Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-06-24
PARTICULARS OF THE EXECUTION Or COL.
.. GRABB and HIS PARTY.

minute and reliable:
Late in March, Crabb's party left Sonoita,
Sonora, and marched to Cayorea, small Mexi-
can town near Point Lobos, and on the Gulf OF
California. The first intention was to have pro
ceeded to Altar, but the news of its partial for
tification and susceptibility of strong defence
caused the diversion on Cavorea On the morn
ing of the first of April, the party of Americans
entered the suburbs of the town.. They were
met by a body of Mexicans troops, commanded
by Rodriguez. <...,i5,,l ~. %,
It is said Rodriguez advanced tospeak to
Crabb when the Americans opened fire, and
killed the Mexican commander and several others.
The Mexicans Immediately retreated-some to
the mountains, but the majority to the church,
which had been placed in state of defence, and
had at the time Crabb entered the town num-
ber of beeves roasting whole, in front of it, to
feed the Mexican troops.
It appears that here occurred Crabb's first and
fatal mistake Instead of at once charging and
taking the church, which would have given him
the town, he 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 emboldened, returned
and gradually hemmed the Americans in Fight
ing continued eight days, with o loss to the
Americans Of 25 killed.
The Mexican loss is reported by themselves
to have been 25, but is supposed to have been
much greater, as high as 200. On the eighth
day an attempt was made by two OF Crabb's
men to blow up the church, by placing o keg OF
powder under the portico, and: firing it. The
devoted men who attempted this were both
killed and Crabb is said to have been wounded
in experimenting it. It's said an offer was
raade 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 con-
,tinued two days, and now the Mexicans, conf
dent Of his weakness and their triumph, refused.
The Americans were gradually but surely caught
in snare, from which they saw no escape. IT,.
By breaking through the walls Of adjoining
houses the Mexicans forced Crabb and his men
into the corner building, which they repeatedly
set on fire, but which the Americans as often
extinguished At last, a Papago Indian shot
into the roof of the main building occupied by
the unhappy fillibusters, a lighted arrow, The
flames caught the roof, and in a few moments
the fire was dropping in great fakes upon the
heads of the doomed men within. Wornsegt
with, ghting, seSla th alxlety,
lamished by probable days of starvation and
thirst, and without ammunition, Henry A. Crabb
and tifty-eight men, marched out of the burn
ing house.. with white, flag before them, laid
posed, Internationally. ....,..5 $: /!
This was in the night or towards morning
They were. Immediately tied, their hands behind
them, taken to a corral near the Alcade'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 executions it was found
that the calmness of the Americans discomposed
the executioner, 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 aim
ing with better effect. .G.jl E::%n .:
McCoun, owing to his great stature, was saved
this torture, ball struck him full in the breast
at the first fire, and he fell dead. Crabb alone
was reserved for a solitary death. He was taken
to the Alcade's Office, questioned, allowed to
write to his wife, and to have on interview with
DR.. Evans, a prisoner in the hands of the
Mexicans, who had been in confinement some
weeks, on suspicious The hour for his execution
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 eXecutioners.
At the command fire, at least an hundred
balls were fixed into his body, and all that was
mortal of Henry A. Crabb hung dead, swinging
by his tied hands, AMexican stepped forward,
and with a large knife, severed his head from
his body-the warm blood spirtlng halt way
across tM street. The head was placed on a
table in front, or in the Office Of the Juez, ex-
posed to the jeers Of the populace 1t was at
forwards placed in o jar of fnescal for preserva.
tion.'' = =. :
Two of the Ainsas (brothers-in-law Of Crabb,)
are said to be killed, and also Rasey Biven. My
informant, an intelligent man and eye-witress
of these horrors, says Crabb died as gentleman
should, as quietly and calmly as ifhe were going
to pleasant home.
Four men, sick, had been left at Sonorita by
Crabb. They occupied the house owned by o..
E, Dunbar, ESQ.,, on the American side of the
line. On the 18th of April, at night, a party
of twenty-five Mexicans came up from San Juan,
went to Dunbar's house, took these poor sick
men out of bed, tied them, and at dawn Of day
carried them to tue foot of the hill, shot them
like dogs on American soil, and left them to rot.
A party of Papago Indians, more mercifrl, bu-
ried them and four solitary mounds now ap-
peal, lone witnesses of beastly crime, to the
American Government for revenge. Will such
all appeal go unheard?
Mr.. Dunbar just escaped massacre, having
left Senorita on the afternoon previous. The
MeXicans were furious at his escape, although
he had nothing to do with the party except tc
offer shelter, on American soil, to four sick men
in his own house.
A party of about 30 recruits, under Capt
Grant Grey, started from Tucson TO join Crabt
at Cayorea.: When within IS miles Of the lat.
ter place they were attacked by about 2O(
NIexcans. Capt. ORGY retreated fighting, and
recained the American line, with loss OF only
four killed. The Mexican loss was about 40
Capt ORGY deserves great credit for his skill
At every watering place the Mexicans attempted
to check him and subdue him by thirst, but hi
routed them on every OCCASION
The last eight miles was continued running
fight. and his fourth man lost was killed just a
the line. Another party, of the same strength
which left Tubac, has not yet been heard of. |
is believed if Grant ORGY had been with Crabb
a different result might have been anticipated
All was bad management, want of experience
and clear rushing upon deadly fate
Crabb entered CaWrea with 81 men. Al
these were killed except the youngest, said t.
have been spared by the Mexican commander
Garcia. The name of the survivor is unknown
but he is said to be boy Of sixteen or seven
teen.
Major Bob Wood and Major Tozer are safe
They were with Captain Oreys party. Col. r
N. Wood, Fillmore elector, is among the deae
The Alta California says: The excitemen
throughout the State consequent on the receE
ton Of this news, has been intense, and a yer