The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-06-15

Execution Of Col. Crabbe, and Fifty.seven
Americans In Mexico.
SIXTEEN OTHERS REPORTED TO BE SHOT.
+ U L l. ARTIC AIRS.

tending Walkers advent into Nicaragua, as his de-
sign was to aid faction fighting aganstthe govern
ment. SO certain was he Of a welcome from Per-
queirs, the insurgept chief, with whom he had a
previous understanding that he wrote to his friends
in California on the 25;h of March, stating that he
expected upon reaching Alta, the independence
Of Sonora would be declared" While he was on
his way however, and before arriving In the State
the contendipg factions were hsrmonixed and both
turned their armies against him. He attacked the
town of Lavsca, garrlsoned by 4 500 Mexicaus. ON
the lst of April. The account of his tragic end
from that peint, Is as follows:
The Mexicans at first deserted most of the town
but gradually being emboldened, returned and era.
duaily heTlmed the Americans in. Fighting con-
tinued eight days, with loss 10 the Americans of
twenty live killed The Mexican loss is reported
by themselves TO have been twenty FIVE but ia
supposed to have been much greater-as hfgb "a
two hundred On the eighth day an attempt WAS
made by two of Crabbss nlen to blow up the
church by placing keg of powder under the
porticO and firing it. The devoted men who at.
tempted this were both killed, and Crabbe is said
10 have been wounded in experimenting it. 1t Ia
said an offer WAS made by Crabbe to retire if tbs
Mexicans would allow it. He had refused to re-
tire when the offer was made him. after the e 2hins
had continued two days, and now the Msxicans
optident Of his weakness and their triumph, re.
fused TIE Americans were gradually but surely
csught In a snare, from which they no escape
BY breaking through the wall OF the adjoining
houses, the Mexicans forced Crabbe aud his men
iuto the corner buildings, which they repeatedly set
on fire, but which the Americans as often extip-
gulshed At last a Papsgo Indian shot into the
roof of the main building occupied by the unhappy
b.ltbusteTsa \ lighted arrow. The lanes caugh ht the
roof, and in fsw msmsnss the fire was dropping
In great fakes upon the heads of the doomed men
within. Worn Tut with constant fighting, exoaust
ed with anxiety, and famished by probably days
$ ,knr ~: z..t.-
Henry A Crabbe and fifty eight men marched out
of the burning house, with q white Ag before
them, laid down their arms and surrendered, 1t is
supposed Internationally This was in the night
or towards morning They were imme mediately tied,
their hands behind them. taken to a eorrel near
the Acalde's Office, where they KEEP until
morning when they were taken ont in squads of
tve and ten each and shot Ia she first executions
ii was und that the calmness Of the Americans
di.composed the executioners and and they shot
TOO high or too low, in many cases only wounding
their victims The backs of the fated men were
then turned TO the troops, and they succeeded In
ming with better effect
hcCoun. ns,o hi. great s'atu. saved thi,
totture-s ball struck him full in the breast at the
f.s. fire, and be fell dead Csbhe va. Tes..-
vod fIr s solitary death. He tsfea to the al.
cslde's Off guestioned allowed to write iettsr
hi. wife, And u havs ar interview with DR. EpGas a
prisoner ia the ands OF the Mexcen,. who haa been
In rCDhnem ment sJm1 weeks ca susplciln. The hour
for his cxeeuton hviuE arrived he was led ou', hts
haCGE above his he d asd tied 70 post in
fr nj sfthe building he had occupied his fase to
the po,t and his back to his exscutione,s At the
command FIRE" at least q hGndfc3 balls were fixed
in o his body, and all that was mortal of henry A
Crsbbs hung dead swinging By his tied hsnds
Mexisaa stepped forward snd with ia1ge knife Sc
vered his hsad from the body. the warm flood spirit
ing half wty across the strest he head placed
able Ia front or in the office of tie Juez. ex
posed to the jeers of this populace. 1t then
placed in jar of reIcsl for preservation. IL there
something peculiarly terrible in sush fate for
man who has once controlled almost the deR.iny Of q
srest State ise Ceiifornis
:wo OF the Ainsas (brother in law Of Crss5el are
ssid to be silisd ana ai.o sssey siven. My Inform
horrors says Gable, died gentleman should, So
calmly and quietly ss if he we're song to plessAnt
home.
-Four men, SICK had be On left at senoits by Crahbe
Th.y occupied the bsu,e owned by /. L. Dunbar,
Esq :he American side of ths line. On ths is!h
of pril, at night, parry cf twenty-five Aezicsos
took these poor sick ont of bes tisd thesi snd
ct dawn of Day carried them to the foot of tbs hi
shot them like dogs on America s0il. and left them
tc rot. party # fapsgo Indians mora marcifut,
bulisd them, and four solitary mounds now spPeal,
Ions Witnesses of a besstly crime to the American
gosernment for revenge. Will such an appeal 90
unht ard?
party Of about so recruits. under Capt. Grant
Orrey started rom Tucson to join Crabbe at Csvorcs
When within fifteen mics or the latter place they
were attack I'd by about 900 Mexicans. Capt Ouey
retIe6ted fighting, and regained the American line
with loss of only four killed.. The Mexican loss
about 40 Capt. Orrey deserves great credit for
his ski l. At every watering place the hfxcsns at
tempted to check him and subdue him by thirst bat
he routed them on every occasion The last eight
milFs a continued running nsht, and his fourth
man Lost killed Just at the iino- Another party
of the strength, which lefC Tubao, has not yet
been he.rd Of is believed ths II CsPt oirey had
been with Crsbhe different result might have been
anticipated. All W IS bad msnasemen Mt, wart OF ex
pe1ience and Gear rushing UPON deadly fate -
Crsbbe entered Csvorca with 81 men All these
were killed except the youngest, said TO have been
spared by the Mexican commander, Garcia The
Of the survivor is Ino~n but he is said so be
boy Of sixteen or seventeen
The tidings Of this inhuman execution created
the most intense excitement in California, as
among those murdered were acme of the promi-
rent men of the State The San Francisco Her
aid gives the following account of some of the suf
ferers:
No prominent citizen, at least in political matters,
was held ia gIeatsr esteem. was more 'nfusn1al
with his party than Henry Crabb, he represent
ed ean Joaquin eounty In the Assembly during tne
year 1852; and the Senatorial DISTRICT composed OF
Josquin and ContIa Costa, during the Jssis 1895
and "a During this service his bold, able and fear
less course sgairs alschemes OF corruption won TOT
him the admiration and esteem of alI good mon -
Mr.. Crab5s leaves widow and two children re-
siding this city. OF others me mbers OF the party
hat loft here, were Colonel w. II. McCoun, who
succeeded Mr. Crabbe in the state Senate for the
years Of 1855 ard St; Col r N. Wood, VII" repre-
sented San Francisco county IN the session OF i7o-
ard was afterwards County Judge Of Contra Costa
county, tCol. Wood also leavess widow rehdins In
this ciiy;) DR. } r. Oxley, who represented Tou
umns county in the Assembly for the sessions OF 1000
and SO; Geo ii. Rhodes member of tbs Assembly
from Marposa county for the year 1876; John hen
~ who represented the same county IN the Assembly
for the session of 1854; Judge Shsefer formerly
County Judge OF Sierra county; also, Mr. r E VII
der the publisher and editor of an American cam
paign paper pnbshed in this city during he late
pres,de nttsl contest These genteH en- were among
those known tc no were OF the party, and all oi
whom We fear, have mot this common fate ni'
nassv siven long connected with the press OF this
State and who cid tho position OF Assistant secre.
sry of tho Senate In 1856 Is also rePotedto be amoeg
the number.
The California papers teem with eulogies OF tne
victims of this tragedy aud maledlctlon on the ac>
tors in 1t. II Ia believed thet terrible revenge
will be taken by the Californans on the sonorian'
teegraphic dispatch from Nevada, received by
the Sacramento Union, states that the reported
butchery of Crabbe's party had proaueed an In
tense excitement there, and that betw cen nun
dred and fifty and two hundred men were marcn-
Ing through the street, to the music of the drum ana
fife, enlisting more recruits to go to sonora ana
avepge the massacre of Crabbs and his party
Advces received at Vera Cruz on the 23d, stare
that In Caborea sixteen more fiibusters had been
taken and Immediately shot. These new victims
had come down with supplies for Crabbe's forces
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SPIRITUALIsM.-Ge George Stiles OF Milford, Wis
m rsin shot himself through the heart last week