians. The Sadis bound dm securely, but loft the bodies of the itlinr prospectors where they had fallen. Then the Sadis held a consultation, after vhich two of them approached Hotlieringon, who, by this time, had recovered ionsciouMnoas He was tho largest and Contest member of the party. Picking up in axe which belonged to the prospectors, me of the Indians struck Hothorintfton on .he head repeatedly. Then the savages eraoved tho clothing from the body, and, ;o the watching boy's horror, cut it up in sections. Tho fire the prospectors nut] 'tarted was forced into a brisk blaze and a portion of Hetherington's body placed in front of it on a forked stick. Afraid to move, tlio boy Jose lay still and watched the Indians. Presently he saw them relievo tho forked stick of its burden and devour the human ll>ssli with manifest relish. This process the Sadis contnucd until they had apparently gorged themselves.

Sickened by what he saw, the boy managed to make his way in safety from the place to the camp of the prospectors, to whom he had been sent by his murdered employers. There were only two'if these, however, and afraid to attack the cannibal*, they IJel toward Hermosillo. Almost simultaneously with their arrival at Huiinjsill), '<01110 friendly Yaqui Indians eamu in with the information that the cannibals had returned to their tribe, carrying with then) eucli of the cooked lirutin flesh as they had been unable to eat themselves. This they distributed among members of the tribe at

the general camping ground, and a cannibalistic feast followed.

Tim authorities of Hermosillo at once sent out 11 party of ullioers to arrest lliu cannibals, uiul niter a pursuit of several weeks tliey were captured in their mountain lioipe. They freely admitted their (juilt, but said they wore st irving and killed and ate the Americans to save themselves from death. They did not express the slightest regret for their action or aversion to their horrible repast, vowing, in fact, that they relished human flesh, urid it was not the first time they had eaten it.