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Cajemé (born José María Bonifacio Leyba Pérez, May 14, 1835 – April 23, 1887) was a
Yaqui The Yaqui, Hiaki, or Yoeme, are an Indigenous people of Mexico and Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribe, who speak the Yaqui language, a Uto-Aztecan language. Their primary homelands are in Río Yaqui valley in the no ...
military leader in the Mexican state of
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...
. Cajemé or Kahe'eme means 'one who does not stop to drink ater in the
Yaqui language Yaqui (or Hiaki), locally known as Yoeme or Yoem Noki, is a Native American language of the Uto-Aztecan family. It is spoken by about 20,000 Yaqui people in the Mexican state of Sonora and across the border in Arizona in the United States. It ...
and was originally a clan name, used by Cajemé's father.


Biography

Cajemé was born José María Bonifacio Leyba Perez on May 14, 1835, in
Hermosillo Hermosillo (), formerly called Pitic (as in ''Santísima Trinidad del Pitic'' and ''Presidio del Pitic''), is a city in the center of the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora. It is the municipal seat of the Hermosillo municipality, the state's ...
,
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...
. His birthdate is sometimes given as 1837, due to an initial error by his biographer
Ramón Corral Ramón Corral Verdugo (January 10, 1854 – November 10, 1912) was a Mexican politician who served as the Vice President of Mexico under President Porfirio Díaz from 1904 when it was reestablished until their resignations in May 1911, due to ...
. Cajemé's father, Fernando Leiva, was born in Hermosillo in 1798 and his mother, Juana Maria Peres, was born in Potam, Sonora.


California Gold Rush

At the age of 14, Cajemé accompanied his father, Fernando, and many other Yaqui people from
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...
, during the 1849
Gold Rush A gold rush or gold fever is a discovery of gold—sometimes accompanied by other precious metals and rare-earth minerals—that brings an onrush of miners seeking their fortune. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, ...
to Upper California. Cajemé and his father returned to Sonora about two years later. Cajemé seems to have learned English at that time, as well as having his first experience in defending himself against armed conflict. In spite of statements to the contrary, his father Fernando evidently did well in the gold fields, as his son was enrolled in an exclusive private school, the only school at the time in
Guaymas Guaymas () is a city in Guaymas Municipality, in the southwest part of the List of states of Mexico, state of Sonora, in northwestern Mexico. The city is south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and from the Mexico – United States border, U.S. ...
, and one of only 20 schools in the State of Sonora in the 1850s. This was the Colegio Sonora operated by Cayetano Navarro, Prefect of
Guaymas Guaymas () is a city in Guaymas Municipality, in the southwest part of the List of states of Mexico, state of Sonora, in northwestern Mexico. The city is south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and from the Mexico – United States border, U.S. ...
. Cajemé subsequently learned to read and write
Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine **Spanish history **Spanish culture ...
. Corral correctly states that Cajemé was 16 to 18 years of age during his time attending school, supporting the actual 1835 year of his birth.


Military Experience

Cajemé had his first taste of military battle in 1854, while serving with the "Urbanos," the local
militia A militia ( ) is a military or paramilitary force that comprises civilian members, as opposed to a professional standing army of regular, full-time military personnel. Militias may be raised in times of need to support regular troops or se ...
of Guaymas, which was organized by his teacher, Cayetano Navarro. This occurred when a plot to seize control of Sonora was carried out under the leadership of Count (''Comte'' in French)
Gaston de Raousset-Boulbon Charles René Gaston Gustave de Raousset-Boulbon (May 5, 1817 – August 13, 1854) was a French adventurer, filibuster and entrepreneur and, by some accounts a pirate, and a theoretician of colonialism. Early life Gaston de Raousset-Boulbon was ...
, who had two years earlier tried to seized the city of Hermosillo by force, and had been repelled in that attempt after they had captured Hermosillo. At 14:30 hours on July 13, 1854, the battle began, with the Count's forces attacking the defenders of the Guaymas town square. The attackers numbered more than 350 French, Germans and Chileans under the Count's leadership. After fighting the Mexican forces for about two hours, the invaders began to retreat. After seeing all of the men that Raousset-Boulbon had lost in the fighting, the French vice-consul, Joseph Calvo, came and requested his intervention to make peace. Calvo promised protection to all who took refuge under his flag, but hesitated for some time before extending this to include Raousset. Under the command of General
José María Yáñez General José María Yáñez Carrillo (1803 – August 10, 1880) was a Mexican soldier who fought in the Mexican War of Independence. He also served in the Mexican-American war and the war against the French attempt to create an empire in Me ...
, the Urbanos and the other Mexican forces in Guaymas were victorious. Raousset-Boulbon surrendered his army, asking for no other condition than to respect their lives. The surrender took place at 18:00 hours the same day, giving 313 prisoners being counted among them Count Raousset-Boulbon. The Mexican Army collected 310 rifles, 10 shotguns, 7 swords, 6 flags, a campaign banner and a forge. The losses suffered by both sides included 48 dead and 78 injured foreigners, with 19 dead and 57 wounded Mexican combatants. Gaston Rausset-Boulbon was sentenced to death, with the execution taking place in Guaymas, on August 12, 1854, in an area located in the north of the town square. Captain Francis M. Espino led the firing squad. See also de Collet La Madelène, 1876, pp. 266–304). Now 18 years of age, Cajemé looked for new opportunities in life, and traveled to
Tepic Tepic () is the capital and largest city of the western Mexico, Mexican Political divisions of Mexico, state of Nayarit, as well as the seat of the Tepic Municipality. Located in the central part of the state, it stands at an altitude of above ...
, where he worked for a short time as a blacksmith. Later, he was caught up in the draft for soldiers to serve in the
regular army A regular army is the official army of a state or country (the official armed forces), contrasting with irregular forces, such as volunteer irregular militias, private armies, mercenaries, etc. A regular army usually has the following: * a ...
, the San Blas Battalion, but deserted after only three months of service. He fled to the mountains near
Acaponeta Acaponeta is both a municipality and a town in the northern part of the Mexican state of Nayarit. The town is located at the geographical coordinates of . The population of the municipality was 34,665 in the 2005 census, living in a total area of ...
,
Nayarit Nayarit, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nayarit, is one of the 31 states that, along with Mexico City, comprise the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in Municipalities of Nayarit, 20 municipalit ...
, and worked for a while as a miner. With the Federal army still searching for him, he traveled to
Mazatlán Mazatlán () is a city in the Mexican list of states of Mexico, state of Sinaloa. The city serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding , known as the Mazatlán Municipality. It is located on the Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast across from th ...
and joined a battalion comprising
Pimas The Akimel O'odham ( O'odham for "river people"), also called the Pima, are an Indigenous people of the Americas living in the United States in central and southern Arizona and northwestern Mexico in the states of Sonora and Chihuahua. The majo ...
, Yaquis, and
Opatas The Opata (, /ˈopata/) are an Indigenous people in Mexico. Opata territory, the "Opatería" in Spanish, encompasses the mountainous northeast and central part of the state of Sonora, extending to near the border with the United States. Historica ...
, that was part of the ranks of Pablo Lagarma, a Mexican insurgent, who had declared for constitutional restoration. Not long afterward, Cajemé began service in as a trooper in the army of General
Ramón Corona Ramón Corona (18 October 1837, Tuxcueca, Jalisco, Mexico – 11 November 1889, Guadalajara, Jalisco) was a liberal Mexican general and diplomat. He served with distinction during the Second French Intervention in Mexico and after the triumph ...
. Due to his previous military experience, and the ability to speak three languages, he was appointed aide-de-camp to General Corona. He ended up participating in the
War of Reform The Reform War (17 December 185711 January 1861) or War of Reform (), also known as the Three Years' War (), and the Mexican Civil War, was a complex civil war, civil conflict in Mexico fought between Mexican liberals and conservatives with re ...
, and against the forces of the French Intervention of Emperor Maximilian. It was General Corona that accepted the sword of surrender from Emperor Maximilian at
Querétaro Querétaro, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Querétaro, is one of the Political divisions of Mexico, 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Querétaro, 18 municipalities. Its capital city is Querétaro Cit ...
on 15 May 1867. Eventually, he came to serve in the forces under , who came to value him as a competent, well educated and trilingual officer, and who eventually commissioned him as a captain in the cavalry.


Appointment as Alcalde Mayor

Having successfully served in the Mexican military in the war against the French occupation, Cajemé's service proved so exemplary that in 1872 he was appointed to the office of Alcalde Mayor of the Yaqui by then Sonora Governor
Ignacio Pesqueira Ignacio Pesqueira García (1820–1886) was a 19th-century Mexican general and politician. He was the Governor of Sonora over six times, with two of the six terms being an insurgent governor during the Second French intervention in Mexico. Chi ...
. Expected by Pesqueira to assist in pacifying the Yaqui people, he instead united the eight Yaqui
pueblo Pueblo refers to the settlements of the Pueblo peoples, Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, currently in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. The permanent communities, including some of the oldest continually occupied settlement ...
into a small, independent
republic A republic, based on the Latin phrase ''res publica'' ('public affair' or 'people's affair'), is a State (polity), state in which Power (social and political), political power rests with the public (people), typically through their Representat ...
and unexpectedly announced he would not recognize the Mexican government unless his people were allowed to independently govern themselves. Cajemé took on the role of a social reformer, he reorganized the administrative system of Yaqui society and life back to a state that had existed when there was far greater autonomy and self-sufficiency for the Yaqui people. This was based it to a large extent on the earlier Yaqui system (Mayors, Captains, Temastianes etc.). He re-established the popular assemblies, summoning them whenever it was necessary to rely on the entire population. Restructuring and disciplining Yaqui society to provide economic security and military preparedness, Cajemé instituted a system of
taxation A tax is a mandatory financial charge or levy imposed on an individual or legal person, legal entity by a governmental organization to support government spending and public expenditures collectively or to Pigouvian tax, regulate and reduce nega ...
, and external
trade Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market. Traders generally negotiate through a medium of cr ...
control, initially establishing a tax on the ships that traded in the Yaqui River. To impose a toll on commercial traffic on its territory, in particular those who traded salt extracted from the coasts of the Yaqui nation, and to demand a premium from the cattle owners who the Yaquis stole cattle from, upon their return. All these economic sources allowed them to procure arms and ammunition, and also to develop agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing. This was all for the welfare and defense of the new nation against those that would take away the Yaqui's traditional lands.


Cajemé's Rebellion Against Mexican Authority

Due to Mexican government opposition to Yaqui self-government, Cajemé was forced to lead the Yaqui in a war against the
Mexican state A Mexican State (), officially the Free and Sovereign State (), is a constituent federative entity of Mexico according to the Constitution of Mexico. Currently there are 31 states, each with its own constitution, government, state governor, a ...
and those who sought to control and confiscate the traditional Yaqui lands. The war was long-lasting due to the skill of the Yaqui in battle under Cajemé's leadership, and was particularly brutal, with atrocities on both sides, but with a much larger-scale slaughter by the military forces of the Mexican government under President
Porfirio Díaz José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori (; ; 15 September 1830 – 2 July 1915) was a General (Mexico), Mexican general and politician who was the dictator of Mexico from 1876 until Mexican Revolution, his overthrow in 1911 seizing power in a Plan ...
. One of the many battles during this period was the Battle of Capetamaya, which took place on October 15, 1882. Cajemé, as he was now known, was holding a meeting with the indigenous Mayo in the vicinity of a place called Capetamaya in
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...
. Colonel Augustine Ortiz, who was a landowner in the area of the Mayo people, and who was also the brother of then governor of
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...
Carlos Ortiz, who had succeeded Pesqueira, attacked the assembly with elements of the
Mexican Army The Mexican Army () is the combined Army, land and Air Force, air branch and is the largest part of the Mexican Armed Forces; it is also known as the National Defense Army. The Army is under the authority of the Secretariat of National Defense o ...
. Ortiz reported that about
Yaqui The Yaqui, Hiaki, or Yoeme, are an Indigenous people of Mexico and Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribe, who speak the Yaqui language, a Uto-Aztecan language. Their primary homelands are in Río Yaqui valley in the no ...
and Mayo 2,000 soldiers led by Cajemé faced his group of 300 men. The Yaqui's forces were scattered after losing 200 men, and Cajemé was wounded, losing part of his right index finger. The attack was seen by many as unnecessary, and led to public criticism against the new governor and his brother, which became so intense that it resulted in the dismissal of Carlos Ortiz as governor of
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...
Cajemé, when traveling with his Yaqui soldiers, would often sing in Spanish at the head of his troops. Riding on a horse, he would hook his leg around the pommel of his saddle, and sing a song of bravery and lack of fear of the Mexican army. He would have two men with him, one on each side, and would be followed by approximately thirty more men on horseback, arranged in groups of ten, spaced some distance apart. Following at the rear of the column would be the infantry, composed of 100 or more troops. In 1885, one of Cajemé's lieutenants, Loreto Molina, sought to gain control of the Yaqui people. With the support of the Mexican authorities, Molina developed an assassination plot to kill Cajemé at Cajemé's own home, at El Guamuchli, near Pótam. On the evening of 28 January 1885, Molina and twenty-two of his Yaqui supporters (some accounts state 30 or more) set out to kill Cajemé, but Cajemé was not at home, having left for the Mayo River with his bodyguard the day before. Cajemé stated that Molina's men looted his house, abused the women of the household by beating them with their weapons, and tearing off some of their clothes, and ran off Cajemé's family, leaving Cajemé's eight-year-old daughter on the bed in the house, while setting fire his house. One of Cajemé's sergeants saved the girl out of the flames of the fire, as the house burned to the ground. Among others named by Cajemé as participants in the attack. were the following men: *Loreto Cuate *Angél Cuchi *Agustín Guapo *Trenidad Guapo *Francisco Guabesi *Pancho Juchaji *Martín Mobesbeo *Modesto el panadero (the baker) *hermano de (brother of) Modesto *Lucio Nasario *Antonio Ochocomasoleo *Loreto Omocol *Nacho Pelado *Madaleno Quintero *Luis Sanbaon *Nacho Suboqui *José Suple *José Tolo *Facundo Yorigelipe *Ilario Yorigelipe *Juan María Yorigelipe *Liandra Yorigelipe After Molina failed to kill Cajemé, the Mexican Government sent a force of three columns of 1200 men each to occupy the Yaqui territory. This force was originally under the command of Brigadier General Jose Guillermo Carbó (1841–1885), who had been appointed in 1881 as Commander of the First Military Zone comprising
Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...
,
Baja California Baja California, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California, is a state in Mexico. It is the northwesternmost of the 32 federal entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1952, the area was known as the North Territory of B ...
,
Sinaloa Sinaloa (), officially the (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, compose the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities, and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales. It is located in northwest Mexic ...
, and
Tepic Tepic () is the capital and largest city of the western Mexico, Mexican Political divisions of Mexico, state of Nayarit, as well as the seat of the Tepic Municipality. Located in the central part of the state, it stands at an altitude of above ...
It was thought that this was an advantageous time to move against the Yaquis, as the situation was relatively calm. A military report on the first of September stated that Cajemé had dissolved his troops, and many indigenous people were approaching ranchos near the Yaqui River in search of work, while raids on ranchos had stopped. Also, there was optimism that the potential for disagreements between Cajemé and Anastasio Cuca, Cajemé's second in command, would increase, and that it would not be remote if a split occurred between them. However, before Carbó could lead the government forces into an engagement, he died of a massive
cerebral hemorrhage Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), also known as hemorrhagic stroke, is a sudden bleeding into the tissues of the brain (i.e. the parenchyma), into its ventricles, or into both. An ICH is a type of bleeding within the skull and one kind of stro ...
on October 29, 1885. Following this, General Ángel Martínez known as "El Machetero" ("The Machete") was placed in control of these three columns. Under General Martínez, the Mexican forces moved on the
Yaqui River The Yaqui River (Río Yaqui in Spanish) (Hiak Vatwe in the Yaqui or Yoreme language) is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. It was formerly known as the Rio del Norte. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, th ...
pueblos.
Hubert Howe Bancroft Hubert Howe Bancroft (May 5, 1832 – March 2, 1918) was an American historian and ethnologist who wrote, published, and collected works concerning the Western United States, Texas, California, Alaska, Mexico, Central America, and British Colum ...
relates (1888) how one of the columns was led by General Leiva (no relation to Cajemé) and General Marcos Carillo, and traveled west towards the
Yaqui River The Yaqui River (Río Yaqui in Spanish) (Hiak Vatwe in the Yaqui or Yoreme language) is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. It was formerly known as the Rio del Norte. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, th ...
Valley, carrying two
mitrailleuse A mitrailleuse (; from French ''mitraille'', " grapeshot") is a type of volley gun with barrels of rifle calibre that can fire either all rounds at once or in rapid succession. The earliest true mitrailleuse was invented in 1851 by Belgian Army ...
, which was the first machine gun used in major combat. Another was led by General Camano, and came from the south-east with two
howitzer The howitzer () is an artillery weapon that falls between a cannon (or field gun) and a mortar. It is capable of both low angle fire like a field gun and high angle fire like a mortar, given the distinction between low and high angle fire break ...
s. A heavy body of cavalry came from the town of Buena Vista, from the north-east. General Martinez personally directed the occupation of the strategic Yaqui pueblo of Torím and other areas of the
Yaqui River The Yaqui River (Río Yaqui in Spanish) (Hiak Vatwe in the Yaqui or Yoreme language) is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. It was formerly known as the Rio del Norte. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, th ...
Valley from his headquarters at Barojica. General Bonifacio Topete eventually took control of a large part of the force and attempted to overrun a major fortification that the Yaqui built near Vícam. The fort, "El Añil" (The Indigo), was the first use of defensive warfare by Cajemé, and consisted of fences,
parapet A parapet is a barrier that is an upward extension of a wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure. The word comes ultimately from the Italian ''parapetto'' (''parare'' 'to cover/defend' and ''petto'' 'chest/brea ...
s, and a
moat A moat is a deep, broad ditch dug around a castle, fortification, building, or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. Moats can be dry or filled with water. In some places, moats evolved into more extensive water d ...
surrounding the fortification. Although Topete's infantry force used cannons against the Yaqui forces in the attack, Topete was defeated with a loss of 20 men. Following this successful repulsion of the Mexican forces, Cajemé gave the order to his forces to fortify other locations and to fight only while behind trenches. In April 1886, the Mexican forces occupied the Yaqui town of
Cócorit Cócorit is a town located in the municipality of Cajeme in the southern part of the Mexican state of Sonora. The name of the town is derived from the Yaqui (Yoem noki, or Hiak noki) word for a chili pepper, ''ko'oko'i.'' Cócorit and the munici ...
; and on May 5, 1886, a major siege was begun by the Mexican army at El Añil. By May 16, the Mexican army destroyed the fortification at El Añil, which was a great defeat for the Yaquis.


Betrayal

Eventually, Cajemé was betrayed by a Yaqui woman, who was loyal to Loreto Molina, a Yaqui who was opposed to waging an insurgency against the Mexican government, as well as to other Yaquis opposed to resisting Mexican authority, Cajemé was captured while visiting family members in the pueblo of San José de Guaymas (about 8 miles north of the Port of Guaymas) on April 13, 1887. Cajemé was kept under house arrest by General Angel Martínez. He was treated with all of the respect and courtesy accorded to a defeated leader of a country while under arrest. Cajemé was extensively interviewed by
Ramón Corral Ramón Corral Verdugo (January 10, 1854 – November 10, 1912) was a Mexican politician who served as the Vice President of Mexico under President Porfirio Díaz from 1904 when it was reestablished until their resignations in May 1911, due to ...
, who was elected Vice-Governor of Sonora on April 25, 1887, and who later became Governor of Sonora, eventually rising to the office of
Vice President of Mexico The office of the vice president of Mexico was first created by the 1824 Constitution of Mexico, Constitution of 1824, then it was abolished in 1836 by the Siete Leyes, Seven Constitutional Laws, then briefly restored in 1846 following the restor ...
under
Porfirio Diaz Porfirio is a given name in Portuguese and Spanish, derived from the Greek Porphyry (''porphyrios'' "purple-clad"). It can refer to: * Porfirio Salinas – Mexican-American artist * Porfirio Armando Betancourt – Honduran football player * ...
. It was during this time that Cajemé's famous saying was recorded: "Antes como antes y ahora como ahora. Antes éramos enemigos y peleábamos, Ahora está Todo concluido y todos somos amigos (Before was before and now is now. Before we were enemies and we fought; now everything is concluded and all can be friends)" At least two photos were taken of Cajemé during his arrest, in both traditional Mexican campesino garb (as shown in the first photo), as well as in a dark blue military jacket that he was known to wear when fighting. In both photos he is seen holding a
Carbine A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges. The smaller size and ligh ...
, and carrying a white-handled Colt revolver.


Execution

Following his interview, Cajemé was taken from Guaymas bay by the '' Demócrata,'' a
steam-powered A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. The steam engine uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a cylinder. This pushing force can be tra ...
, coal-fired, iron-hulled, schooner-rigged
gunboat A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies. History Pre-steam ...
, with one funnel and three masts, to the
Yaqui River The Yaqui River (Río Yaqui in Spanish) (Hiak Vatwe in the Yaqui or Yoreme language) is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. It was formerly known as the Rio del Norte. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, th ...
port of
El Médano El Médano (Spanish, "The sand dune") is a town in the municipality of Granadilla de Abona, on the island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. It is located about 11 kilometers from the town of Granadilla, reaching an average altitude of 75 m ...
, near Pótam. Cajemé was then paraded through several of the
Yaqui The Yaqui, Hiaki, or Yoeme, are an Indigenous people of Mexico and Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribe, who speak the Yaqui language, a Uto-Aztecan language. Their primary homelands are in Río Yaqui valley in the no ...
pueblos along the river, showing the people that the leader of the Yaqui had been captured. At eleven in the morning, on the return trip to
Guaymas Guaymas () is a city in Guaymas Municipality, in the southwest part of the List of states of Mexico, state of Sonora, in northwestern Mexico. The city is south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and from the Mexico – United States border, U.S. ...
, a pretense was made that Cajemé was trying to escape his guard. He was shot seven times, causing his death at Tres Cruces de Chumampaco. An American reporter for the
Tucson Daily Citizen The ''Tucson Citizen'' was a daily newspaper in Tucson, Arizona. It was founded by Richard C. McCormick with John Wasson as publisher and editor on October 15, 1870, as the ''Arizona Citizen''. When it ceased printing on May 16, 2009, the dail ...
(1887) visited the site of his death, and found Cajemé's hat was nailed to a tree, and a wooden cross inscribed with the following: "INRI, aque fallecio General Cajemé, Abril 23, 1887, a los 11 y 5 la manaña" (
INRI In the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as the King of the Jews, both at the beginning of his life and at the end. In the Koine Hellenic of the New Testament, e.g., in John 19:3, this is written as ''Basileus ton Ioudaion'' (). Both uses o ...
Here died General Cajemé, April 23, 1887, at 11:05 in the morning). Cajemé's body was given to Tomás Durante, leader of the Yaqui people residing at
Cócorit Cócorit is a town located in the municipality of Cajeme in the southern part of the Mexican state of Sonora. The name of the town is derived from the Yaqui (Yoem noki, or Hiak noki) word for a chili pepper, ''ko'oko'i.'' Cócorit and the munici ...
, and those Yaqui loyal to Cajemé reverently buried him at Cócorit. Following this incident, General Martinez ordered an investigation of the actions of his young Lieutenant, Clemente Patiño (born November 1861 who was in charge of the detachment that had escorted Cajemé.


Events Following Cajemé's Death

On 20 May 1887, Anastasio Cuca, Cajemé's second in command, was captured at
Tucson, Arizona Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...
. He was extradited to Sonora at the request of Sonora Governor Tórres. Cuca was charged with murder and robbery in the District of Guaymas, and then taken to the Yaqui River and executed in front of his people. Afterward, Juan Maldonado Waswechia (Beltran), also known as
Tetabiate Tetabiate (''Tetaviecti,'' meaning "Rolling Stone" in the Yaqui or Yoeme language), also known as Juan Maldonado Waswechia Beltran (28 August 1857 – 9 July 1901), was the leader of the Yaqui resistance to Mexican attempts to destroy their ...
(''Tetaviecti'', meaning "Rolling Stone" in the Yaqui or Yoeme language), took over in leading the fighting against the Mexican forces, becoming Cajemé's successor in June 1887 By this time, the devastation to the Yaqui population along the Yaqui river was great. At the direction of the Government of Sonora, a count was taken of the number of indigenous inhabitants still living in the Yaqui Pueblos of Cócorit, Tórim, and El Médano in late 1887. The count showed that there were only 1784 men and 2200 women still living in the three towns. For many years following Cajemé's death there were strenuous efforts by the Mexican government to kill or remove all the Yaqui from the state of Sonora. Much of the Yaqui nation was illegally enslaved and sent to work as slave laborers in the
Yucatán Peninsula The Yucatán Peninsula ( , ; ) is a large peninsula in southeast Mexico and adjacent portions of Belize and Guatemala. The peninsula extends towards the northeast, separating the Gulf of Mexico to the north and west of the peninsula from the C ...
, in the
Quintana Roo Quintana Roo, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Quintana Roo, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, constitute the 32 administrative divisions of Mexico, federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into municipalities of ...
, where thousands died laboring in the
henequen ''Agave fourcroydes'' or henequen is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to southern Mexico and Guatemala. It is reportedly naturalized in Madeira, Italy, the Canary Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Hispaniola, the Cayman I ...
plantations. Many more were simply killed, usually by firing squad or by hanging. Many Yaqui fled to neighboring Mexican states, submerging their identity with that of other Indian groups. Quite a few Yaqui fled to Southern
Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...
, the traditional Northernmost region of their territory, where many of their descendants live today.


Cajemé's families

It is known that Cajemé was married at least two times. His first wife was María Jesus Salgado Ramires. It appears that this was a traditional Yaqui marriage, as it does not appear to be recorded in the historic
Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
records. Cajemé and María had two children, both born in Hermosillo: a son, Sotero Emiliano Leiva Salgado, born in 1863, and a daughter, Victoria Leiva Salgado, born in 1866 Mexican newspaper articles mention Cajemé's son from this marriage leading Yaqui soldiers in the fight against the Mexican forces, or fighting alongside his father in the years 1885 and 1886, as well as his daughter leading some raids. His last appearance in the historical record that has been located is on May 4, 1889, where Emiliano Leiva is listed as a Padrino at the baptism of his sister, Victoria Leiva's, first child. Victoria was in 1885 noted (but not by name) as the daughter of Cajemé (Newark Daily Advocate, 1885). Victoria married a well-known businessman from
Montmorenci, Indiana Montmorenci is an unincorporated census-designated place in Shelby Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Older maps sometimes spell the name ''Montmorency'' or ''Montmorencie''. It is part of the Lafayette, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical A ...
, in the United States, named William E. Godman. Godman was working as a "ferrocarrilero," and had been living in Sonora since 1884. The marriage took place in Guaymas, on December 17, 1887, at the home of Don Antonio Moreno, a Senator from Sonora who was largely responsible for pushing through the development of the Sonora Railway. The marriage occurred just eight months after the death of Cajemé. With the aide of her husband William, Victoria, along with her mother María, and her older brother Emiliano, were able to escape the continued persecution of the Yaqui people in Sonora. Godman and his family traveled first to the state of Chihuahua. The family returned to Sonora in 1892, and finally, in January 1900, entered the United States of America at
El Paso, Texas El Paso (; ; or ) is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States. The 2020 United States census, 2020 population of the city from the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the List of ...
, not long after the infamous massacre of Yaquis at Mazocoba, in the heart of the Bacatete Mountains of Sonora. Godman eventually left Victoria and his daughters in El Paso and re-married. At the start of the
Mexican Revolution The Mexican Revolution () was an extended sequence of armed regional conflicts in Mexico from 20 November 1910 to 1 December 1920. It has been called "the defining event of modern Mexican history". It saw the destruction of the Federal Army, its ...
Godman relocated to
Puerto Barrios Puerto Barrios () is a city in Guatemala, located within the Gulf of Honduras. The city is located on Bahia de Amatique. Puerto Barrios is the departmental seat of Izabal department and is the administrative seat of Puerto Barrios municipality. ...
,
Guatemala Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is hydrologically b ...
, where he accepted a position as Port Superintendent for the
International Railways of Central America The International Railways of Central America (IRCA) (, FICA) was a U.S. based company founded by Minor C. Keith and incorporated in New Jersey in 1904 which operated a large network of 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railways in Guatemala and El Sa ...
(I.R.C.A.), a subsidiary of the
United Fruit Company The United Fruit Company (later the United Brands Company) was an American multinational corporation that traded in tropical fruit (primarily bananas) grown on Latin American plantations and sold in the United States and Europe. The company was ...
. Victoria died on August 5, 1946, in
Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, having had four children and four grandchildren. Cajemé's second marriage was to María Jesús Maccima Matus Morales on June 14, 1878, recorded at San Fernando, Guaymas, Sonora. Dolores Salgado, the father of Cajemé's first wife, was one of the godparents (padrinos) of María Jesús Maccima Matus Morales at the time of her baptism on November 20, 1842. There were at least two children born to this union, the youngest being a son ("joven,"), and also a daughter. This family appears to be the one that Loreto Molina and his followers ran off, burning their home near Pótam in 1885.


Municipality of Cajeme

Following the death of Cajemé, the Yaqui struggled to maintain control of their traditional lands. However, by 1890, with most of the Yaqui removed from the
Yaqui River The Yaqui River (Río Yaqui in Spanish) (Hiak Vatwe in the Yaqui or Yoreme language) is a river in the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. It was formerly known as the Rio del Norte. Being the largest river system in the state of Sonora, th ...
Valley, the Mexican government granted the Sonora and
Sinaloa Sinaloa (), officially the (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, compose the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities, and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales. It is located in northwest Mexic ...
Irrigation Company, incorporated in
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
, land along the river with water rights in 1890. The company begin the construction of canals for irrigating and growing crops. The Sonora and Sinaloa Irrigation Company soon went bankrupt, and the grant was purchased by the Richardson Construction Company of California in 1906. The Richardson Construction Company sold a 400
hectare The hectare (; SI symbol: ha) is a non-SI metric unit of area equal to a square with 100-metre sides (1 hm2), that is, square metres (), and is primarily used in the measurement of land. There are 100 hectares in one square kilometre. ...
block of land to developers from the United States and Europe, and received the exclusive right to sixty-five percent of the Yaqui River’s water for a 99-year period. The first non-indigenous settlers established themselves in the neighborhood called Plano Oriente. The Ferrocarril Sud-Pacífico, a subsidy of the
Southern Pacific Railroad The Southern Pacific (or Espee from the railroad initials) was an American Railroad classes#Class I, Class I Rail transport, railroad network that existed from 1865 to 1996 and operated largely in the Western United States. The system was oper ...
, established a station nearby called Cajeme, to provide water for the locomotives. The town of
Cajeme Cajeme is one of the 72 Municipalities of Mexico, municipalities of the northwestern List of states of Mexico, Mexican state of Sonora. It is named after Cajemé, a Yaqui people, Yaqui leader. The municipality has an area of 3,312.05 km2 (1 ...
was initially a part of
Cócorit Cócorit is a town located in the municipality of Cajeme in the southern part of the Mexican state of Sonora. The name of the town is derived from the Yaqui (Yoem noki, or Hiak noki) word for a chili pepper, ''ko'oko'i.'' Cócorit and the munici ...
Municipality until its elevation to a Municipal Seat on September 28, 1927. The first city government was established on January 1, 1928. The July 28, 1928, decree stated that “the city is known now with the name of
Ciudad Obregón Ciudad Obregón is a city in southern Sonora. It is the state's second largest city after Hermosillo and serves as the municipal seat of Cajeme. As of 2020, the city has a population of 436,484. Ciudad Obregón is south of the country's U.S.� ...
, the town formerly known as Cajeme.” In 1937 another legislation stated that Cajeme be the name of the Municipality and
Ciudad Obregón Ciudad Obregón is a city in southern Sonora. It is the state's second largest city after Hermosillo and serves as the municipal seat of Cajeme. As of 2020, the city has a population of 436,484. Ciudad Obregón is south of the country's U.S.� ...
its seat. In modern times, the Municipality of Cajeme yearly commemorates the death of Cajemé, with a gathering and public speeches highlighting the battles where Cajemé led his people against the Mexican Government, instead of pacifying the Yaqui people as was expected by Sonoran Governor Pesqueira.Municipio de Cajeme, 2013


Notes


References


Bibliography

* Archivo General del Registro Civil del Estado de Sonora. (1887). ''Copias de Actas de Matrimonio.'' (In Spanish). Guaymas. pp. 95–97. * Bancroft, H. H. (1888)
''History of Mexico, Vol. VI.''
San Francisco: The History Company. p. 462 * Berber, Laureano Calvo. (1958). ''Nociones de historia de Sonora.'' (In Spanish). México City: Libreria de Manuel Porrua, S A. * Corral, Ramón. (1887). ''José María Leyva Cajeme: Apuntes Biográficos.'' A serial article published in several issues of ''La Constitución'' (Periódico oficial del gobierno del estado libre y soberano de Sonora), beginning with the issue of April 22, 1887 (Tomo IX, Num. 16), and ending July 8, 1887 (Tomo IX, Num. 28). (In Spanish). Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. * Corral, Ramón. (1959
900 __NOTOC__ Year 900 ( CM) was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Abbasid Caliphate * Spring – Forces under the Transoxianian emir Isma'il ibn Ahmad are victorious at Balkh (Northern Afghan ...
. Biografía de José María Leyva Cajeme. In ''Obras históricas. Reseña histórica del Estado de Sonora, 1856-1877''; Las razas indígenas de Sonora. No. I. (In Spanish). Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, Retrato del autor. (Biblioteca Sonorense de Geografía e Historia) ote: This is the second printing of this book, which was originally published in 1900. It was republished in 1959 as part of a State series on the geography and history of Sonora* ''Diccionario Porrúa de Historia, Biografía, Geografía de México,'' 2 Vols. (1970) (In Spanish). Mexico: Porrúa. Vol. 1, p. 360. * de Collet La Madelène, Joseph Henri. (1876). ''Le comte Gaston de Raousset-Boulbon, sa vie et ses aventures: d'pres ses papiers et sa correspondance.'' (In French). Paris: Charpentier et Cie, Libraires Éditeurs. * El Siglo Diez y Nueve. (1851). ''Estado de Sonora, Ures, Mayo 25.'' June 25, 1851. p. 604. * Garcia, Lorenzo. (1885). ''Carta de Lorenzo Garcia a Porfirio Diaz, Hemosillo, 1 de Septiembre de 1885.'' Archivo Porfirio Diaz, legajo 10, caja 19, documento 009,024. (In Spanish). * Gouy-Gilbert, Cécile (1983). ''Une résistance indienne. Les Yaquis du Sonora.'' (In French) Lyon, France: Les Éditions Fédérop. * Hernández, Fortunato. (1902)
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''Executive Documents of the House of Representatives.''
Second Session of the Forty Sixth Congress, 1879-1880. Foreign Relations, Vol. 1, Part 1. Washington: Government Printing Office. pp. 831–833. * Municipio de Cajeme. (2013)
''Conmemoran autoridades el 125 aniversario luctuoso de José María Leyva''
(In Spanish). April 25, 2013. * Newark Daily Advocate. (1885). ''A troublesome Indian race.'' Newark, Ohio. June 10, 1885. See also: ''A troublesome Indian race.'' The Mitchell Daily Republican. Mitchell, South Dakota. June 26, 1885. ote: this was a widely syndicated article at the time. The two citations given are among the easiest to locate.* N.Y. Times. (1887)
''The Sonora Election.''
April 27, 1887. * N.Y. Times. (1900)
''New York Bondholders Win: Mexican Court Grants Foreclosure Against Sonora Irrigation Co.''
December 22, 1900. * N.Y. Times. (1901)
''Mexico Company in Trouble.''
June 25, 1901. * Otero, Jose. (1885). ''Carta de Jose Otero a Porfirio Diaz, 10 de Septiembre de 1885.'' (In Spanish). Archivo Porfirio Diaz. legajo 10, caja 19, documenta 009,379. * Phillips, Steven J., & Comus, Patricia Wentworth. (2000). ''A natural history of the Sonoran Desert.'' Tucson, Arizona: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press. *
''Records of the Compañia Constructora Richardson, S.A.''
(1904-1968). Arizona-Sonora Document Online. * Scroggs, William O. (1916). ''Filibusters and Financiers; the story of William Walker and his Associates.'' New York,New York: The Macmillan company. * * Spicer, Edward Holland. (1988). ''People of Pascua.'' Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press. * Troncoso, Francisco P. ''Francisco de Borja del Paso y Troncoso'' (1905)
guerras con las Tribus Yaqui y Mayo del estado de Sonora, Mexico.''
(In Spanish). Mexico: Tipografia del departamento de estado mayor. * Tucson Daily Citizen.(1887). May 25, 1887. * Turner, John Kenneth. (1911)
Mexico: An Indictment of a Cruel and Corrupt System.''
Chicago: Charles H. Kerr & Company. ote: This is probably the best and most famous English language exposé of the Yaqui situation in Mexico during the early 20th century.* Vandervort, Bruce. (2006). ''Indian wars of Mexico, Canada and the United States, 1812-1900.'' New York: Routledge. * Zoontjens, Linda, & Glenlivet, Yaomi. (2007)
brief history of the Yaqui and their land.''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cajeme 1887 deaths Indigenous Mexicans People from Hermosillo Deaths by firearm in Mexico Mexican murder victims People murdered in Mexico 1835 births People of the California Gold Rush Yaqui Wars Yaqui people People of the Second French intervention in Mexico