Oroville daily Butte record., 1857-05-15
Stating Intelligence from Sonora /:

uOt5-- lhCtF iNNTJf0USr-- HtU I%ttH-
Hon--THe Death If Crab6--.umder Of
SICK Men oa dmericau So'f.
A telegraphic dispatch to the Sacramento
Union, says, the steamer Senator arrived at
San Francisco on the 18th inst, bringing
intelligence of the massacre OF IL. A. Crabb
and his entire expedition at Cavorea, in So
nora, on the 9th of April.
1t appears that on the morning of April
lst, Crabb's party entered the town when
they were met by party of Mexicans com
manded by Rodriguez. 1t is said that Rod.
riguez advanced to speak to Crabb, when
the Americans opened u fire and killed the
Mexican commander aud several others
The Mexicans Immediately retreated to Il
church, which they had fortified.
Instead of at once charging and taking
the church, which would have given him the
town, he occupied several houses III the cor
ner of the plaza, in front of the church -
The Mexicans at first deserted the most Of
the town, but gradually being tmholdened,
returned and hemmed the Americans in
The fighting continued eight days On the
eighth day an attempt was made by two OF
Crabb's men, to blow up the church by
placing key OF powder under the portico
and firing it, The devoted men who at.
tempted this were both killed, and Crahb is
said to have been wounded in experimenting
it, 1t is said an offer was made by Crabh to
retire, if the Mexcans would allow IL. lie
had refused to retire when the offer was
made him after the fighting had continued
two days, and now the Mexicans, confident
of his weakness and their triumph, refused.
Tie Mexicans finally broke through tsc
walls Of the adjoining houses, and forced
Cra6b and his men into the corner building,
and then SEE fire to It BY shooting lighted
arrow into the roof.
Worn out with constant fighting, exhaust
ed with anxiety, tamished by probably days
of starvation and thirst, and without ammu-
niton, Henry A. Crabb and So men marched
out of the burning house, with white flag
before them, laid down their arms and sur
rendered. They were Immediately tied, their
hands behind them, and taken to corral
near the Alcaldes Office, where they were
kept until morning, when they were taken
out in squads of five and ten each and shot
In the first execution, it was found that
the camness of the Americans discomposed
the executioners, and they shot too high or
too low, in many cases only wounding their
victims The backs o. the fated men were
then turned to the troops, and then they
succeeded in aiming with better OBJECT.
Crabb, alone, was reserved for a solitary
death. lie was taken to the Alcalde's Office
questioned, allowed to write "A letter to his
wife, and to have an interview vito DR..
Exams, II prisoner sn the hands of the Mex
leans, who hal been in confinement some
weeks onsuspicion. The hour for his execu
ton having arrived. he was led out. his
hands stretched above his head. and taken
to post in front of tho building he had oc-
cupied, his face to the poet and his back to
the executioners AT the command fire.
at least one hundred balla we're dred into
his body, and al that was mortal Of Henry
A Crabb hung dead, swinging by his tied
hands A Mexican stepped forwnrd, and,
with long knife, severed his head from the
bod the warm blood spiritsng half way
across the street. The head was placed on
n table in front aud in the Office of the
Judge, exposed to the jeers of the popu'ace
1t was then placed in a Jar of muscal for
preservation. Two of the Americans, broth
ers-in-law of Crabh, are said TO be killed,
and also Kasey Bven
1t is said, by an eyewitness Of these hor-
rors, that Crabb died as camly and quietly
as if he we're going to pleasant home
! Four men whe were LETT sick, by Crabb at
/ Sonorita, were taken out on the night Of
| April, 18th, and shot like dogs.
A party of abount 80 recruits under Capt
Grant Grey, started from Tucson to join
Crabb at CavoIea, but were met by the
| Mexcans and driven bacy
Crabb entered Cavorea with 81. men. All
these were killed except the youngest, said
have been spared by the Mexican command
-. E,ro;o Tho pama of tho surviyor il