The sun., 1873-08-13
OUR UNPROTECTED BORDER
THE TROUBLES or THE SETTLERS
OF WESTERN TEIAS.

or WESTERN TEIAS.
tter-A american Citizens Murdered by Mex
ican aud Indian Invaders.
Correspondence OF The Sun.
BANDERA CITY, Texas, Aug. Ever
since the early settlement of Western Texas by
citizens Of the United states their permanent
location In this beautiful country has been re-
ruded by the Mexican people with dissatisfac-
sion. Subsequent to the establishment of the
southwestern border Of the United States, un-
der the treaty of Hidalgo, the hostility Of the
Mexican masses has been open and violent Tho
III will and jealousy exhibited 10y the Mexican
people toward Los Gringos, rs the citizens of
this Yankee nation are cOntcmptuously termed,
are widespread and permanent, and unfur-
tunately meet the citizens Of our states whom
business or pleasure calls within the jur,sdic-
uou Of Mexico, making their sojourn there un-
gleasant, and frequently unsafe
This national trait In 1859 eliminated in open
acts Of hostility, aud the INVASION II the terri
tory Of the United states near Brownsville. un-
fer the celebrated Mexican General. Juan Cor
Ina. The avowed object " the Curtina war
and of this Mexican politician and his men. va,
% secure The territory lying between the Rio
irsude nd the Nueccs In I xus fur Mexico, To-
drive Tie Americans who had settled on the Rio
Gtaud, border east " the Nurccs. and e-t,blisn
.1t iiytr .s t'ic southwestern boundary line "
lbc jttod >t.tcs. This v,r'Hy,Gcu.Julu Cor
ma. hN' .ipr hugh rank iu the N"vic. 90 army.
niniutuu.I ul MI. f'-uiar forces 300 tIc IS are II
mo,rt ut tho fearful cNr,.-c- V,ri,tr,trd Iat tl.
It-t eight 'Ntr- On Tue ,tIftu- uf Western
tctas. Ih. many murd,r- aHd open tlei's oi
attic aad H'r.Ds from teNat hV
ru's NtNICAN utNuir
.ecame 5. ur,min'ut tAat in i'.:. at tlo snesos.
.Iu OF iU" NiIrri..u .liI'-.,r tu TIE iiN I'D
hoNicg, i' was uu.dN removed ty tle VI slvdn
TIN c.itou, 90 the border be,ic,cd that when
,uriun h.d Lpuc the oUtrl-e- would partially
ease. hut Tue! have been dl-tppuintcd. Inc
.eschuf ana foreign puhcs of the General had
imans n. a.4ori,tts th,n w"s 5,inru.sd d I.s
captains AMI licutenauts LEFT behind tried to eX-
ct the irng and exploits ot their old master.
Thousand Of stock and beef cattle were stolen
and driven hy the. robbers into Mexico from
me lat pastures Of Texas.
Tho-C wo thcs,whcn engaged in their ruhbing
and mtidrfhG cAu,diuuus, are generally in
COMPANY "'t3 indians. ! 4u informed 10y par
lies WHO reside near the villages II kickapoos,
Muscaluips. ami lapau~. near santa Rosa, that
at lea.t one half OF tine men composing the raid
ing partic- whu Gusiu. the past seven years have
never failed t. make monthly visits INTO Texas
THIS was the condition ~ affairs on the Rio
G1ndc border which greeted the arrival ot the
Sheridan and Belknap to The front, and hastcntd
the lIte transfer y munitions OF war to the Rio
urande border. Unfortunately the geographi-
cal features Of this country AFFORD a safe hed
for the rapacity q these Mexican and Indian
outlaws. \ small force in the wilds Of Western
iaguuns, ca'ous and chaparral thickets furnish
secure cover and safety. Mounted on horses
mt thelr d'lfeddtlvhs WITH lnpuniiy, ana al
tnust with perfect safety. Fearful talvs Of cruel
~ are recorded of these hcnds.
NUMBERING AMERICAN CITIZENS
In Western Texas, on july Is. Ben Prithain, a
prosperous stock raiser, thirty miles south of
uyalde, on the Levn3' was murdered 10y Indians
through the town II Cvllde to his home for in
termeht; In The town Of frio. in frie county,
was given by the rnnchero. riding at fun speed
into the center of the town, about ten Ia the
morning creating consternation among the
women ana children. In nYe minutes time
twelve citizens. mounted and equipped, rode in
hot haste 10 the place designated, about one.
hall mile north OF the town and encountered
and had a fght with about forty Kickapoos and
lapans. Here they found Capt Massey All old and
rasgectcd citizen, seventy five Nears OF age dead
ashort distance from his house, whittier he had
gone To- look after his horses, having been anced,
shot through the body, and stripped OF all his
wearing apparel. Also an employee of Capt.
Massey sho; through the thigh, who will pruba-
house of Mr Gra6am. one-hslf mile from town.
was entered and everything Of value DESTROYED
north II IyaGe, July 20 Indians and Mexicans
attacked TWO ~ our citizens. one. an est,mable
man named Rector, was Killed the other sue
SueccS Cl.nn, iMr. Well, was murdered 10y the
Indians. His body was found a short distance
July passed south b, way II Banco. These In.
dians were pursued 10y a party Of soldiers and
were seen uu the trail, which Indicates that some
Of the lniians were hlu!y wounded.
ihe S.n'e n,gLYl 'iuLep7 hiiied dos not
the single month ~ Jgly. Early in July Amcri-
can clIl,us ou the border were inf rmcl hy
friends ~ Mexico that the indians werc scatter
ing their families 10 the mountaiu- fur safety,
made last Nay. Truly ills border j, bleeding at
ever puIr, aud set the g. INtruurut Ct..uN sur