The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-17

notorious individual which ended in his tragical death
Shortly after my arrival here, found in one Of your
papers brief account Of the acts and career OF the noto
rous Captain Parker H. French 10 Texas As the his.
tory OF this noted mposer has been both remarkable and
strange aud being witness 10 many Of his acts, AXE
the liberty OF forwarding you lew Items relative Ia
FTenchs movements after leaving San Antonio AT San
Antonio became Of his dupes, and purchased die
the $50 others then with hlm) my ticket Tor $780, be con-
tracing 10 set me down within sixty days IN California
"French was maa OF extraordinary energy and very
pleasing address His adrollness and cunning have been
Iexenplifed during his sojoum IN Texas. Notice The
persons he duped in that State all old and exDe
rienced business men Such was his address scarce
merchant in San Antonio or government officer escaped
him. Provisions, arms, and ammunition were furnished
him at San Antonio at government cost prices Tor all Of
which he paid in drafts on Rowland Aspnwal Of
New York Leaving San Antonio he pushed on with
a view 10 overtakng the government train owned by
Messrs Coons Lewis, then their way TO Franklin
opposite I'll Pdso del Nore. Wereached Coons' Lewiss
encampment on the Pecos river August 10, 1850 AT
this time out OF bTeadsuiiS and all other sup
plies, excepting beef French had purchased large
drove OF beeves San Antonio, and was well pre-.
pared in this respect. was chosen one OF three who
accompanied French TO the tent oil Mi b. F. Coons,
government contractor in order 10 ascertain the practical
by OF procuring provisions from him, company
had then been four days without flour or bread Upon
Slrague, commanding escort to The train. The major a,
authorized Coons TO issue The supplies required by
Captain French, providing he (Coons) should respond 10
the commissary at Franklin Tor the original cost OF the
| provisions. Coons then demanded Frenchs letters OF
recommendation and examined his purpoIted letter OF
credit from Rowland Aspinwa French had come
well prepared with letters Coons from The aers most
intimate friends in Texas, After consulting Major
Sprague, Lieutenant Turnkey uhe commssary) and Cap.
tain Nat Lewis, (his paitner) Mr. Coons consented TO
furnish us all the supplies we might want between the
Pecos and Franklin aud TO accept drafts on Rowland
Aspnwa for the amount This vas Fench's first deal.
ing with Coons but the latter moi destined 10 re.
celve so slight share OF our worthy captains fayors as
will soon be seen. la pushing TO overtake the govern.
ment train lad succeeded III breaking down all of our
mules.
After travelling few days with the government
train, French commenced negotiating with Coons for
number OF wagons and mules The latter evidently mis-
trusted French from The various inquiries he made Of
sell and others in Frenchs party about the expedition
&c. French finally exhibited his letters from business
men in Lavacca, Victoria, San Antonio, and New Or.
leans, which, might be expected, successfully drew
the blind Coonss eyes, and the trade was concluded
In this purchase French got 200 mules and y wagons
which were at once delivered to him. The entire train
was now at the forks OF the two roads from lexas-one
OF these roads leading up the Pecos, the ohe striking
out TO the left toward The RIO Grande Water being very
scarce Coons and Lewis concluded to separate here
the former going the upper aud Lewis the lower route
French resolved al once 10 part win ICONS, aud lun
Lewis in the lower route ms move was evidently su
pcious, ii was thought TO be preparatory step 10
crossing the Rio Grandelus evadng Coons and such
Frenchs dupes might attempt TO follow hlm IRON Tex
On reaching the valley q The no Grande French pro-
posed passing into Mexico but we now found C0oas
had guarded against this BY giving written nsTuclonslo
his major domo TO follow The lower route, and under
circumstances 10 deyiate from It, French now found
| himself constrained 10 push on 10 III Paso, winch he
did, with view OF getting away from there before news
OF his transactions should be received from Texas %
the road up the Rio Grandc he purchased goods 10 the
amount OF several thousand dollars from the suffers to
the train, and endeavored 10 conceal large amount oil
provisions in his own wagons from those he had got
IRON Coons Leaving his IRAN behind and taxing ioaT
picked with him, he pushed on 10 HI Pass Here be
was again frustrated; for who should he meet at Frank
lin but Coons The latter had received news OF The
made by French 10 cross the Rio GGande, and had
rode TO intercept him. Before Coons and French sep
araled, our captain had made contract with Coons for
l25 mules. al 500 each, 10 be delivered al \! Paso by
the time French should arrive there de aso got Of him.
or rather get, 100 ie0agas OF corn al IS 5Oper
ienaga Mr. c. had both mules and corn on hand but
refused peTemptoy 10 deliver either nn he should re-
ceve letters from San Antonio French knew this would
be death'blow 10 him and hs projects, and endeavHd
TO obyate The pending evil by duplicating his contracts
with Mr. James MagoHin an old Chihuahua trader Then
residing at Franklin. Like Coons Masofhn examined
the good captains letter, and, ike him. was taken N
our bold adyenurer Il useless 10 detail all OF this
mans dealings while al Franklin. As near as could
! learn, his purchases were as follows VI b. r. CooM
So, 900, and OF Mag Jhn S34 OoO-a oil which were o
mules, wagons, and supplies, al very high prices bon
OF these had advanced money but not 10 any very large
amount He also got goods and money from various
others at FL Paso, aoountingto about $4,000
while on The Pecos Coons had exaced from French
full bill OF sale OF all his tram and effects 10 secure
daft of $4,000 on Rowland & Aspinwal This soon
became known, and gave alarm TO the company under
French This alarm increased blythe arrival oil an
express IRON San Antonio, bringing news OF frenehs
frauds. Mr. Coons was among the hrst 10 know Of bis
(Frenchs) dealings and, finding prior bill OF sale e.
lsed OF Freuchs train, he al once took iocIbe posses
OF the he had sold French; upon seeing which,
French's company revoed, and { wing him from BIS
camp took possession OF IL, and refused 10 admit French
AS owner OF anything on the grounds. Every enoV
made by both Magofhn and Coons TO secure lhen'
selves from Frenchs effects, but they only partially sue
ceeded in dong | was told IRON very feIaoe
source that Magofn would lose about 900, ADD ICONS
g 0O0 by French party OF Ffench's men sooa re-
solved 10 rid the world OF such scoundel, but ne was
nowhere 10 be found. He had lied 10 Mexico ana n'
manned absconded for several days. His party now o.
wholesome going one way, and some anuthet, out ~
made for California, presume not oyer lwo''htds
these poor beings will ever reach The Pacihc, 10 apos
a week, French again became visible, and succeeds
in getting company OF ten or twelve OF nus NJ
/ 10 JON him. and proceeded on his way 10 Iaivm%
saying he had shipped lot OF merchandise TO AA1'
Ian and San Francisco, and would have plenty o. mean
huahua he fell in with party OF the men who had hth
forcble possession OF hls train and then had nunN
OF his mules with them. lie al demanded back ~
property but the others refused TO deliver up hG
| ensued, IN which three men were killed and seyea
/ wounded amongst the latter French himself, va
was shot in the right arm below the elbow ne ~
back his property from this party, and then pushea
| Chihuahua. AT Chihuahua the wounded arm morbeI
and was taken off by Dr. Dubois, celebrated ffenI
| surgeon. Here the captain was detained one mon"
being unable 10 move on. on account OF hts wound,
"Before any news OF his forgeries had reached Ob
huabua. he had succeeded in getting some little none
| from merchant there on Rowland AsplnWail IT,
| He had negotiated two drafts in Chihuahua, eseu
s. 900, and then waiting the funds, when' y "
surprise, he received notice that he was known
therefore tue money would not be iouhcomhg, ~.
examining into the matter, French found there bad ~
pecled arrival in town OF oue he had seen "a
fore Mr.. Coons Just in from II Paso. fIenoI. -
next day for Durango, where he arrived saeiy, ~"