The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-05-20

The steamer Senator arrived at San Fran
cisco on Wednesday last, bringing news Of the
massacre Of Crabb's party in Sonora
In the latter part of March, the party. num-
bering eigbty-four men, left sonOita and march
ed TO Cavorea. a small town on the Gulf OF
California. which they entered on the first of
April. They we're met by body of Mexican
troops commanded by Rodriguez. 1t is said
that Rodriguez advanced to speak TO Craoo'
when the Americans opened fire and Killed the
Mexican commander and several Others. The
Mexicans Immediately retreatcd, some to the
mountains, but the majority to the church,
which had been placed in a state OF defense.
Crabb and his men occupied several houses on
the corner of the plaza, IN front of the church.
The Mexicans at first deserted most oil the town.
but becoming embroidered, returned and gradu-
ally bemmed the Americans in. The fighting
continued eight days, with loss to the Anerl-
cans of twenty-five killed The Mexican loss is
reported by themselves to have been twenty
FIVE. but is supposed to have been much greater
as high as two hundred. On the eighth day
an attempt was made by two Of Crabb's men
to blow up the church, by placing keg of
powder under the portico and firing 1t; but tue
men who attempted it were killed, and Crabb
/ Is said 10 have been wounded in superintend-
| ing it.
| By breaking through the walls of the adjoin-
/ ing houses the Mexcans forced Crabb aud his
men into the corner buildings, which they re-
peatediy set on fire but which the Americans as
often extinguished. At last Papago Indian
shot into the roof of the main building occupied
by the unhappy filibusters, lighted arrow.
] Tt fha NJ nd in "a fttC n
ments the fire was dropping in great fakes up
on the heads of the doomed men within. Worn
out with constant fighting, exhausted with aux
iety, famished by probable days of starvation
and thirst. and without ammunition, Henry A.
Crabb aud fiity-eg men marched out OF the
burning house, with white flag before them,
laid down their arms and surrendered 1t is
supposed Internationally. This was in the
night or towards morning. They were immedi-
ately tied, their hands behind them, taken to a
corral near the Alcalde's Office, where they were
kept until morning, when they were taken out
in squads of and 10 each and shot. In the
first executions it was found that the calmness
of the Americans dscompOsed the executioners,
and they shot too high or too low. in many ca
SEES ouly woundng their victims The backs OF
the fated men were then turned TO the troops
and then they succeeded in aiming with better
effect.
Crabb alone was reserved for a solitary death
He was taken TO the Alcalde's office. questioned
allowed 10 write q letter TO his wife, and tC
have an interview with DR.. Evans, prisoner il
the hands of the Mexicans, who had been in con
finement some weeks, on suspicion. The hour
for his execution having arrived. he was led out
bis hands stretched above his head and tied to q
post in front of the building he had occupied
his face 10 the post. and his back to his execu-
| Al tha nd GPa at lpas bnn
dred balls were fixed into his body, aud all that
was mortal of Henry A. Crabb hung dead,
swinging by bis tied hands A Mexican step
ped forward, and with large knife, severed the
head from the body-the warm blood sprtng
half way acrossthe street. The head was placed
or a table in front, or in the Office Of the Ju z.
exposed to the jeers Of the populace. 1t was
then placed in a jar Of Mescal for preservation
Crabb entered Cavorca with "a men. All
these were killed except the youngest, said 10
have been spared by the Mexican Commander
Garcia. The name Of the survivor is unknown.
but he is said to be boy of sixteen or seventeen
Four sick men had been left at Sonoita by
Crabb. They occupied the house owned by L.
E. Dunbar, on the American side of the line.
On the 18th Of April, at night. party Of TWEEN
ty-fye Mexicans came up from San Juan. went
to Dunbar's house, took these poor sick men out
of bed, tied them, and at dawn of day car. led
them TO the foot of the hill. shot them like dogs,
ON the American soil, and left them to rot
A party of about 80 recruits, under Capt:
Grant ORGY. started from Tucson to join Crabb
at CayOrca. When within fifteen miles Of the
latter place. they were attacked by about 200
Mexicans. Capt. ORGY retrcatcd, fighting, and
regaincd the American line with loss Of only
four killed. The Mexican loss was about 40
Capt. ORGY deserves great credit for his skill
At every WATERING Mace the MpvicanS atfpmnt
ed to check him and sublue him by thirst, but
he routed them Oh every occasion. The last
eight miles was a continued running fight and
his fourth man lost was killed just at the line.
Another party of the same strength, which left
Tnbac, has not yet been heard Of 1t is 'believ-
ed if Grant ORGY had been with Crabb, q differ
cnt result might have been anticipated. All
was bad management, want of experience and
q clear rushing upon u deadly fate.