National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-18
PER1Ls OF BORDER LIFE IF TEXAS.

The disturbances on the Rio Grande,
and especially in the northwestern part of
Texas, are frequent and of the most often
sive character to peaceable citizens of the
United States. The press of Texas is filled
with accounts of these, and from private let
tiers from that section of the State the vol
ume of complaint is increased. One ofthese
letters, dated Preside. September IS, is in
our possession, and from it the following
extract is made. 1t bears on its face proof
that it was not manufactured for any speci-
fic purpose, and is but simple narration of
facts as they existed at the time of writing.
If the extract reflects somewhat upon the
anxiety of the commandant of Folt Davis
to extend relief and protection when it was
seemingly required, it must be taken into
consideration that he may have had other
and quite as important uses for his troops:
ave have been surrounded by band of
thieves and murderers for the last two months,
and never saw a more villainous looking set
in my life. We are in danger from them all the
time. Three or four weeks ago six or eight
armed men stopped the boy that herds our
COWS, and said they would kill him If he did
not tell them where we kept the money, and
how many men slept here. The boy told
them he did not know, and just then they saw
some men coming, and let the boy go. He
came home and told US. We loaded all the
rifles and pistols, and kept guard that night,
but they did not come. The next day we sent
an express TO Fort Davis for soldiers. The
colonel (Andrews) kept the man a week, and
then sent him back without an answer. We
hired q guard of MeXicans, and got several
gentlemen that were out here prospecting to
stop with us. About a week after the colonel
sent two officers and soldiers here to inYesti-
gate, and see if it was necessary to send SOL
diers here. They stayed q week, and were
satisfied that we needed them. They said
they hated to leave us here while they went
back to report, for fear we should be killed.
They expected to be ordered right back, but it
has been over a week, and still no soldiers
that old colonel at Fort Davis is q fraud
no one can ever get assistance from him from
the Indians or anything else. He keeps six
companies at Fort Davis in idleness while we
are all in danger. While the officers were
hero we gave them little dance. While we
were dancing the thieves climbed the corral
wall, and stole all my cakes and dishes out of
the dining room, and the harness and brides
that were under the porch, and took the straps
off the captains ambulance. was awful mad
when took the people out in the dining room
and found an empty table. The officers said
if they could steal like that that they thought
we had better leave until the soldiers came.
We would move over the river, but the river is
high, and we would have to leave our horses
and everything behind, so we concluded to
stay, and fight it out while longer. Can't
you write something for the paper about the
way the frontier is protected, and the way
that old colonel treats US W
1t seems as though citizens of the United
States, even if living on borders remote
from cultivated centres, might have full
protection. The power of the United
States ought to be. so severely felt, espe-
cially by murderously- inclined Mexicans,
that they would not dare to modest any set
tier living near their border. 1t generally
supposed that troops stationed in such Sec
tons are supported for the sole purpose of
preserving peace, and protecting the coun-
try from invasion, and public sentiment
will not tolerate laxity in this regard on
the part of commanding officers. 1t strikes
us that if a few summary examples were
made of these Mexican thieves and muir
derers it would have wholesome effect,