The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-06
Additional Particulars of che Trngsdy at
SOcOrrO. Texme~
THE MEXICAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION, ETr.

Additional Particulars of che Tragedy a,
| SOcOrrO, TexmsS
MEXICAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION, ETr.
From the New Orleans Pcayune Corrcspondence.l
| socoano, FL PAso County, Texsa, Feb. Is 1851
Circumstances have transpred at this place wthir'the
last three weeks we calculated to attract the attention
OF the people Of the United States and is all
tant that facts should be known possbts before wrong
Impressions receive additional support from flying aud
! contradictory rnmors, have undertakes faithful,
sketch Of hngs they have presented themselves
fore entering into let prefacs sufficiently
toinform you that this situated fifteen
miles from FL paso dc Ncrte proper, abo,.
from Isets which lies between and six miles from San
Klzario. The last named lies further Aown the
siySr, and i occupied by United States troops.
During the last past several trains Of for
California ana elsewhere passed through these viii
lsges in many instances stopping for weeks avaing
tn, sscys of tire convencpces presented for ne sarY
rrpsirs and the recruiting cf arinaL II is well Know
that with all these trains there less .eiy-
duals Of doubtful character, and frequently numher Of
rcncgades from justice Who Offering themselves cooks
servants or any lov occupaton and for such trtng
compensation that many have been received withoH
proper inquiry having been made about their standing
and character The discharsne at different perioda~f
many worthless and vaabond this place hsi
thrown the peaceful inhabitants Of the little w
lage set Of rufans whe hy daily increase Of
had b come formidable that at Lst the life Of per-
whatever considered safe beyoad the walls of hs
own house aad not within those limits the fol
| lowing will show.
The rst check given to this ba nd OF gamblers horse
thieves and murderers. was the arrival II the United
states and Mexican boundary commission mt Socorro
the others for the accommodation Of larger por
tion Of the commission witir this conveniences
for quarters sorebouses &s immediately selected
The presence Of body Of well armed well disposed and
spirited young tended to make hass fellows hide
their heads during the time that the greater portion Of
the nbers Of the commission toy, thcr but du-
ties ctcd with the boundary survey had called of
different parties and in various directions. Al the
hcr d the commission at Socorro became reduced in the
ratio lost the peasc and quiet Of the village;
until at last, but ten or eleven reliable could be
found to muster for comb ned defence and our neigh
borhood presented appearance OF the internal
regions than d a place where human and civilized
beings known dwell Houses opened the
tfltt rtn nf all ip1ul pf
vicious passion wicked imagination might suggest
Each midnight hour hcradei and oftentnes
bloody for the fast filling record of crime each
mornings though rising beautiful and bright could
not WARN the chilling sensation which lay heavy the
hearts Of the trembling Mexcans they listened to the
recital II fresh and bloody deed then fastened
pack their little Of worldly wealth and with wives,
children all fled quickly from the rapidly depopuating
Invan they asked the raeaning Of the clause in the
treaty of Guadalupe de Ii2ao which promises that the
property ard interests q Mexicans falling this side
of the Rio Grande shall be protected that Of any
oh'r citizen Of the United States
Thus things; each new outrage escaping the
tiee Of those who had power additional bones 10
the desperate gang surrounding us; tae darkness Of
night afforded not suiaient time for them; their evil
acts thrust without fear shame in the very face Of
1 the MONDAY None dared stir from home without
being douby armed and prepared to their weapons
ut moments warning. for the turning Of had
brought some immediately 10 the muzsles Of dozen
pistols will ma aturaly inquire. Where were the au
Ihortes ~ You shsl learn from tbs sequel OF this
On Tuesday. the 2sth January last, Alexander Young
principal actor in the scenes an about to write o
gave prelude the bloody tragedies which followed
exhibition Of his malciousnes by cutting the neck OF
in the place This taste of blood for Young put him
frcsh trail and he kept u like bloodhound with
pack q many others like himself following at his hccs
| and in the same pursuit. With pistols in hand they
parad, through the village in all drcc tion, and
! ngly desirous Of committing murder. They enter
M,xican's house, call for wine; the poor follow l.
sufficiently prompt suit their excited fncics, imme-
distcly pistol l. e,elcd at his head but, thank God
the cap will not explode hesr with that e ndish
the rpfinns laugh the innocent sht
harmless Indian girl thockcd at their rude f,miari
ties. seeks 10 escape but nds her protection from
the Wholesale brutality dealt cut to all who dared TO
present appearance 81 dccency and proprict. The
night II the 18th has Its history the day Of the 18th
precnts that WHICH bears more particularly upon our
| present object.
Ab,ut midday, or shortly after. part os the baud
had collected the fonda of the who had been
vound the day previous; at this time peaceabe
per- on passing by from shooting excursion, hi fowling
piece forei, taken him by this Alexander Young
| Who takes II into house and kills inmate of the
The murderer then cooly takes drink of liquor
u informed that his victim Is dead dying when he
enters where the body lays straighens H. aud
the hands and the same. few minutes later
the crowd u walking together up the road laughing
the bloody deed and threatening to Kill every
ar drive them from the place. John Woods, the mur.
dcrtd porson In this instance was generally known "a
little. harmless old rather to be pted than feared
In the evening a the same day, person was riding
along when Fix of the band cooked and pointed
their p tolls at him. forcing him to return by the road
he be shot About nigh time terror aud dis
may had shadowed face within the village that be-
nugsd 20 the orderly part Of the community II was
then resolved 10 ask for assistance from the military post
Mt San flizsrio. about six miles distant. note
written stating the necessity Of the with history
a the past and the condition of things a:
that time. In about two hours the express returned
| with declining to furnish any assistance
| On the plea that We should first apply to the civil
| autht rites
Had there been any wsl known reliable civil auho-
rics nj such an answer might e Deemed proper
ard cxcusablc. hut there and admitting that
hrc such fact could not excuse the tauntng IN
sutrg nucndo, which closes the note of the officer
aptlird to- when he writes . should think there
good citizens enough in Socorro who may bc summoned
~ the alcsdc 70 protect the lives and property " the in
habitants" To this note from the nearest military
thofity the following reply made the following
mornfE sign.d ~ the persons Who had adircssd
| the frst communication
ssocoRuo, TrSAs Jan 80 1851.
/ "Capt -. commanding san Elizsrio.
/ "Sn-iow note received last night We regre
the circumstances which rendered necessary for Amc
rcan czcns TO ask for protection from American sol.
I ditrs.
Though there are good citizens enough in socorr)
who may be- summoned tor the protection of life and pro
/ pcrty yet thought that those who sent here
Tor the prutctcon II the and the establishment
Kind ~ order would have the bot right to taSe Tn
business In hand especially 'tis well known both far
and q the noucxitcnce of any responsible and
| liable civil authority at this place.
Trusting that the trfiing numl-.r have present
viii he sufficient for the protection of ourselves aud the
| peaceful inhabitants of the village.
We rtmain very respectfully your obt sery'ts
on the night a. the 18th. preceding the morning when
the above note despatched dancing party given
In the place such being the only anust mpnt which e1ud
he AFFORDED to those who dcsruus q enjoying plea
sanity the little society present The testimony IN
present during the night IN question u has been eli.
cited Va examination and trial since held and FROM
other information not furnished at that time all gpcs
prove that certain individuals known ~ Aicxandcr
Young, John Wade Marcus Butler William Craig stc.
hen Stanly. Charles Hughes Charles Rippy. Thnna.
McCaky, Alexander McNiyen and others, went to ths
house where the dancir going and with the pre-
mcditatcd design cf breaking up ana having fus
with Nh. Clarke aud any else who might aid him.
Young commenced by making q considerable noise, and
~ grew later fired his pistol o M candle. the fright
entd tmalcs not permitted to retire. and any one
who might attempt to take them away threatened
With death Meanwhile. two rufnans stood on the ont
side as senincls ~ each side of ne entrance Craig
discharged his pistol at the clock destroying tn same
while Young with knife In one. hand and pistol ~
the other moved UP and down me room threatening ~
thc ,ec, n,,ctti,n b.tbc, - hl sbnot 1garke nr not
At the same moment that .s pistol withina ew INC
q fClarke's head who y ing In chair At ength thc
final bloody act united by an attack upon CarK
commenced by Your and followed N direct manner