, 1857-05-29

EFFECT OF CRABB'S DEFEAT. 1hE
A gentleman who arrived at San n.
from Fort Yuma, on the 9Th Of Ma ve
nishes the Herald of that place ri;s ~
following particulars of the sad fate A. y ~
Crabb expedition. 1t will be Seen tSa,Se h. ae
main features of the account of tbS ~ '@
ments of the expeditionists in Sonor. 1--WE ~
nished by our correspondent at Fort w &
have been confirmed:
The expedition into Sonora und., a
command of II. A. Crabb, has had : n... y.
disastrous end. Late in March, CAM Any,
party left Sonoita, and marched to Csvo.Sl
a small Mexican town near Point Icss.'
on the Gulf of California. The 6r.t ~.
ton was to have proceeded to Alta, N.
news Of its partial fortifcation and su'..rs
bility of a strong defence caused the S1"'
sion on Cavorca. On the morning a. n.
lst of April, the party of Americans enter
the suburbs of the town. They Wer -.
by body of Mexican troops commaOd.s
by Rodriguez. 1t is said Rodripu.z N
vanced to speak to Crabb, when d.
Americans opened fire and killed "A.
Mexican commander and several oths,s
The Mexicans Immediately retreated-sOn.
to the mountains, but the MAJORITY 10 IN
church, which had been placed in ~.
of defence, and had at the time Crabb sutp,.
ed the town a number Of beeves roaSll1,
whole in front of it to feed the Merie,1
troops. .s.i44-
1t appears that here occurred Crabp,
first and fatal mistake. Instead Of n
once charging and taking the church
which would have given him the town. h,
occupied several houses on the corner d
the Plaza, in front of the church. sst
The Mexicans at first deserted most q
the town, but gradually being embOldensd,
returned and gradually hemmed the Amer
cans in. Fighting continued eight dnA
with loss to the Americans Of twenty
five killed. The Mexican loss is reported
by themselves to have been twenty-five
but is supposed TO have been much rst
er-as high as two hundred. On lie
eighth day an attempt was made BY lEO
of Crabb'S men to blow up the church, bJ
placing keg of powder under the possieo
and firing it. The devoted men who H.
tempted this were both killed, and Cflhb
is said to have been wounded in supsrn
tending it. 1t is said an offer was made
by Crabb to retire if the 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 Mszt
cans, confident Of his weakness and her
triumph, refused. The Americas ven
gradually but surely canght in . snare
from which they saw no escape.
BY breaking through the wall d .h
adjoining houses the Mexicans forced CnlO
and his men into the corner building
which they repeatedly set on fire, hli
which the Americans as often extingulshsd
At last a Papago Indian shot into the fod
Of the main building occupied by the lt
happy 6libusterS, q lighted arrow Ih
flames caught the roof and in few 20
ments the fire was dropping in great alln
upon the heads Of the doomed men HliAl
Worn out with constant fighting, eznusted
with anxiety, famished by probably dayl
of starvation and thirst, and without 90
munition, Henry A. Crabb and fflytlgAi
men marched out of the burning hcules'
with white flag before them, laid don
their arms and surrendered. It i MP
posed Internationally. This was 10 ihs
night or towards morning. TheY Fss
Immediately tied, their hands behind ilsu'
taken to a corral near the Alcaldes ale,,
where they were kept until morning slea
they were taken out in squads Of 5 and y
each and shot. In the first executions u
was found that the calmness Of the Amer
cans discomposed the executioners ana .lg
shot too high or too low, in many eq's
only wounding their victims, ne basn
Of the fated men were then turned % ias
troops, and they succeeded in aiming WIN
better effect. t
McCoun, (may he rest ia peace,) owing
to his great stature, was saved this toi'ais'
q ball struck him full in the breast q .n'
first fire and he fell dead. Crabo ag9o
was reserved for q solitary death, ~
was taken to the Alcalde's Office, quesugnlu.'
allowed to write to his wife, and 70 wy
an interview with DR.. Evans, Pii1gns, y
in the hands of the Mexicans, WHO ~
been in confinement some weeks % s
ion. The hour for his execution haIl.s y
arrived, he was led out, his hands sEeisns. ~,
above his head and tied to o post 70 w, I. \
of the building he had occupied, hs ".
Tie post, and his back to his execauOs..;ai IA
At the command fire." at least . nv11 m
balls were fixed into his body, ~ 80 !.
that was mortal of Henry A. CraoD ~
dead, swinging by his tied hena1 -,
Mexican stepped forward and WIN - X,
knife, severed his head from the boa 4.
warm blood spirting half way acfOS ~ n
street. The head was placed Oh ...I
in front, or in the office Of the Juez oAg, IN
to the jeers of the populace. II was ';oo. M
placed in jar of meScal for Presells l.-,;Ii.
Is there not something peculiarly N,o .oD.
in such fate for man who has One' ct,,.
trolled almost the destiny OF . grea' .
like California;
Two of the Aiusa's, (brotheFs-ln1IS 10
Crabb, are said to be killed. Au ;rteE
- ..ea