San Andreas independent., 1857-05-23
The Massacre of cayorca.

were slaughtered at Cavorca. That gal
liant band of patriots were sacrificed by the
base treachery of Pesqueira, government
officer, of high rank, who had invited the
noble-hearted Crabb and his companions to
join in the effort to settle the political diff
ferences of the unhappy State of Sonora,
Mexico. The San Francisco Morning Call,
in speaking of the cowardly assassination,
very truthfully says:
! SHALL THE DEAD BE FORGOTTEN THE late
| inhuman massacre of Henry A. Crabb and his
brave comrades, was the subject yesterday Of
general conversation on the street. The arrival
on the day subsequent to the receipt of the
doleful denouement of this expedtion--of the
mail steamer, distracted for time the attention
of the community from calm consideration of
the magnitude of the startling intelligence from
Sonora but yesterday the topic was renewed
and a general feeling of retaliation for the bru-
tai outrage was apparent.
| No one can read that sorrowful chapter of
horrors wherein ninety of our gallant country
men were sacrificed to the feeling of insecurity
of semi-barbarous race, without acknowledge
! ing that the outrage demands retaliation at our
hands. We are not of those who would encour-
age the spirit of fllibustering; neither do we
claim affinity with the groveling natures who
can quietly chuckle over the misfortunes of
these butchered men. Crabb and his followers
went to Sonora perhaps with unjustihable in
tentions-perhaps they did not AS yet it does
not appear that their designs were belligerent,
or subversive of the Mexican rule in that State.
Ostensibly they went there in pursuit of peace
] f,l nd 70
hostile chiefs, with their followers, were con-
tending for political ascendency, and that Crabb
was there at the invitation of one of these to
assist him in overthrowing his enemy and OBJ
tanning the mastery of the State. Others, that
his mission was that of protector of the pow
erless frontier inhabitants against the interne-
cine forays of the cruel Apaches, in considera-
ton Of which, he and his followers were to re-
ceiye lands and privileges which would amply
compensate them. Both suppositions bear the
semblance of probability and either would fall
sify the assertion that their expedition was a
flibustering one. But whatever their object,
we care only to argue the Nervousness of the
slaughter from the circumstances attending it.
We have already said that Rodriguez, in hold
ing parley with Crabb virtually acknowledged
or admitted their relative positions should be
governed by the rules observed in civilized war
fare, and therefore, when Crabb surrendered, he
was entitled to all the considerations of legit-
imatey organized foe. Does any one suppose
that had Rodriguez and his followers been van
quished, our honored martyr would have or
dered the fell slaughter which ran the streets of
Cavorca with human blood? Certainly not
They would have been treated as prisoners of
war, and as such our countrymen should have
| been held.
1t is then to be hoped this inhuman massa-
ere will not go unpunished. If there be no
atonement for this unholy deed, the mestizos
of Sonora will riot in the murder of Americans
at every opportunity. We will no longer be
able to boast of the prestige which has hereto
fore given rs undisputed passage through their
territory. No American will be safe either in
Mexico, Lower California or New Mexico, for
hereafter they will hold his vaunted prowess in
contempt and as eagerly attack him as they
would fight among each other. If our Goven-
ment will not move in the matter perhaps our
citizens may but if both will let it pass unheed-
ed, then must the silent dead have a monument
of remembrancein every patriots eye-the deed
will be freshened with the tears of every man
who knew and honored some of the noble souls
who now sleep the sleep of martyrs in the silent
city of Cavorca
To which the Oroville North CaEfor-
mian adds:
''There is a tear for all who die;
A mourncr DER the meanest grave,
But nations swell the funeral cry
And triumph weeps above the brave"
Such were our thoughts when the news
reached US yesterday afternoon, of the untimely
and unfortunate death of Henry a. Crabb and
the host of young, and in some instances distin-
guished men, who accompanied him on his re-
cent expedition to Mexico 1t is not our province
on this occasion, to moralize upon the question
as to the right of Senator Crabb and his COM
panions to accept the invitation of Blancarte
and the Liberals and start for Sonora, for the
purpose of settling and civlizing that distracted
State. Perhaps if we took either side, we should
have opponents; but this we do know, that in
our sorrow for their fate, and in our utter alb
horrence of the savage and inhuman manner in
which they were butchered, we shall stir up no
opposition. 1t still seems to US like horrid
dream. We cannot realize that the chivarous
Crabb, the dignifed McCoun, the urbane Wood
the talented Oxley the gentle, brave and gem
erous Biven, are no more. But alas, it is too
true! They sleep in bloody shrouds. They
have mingled their remains with the dust of a
foreign soil. They fell beneath the blows of
oppression. Their young blood cries aloud from
the ground for vengeance. They were Ameri-
cdHo, anu ouI pTcIHTeH,-Our Dretnren Sull
though we should admit that they had gone
astray. But we do not believe they invaded
Sonora with any hostile Intentions They were
invited there by some of the leading politicians
of the State several of them Henry A. Crabb
among the number) had married Mexican wives;
their sympathies were all enlisted in favor of
the Mexican cause. They were willing to peril
their lives to establish stable government in
Sonora. But it seems that no such glorious
destiny was in store for them. All that can be
said now is, that they were led out and shot
like dogs, without mercy and without remorse.
Milan and Travis and Crockett fought as they
fought, and fell as they have fallen The mar
tyrs' blood has been the seed of liberty. Texas
Is now tree, and the foot that oppressed her
(Santa Anna's) now wanders in exile on for
elgn shore SO may it be with the soil of So
nora-so should it be with their oppressors
i KIT 1t thaf h.