Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1857-06-20
Crnbb,s massacre at Cavorea.

About the latter part of March, Col CRAZE,
"a Tennessean from Nashville like WAIKER)
Of whom so much has been heard of late,
marched into Carorea, a small Mexicnn town
near Point Lobos, on the gulf Of California
VIZ extract what followed:
The fighting continued eight days, with a
loss to the Americans of twenty-five killed
The Mexican loss is reported by themselves to
hare 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
pIacing a key of powder under the portico and
firing it. The devoted men who attempted
this, both were killed, and Crabb is said to have
been wounded in experimenting it. 1t is said
an offer was made by Crabb to retire ifthe
Mexicans would allow it. He had refused to
retire when the offer was made him, after the
fighting had continued two days, and now the
Mexieans, confident Of his weakness and their
triumph, refused. The Americans were grad
ually but surely caught in a snare, from which
they saw no escape. By breaking through
the walls Of the adjoining houses, the Mexi-
cans forced Crahb and his men into the corner
buildings. which they repeatedly set on fire
but whichthe Americans as often %extinguish-
ed. At last a Papago Indian shot into the
roof Of the main building occupied by the un-
happy fiibusters, a lighted arrow. The flames
caught the roof and in a few oments the fre
was dropping in great fakes upon The heads
Of the doomed men within.
Worn ont with constant fighting. exhausted
with anxiety, famished by probable days of
starvation and thirst, and without ammunition,
EIa-., A 1.nlL. nd GG,, of-bt r,n, r,o-oha1
out of the burning house, with white flag be-
fore them, laid down their arms and surrender.
ed. 1t is supposed Internationally. This was
in the night, or towards morning. They were
immediately tied, their hands behind them, Ia
ken to a corral near the AIcade's office, where
they we're kept until morning, when they were
taken out in squads Of 8 and 10 each, and shot.
In the first executions it was found that the
calmneas Of the Americans discomposed the
executioners, and they shot too high or too
low, in many cases only wounding their vics
tins. The backs of the fated men were then
turned to the troops, and then they succeeded
in aiming with better effect. McCoun, (may
he rest in peace,) owing to his great statue,
was saved this torture, a ball struck him full
in the breast, at the first fire, and he fell dead.
Crabb alone was reserved Cor solitary death.
He was taken to the Alcalde's Office, question.
ed. allowed to write a letter to his wife, and to
have an interview with a DR.. Evans; a prisons
er in the hands of theMexicans, who had been
in confinement some weeks on suspicion, The
hour for his execution having arrived, he was
led out. his hands stretched above his head,
and tied to o post In front of the building he
had occupied, his face TO the post, and his back
TO his executioners. At the command fire! at
least d hundred balls were fixed into his body,
and all that was mortal of Henry A. Crabb
hung dead, swinging by his tied hands. A
Mexican stepped forward, and, with q large
knife, severed his head from the body-the
warm blood spirited half way across the street.
The head was placed on a table in front, or 10
the Office Of the Juez, exposed to the jeers Of
the populace. It was then placed in a jar of
mescal, for preservation.