Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-05-09
MISCELLANEOUS SELECTIONS.

Meriean attack upon California EN-
igrants-In american Kiied.--In the
New York Journal Of Commerce. we
find the following extract Of letter re.
ceived by a highly respectable house il,
tina, city, dated Gaudelajara, March H.
1919:
An unfortunate occurrence took place
with US few days since, resulting in the
death of Mr.. Oh arles Durham. of Ware
house Point. near Hartford. Conn. As
the affair will be brought TO the notice o!
the Government. will relate the circum-
stances attending it somewhat in detail.
On the morning Of the 18th inst. our party
entered the city Of Irapuato, one of the
fines, in Mexico, situated in a beautiful
valley, midway between this CITY and
Mexico, and containing 5000 inhabitants.
As our custom is. we separated into small
parties and entered several eating houses
10 obtain our breakfasts. The deceased.
with some others, making one party-af-
ter eating. dispute arose between him
and the person keeping the house, the
latter alleging that one shilling was due
him. while Durham averred that nine
cents Of it was paid The Alcalde was
then called by the Mexican to prevent,
Durham leaving.
Upon this, Mr.. Charles Carrel, Zone of
our party) was called to act as interpre-
ter, who stated the case to the Alcalde.
the Mexican all the while denying that
anything was paid. Mr. d. directed
Carroll to offer the Alcalde the remaining
three cents, which was. refused. At the
same time Carroll was ordered to dis
mount. This he refused The guard
which was called by the Alcalde then
pointed their guns a: him. our own men
at the same time urging him to obey
Carroll then began to dismount, and at
the same time took hold Of his pistol
The guard observing this, instantly
struck him with their guns. and felled
him to the ground. On this Durham put
spurs to his horse to escape, and had adj
vanced short distance. when one of the
soldiers shot him through the heart with
two balls, making one opening in his
back where they entered. and two in his
breast where they escaped. lie exclaim-
ed they have killed me, and fell lifeless
corpse to the ground.
The soldiers then fell upon our men
beating and firing at
hem. The result was that they were bad
Y injured, by blows only. the guns either
swapping or missing. Mr.. Bidlack, N.Y.
self, and some twenty others, were OF
some distance from this scene, and cs-
'aped unmolested, through the kindness
If two priests. who opened the gate of the
cathedral yard, and thus enabled US to
escape nom NE MOD. Amor so-o-,, -,
erviews with the Alcalde outside the CITY. /
n which he expressed much sorrow and
egret that the affair had taken place, de- I
'laring it impossible for him to have pre-
ented it. he brought out the wounded
nen. having first dressed all their wounds
lie also promised a Christian burial for
ne deceased. We parted with them and
our march,
The deceased was an interesting and
'orthy young gentleman, who leaves a
ither and mother to mourn his loss.
The wounded have mostly recovered.
'uring the affray, one of our men being
oily pursued by a Mexican, turned sud-
emily upon him. and with blow from
'c breech of his gun, felled him to the
round, sinking the lock in his head just
nder the ear.