The weekly ledger., 1857-05-16
Important from Sonora.

Important from Sonora.
Total destruction Of Crdbb's expedition. The
Whole Party Slaughtered
The steamer Senator has arrived from San
Diego and Los Angeles, bringing us confirm
alton of the rumor which arrived by the boat
from the South, of the massacre of Crabb's
party.
In March, Crabb's party left Sonoita, So
nora, and marched to Cavorea,-a small
Mexican town near Point Lobos, on the
Gulf of California. The first intention was
to have proceeded to A tar, but news of its
partial fortifcaton and susceptibility of q
strong defence, caused the diversion to Cavo-
rea On the morning of April lst, the party
of Americans entered the suburbs of the
town. They were met by body of Mexican
troups commanded by Rodriguez. 1t is said
Rodriguez advanced to speak to Crabb,
when the Americans opened fire and killed
the Mexican commander and several others.
The MexcanS Immediately retreated, some
to the mountains but the majority to the
church. 1t has been placed in state OF de-
fence, and had at the time Crabb entered
the town, number of beeves roasting whole
in front of it to feed the Mexican troops
Crabb and his men occupied several houses
on the corner of the Plaza, in front of the
church. The Mexicans at first deserted the
most of the town, but gradually being embol-
dened, returned and gradually hemmed the
Americans in. The fighting continued eight
days, with the loss to the Americans OF 20
killed The Mexican loss is reported 10y
themselves to have been %, but is supposed
- ko for inh
On the first 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 it, The devoted men who made
the attempt were both killed, and Crabb is
said to have been wounded in experimenting
it. 1t is said an offer was made by Crabb to
retire if the Mexcans would allow him.
The Mexicans by breaking into the walls of
adjoining houses hemmed the Americans into
a corner building, which they repeatedly set
on fire, and which the Americans as often ex-
tinguished. AT last lighted arrow set fire
to the roof the building occupied by the un-
fortunate Americans In few minutes the
great flakes of fire were falling down on the
devoted heads of the inmates Worn out
with constant fighting, exhausted with anxiety,
famished by days of starvation and thirst,
and without ammunition, Henry A. Crabb
and SO men marched out of the burning
house with white flag before them, laid
down their arms and surrendered, it is sup
posed ,unconditonaly. This was in the night,
or towards morning They were Immediately
tied, with their hands behind them, taken
to a corral, near the Alcade's Office, where
they were kept till morning, when they were
taken out, and shot.
In the first execution, it was found that
the calmness of the Americans discompoSed
the executioners, and they shot too low, in
many cases only wounding their victims
The backs of the fated men were then turned
to the troops, and they succeeded in aiming
with better effect. McCoun, (may he rest
in peace owing to his great stature, was
saved this torture A ball struck him full in
the breast at the first fire, and he fell dead
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 with Doctor
Evans, prisoner in the hands of the MeXi-
cans who had been in confinement for some
weeks on suspicion. The hour for his execu-
ton having arrived he was led out, his hands
stretched above his head and tied to a post
in front of the building he had occupied, his
face to the post and his back to his execu-
TONERS. At the command to 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 red hands A
Mexican stepped forward, and with large
knife severed his head from his body, the
warm blood spurted half way across the
street. The head was placed on "a table in
front of the Office of the Alcalde, exposed to
the eers of the populace. 1t was then put
in Jar of mescal for preservation
Two of the Ainsas, brothers-in-law of
Crabb, are said to be killed, and also Rasey
Biyin. An intelligent gentleman, aud an eye
witness of these horrors, says Crabb died
calmly and quietly -Four sick men had been
left behind at Sonoita by Crabb. They oc-
cupied the house owned by L. Il. Dunbar,
on the American side of the line On April
18th, at night, party of 25 Mexicans came
up from San Juan, went to Dunbar'S house,
and took these poor sick men out of bed,
tied them, shot them like dogs on Ameri-
can soil, and left them to rot.
A party of Papago Indians more merci-
ful, buried them, and four solitary mounds
now appeal (lone witnesses of the crme,) to
Americans for vengeance. A party of 30
recruits from Tucson who were on their way
to join Crabb at Cavorea, were attacked by
200 Mexicans when within l5 miles of that
place. After hard fighting they reached the
American line with killed, having killed 40
Mexicans. The Mexicans at Cavorea were