Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-01-07

THE ASSASSINATION OF CoMoNFoRT.-The ac-
counts of this sad event are quite contradic-
tory, and it is uncertain whe Their the French
authorities had any hand in it. The official
account states that Commandant Gonzales
Aymire, having learned of Comonfort's ap-
proach with an escort of 80 horse, set out
with his forces to meet him, and had a run
ming fight for some distance. In returning
back to where the engagement began, twenty
dead bodies were picked up, among which
was that Of Comonfort, together with various
documents of interest According to another
account, Comonfort's bo1y was taken up by
the adherents of Juarez's party, and carried
to San Miguel de Allende, where it was made
the subject Of post norton examination,
and afterward buried with the military honors
due to his rank. He was found to have
ceived a wound from lance in the heart, one
or two balls in the right side of the breast,
and several sabre cuts about the head.
AS Comonfort had considerable money on
his person, some have supposed robbery to
be the motive of the attack but the proba-
bility is that he was slain as one of the most
valued adherents of the Juarez cause. He
was born at Puebla in 1912. After raising
high in Military honors, he entered the Mexi-
can Congress in 1912. He acted a prominent
part in the expulsion Of Santa Anna, and be-
came President in 1856, holding the Office
three years, when he retired before the rev.
olution by the Church party. He went to
France, but returned when the French in
vaded Mexico, and offered his services to
Juarez. He was appointed chief commander,
and gained even the regards Of his enemies.
THE WEsTERNER-This man has his ro-
nance, his high poetic feeling, and, above all,
his manly dignity. Visit him, and you will
find him without coat Or waistcoat unshorn,
in ragged blue trousers and old flannel shirt,
too often bearing On his lantern jaws the
signs of ague and sickness but he will stand
before you and speak to you with all the ease
of lettered gentleman in his own library
All the odious incivility of the republican
servant has been banished. He is his own
master, standing On his own threshold, and
finds no need to assert his equality by rude
ness He is deGg GIFTED to see you, and bids
you to sit down on his battered bench without
dreaming of any such apology as an English
cotter offers to a Lady Bountiful when she
calls. He has worked out his independence,
and shows it in every movement Of his body.
He tells you of it unconsciously in every
tone of his voice. You will always find in
his cabin some newspaper, some book, some
token of advance in education. When he
questions you about the old country, he as
tonishes you by the extent of his knowledge.
| defy you not to feel that he is superior to
his race from whence he has sprung in Eng
Land or Ireland. To me, confess the manli-
ness of such a man is charming. He is dirty,
and perhaps squalid. His children. are sick,
and he is without comforts. His wife is pale,
and you think you see shortness of life writ
ten in the faces of ali his family. But over
and above it there is an independence which
sits gracefully upon their shoulders, and
teaches you at first glance that man has
right to assume himself to be your equal
Anthony Irouope. ~ .ss.s