The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-06-18

In our last ne We published . ruoos
ofthe entire d, s.ruction Of Henry a. Creoes
party, numbering about 100 men by Ne
Mexicans in Sonora. By the following
statement of the facts, kindly furnished us
by a gentleman Just arrived from Fort
Yuma, il will be seen that the report has
been confirmed. He seys:
The expedition into Sonora, under The
command OF II. A. Cssbb, has hsd most
disastrous end.
Late in March Crabb's party left Sonora,
Sonora, and marched to Covoroa, Z ANAL
Mexican town near Point Lobos, on the
Gulfoi California. The frs, intention was
to have proceeded to Altar, but news Of its
partial ioriifcaton and susceptibility of d
strong defence caused the diversion on Ca.
voroa On the morning OF the l-t OF April
the party OF Americans entered the suburbs
~ the town. They were met ny a body of
the Mexican troops, commanded By Rodr.
gucz. II j. SAID Rodriguez advanced TO
speak 10 Crltb, when the Americans open.
ed fire and killed the Mexican commander
aud several others. The Mcxicsns imme
diately retrebted--sume 10 The mountains,
but the majority TO the church, which had
been placed in a state oi defence and had
at the time Crab entered the .o~n, num-
Der OF berves roating whole IN front of H.,
L. feed the Mexican troops,
IL app"ars that here occurred Crabs
first and fatal mistake. Instead of u; once
charging and taking the church, which
would have gwen him the town, he oceu.
pied several houses on the plaza, in front
al the church.
The Mexican- at FRS, deserted the mos /,
Of the town, but gradually hemmed the
Americans in. Fighting continued eight
days, with loss 10 the Americans VI TWEEN
" one killed. The Mexican loss il repor.
ted by themselves TO hav. been twenty
hse, but u supposed u have been much
greater, ms high as two hundred.
On the eighth day m attempt was made
by two OF Crabb's men TO blow up the
church, by placing a keg Of powder under
the por'ico and firing IL. The devoted men
Who attempted this ~ere both killed. and
Crabb is sad 10 have been wounded In gu.
per'ntending ". II 10 said nm offer wa
| made by crsbb to retire i, the Mexicans
would allow u. He had reiu ed 10 retire
when The offer was made him, after the
| fighting had continued two days, and no =
the Mexicans, confident OF his weakness
aud their triumph, refused. The Amer
cans were gradually bu, eurely caught in a
snare from which they saw no escape.
by breaking through the wallis of the I'D.
! joining houses, the Mcxicans forced Crabt
and his party into the corner buildings
which they repeatedly Sc, on fire. but which
the Americans Bs otten extinguished. A,
last Papsgo Indian sho, into the roof ol
the main building. occupied by the unhap
| py flibusters, lighted arrow The flames
caugh, the roof, aud in few moments the
fire was dropping in great flakes up u the
heads ot the doomed men within. Wora
nut with constant lighting, exhausted viii
anxiety, Vanished by probable dsys Of star.
va,ion aud thirst, and without ammunition
Henry A. Crrbb and fifty eight men ma h,
81 out Of the burning house. with q white
nac before them, aid down their arms ans
surrendered. u Is supposed unconditional
". This was in the night or towards morn
ing They we're immediately tied, thei
bands behind them, taken 10 a coral nea
'hr Alsad,'s Office, where they were KEEP
until morning, when they were taken on
ia squads oi 5 and 10 each aud shot. In III,
hrst executions 1t was found tina, the calm
ness OF the Americans discomposed the exc
chtioh-r9 aud they shot tho high or too low
IN many eases only wouading their victims
The backs OF the fated mea were then turn
ed to the troops. and then they succeeded
IN aiming wit better effect
| McConr tmay bc rect IN pcace,) owing
10 his grca, stature, was saved this torture
ball struck him full ia the breast At the
tirst ire, and he tell dead. crabb alone was
reserved Tor u SOLITARY death. He was Ia
keo to the Alcade's Office. questioned, al.
loved to write letter to his ~iie. and ,e
have an interview with DIR. Evans, a prison
er IN the hands II the Mexicans, who hat
beet ia confinement some weeks OF sus.
picion. The hoar for hts execution havins
arrived, he WAS lead cut his hands stretches
above his head ard tied 10 4 post in from
~ the building hr had occupied. his face II
the post, and HI back 10 the exacuiinner-
AZ the command fir A least an hundred
balls were liked into his body, and oil sh.
was mortal IL Henry A Grahb hung dad
swinging BY has tied hands A Mexican
stepped im~ard, and With large knifs
severed his head from the body The warm
blood squirting hall way across the street
| the head was placed on a table i'm front, or
| ~ the office of the Jaez, exposed To the
isers OF the popuiscc. n was then placed
| IN jar Of mescal, for preservation.
10 there not something peculiarly terri.
bile ia such fate tor fnan who has CON.
trolied almost the destiny oi great Stsie
like California,
Two of the Ansas (brothers .in-laa Il
Crabh) are said 10 be killed, aud also Rsses
b'on. My informant, an intelligent man
| end nn eyewitness OF these horrors, saw
'rasb died a. gentleman shauld, as Gala.
| " aud quietly ~ II he were going tn pless.
| nnt home.
-Four men, sick, had been lett At Sonoita
By Crabb They occupied the house own
cd BY Z. l.. Dunbar. ESQ.,. on the Amer.
can side OF the line Ga The 18Th ot April,
II n,gh, party Of 10 Mex,cans came up
from San Jacinto, went ~ Dunbar's house,
| took these poor sick men out Of bed. tied
them, and al dawn Of day carried them 10
the foot OF the hill. shot them like dogs, on
American soil. and lef, the. - rot. A
party " Papago Indians, more merciful,
buried them. and four solitary mounds nos
appeal. lone witnesses OF a beastly crime,
g the American government, Tor revenge.
VIII such an appeal 90 unhesrdi
Mr.. Dunbar escaped massacre, having
lett Sonoi,a on the afternoon previous.
The Mexlcans were furious al his escape.
although he had nothing 10 dc with the
party except to offer shelter, on American
soil, IL Tour sick men in his own house.
a party OF about thirty recruits, under
Capt, Grant Grey, started from Tucson 10
Join Crabb at Cayorca. When within fif.
teen miles OF The latter place they were q,
tackled by about 400 Msxicans. Captain
ORGY reiterated, fighting. and regained the
American hue ri,h a loss of only four kill.
al. Tie MeAican lose Was about forty -
capt ORGY deserves great cred, Tor his
skill Atssery watering place the Mex.
cans attempted TO check him. and subdne
han by thr.t. but he r"us d them on every
occasion. The las, eisn, miles WAS a con.
''nued running tight, and his fourth man Ios,
Mas killed just at the line. Another part,
" The same strength. ahieA LEFT Tubsc
has not W, been heard OF. Ii Is bell.v al
y Grant Grey had been with Crabb, 4 ali.
l,rent result might nave been anticipated =
~ MAS bad management, Mant Ut expe,,.
encc, and clear rushing upon a deadly
late.
Crabb entered CavureA with 81 mem
All these were killed except the younees,
sald 10 have been spared by III. Mexican