The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-11-21
Mexican Barbaritv Massacre Of Ameri-
can Officers.

BTedJ CTeulG TO nlmSelt ana WlJn RTedb
honor to the State. He was soldier of
great dash in battle, of unsurpassed
horsemanship, and of that graceful and
natural suavity Of manner which en-
deared him alike TO his brother officers
and to the men over whom he was placed
in command. His brother. in-law, Col
II. StaLdish, was his chief of staff, and a
frank, fearless young officer whom the
Missourians knew and admired. Captain
Aaron I'll. Conrow had before the war
represented Caldwell county in the
Legislature, and had during the war
been elected to the Confederate Congress.
With these three men were three brave
and faithful young Irish soldiers. James
Mooney, Patrick Langdon, and Michael
Monarthy-sixi in all--who for the crime
of being Americans, had to die Follow
ing in the rear of Shelby expedition in
the vain hope of overtaking it, they
were captured, falling into the hands of
Figueroa, a robber chief, as notorious
among the Mexicans as Dupin was
among the French. Short shrift came
afterwards. Colonel Standish was shot
first. When told of the fate intended
for him, he bade good by to his comrades,
knelt few moments in silent prayer,
and then stood up firmly, facing his
murderers. At the discharge of the
musketry platoon, he was dead before he
touched the ground. Two bullets pierced
his generous and dauntless heart. Cap
tain Aaron H Conrow died next. He
expected no mercy, and he made no plea
for life. A request to be permitted to
write few lines to his wife was denied
him, Figueroa savagely ordering the
execution to proceed. The firing party
shortened the distance between it and
their victim, placing him but three feet
away from the muzzles of their muskets.
eyes bandaged. knowing but few words
of Spanish, he called out in his brave,
quick fashion, and in his own language,
Fire! !" and the death he got was GER
tain and instantaneous. He fell within
few PAGES of his comrsde, dead, like
him, before he touched the ground.
The last moments of the three young
Irish soldiers had now come. Langdon,
the youngest, was only twenty-five. A
native of Mobile, when the war conf
menced he had volunteered in battery,
had been captured at Vicksburg, and had
later Joined Pindall's battalion of sharp
shooters in Parsons division. He had a
face like a young girls. it was so fair and
fresh. All who knew him loved him. In
all the Confederate army there was
neither braver nor better soldier. Mooney
was a man of tifty-five, with an iron
frame and with a gaunt, SCARED, rugged
face that was yet kindly and attractive.
He took Langdon in his arms and kissed
him twice, once on each cheek, shook
hands with Monarthy, and opened his
breast. The close, deadly fire was re-
ceived standing and with eyes wide OPEN
Langdon died without struggle. Moo
ney groaned twice, and tried to speak
Death finished the sentence ere it was
commenced. Monarthy required the
coup de grace. A soldier went close tc
him, rested the muzzle of his musket
against his head, and fired.
General Parsons felt that for him, too
the supreme moment had come at last
Waiting patiently for his sentenc re.
spite was granted. Some visions of ran
som must have crossed Figueroas mind
1t was for a time at least thought best tC
hold him prisoner. His horse even
was given back to him, and for some
miles further towards Matsmoras he wa!
permitted to ride with those who had
captured him. The captain of the guard
immediately in charge of his person had
also very fine horse, whose speed he
was continually boasting of. A race was
at length proposed. The two men started
off at furious gallop, the American
gaining steadily upon the Mexican
Finding himself in danger of being dis
tanced, the captain drew up and ordered
his competitor in the race to halt. I'm
needing the command, General Parsons
dashed on with the utmost speed, escaping
the shots from the revolver of the Mexi
can, and eluding Figueroa and his com
mand. There could be but one result
A large scouting party of Figueroai
forces, returning to the headquarters o
their chief, met him before he had riddeI
ten miles, again took him prisoner, anC
again delivered him into the hands of the
ferocious bandit. Death followed almos
instantly. None who witnessed the deco
have ever told how he dies, but three
days afterward his body was fount
stripped by the wayside, literally shot t.
pieces. Afterwards Figueroa, dressed il
the full uniform of General Parsons, wa
in occupation of Camargo, while th'
same Colonel johnson who had followed
Shelby southwardly from San Antonio
held the opposite shore OF the Rio Grand'
on the American side. Figueroa, gloat
ing over the savageness of the deed, anc
imagining, in his stolid Indian cunning
that the Federal officers would pay hand
somely for the spoils of the murdered
Confederate, proffered to deliver to hin
General Parsons coat, pistols, and pri
vate papers for a certain specified sum
detailing, at the same time, with revolt
ing accuracy, the merclless particulars o
the butchery.
Horriied at the cool rapacity of tn
robber, and thinking only of Genera
Parsons as All American and brother
Colonel johnson tried for weeks to entic
Figueroa across tse river, intending t,
do a righteous vengeance upon him
Too willy and too cowardly to be caught
he moved back suddenly into the in
terror, sending message afterwards t.
Color.el johnson full of taunting ant
defiance. Las Flores was flower town
beautiful in name, and beautiful in tn
blue of the skies which bent over il
Hither would come Figueroa in the lul
of the long MARCHES, and in the rolaxa
tion of the nights of ambush, and tn
days of watching and starving. Go
help all of them who tarried till tn
American squadron charged into tn
town. 100 lank and file, Frank Moor
leading-all who had beard upon thei
faces or guns within their hands. !