The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-07
MEXICAN BANDITS.
Continual Excitement on the
Texan Frontier. u
A CRISIS APPROACHING
Mexicahs Openly Stealing Cattle
and Numbering Citizens.
The Investigating Commission
at Work. : f.
.-s
Criminal Activity Of Officials and. magistrates
Criminsl Activity Of Officials and. Magistrates
Of the Neighboring Republic.
ANOTHER MURDER BY MEXICANS
Attempt teIntimidate Witnesses for the
Commission.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas, July q, 1879.

COMMISSION.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas July g. 1871
While vie pleasure-seekers throng the gay water
ing places Of the North, making the long summer
days merry, your correspondent reves here in as
delightful sea breeze as can be had for $40 day
at Long Branch. II is as invigorating, cheaper,
and surely does not bring suggestive hints Of ONCE
seeking. While the "wild waves are saying"
Vanos to many disappointed hanger on at the
cottage by the sea-" the gentle murmur Of the
Rio Bravo seems to whisper, "How long s' for the
eye easily catches the uttering nag yonder on the
citadel of Matamoros. A poor, unromantic, sum-
mer ditch of q river-the Rio Grande-divides two
republics one In the throes Of dissolution Worn
and wasted by internal struggles, the white lips
of Mexico falter, 'Let US have peace" For
. little time the revolutionary excitement
is over, and as to the future, Qatten saoe! Here,
on the Texan side, ideas are current far in advance
Of the elegant dispatches OF formal diplomacy, and
the mills Of the gods ore grinding on, slowly but
surely. The event of the week was the arrival on
the 10th, Of the United States Commission. They
are quartered at Miller's Hotel, and on their ar
rival were called on by the courteous commander
OF the forces on this river-General McCook.
With his officers he spent o pleasant evening
IN the company OF the Commissioners, Messrs.
Robb, Mead and Savage The fine post band
was IN attendance, and the serenade was q
pleasant feature Of the occasion. General McCook,
for nearly five years in command, has won for him
self well deserved popularity on both sides OF the
river. The Tenth Is a steady regiment, and has
fairly wtthstood the temptations of narrow river,
with freedom and cheap whiskey on the other side
as reward for desertlon. Under orders for Fort
McKavitt, the command will soon leave for that
place. General Doubleday Is to relieve with his
AnwSv 30
The frontier Commission has for it's escort the only
cavalry troop now here-Major O'Connell's com.
pany, Of the Fourth. They are fine troops, well
mounted and are q credit to that excellent regl-
ment.
BUSINESS FOR THE FRONTIER COMMISSION.
1t Ia understood that the Commission will move
up the river soon as the business to come before
Association caeS t4IIon from the Stock Raiscrs'
men-Captain Kennedy, Judge Strong ana Jutise
Parker-represent the m aterial interests of South
western Texas: The utmost good feeling prevails,
and these gentlemen are assisting in every way tho
proper investigation OF the cattle stealing business
For years the troops here, as well as the mounted
vent the frequent raids. Circumstances, however
give the adroit thieves great advantage over
their qsscare title t" @" w, MsatS Il is to
be hoped that our government viii demand the
and that q just compensation may be obtained by
l. from Mexico, Here today the kancheros are
proper protection than payment for the heavy
CONSIDERATION OF THE SITUATION
viii enlghten the pubic Between the Nueces ana
S ranae Lies vast plain 200 miles broad and
boupaa desred by the MeSicans in ,4s to as.
To-day the boundary Is the Rio Grande, river
with low banks, almost always easily crossed, and
OF cos 'ederates on the other bank, may cross
cattle. This land is largely owned today by ctl.
fence anil 70 Is vast, treeless pasture for the com.
mon herdal Of many owners Water is scarce and and
the herds to work toward the Rio Grande once
every year q grand Rodeo takes place. The
owners or ';amploye a surround and drive together
marks OF the dinerent owners. The Increase natu.
rally herds wnh the OLD STOCK and under fair ar
and herds for sue are gradually withdrawn A
rude general average maintains the rights OF all.
the different herders take note Of branded cattle
1.-THE brands all registered and publicly advertised
to give news to parties Interested o. the where
abouts OF the mass OF their cattle stock associa
ton controls the rude laws which distinguish be-
tween conflicting interests, and is fairly effective.
u is impossible to fence, for timber Is scarce and
the present price of cattle supposes almost no ex-
pendtture FOR. care Feeding them is out OF the
question, ana in years OF drouth serious troubGe
has been the drying up of well known lakes on
springs. Cattle unacchstomed 70 other means OF
water supply stand bewildered by the dry source.
md die under blazing sun. With these iNnu-, |
nces In dry years the cattle often go two to Il
y
centng tt aar on in wonderful way, returning I.
or the grass which is not TO be found near the new
,atsr supply the toughness Of Texan beef is here,
! once explained, also the small quantity OF blood.
2 the steer: This deprives the beast OF the power
! assimlating the salts of the grass, hence the 1
ard times are. As an example Of q Texan ranch
ne may be mentioned OF ls2 acres another with
elng bounded By the sea- Thousands Of horses horses
re used by these large rancleros, and other things
PteeSrO and T1e Of are i've often
TX miles one man is stationed to watch ,
or movements Of the herd. on the ranches OF
ontrol their nteresta Here ia az explanation of
he singular slowness OF these people in informing
cople who live on the other side OF the Rio Grando,
hey act as DID the native Californians in the early
ay s Of that stateNalTays protecting horse thief
his life, should not stir to inform on marauders
rho spare his ranch and drive OF cattle belonging
0 Americana. If he did he would be punished,
nd In fact they are often detained
nth the cattle have been spirited away. The
,odus oIeyandi of the cattle thief is as follows
rossing in bands at any unprotected point on the
ver, having made arrangements for the assistance
coniederates when they return, they scatter for
ear prevents the Mexican ydncheros on the Texas
de from giving the alarm. moonlight scene is
erd strayinG within thirty to forty miles OF the
10 Grande Instances have occurred OF raids rs
ir as eighty to one hundred miles nom the river
These
-, swARTuY MOSS TROOPERS -
oliect, ID few hours after shutdown, O Few nun
red, or perhaps, thousand head OF cattle. From
ns moment IL Is wild race for the river.
'pendlu hofsemen, they easily guide the frightened
erd and by the time the alarm Is qIyer, on the
amer amen dney have fyc or eight hours
tart; me pursuers must be In force
nave hopes OF saving the herd. md
ehen on the trail they find tho thieves making
3 quick time as themselves. Should any single ,
nan fall In with the marauders ne Is killed or 10.
aimed. Away they race, and often the suffering =
exam arrives at the bank 10 find the last OK swim
ho rfp hot tanp
ot often. The ready rascals on the opposite bank
ssist In crossing the cattle and snap their fingers
the baffed pursuers. Reclamation on the Mexl.
efence is az hand. Nothing can be proven ana
be aicalde, after beginning at eleven A. NJ,
saaks OH az noon 10 remark "to.morrown The
" .Nlc morrow Is one Of fraud and subter.