The New York herald., 1872-08-19
cortina's PIunderinE end Bloody
Record.


Record.
Wild deeds and reckless cdmes no not unu-
sual on the line of the Bravo, or, as we call il,
the Rio Grande. For many years the belt be-
tween it and the Nueces has been infested by
bands of thieves who think nothing of murder
when It comes in the way of carrying out their
schemes of robbery, or when it gratifies their
resentments. Among the worst men this region
has produced Is the monster Cortina, ''the
Tiger Of the Bravo" formerly a thieving en-
ploye of the United States Quartermaster's
department., later chief of company of indis-
criminate plunderers and latest, Junrez's Com
mandante of the line of the Bravo. His record
is one of blood from the age of fifteen until
now, and his sanguinary career of thirty years,
in which he has slain scores of mon, has had
for its sole object the acquisition of money
During the unsettled period after the close of
our Mexican war, when this portion of Texas
was only inhabited by bold rancheros, who at
the risk Of their lives sought wealth and inde-
pendence in stock raising, Cortina, who had
already by murder and theft acquired some
property. took into his pay number of the
most reckless criminals and outlaws of the
border and systematically made plumber his
occupation, accompanying it by rapine and
murder unchecked. He. has undoubted per-
sonal courage, and, while permitting the
utmost license to his followers, held them
under the most absolute control, and reaped
for his sole use tho lions share of their booty
His raids were many, and made him one of the
richest men of the Rio Grande line. His
crimes secured for him in Cameron county
seventy-one indictments for murder and rob-
berry; yet he was always able to elude pursuit
and to find safety ON the Mexican side of the
river, though Texas outlawed him and would
have seconded his assassination. While Juarez
desperately fought imperialism and insur-
rection at once he was glad to accept the SER
vice of this murderous chieftain. and the
title Of general, with the command of the
Texan line. was the price the robber received
for his loyalty. His accession of dignity was
no check to his cupidity and lawlessness. He
announced himself as the constant foe of the
Yankees, and the national Mexican troops
under his command stole the herds of Texan
Bravo to be sold for his account These
thefts were often accompanied by the murder
OF those in charge of the cattle and the burn
ing of their houses. Cortina, the command
ing general of neighboring and friendly re-
public, became more feared and worse hated
than Cortina, chief of armed thieves. This
state Of affairs produced protest from Gen.
eral Andreas Trevifo, Governor of Tamaulipas,
and General Quiroga, of New Leon, which cul-
minated in most formidable rebellion under
the lead of Trevifo, who is o liberal and edu-
Gated man, native Of Matamoros, graduate Of
the National Military Academy and pro-
nounced friend of the Yankees, whose Ian
guage he speaks Juarez, who, though patri-
otto, was exceedingly illiberal, could never be
induced to deprive the bloody Oortina of his
command, and in consequence the proba bility,
at the time of his death favored the success of
the revolt of TreviGo and the secession from
the federal bond of oil the Northern Mexican
States, which would have formed friendly rela-
tions with their Texan neighbors. On the
tender of amnesty by Lerdo de Tejada Ire
vino proherod his allegiance, and the revolt
along the Rio Grande has now terminated. It
is to be hoped that the !sagacity Of the present
President Of Mexico will justify the expectations
Of his friends by dismissing from the federal
service the rapacious Cortna, and bringing
him, with his fellow thieves, to justice.