The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-28
Notes from Brownsville to Rio
Grands City.
THE ROBBERS HAUNTs.
Cattle Crossed Undor the Eyss Of United
States Commissioner.
The Contrabandistas of the
Frontier.
CORTINA AGAIN IN COMMAND.
MURDERS AND OUTRAGEs.

lite invitation OF Captain Meffin Kennedy, tn
owner of the Rio Grande steamboats,, sailed on Sen
TENDER from this port, bound for the Upper RI
Grande. The short notice given compelled hasty
gathering OF notebook, pencil, pipe and pouch ant
the tndnitesimal allowance Of linen, popularity sup
posed to be the due Of We Bohemian. A pleasant
party was gathered on the deck ofthe San Juan ant
the trip, which lasted week, was one OF pleasure
heightened by incidents OF some little interest Il
your readers The United States Commissioners tt
Texas were ON board going north In pursuance O
their plan Of investigation, and number of lead
ing civilians For ono week we were guests Of the
jovial Kennedy and the trip was voted success.
The Rio Grande occupies prominent place as
boundary, and In my childish days the name
brought up visions OF broad, sHvery nood, gliding
nolselessy past banks fringed with the luxurianl
foliage OF the tropics. Alas am completely de-
siNustosae. Length 1t has, without other rcmarka.
bic dimension. The actual Rio Grande is muddy,
turbid river OF the most refractory regimen. The
Opaque dirt solution covers snags, bars and on the
upper line rapids and reefs of cruel rock. This re-
fact0ry stream rises like the tide in the Bay of Fun.
dy. On one occasion II rose six feet in four hours.
On no day can the most experienced pilot hint
at the probable depth Of channel, as the
great region drained by it furnishes fire.
quent freshets and the stream is fretfully
Chafng up and down. In its course 1t rivals the
entangled folds Of the serpents which bind old
LAGOON. The average distances from point to
point are three times longer than by land Dull
banks, fringed with thorny bushes, scrubby trees
and impenetrable jungle, are only worthy of men,
ton from the historic associations of old and the
bloody reign OF terror Of to-day. In ascending the
river the traveller recedes from point only to re-
turn after several hours of devious navigation
mo NTH 20
many neat little problems to the residents and
landowners The river frets at bend until it cuts
of in Texas a few hundred acres of Mexico; in
another year the same action mile or two below
returns to Mexico what had been taken. Although
the balance of gain and loss Is preserved, private
parties are subjected to inln&e vexation.
AGRICULTURE ALONG THE RIVER.
The fats near the river, though containing pre-
ponderance OF silica, are nevertheless fertile and
good cotton, corn and sugar cane to be met with
The usual return Is two crops Of corn In the same
season. A itful variable climate Is the curse of
the farmer here. For years the rainfall is below the
minimum, and suddenly, In some season ofrcckless.
ness on the part OF the weather clerk, double the
amount OF rain needed drenches the crops out of
existence. From Brownsville to Rio Grande city the
river is lined with wretched ranches on the Texan
side, where few sheds of branches keep the lazy
seen, and struggling patch Of corn; dirty,
squalid women gaze lstlessly at the energetic
little steamer, pufdng away, while babies, In
puris natuaUbus. roll around in the sun.
Cutting and selling wood to the steamboats,
are the only means Of ready money. The fear of
even the horses and mules which drag the rude
stick called plough by courtesy may be stolen
any night. Compelled to witness day by day the
crossing OF stolen property into Mexico, the river
rancher0s see no hope In the future. II they fight
they are overpowered; II they inform they are as
ing, but fear closes their lips.
Much has been said Of the settlement of the Rio
Grande bank Land at ten cents an acre is GER
river to the Arroyo Colorado is drcary waste, on
which the coyote cannot live. Colonel fOrney did
well mot to visit the VALLEY Of the Rio for
Of place. would-be wits declare that
the United States should send an army
Is @ e
gaze sadly toward the dim mountains to the South
and say, ''If we had yOnder boundary we would
have peaceslver also, for the blue crest line in
dlcates heaped up deposits OF the richest ores in the
future is not doubtful Shall the sword force way
to the earthen treasure chest OF the world or shall
Snug negotiation smooth the path OF enterprise
and swindle as 1t smOOths
THE ROBBERS HAUNTs
On the way to Rio Grande city lie two notorious
and Las cueva %es the ySm
As we approached the Bolsa we saw a col
lection Of low huts, struggling women and
family Of fragrant memory uateIy sent to the
caa shs passed
quietly. The rancho Is situated in Q bend of the
river, cut on re-entrant towards Mexico, and it
was here that In 1859 the steamer Rancher0 was
attacked by robber Cortna. vigorous defence OF
the boat was made by the passengers, and by Lang
ranger cold Rip') as he is aectionateiy called,
crossed into Mexico here, and to use a Texan
phrase, cleaned them out" On hand when
wanted, speaking only when his will is the oracle
of WISDOM Ford has done the 'lion's share' of the
defence OF the Rio Grande for years. As we glide
by we see the low cottonwoods in which Colonel
Lozana, Mexican army hung the remnant Of the
Flores family. with effusion we remark, Long
may they wave e. Night comes we ground on
bank the song OF the ganipper is heard. We ..feel
their presence near" as the poet saith.
stream. Stately storks and cranes fly on, busy
dUdnt gdrde, and the field ducks chatter away in
the Ss s eons SenS bar one sd
on the Mexican side the Commissioners can see
several cattle mired down ana disappearing In the
ooze. Remnants Of stolen herds passed over
night or two before. It was thought imprudent
that such traces should be left to tell tale OF rob-
berry; but a surprise awaited US above which
''ff0 LAS cuEvAs CHE CAVES,
In the early morning Of the second day we passed
! s ss e q Aexesn de %s s dem
flied with 200 Mexicans, renegade negroes and a
few Of the gentle Kickapoos-fragrant wards OF
our common Uncle Samuel-who prefer the wild
delights of throat cutting to the long talk
and little beef Of the pompous agent or the
instructive tract and the can't OF
that gentle, .pefambulatiis nuisance Colyer
strong adobes and good nuts make
this the feature OF the river Horses aud mules
abound, while cattle are here a very drug. There
Is nothing to prevent these willy rascals from draw
Ing at sight on either the Texan or his OK, just as
the fancy strikes them. General Canaes hung
selected squad Of the Cuevencse while ago, but
the gentle COrtna Is their counsellor, and saws
that while he will hang them for stealing q pin in
Mexico he will not notice any thcfts they make from
the "Grlnlosn SO business Is brisk We thought
Las Cuevas, we came on party oil these devils,
who gave the Commissioners the delicious treat of
seeing herd OF stolen cattle In the act OF crossing