The weekly Butte record., 1861-04-20
Attacks by Robbers in Mexico.


BY this arrival we have full files of papers
from all parts of the country, with dates from
the capital to March 10TH The Mexican Ex-
traordlnary of that date gives the following
particulars OF the attack upon Capt. Aldham
capt Aldham's party consisted of Brett,
Heslop, and hardy sailor named Harris, all
well armed. They were accompanied by Glen
ME, English Consul of this city, his family, his
sister-lh law, Kaufman, and Madame Maison,
the companion in misfortune of Capt Adham
The whole company had two dligences, which
were escorted fer a part of the way, and they
reached Orizava in safety Here it was sup
posed all danger ended and on leaving Oriza-
va all the travellers appear to have been quietly
snoozing away in their seats, when a short
distance beyond Cardova they were alarmed
by the diligence stopping and the cry of rob-
bers Capt Aldham and bis officers being in
the first diligence with Mrs. Kaufman and the
unfortunate French lady, they at once seized
their arms and prepared for defense Captain
Aldham fired his pistol upon one of the assas-
sins at the side of the diligence, aud then made
a dash to gam position outside. As he was
alighting, he was fired upon and fell the ball
having passed through his thigh The same
discharge wounded Madame Malson A ball
passed through the diligence and hit that un-
fortunate lady in the knee, breaking the bone
IN such manner that her leg, it is feared
must be amputated. In the meantime, Harris,
the sailor on top of the stage, and Brett and
Heslop, the latter having safely alighted on
the ground, were sustaining warm cotest with
the assassins, who had retreated short dis
tance. The fight lasted until three full rounds
had been fired by the officers of the Valorous,
when the assaIlants availed themselves of the
still prevailing darkness (for it was about four
o'clock A. NJ to make off, taking with them
such OF their companions as were killed and
wounded. The original number of the assail-
ants is thought to have been nine. Captain
Al6ham and Madame Maison were taken to
Cordovia and quartered in the house of Le-
grand, where they received the attention of
DR.. Carrillo, of Orizava, and the good offices
of FrandisoE and Glennie
We need scarcely say that this melancholy
news has produced deep sensation in this city
amongst foreigners, and Englshmen especially,
to nearly every one of whom Captain Aldham
is personally known. The attack and the time
and place, all give certain to reports of the
darkest charcter.
A letter from Puebla, the 18th also records
the following
The diligence that left this place for Perote
on the L lth was attacked two points this side
of that place by twenty seven robbers. There
were seven passengers in all in the diligence,
among them two Americans, named McDye
and Bailey, and a Frenchman, whose name |
have not learned. The two Americans were
well armed, each having rife and a pair of
revolvers On the appearance OF the robbers
the stage was at once stopped, and the two
Americans got out and commenced a sharp
resistance. The battle waged for about an
hour, when the robbers-those who remained
-retired, leaving three dead in sight, two of
whom were killed by McDye and the other by
the Frenchman. Two dead robbers were af-
terwards found in the woods, and it is believed
that several more of them must have been se-
verely if not mortally wounded. On the part
of the passengers the Frenchman received the
worst wound. He was shot through the body,
and is considered to be in dangerous situation.
McDye received ball in his side, after it had
passed through his left arm. Bailey was not
harmed. The coachman is said to have re-
celved a ball in his hat. To the rest of the
passengers nothing happened.
Another report says that both of the Amer
leans were wounded and when the Tennessee
sailed, were at Vera Cruz.
Our files indeed, are filled with accounts of
similar attacks upon travellers in all parts of
the country. Some charge them upon the re-
dictionary party alone, but others, with more
justice, probably, find sufficient cause for them
in the distracted state of the country and utter
decentralization of the people.