The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-18
NEW YORK HERALD SUNDAY, AUGUST l8 872-TRlPLE sEE

VIEW i
burning theirrity. BY forced marches Helntzelman
and Ford overlook them December and beat the
Mexican arsenals and munitions furnished by the
guilty merchants. The TObbers-70O In number
were Were followed fifteen miles to Roma where they
rides whAe swimming Aided by the Mexican gov.
eminent he recruited his ragamuffins and marched
fifty miles above Matamoros, on the Mexican side.
permanently encamping here he sent MS detacn
with the authorities at Hatamoros he learned Of
the intended voyage OF the steamer Ranchero rom
Rio Grande City to Brownsville, bringing down
citizens fleeing for their lives and large amount
OF treasure. Women and children were huddled ON
the little boat. Langdon OF the First artillery was
to come on the boat. T0bn, with Texans, escorted
her along the bank. In the early part o. February
1850, the steamer sailed. Ford interchangeable and
for or e
| chapparal, disodging and Furnishing the lurking
bandits. At Zacatecas C0rtina. from the Mexican
side opened fire on his advance.
THE STEAMER APPEARING IN THE BEND
above was fired on, and Langdon showed his met
The vessel ran past Cortinas line and was covered
by FOrd's camp. In the afternoon Ford In person
crossed and beat the bandit badly. killings nearly
thirty OF his men. No half measures suited the out
and-0u Ford; he consulted with St0neman and de-
cided to move down on the Mexican bank, St0neman
next day, and Ford ran into q heavy Mexican force
at La Palma Cortina on the left. An Official parley
ensned and on agreement Ford was allowed to move
the regular Mexican troops would repress Cortina
he recr0ssed and moved with the boat to Browns
vile. None Of the stolen property was ever re-
covered, The Mexican authorities were cognzant
OF the war, assisted the bandit ana only desisted
attack when the American commanders had given
them several sharp lessons.
ELEVEN MURDERS BY CORTINA.
cameron county presented seventy0ne e. ih harn
who was never punished. Outlawed BY the state
OF Texas, he boasts he never signed the Guada-
S<1o ntroo and fnp
his outiawry In 1885 his toast at New Leredo was
eternal hatred to all Americans" In this he is Q
and unprOvoked war has never been avenged, and
to-day the rufflan Is In sight OF the town he once
During the Confederate occupation of Texas he
played fast and looseseng artillery to the rebels
and once attacking them to get good drubblng.
was leader among his kind. As commander he
shows tact but does not handle men well in the
him, and his conduct on the iieid proved that he
was no match In the field lighting or bushwacking
for his determined adversary Ford. BY plumber
made fortune. He had f300,O0 in the Bank of
England, owned houses in various Mexican cities
Soldadito end the Burgos. These he well stocked
with stoa1 cattle and horses still bearing their
THE AIaLEs IN UNIFORM.
Quick to secure his personal safety ne gathered
together his thieves under the name OF the "Aigles
(the Eagles) and uniformed them like the Devils
valet de chambre in a brass helmet red breaches,
blue coat and brown feet az ndturel, or In sandals.
them in his pay fed them stolen beef and cleared
expenses In selling the horses they stole to the
Mexican government. On his lands, with thelr
camp women In luxurious relaxation, his robbers
passed happy days of ease; on the fertile plains
grazed the wing ponies they ride armed with
the 'Aigles are to be greatly feared The secret of
their coherency Is in good pay and ratons as Well
as asaa euard Which Watches marching
troops, to prevent desertion. Chief and soldier
farcddes an,bol have identical interests.
Of latter-day free ances The worthy general gives
grand "andango." When music and mescal
sehoritas and cigars have amused and excited the
crowd a guard enters and selects all the young
men OF irregular pursuits and impresses them.
Desperate subordinate officers control the rest
less troopers, as COrtina always makes point OF
saving any noted criminal of great dash or bravery,
to give him command. In this way and by open
ing the jails he has secured men whose principles
change to suit the times.
DURING THE EMPIRE
time st to time he enriched s himself watched his rob-
bers' rOost, was alternately republican and impe-
rialist, and crowned his personal baseness by be-
he was promoted to be Brigadier-General Of the
regular Mexican army. Rich enough, he now COW
his own "Aigies'' with him, he was made ''com-
mandant Of the line OF the Bravo" 1.-THE Rio Grande).
When General Trevifo sent an agent to President
JuareZ, to discuss the present cattle troubles and
Juarez said, al shall send a commander to the Rio
THE BLOODHOUND ON THE BORDER.
pointment was made and the ofciaI sanction OF the
Mexican government given to the bloody past.
Juarez was afraid Of the occupation OF Mexican ter
ritOry to enforce the payment of bonds given by
him, years before, to raise money for his own uses,
and his only remedy was to follow discarded obi.
cations with national insult. In meeting United
States officials COrtina never disguised his in
dependence of the ordinary decent courtesles OF
life Sent with despotic power to prevent raids if
IN n.
rched himself with the nerds OF the suffering Texan
rancheros: The United States commander protested
against this appoint and the official documents
were all forwarded with due representations as to
the grave results to be looked for. No reply was
his unpaid bonds
EFFORTS FOR HIS PARDON.
A conference Of Americans with COrtfna resulted
in proposal as to his pardon by the State Of Texas.
The willy rObber offered to stop depredatOns If he
was cleared OF his count OF indictments He did
hang one or two personal enemies and the pardon
was proposed in 1870 to the Governor of Texas. In
this act he acknowledged the sovereignty of the
to remove the blood stains from that armed band,
and even before the refusal his emissaries were at
their old work. Superior to the local civil au-
thorities he oyerawed Palacios, the Commandment
of Matamoros, and no check has been placed on his
theving Sending his soldiers to receive the cattle
the river he has p0cketed the money for the sale
of hides and fed his armies on the beef
INTERVIEW WITH COLONEL FORD
singular feature OF his willy game as to his par
don was an invitation to Colonel Ford to visit him
at his camp. He wished to use the influence or his
old opponent, whom he knew to be generous.
Ford's friends endeavord to dissuade him from q
visit to place where his life was not worth pin
head The fearless ranger crossed the river and
interviewed" the bandit whom he had beaten In
three open fights. Cortina entertained his visitor,
and used his influences in vain, the honest Texan
telling him he would not move In the matter.
Many friends who had sworn to revenge any injury
to Ford breathed easier when his good gray head
was seen safe on the Texan side again. Cortina Is
to-day in the quiet enjoyment OF his dignity, and it
remains for the United States government to either
force Mexico to remove him or to foot the long &C
count of years. IL Is Idle to talk OF quiet the
Rio Grande while this man, all powerful, looks at
his long record OF insults and indignities offered
America and smiles at the thought OF his high OIL
cial position sheltering him.
PERSONAL INCIDENTS.
Cortina's undoubted bravery is exemplifled by his
conduct when on one occasion ernede occurred
in his camp. An aid had brought money to pay his
fr0nna A cnnaniracy was formed by forty OF hia