Draft:Pelon (Native American tracker of the Quechan Nation)
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|  |
Pelon | |
|---|---|
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 1893 Gila Bend, Arizona Territory |
| Occupation(s) | Scout, Indian trailer |
| Known for | Native American tracker for U.S. law enforcement |
Pelon (died 1893) was a Native American tracker and scout from the Quechan (Yuma) Tribal Nation in the Arizona Territory. He served as a trailer (tracker) for railroad lawmen and was involved in manhunts during the late 19th century. Pelon is recognized in historical newspapers for his bravery and contributions to frontier justice during the American Westward Expansion.
Career
[edit]Pelon was hired by law enforcement and railroad officials to help track down outlaws. A 1892 article in the Tombstone Epitaph reported that Pelon, along with another Native tracker named Comeno, joined Frank Burke and a posse to pursue the outlaws Evans and Sontag. The team also included Billy Breckenridge and Jack Taylor of Tucson, and Charley Cowell of Yuma. Pelon and the other Indian trailers were armed and expected to receive a share of the reward if successful.
> "The Yuma Times says that Frank Burke and the two Indian trailers Pelon and Comeno, went back to California last Monday to again go on the trail for Evans and Sontag."[1]
Death
[edit]Pelon died in 1893, struck by a train while returning to Yuma from Phoenix, where he had testified as a witness in a liquor case. His death was reported in the Arizona Sentinel, which described him as the "renowned Yuma Indian trailer."
> "Pelon, the renowned Yuma Indian trailer, was run over and killed by a passenger train at Gila Bend Thursday morning. He had been at Phoenix as a witness in the Hick's liquor case and was on his return home."[2]
Legacy
[edit]Though largely forgotten in mainstream history, Pelon exemplifies the often-overlooked contributions of Native Americans in supporting law enforcement, especially in the rugged frontier regions of the Southwest. His service and tragic death stand as a testament to the Quechan Nation’s role in territorial Arizona history.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Category:Quechan people Category:Native American people of Arizona Category:Native American military personnel Category:Indigenous people of the American Southwest Category:1893 deaths Category:Year of birth unknown Category:People from Yuma, Arizona