Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-06-13
PUNsssiIyG A DESPERATE.
SCENE on THE MEXICAN FRONTIER

After the triumph OF the American ARM
on the field of Palo Alto and Resaca de |;
Palma, the victorious force hurried across
the Rio Grande, and occupied the Mexican
town Of Matamoras. But, unfortunately
these were not the only invaders, for march.
ing with the valiant soldiery rapidly in then
rear came another lost, of small merchants.
of desperadoes, CT gamblers, aud every va
riety of reckless adventurcrs, including
swarms Of assassius and thieves.
! Among the numerous gamblers were
three brothers by the name Of Allen. Their
art aud dexterity backed in emergency By
the bowie knife and revolver soon rendered
them notorious, and promised, IN a brief
period TO break every bank in tho vicinity
Al that time there was brilliant saloon
kept open for public amdsenent ana private
profit, by ore Fernando Rosa, a wealthy
but avarioous Spaniard The dealer at liz
meHte table was his daughter, Maria, =
young girl possessed of that beauty which
SO often distinguishes the females Of her
nation, and, notwithstanding her unf8vor-
able and doubtful situation as principal 10
tie genteel gambling house she bore a fair
fame for virtue as wei as intelligence She
detested the position, and filled It only from
the compulsion Of parental authority and
presided over the cards in all the evolutions
ef feliie fortune with the utmost honesty Of
conduct rs MIGHT he logically inferred
such various sra evident attractions comhj-
ned to render tke establishment "a place OF
geue1ai resort for the elite of the army, and
I'll the most accomplished connoisseurs Of
chance; aud 10 insure the exclusion of the
plebeian class. the rule had been ixed that
the lowest bet on the board must amoUut to
a hundred dollars.
Il was in the month ef May, when Che
three brothers Allen, having swept TIE
counters of all the inferior banks of Mata-
noras, with their pockets full Of gold aud
heavy sums of paper, entered the saloon Of
Fernando Rosa determined to close it b.
fair Or foul means. The apartment wa
crowded with lieuteuants and others who
had lost large sums Of money that night
With that rude Glowing impotuosity
which more than anything else marks til
soul of the thorough bred rufFian, the bro.
Tiers made their way to the monte table
Nearly everybody fell back from the board
10 SAFE distance, and LEFT the contest alana
to the three fTaternal gamblers. Even tn
dealer ,drued pale at tier appearance and
Ter fingers 9aigerca rs she shu4led tie
painted cards.
There vas 4 stranger Vho maintained hiz
stand without rs muah rs glaneiug at the
iutruiers, and continued to play lie vas
tall rather slender shaped man, some II
years Of age, His dress was black and dis
played stfens contrast ;Fith the gay col
lars. rich ruilies. and hsrhalic ornaments Of
the Aliens
The latter, at the outset, stalsed a thou
sand dollars each on the queen Of hearts,
aud lost, while the stranger having deposit
ed like SUN on the ace Of spades. proved
to be the winner.
THAT trick was foul swindiing = ex-
claimed the eldest At the same tine the
two other brothers used insulting language.
The gaze of the spectators was turned to
the stranger, whose eyes flashed angrily as
he demanded i'll tranquil and distinct voice
though little louder than whisper;
"tentlomen, do you intend to accuse the
lady Of unfair dealing or me BY pyoGtins BY
her Partially -
Who arc you, that handy words with us.
the boys OF Arkansas = said enc Of the
Aliens.
" Ny name is Thomas jefferson Dugan,
answered the other, Il am from the State
Of Virginia, The pfovefbill oAigalfy Of whose
SONS Is aeyer falsifed by any act Of nina
DO you mean this 70 be q threat ?" cried
one Of the brothers
s4ou may receive it as such if you feel
&c Disposed, . replied bpgan withort betgay-
ing any emotion. II intend to convey tie
idea that when am insplted, OF my rights
are outraged, am ready to demand OF OK
act that satisfaction e'aiAed By gentlemen
throughout the world"
You will fight cried tie elder brother
in astonishmont,
All three, if necessary" was the cool
response.
"Wait till we break this cheat Of a bank,
aud you shall be accommodated TO your
hearts content" said the eldest allen, with
a frown
Again the young pifl with qaiyeripg flu
gers threw down tha four leading cards !;
again tha brothers risked their money, and
iris lime oll the king Of clubs but the luck
stiil ran againt them, and they lost while
the stranger won his bet of fifteen hundred
on the queen Of diamonds.
The she rouge has played US false and
we will take the table p voeiferated the Al
lens, springing TO their feet & drawing their
bowie-kniyes to execute their menace By
force of arms, But quicker than their mo-
ton was the action of Dugan for, step
ping backward, he covered the heads of the
two boldest desperadees with pistol in each
hand and shouted
"Fillains. stir a muscle il you darer
{ At this moment the bystandcys interposad
and an arrangement was effected for an in
teryiew of honor between Dugan and the
eldest brother. The parties attended BY 4
swarm of excited spectators, met in the
morning on the h1tlks of the Rio Grande
opposite TIE site where Brownsville now
stands, and were placed in a position BY their
respective seconds
1 Allen, firing before the word was given,
missed Duean then exclaimed:
4sAssassn and swindler viii net XIII
YOU, for you are not Git to die; but | viii
cripple your elbow for life and his bullet
shattered the others arm at the precise point
indicated. The remaining Aliens shrunk
from similar earnestly profiered ordeal
Since then the victor has been a resident