, 1874-06-05

corpus Christi, Tea {1ay lot Correspondence ef liz
I have informed you briefly, by telegraph, Of
tho series Of tragedies that hayo stirred tho
hearts Of tho people here to dopth not recently
touchof, md which hnyo convinced them TINT
they can look only to themselves for holp agaiuat
daily inoursions Of Mexican robbers and 1nur-
aorers, In large or small gangs, US the case MI
ho.
This quadruplo mnrdor ut the "poncscaf
Rancho "was 10 fearful, 80 atrocions, nna It's at-
been determined to exact = terrible vongeancd
from all concerned In it, aud tho upshot may ba
that the Moxi xicanR generally will find this section
Of the State too warm for them TO reside in With
safety while they aid and abot tho pevpeLratora
Of auch crimes as hayo occurred here within thd
last threo years.
The solo object of tho 1lcnds who attacked
tho little white settlement at tho peneRcal
tue Morton brothers were ahout to receive q
larGe sum Of mouey-S500-Wh they cx4
aygornteA into S3,e0o: also, they intended to
GUT the Btoro of all tint waa valuable. They
description applies to noted desperado Of tlla
froutier. Keen men nro upon his trail, aud ha
can not escape II lo remains IN Texas. They
attacked tho ranche at night, about duass, and
did not stop until they had killed al, though re-.
serving the elder Morton for tho Lust, aftor ha
had been wounded in threo places, 40 That he
might show tlem where tho money WAS cons
cealed. Then the party absolutely riadled him
with bullets. Each mau thon took slcll goods
boots. shoes, blantcts, clothing, groceries, otc.,
and finally, with doyilish 1nalignity, scattering
arsenio over all thu provisions They could not
eat or take with them, In tho hope that tho
purBuers, whom they know would bo upon thoit
trail, would be olfoct,tally stopped. Fortunately
tloir intention was discovered ere any damage
was dpue,
After tue murders were accomplished and tho
purity had gone, am informed upon reliable ali.
thorlty TINT tho loader returned. and, foarinH
sreaohory from two OF his .ulon who had re.
mained In the vicinity, ordered them eAot,
which WAS done. The ranCheros and ot1icors Of
tho law hnve titus far captured six Of tho party,
and, allowing for the two that wore eilher shot
or hanged. there arc three yot ut lnrgD. Ac.
counts differ MI to how many wero engaged in
tho massacre, Romo saying eleven and others
ttteon.
Yostorday Visited tho jail whero tho MUIR
aorors aro confined, and moro yillanous sot Of
men it has not boon my fortuna to look upon in
many day. Ono Of thom wenrs marks upon hia
throat wllcro ho WAS subjected to littlo pyolm-
inary hanging by llis captorh to iulHce him to
copfoss who wore luis accomplicoa. He Ia not in
a very joyous frano OF mind. and no doubt doea
not haye yory strong faith In his tenuro OF llfo.
There is . strong probability that, as soon aa tho
examination aud confessions Of those who nre in
custody now aro completed, they will be taton
from tho Jail aud allowed to hang themselves. ~
tho people generally are determined that they
many loop-holcs Of Escape afforded by tho opora-
ton OF the law In t{is section.
The condition Of the settlers between tho
Nuocos aud tho Rio Graudo. Is anything bub
this plaoo aud tho Rio Graudo, ia attended with
moro or loss dangor, aud no man will think Of
making the trip without flrHt providing himself
with Winchester 1dno aud si1-shooter or two.
Several robborios havo occurred uoar ssu Diego,
sixty miles from hero, aud Oh the day Of tha
Ponescal robbery three teamstera woro nttackod
md robbed by four MexicanB noar Damquetto.
TAoy werc bound. with tho Intention by tho
Mexican captors, to kill tliom aftorward, hut ono
lives Of tho poor fellows tat woro lott tod upon
tic ground, to bo aftorward liberated by tho
same Mexican, who also gaye such description
OF lis accompliceB that they wero soon captur91
py of wH
on tho aasuo branch, In plain viaw OF fho road.
wloro, for oil know to tho contrary, they aro
hanging yet. Il IL by such SUMMARY ana soveta
punishment only, that tho presont a,soaaetaa gn'
dition OF these frontier countles can 10 Te1e'lea
1t ia alnoat uaolesH to talk Of the law, wien an
offender may 30 soon Cross tho Rio Grando, and
put hlnso!f out of harm wAy, AMI t1o rancle-
ROB forced to M ssam aS the oxDa os
opportunity to ofend second tlnlo.
It ia difficult to arrive At tho calso Of this n!-
most ''irreprossiee" conflict tl'at weEoa hatween
tho Mo1ieanB aud AmotaeH lsan along tha lfontler,
ti,c intouse i,ato that tho Mexican fools toward
tic " dringo," rho Lo feels has ,lnlawtully d.
spoilod Of tho fair. domain of Toxas. Then.
Iadian aud negro blood. predisposo them to
IpUydor aud robbery. They aro a olass dauaer-
ol,a anywhere, and almost impossible to ciyiI(So,
i haye heard it repeatedly asserted horo that il
general hanging waa instituted botwoon this and
the rlyor, It every teuth man was spare1. tlat
,7onld bo tho full proportion Of good to bad III
tho whole raeo hs We know thom III this seution.
Tie MILITARY who arc stationed at Santa Cor
trlde's ranelio are totaliY incompetent for tho
protection thoy Hre etatiouof thorn tn afF,r1 s@1