The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-25
HoPBFR~ AND MURDER at THE
hOU7u OF THE RI0 eKANDE.


Tie following account of the attack on. the
village Of Clarkesville, at the mouth Of the Ris
Gisnde, by Mexican robbers, was crowded out Of
the CREscEkT yesterday morning:
On Friday evening, December 18th. at half past
O'clock. the village Of Ciarkesvie, at the mDuIh
OF the Rio Grande, Texas, was attacked by o
band Of Mexican robbers, (amoog whom were
two negroes who killed Mr.. George L. Ham
mond and Mr.. VIM. II. Phelps, and seriously
wounded Mr.. Robert r. Ryan.
They first rode mp TO small Clubhouse attached
to the premises of Mr.. Charles Frost. which was
used as LOGGING place for some mecbanic who
boarded there. Here they found Mr.. Harry Mar
quart, whom they took prisonec and placed q
guard over telling him in Spanish that il he moved
or tried TO give any alarm. be would be shot.
Three of the party then rode to the small building
used as q custombouse. and found Mr.. Robert II.
Ryan, acting deputy collector of customs, In
charge Of the port standing at the door. They
addressed him in Spanish several times he re-
Piled IN English that he could not understand
what they said. One Of them then drew pistol
and pointed il at bis heart. Ryan seized the Dis-
tol with one hsnd ard with the other got hold of
the Mexican by the throat, when another Of the
party ran behind Ryan and broke heavy pistol
on bis bead, which feled him as If dead. Be-
leving him SO, the three Mexicans entered the
buioiDg and found Mr. VIM. n. Phelps, night
]. epector Of customs, sitting on his cot
Without wuo Of warning, each Of the party
him to fall on the floor dead. After he had fallen
they cut him in eight places sod most horribly
napgled his body. Ryan, who had been left at
the doorway, recovered his senses and made his
eScSpe. BE was seen, aud five shots were fired at
him ; happily, ahey all missed their aim and he
fueceeded IN hidlng himself In the stable of Mr.
Ch8s. Froet.
While this was going on. one Of the party rode
up ~ the house Of Capt. JAS Selkirk and dis
mounting went TO the front door and knocked.
MIS-. Ihornhsm, Capt. S Is daughter. went to see
Ghat Was wanted and ssked the Mexican what be
Knocked for. He replied that he wished TO see
Capt. seIkirk himself, as he had letter for him
from the governor of the State. Mrs. Thornham
suspected that something was wrong, and told
him Capt. SelkiIk could not be seen, as he had
gone 10 bed-that she would give him the letter in
The morning il he would leave IL with her. he
refused TO let any one hsve il except Capt. Sal
kirk. And, getting on his horse, he went outside
the fierce, where be stopped.
Mr.. George I. Hammond, one Of the mounted
inspectors OF customs. was spending the evening
a. Mr.. VIM. Clnke's house, close to Capt Sell
biIk's. Having heard several pistol shots fred,
and thinking that Capt SIS family would be
alarmed at IT, he, without knowing the cause Of
The tiring, went through side door to Capt. Sell
links, and told Mrs. Thornbam not TO be fright
tned az twas party OF men firing for amuse-
mert. Mrs. TborDham said IL was not so that
they were robbers that one was hiding outside
the fence ct that very time. Hammond being un-
simed, asked If she had pistol 10 the house.
Mr.. Hammond TO go and inform Capt. Joseph
Cooper that there were robbers around. IL went
cut 20 c. mp'y with her request. aud had hardly
pessed the door when lie was fred at; al that he
rem to~tfd Mr.. Clsrke's house, sad as he was en-
teIiug fell, wounded 10 both legs.
While Dir. Hammond was ct Capt. Se'kirk's,
ibIee of The robbers had entered Nj. Clarks's
house, where they only found Mrs. c. and her
cthdien. They asked her where we're the men.
~ eIeplied that there were no men ia the house.
They Iointed pistol at her and demanded her
money and jewelry. ahe faIi she had none. They
thfn made her unlock ard empty out all her
lrunks etc. They broke all that she did not open.
Ia one Of The trunke, the pr petty OF q bOarder
they found five hundred dollars, and took one OF
Mrs. Clsikes trunks and filed it with every thing
OF value that they could ind. they were D, an
oeIinR, Mir. Hammond dragged himself In the
room ard was crawling unuer the bed, when he
was seen by the Mexicsns. who cried out kill
him kill the. Hammond turned toward them
ard said be was already killed. They fred several
shots al him, aud then finished the work with their
knives, wouudiug him in seven places, Killing him
OF, and left Ihe house.
1he same nan who had tried TO gain admit
tsrcs 10 Capt. Selkirk's. made another attempt,
snd tndng the door locked, went to the window,
sLd finding that well fastened he broke part Of
the sash with his pistol, then went Of.
The robbers, in body. then rode toward the
warehouse end Office of Capt Cooper. soma dis
taLce Cf Capt. Cooper had heard the irlUg aud
several children crying, and was about starting
10 see what was wrosg, accompanied by Mr..
Kelly, when he saw several horsemsn approach
ing, BE ordered them TO halt then dem inded.
who comes there!" They replied. friends :"
but, ;hey did not look much like friends, Capt.
Cooper presented them with the contents of his
revolver; they returned the fire, aud looked for
place through which they might gaia admittapcs,
ss strong fence had been put uD around the
premises BY Capt. Cooper only few days pre-
viOus.
NJ bor- al. -.sL.
ance, they next tried the rear of the house. bat
here they met with the same fire. and as the firing
and cries for help had attracted the attention of
the people on the Mexican side, several Of whom
we're coming over TO the assistance OF the inhab-
itants, the robbers galloped off and beat hasty
retreat, taking taeir plu0der with them.
Scouting parties were Immediately cent out and
secured the country around. The robbers and
sssassins were traced to point about two miles
above ClaIkesville, where they had crossed the
Tiver 10 the Mexican tide.
1he bodies Of the murdered men were inferred
the following evening. The inhabitants Of Clarkes-
vile and Brazos Santiago together with all the
United States officers and many OF the officers
from the Mexican side attended the burial and
paid the Let boDors TO the dead.
George I. Hammond was 26 years OF age, aud
leaves wife and one child to mourn his l0ss.
h had written for his family aud were looked for
by the next steamer from New Orleans. Wm "A.
Phelps was 10 years OF age, native OF Western
Virginia. They were both highly esteemed and
u uch respected for their many virtues.
The robbers appeared TO be well acquainted
with Clsrkesville. and asked for several OF the
Inhabitants by name. They also chose their time
well, ss nearly the entire male population we're
over the river at Bagdsd. on the Mexican side,
where they make 1t a practice to go spend the
evenings.
No further trace Of the robbers had been found
up 10 noon OF Sunday, the 18th, on which day the
steamer J. G. Harris left for New Orleans.
A tqusd Of cavalry and some infantry have been
sent down from Brownsyie TO scout tue country.
Lieut.. o. +. Roe, commanding at Brszos Santiago.
sent out all the men be could mu.tsr, together
with some OF the crew Of the revenue cutter Au-
tetsm, Capt. Treadway. Several parties were
arrested on suspicion. but nothing could be prov
ed against them. The Mexican authorities are
CO -opei atng with those on ihis side OF the river.
and IL Is hoped that the asssssns will soon meet
with the punishment they deserve.