The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-29
STIRRING NEWS FROM THE RIO GRAxDE.

Mexican Banditti Attack United States GUS
tom House-Murder of Two Inspectors-An
American Village Observation-Disclosures OF
Former Reports.
from the New Orleans Picayune Dec. PAL
on Friday evening, December Is, at half past eight
O'Clock the village OF Carksvie, at the mou b OF
the Rio Grande, Texas, was attacked by band Of
Mexican ROBBERS (among wn0m were two negroesl,
who killed Mr. George 4. Hammond and William Ii.
Phelps, and seriously wounded Mr.. Robert X. Ryan.
premises Of Mr.. Charles Frost which was used as
lodging place for some mechanics who boarded
There ev maize here aey found M harry Marqaas
him that II he moved or attempted to give any
alarm he would be shot, Three OF the party then
house, and found Mr. X. r. Ryan, Acung
Deputy Collector, standing at the door. They
addressed hIm IN Spanish several times; he replied
In English that he could not understand what they
SAID. Que OF them then drew pistol and pointed
1t at his heart. Ryan seized the pistol with one
hand and with the other got hold OF the Mexican ny
the throat when another OF the party ran behind
Ryan and broke heavy pistol over his head, which
feed him as II dead; believing him SO, the Next
cans entered the building and found Mr. w. ii.
Phelps, night inspector OF customs, sitting on b
and he lell. After he had ialen they cut him in
eight places, and most horribly mangled his body.
Ryan, who had been left az the doorway, re-
covered his senses and made his escape; he was
seen, however, and i've shots were fired at him;
happily they all missed tueir aim, and he sue
Frost. While this was going on one OF the party
rode up to the house OF Captain James Selkrk,
and, dlsmounting, went up 10 the front door and
Knocked. Mrs. inornham, Captain Selklrk's daugn-
ter, went TO see what was wanted, and asked tho
Mexican what he knocked for he replied he wished
to see Captain sekirk, as he had letter for him
from the Governor OF the state. Mrs. ThOrnham
suspected that something was wrong and told nun
bedthat she would give MIN the letter In the morn
ing II he would leave II with her. lie refused to let
any one have 1t except Captain Sekirk, ana getting
on hIs horse rode outside the fence where he
stopped. Mr.. George I. Hammond OF
the mounted Inspectors OF customs, was spend
ing the evening at u illiam Clarke's house. Having
heard several pistol shots hred and thinking Captain
Selkirk's family would be alarmed at 1t he (wlthout
knowing the cause OF the irng) went through side
door to Captain 81 house and told Mrs. Thornhan
not 10 be frightened as 1t was party OF men firing
for amusement. Mrs. ThOrnham said 1t was not 50;
that they robbers and that one OF them was at
the time hiding behind the fence. Hammond asked
II they had any arms In the house. Mrs. T. said they
had not, and requested Mr.. H. to 60 and inform Cap
tain Joseph Cooper that there robbers around.
only passed the door when ne was fired at He then
ran towards Mr. Carke's house. and fell at the steps,
wounded through both legs
While Mr.. hammond was at Captain Selkirk's
house three OF the robbers had entered MR. CiarKes
where they found Mrs. Clarke and her children. They
asked her wht revere the men, She replied there
were no men in the house. Tney pointed their pistols
at her and demanded her money and jeweiry. she
empty OUT all her trunks. &c. They broke open all
she did not unlock. In one OF the trunks the pro.
perry Of one OF tie boarders. they found $500 They
took one of Mrs. clarkes franks and flied 1t with
everything OF value they could dnd
AS they were piundering, Hammond, who had
failen wounded, ut the door dragged himself In and
was crawling under the bed, when he was seen by
the Mexicans who cried out, "Kill him; kill the
- and took hold OF him by the feet and dragged
him out. Hammond cried out II am already Killed.
Then each the party shot at him and, drawing
their knives, cut him In seven places, killing him
Immediately. They took his boots, hat and coat on,
and left the building.
The same man who tried to gain admttance to
Captain Selkrk's made another attempt and. finding
the door locked, went TO the window. and fnolng
that well fastened he broke part Of the sash with his
pistol and then galoped OH.
The robbers III q body then rode towards the
office OF Captain Joseph Cooper Captain Cooper had
heard the firing, ana was about starting to see what
was wronQ, accompanied by Mr. William Kelly,
immediately ordered them TO halt, and demanded,
@Who comes there ~ They replied, .sFriends;' but
as they did not look like friends, Captain Cooper and
Mr.. Kelly presented them with the contents OF their
place through which they might gain Abundance,
as strong fence had been put up around
the premises by Captain Cooper only few
days previous. Not having counted upon
OF the house. but here they were met with the
same hre and as the firing and cries for help had at
tracted the attention OF the people on the Mexican
side, several OF whom were coming over to the assist
OF the Inhabitants the robbers rode on, taking
thetr plunder with them.
Scouting parties were sent out and robbers were
traced to point two miles above Clarksville where
they crossed the river into Mexico.
The bodies OF the murdered men were inferred the
evening following. The inhabitants OF Clarksvile
and BraZos santiago, together with all the United
States officers, WIN many from the Mexican side,
were present. George 4. Hammond was twenty-six
years OF age and ieayes o wife aud child He had
written for his family, who were looked for by the
next steamer from New Orleans. William III. Phelps
was nineteen, a native or Western Virginia. They
were both respected for their many virtues.