New-York tribune., 1873-05-24
INDIAN RAIDS.

Amon0 various species of depredatiOns TO
which the Inhabitants tho Mexican and Texan borders
bavp been subjected those made by bands Of hostile
rap Indians have chiefly engaged the attention Of our
War and State Departmental These Indians chiefly
pbabitants OF tho Guadaoupe Mountains upon the
tementa of the Rio Grande from FL Paso 70 Del
Eorte These depredations already in the latter
mart of 1910 compelled the War Department Washing
ton to authorize military operations against these
Indiana II was believed that they eOnld DO driven
from their haunts, but only into Mexico, and
~ therefore became necessary TO seek the
co6neration Of the authorities Of that Republic.
secretary Belknap. in December OF that year.
tropght the matter 70 the attention OF Secretary Fish
Tie iptirnated that u would be desirable II tins Ma
onal Government OF Mexico would consent to authorize
the Government OF the State Of Chihuahua to com
muucae and cooperate directly with the commander OF
the subDstrict Of the Preside, whose headquarters
were al Fort Davis, Texas, permitting need be, the
troops OF the United States 10 follow the Indians into
Mexican erriiory and using the Mexican troops to in
ercept the Indians IN their flight It Thought that
IN this way the power and the spirit Of the marauders
would be 80 crippled afford sensible relief from the
OF danger and actual loss OF life and prop
erty TO the exposed citizens OF both countries.
Uron receiving this request Secretary Fish directed
Mr. Thomas II. Nelson our Minister 20 Mexico, to en-
deavOr TO obtain the necessary consent OF the National
Government Of Mexico in the direction indicated. In
for Foreign Affairs. and who ia now the President
Of the Republic replied that President Juarez. desr
ing to cooperate a far as depended upon the
Executive Of Mexico, m the proposed pan had decided
10 authorize the government Of the State Of chihuahua
10 communicate with the commander Ot the sub-strict
OF the Presids AZ Fort Davis 10 cooperate with him
toward the success OF proposed plan. The Governor
was TO cause the forces which he might employ 70 inter
cept the flight Of the Indians and to pursue them within
the territory OF NJ xco Senior LerdO said that, with
this object he had communicated this authorization 10
the Governor of Chhuahua aud also 10 the war Depart
mont recommending 20 the latter that should imme
diaev charge the 20 lend efficient cooperation
70 the proposed plan with all the forces 40 bis disposal
As TO the permission for the troops OF the
United States 20 follow the hostile Indians
who might Zee into Mexican territory sehor
Irdo said the Executive had the faculty 20 grant
this permission as the Constitution OF Mexico reserved
il 70 Congress- which then IN seTon he agreed,
II the American Government should make Known that
such permission was desirable that the request should
be made 10 Congress.
The representations Of our Government has little or
no influence on the maraudins bands. On the 9Th OF
May ISL the Commercial Agent Of The United states
n Piedras Negras Mexico made the following state
rnent OF depredatons OF Indians which had, 70 that
time come TO his knowledge:
great many Of these depredaons on the Texas IRON
tier. there IS no doubt are committed ny hleHaPoo ~.
from Rio GranGe, and, 20 speak under he prOiec
tOn Of the Mexican authorities they sanctiomhs tie
cit zens 20 trade with ana supply the murdering and
marauding savages with ammunition ana other thngs
of a friendly country. Some time IN December last
a band OF MescIrules crossed the RIO Grande
down me couutry for about tlirty-dve miles, where
thev al once commenced their depredations killing
horses n tha vicinity; there up the country
attacked Mexican c4rt-rrain ON the main road from
Fre Pass 20 Antonio. took every thing belonging
10 the tram and captured little BOY who had hidden
himself near the said train. Thence they went To MI
spears rancho situated the san Antonio rOad, erOa-
ne the Turkey Creek where they took IN bright day
light ont OF Mr. spears pen. all the horses they could
civilized people. me llnaDii ahts on tue rancAo loi
some time took them Tor caiie-drivcrs, amd
time enough 10 escape the bushes which surround
the rancho The Kckapoo Indians, Who since the year
2om o n 6t 10 6 y mmr er faids mo texas ieayng the
no. ~ western Texas for the distance 100 miles
from tne Rio rande bare Of good horses Several times
he owners have gone santa Rosa claim their prop
rtv tnoy1n il to be there and already citizens
81 ,f mace ana in some instances they succeeded
obtaining property but IN Others where the hotse
or mule were found the possession OF Influential
men nj the village. the delivery OF them
refused. The Mexican accomphces VI these hlcka
noos seeing that stolen horses were followed
mn TO santa Rosa by the they thought that place
no longer safe ana accordingly take the animals Traded
from fDe Indians further INTO the interior towns, where
tbeV nave a ready market for any quantity Of stolen
propertv ana any number Oi stolen STOCK. 1 am IN
r,ed inaf IN SaltlllO Parras, and Alamo de Parras
,baro - an Immense number OF valuable American
horses obtained through the raids INTO IeXBs ny the
Kickapoo, the Indians knowing very well that once
ass fbe Rio Grande into Mexican territory they
OF their pursucrs ana 80 Always escape
nnnishment In many instances the Indians stepped
FFnt of the river on the Mexican side WBen
rheir pursuers arrived at the bank Of the
river on the Texas side. being mOcked at the
IN. Indians safe IN a territory where they could not DO
foIlowed Among the men here, an -ympdihlAng Win
b indians ana their against the people OF Texas
Lere - nUa who credited Lpau some go worth OF
ammunition and other things, 10 DE pd 20 MIN Dy tue
indian with tine spos OF the raid the Indian was then
IoNas. unu enough, dItef
some time, the man was pald uy me lhulah VIA d
Spencer carbine belonging 10 ths Chlteu Sta'es
Tbe Indian related in m0cking way 10 a
crowd OF MeXcans, listening Win great interest
how he had followed Tor some ,, tiue ,,. par,5 ~
now he al last ded IN cutting on one sOut VIZ
had ssrayed a short distance from the command, ana
now tblg man begged hiIg spare his hte ohfing up
arms morse and all that IT, had but now he however
killed HIM aud took every thing nom hHi tie ans
i,e.r a very funny trick. Here can De seen the IN
eon al a. W ~ the Mexicans toward their American
ncignbors maHfestng JOY at the nlsi9rtuhes eaused
10y raids cruel savage enemy IIgln neA.Cu; IL IN
ciusion incOse slip cut out OF me san AIo"'O He
,ld. the contents only confirm my statements.
When this report was communicated 20 the Govern
snt At Washington by Mr. Nelson. secretary Fish ad
dressed him the following sharp note
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, WAsHISGToS, June &C. 1871.
T1oDias H. Nelson. q. 5. Minister HeTieo
sR: Your dispatch OF the % inst relative 70 depreda-
mons from Mexico across the frontier OF Texas lhas
been received. The frequency OF those RAIDS, tne
serious losses which they OCCASION ana the IN
nunitv VI their perpetrators want grave con
sderatiOn on the part OF TINS government. IL Is
presumed that any remOnstrances which may be az.
dressed 10 the Mexican Government upon the subject
vrouid have little effect You may, however say,
un0nically that II may become our duty al last 10
weigh the expedency of pursuing the hostile Indians
mo Mexico without the consent Of that Government, II
n mall not adopt measures toward checking the rob
berries referred 20. am, sir &e., HAMILTON FISH,
Aferward an abortive attempt was made by officers Of
the Department the Interior at Washington toward
removing those Of the Kickapoo tribe OF Indians VINO
dwell in Mexico to abode OF their brethren in this
country. The attempt was defeated by the opposition
OF Mexican authorities These circumstances were
brought 10 the attention Of the Mexican Government.
He further directed attention to the constantly inereas-
ing depredations Of indians from Mexico across the
frontier Texas and The ar0eltes and outrages COM