Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-05-20
From the ST, Louis New Era.
THE SANTA FE TRADERS SAFE.

THE SANTA FE TRADERS SAFE.
BY the arrival of the steam boat Wcs-
ton. from the Missouri River, letters were
received from members of the Santa Fe
Trading Company---from one of which.
dated at Independence on the 18th inst, we
CLEAN what follows: The writer arrived at
Independence on the day previous, after
a very unpleasant Journey across the plains,
not having had "a hours of pleasant wealth
er from the time of leaving chihuahua.
The spring had been very backward-thc
grass just beginning to show itself-and as
the mules of the Company were almost
without any thing TO eat for twenty days,
they were not able to travel more than
eight or ten miles day. The writer left
the company at the Cotton Woods, GOO
miles distanO and came in with party OF
gentlemen who had been in search of the
robbers and murderers of Mr.. Charvis
OF the party of robbers. under Mr.. War,
field, who style themselves Texans, he
says they saw nothing-although Mr. Gen.
try, on his way in from Santa Fe, saw
them at the crossing of the Arkansas four
or five days before the trading Company
arrived there. Our cro,cd, think, was
rather "fuerte" for him; as we had forty
wagons. twenty Americans, and abou,
one hundred and eighty Mexicans, and kept
good look out all day, and a strong
guard at night" 1t is stated, however
that the rascaIs were collecting in the
mountains and will yet cause trouble. Fou
mountaineers joined the Company at the
Little Arkansas river, who saw Col. War
! field few days before, and was told BY
him that he had then thirty-fve men ant
expected reinforcement from California
and about eighty men from Independence
Ten of the latter, at any rate. he will hardly
get. He told them, as well as Mr.. Gen
try, that american property" was safe, i
the owners did not join in and assist tht
Mexicans--a thing which they would mos
assuredly do, or be recreant TO every gen
erous impulse.
We have not been able to ascertain til,
precise value of property brought in by tht
| Company: one rumor puts ii at $lS0000
another $250,000. We are glad, at any
rate, that it has not fallen into the hands
of the Observation-Disclosures committing
their depredations under the Texian flag
or that of the lawless robber, who has no
even commission from that redoubtablt
republic TO Justify such acts.
The Weston brought down six more o
the men engaged in the Charvis affair-Dr
j. r. De Prefontaine, VIM. Mason, N. II
Norton, Thomas Towson, VIM. Harris anc
Samuel $. Berry. They were immediately
lodged in jail. As we understand that thu
five Mexicans who were in company witt
Charvis, at the time of the robbery, me
with, and have. come in with the Traders
there will De no necessity for any unusua
delay in the trial of the prisoners. Mean
while, however, we hope the officers o
the United States will feel themselves au
thorized to take such measures, by tht
employment Of a proper guard, as will pre-
vent the escape of either Of these men
whether by assistance from without, OF
insecurity in the Jail. The jailor, we
know, will Go his duty, but fast bind, fas
find" is a wholesome regulation.