Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1857-05-16
stating Intelligence from Sonora

D Massacre of H. Il Crab and has Party a
CGr0rea Dreadful Encounter Of eigh
days-7heir Surrender Their Erecu-
tion--7He Death Of Cra5b---Murder O
Sack Men on .fmericau sod.
A telegraphic di-patch to the Sacramento
a Union, says, the steamer Senator arrived at
{ San Francisco on the 18th inst, bringing
intelligence Of the massacre OF II. A. Crabb
and his entire expedition at Cavorea, in So
nora, on the 9th of April
1t appears that on the morning of April
LIST, 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 fire and killed the
Mexican commander aud several others
The Mexicans Immediately retreated to a
church, which they had fortified.
Instead of at once charging and taking
the church, which would have given him the
town, he occupied severathouses in the cor
ner of the plaza, in front of the church =
The Mexicans at first deserted the most of
the town, but gradually being emboldened,
returned and hemmed the Americans in
The fighting continued eight days On the
eighth day an attempt was made by two Of
Crahb's men, to blow up the church by
placing keg of powder under the portico
and firing it. The devoted men who at
tempted this were both killed, and Crabb is
said to have been wounded in experimenting
1t. 1t is said al offer was made by Crabb to
retire, if the Mexicans would allow H. He
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
The Mexicans finally broke through the
walls of the adjoining houses, and forced
Crabb and his men into the corner building,
and then set fire to it by shooting a lighted
arrow into the roof
Worn out with constant fighting, exhaust
ed with anxiety, famished by probably days
of starvation and thirst, and without ammu-
milton, Henry A. Crabb and IS men marched
out of the burning house, with a 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 Alcalde's 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 calmness of the Americans discomposed
the executioners, and they shot too high or
too low, in many cases only wounding 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 solitary
death. He was taken to the Alcalde's Office,
questioned. allowed to write a letter to his
wife, and to have an interview vito a DR..
Evans, prisoner sn the hands of the Mex
leans, who had 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 &C.
cuped, his face to the poet and his back to
the executioners At the command % fire.
at least one hundred balls were fired into
his body, and all 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
odJ-the warm blood spiritng half way
across the street. The head was placed on
a table in front aud in the office of the
Judge, exposed to the jeers of the populace
1t was then placed in a jar of muscal for
preservation. Two of the Americans, broth
ers-in-law of Crabb, are said to be killed,
and also Kasey Biven.
1t is said, by an eyewitness of these hor-
rors, that Crabb died as camly and quietly
as if he were going to pleasant home
Four men who were left 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
Mexicans and driven baeY
Crabb entered Cavorea with 81 men. All
these were killed except the youngest, said
have been spared by the Mexican command
er, Garcia. The name of the survivor is
unknown, but he is said to be a boy of six
teen or seventeen. The Mexicans were 500
strong.
Maj, Bob Woods and Maj Tozer are safe
Col X N Wood late Fillmore electoa is
among the dead.