New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-03
THE WAR ON THE BORDER.
Terrible Condition of Affairs In Wesrer

Terrible Condition of Affairs in Western
| Texas.
We copy the following account of the
Mexican outrages in the neighborhood Of
the Rio Grande from the Corpus Christi
| Gazette, of March u:
Yesterday morning the whole town was
| thrown into the most violent cOmmOtiOn BY
receipt of alarming news from the country
| in reference to the movements of body of
| armed Mexicans. The most intense excite
ment prevailed, and from quiet and peace
full pursuits, everything in a moment of
time assumed the most warlike appearance.
Guns and pistols of every description were
called into requisition, and young men and
| old prepared for defense.
Stores and offices were closed in q twink
| ling. Families sought vessels at anchor in
the bay as places of safety. and the steamer
was crowded in little while with anxious
| people.
The following is the cause of the excite.
ment, as near as we have been able to as
certain up to the time Of locking forms:
Early in the afternoon sheriff John McClane
received letter from John Dunn, Jr.,
stating that party of twenty-five or thirty
Mexicans, and three Americans, had robbed
| the house of Mr.. 5. H. Page, run his family
| into the brush and taken him prisoner.
| Shortly after this, John Dunn. Jr., the
| writer of the letter, appeared in person,
| giving an alarming account of the numb
| Of the robbers, and stating that they were
at Juan Saens' rancho, robbing houses and
taking all the white men prisoners. He ap-
pealed to our citizens for assistance.
young son of Mr.. Page said that he was
| to the house, but that his sister told him
| the party took his father and Mr. McMani
| gle prisoners, and that they started up the
| road.
Sheriff McCiane, accompanied by large
posse of men, left at once for the country
| to ascertain the truth of the affair, and
| arrest the offenders, if possible.
A heavy guard OF citizens was stationed
around the town, and preparations made to
meet any emergency. Every avenue to the
town was strongly guarded by good men,
and careful watch placed for the night.
This morning we made it our business to
| ascertain the amount of damage done by the
robbers, and to give truthful statement
throughout.
The robbers first congregated in the
| thicket near the residence of Mr.. S. H.
Page, seven miles from town, evidently
coming together by preconcerted signal,
being twenty eight in number.
They first entered the house of Mr.. Page,
which they ransacked and robbed of every
article Of wearing apparel aud bed clothing
they deemed worth taking, and about SIS
in money. Women and children were not
molested. From this place they took two
sons cf Mr.. P. George and Anthony. one a
small boy. the other a young man, compell-
ing them to travel on foot ahead of them.
A little further on they overlook Mr.. Page
and Mr.. P. II. McManigle, whom they
likewise placed on the road ahead of them
Several others were captured about the
same time. A party visited the house of
Mr.. John Campbell, securing his pistol and
about S. in money. His fathers house was
likewise visited in hopes OF obtaining
the alarm and hid in the thicket, which
defeated their object. They here Sc cured
five or six head OF horses and mules.
Their next move was to the store of Mr.
Franks, at Juan Saens' rancho. AL! of the
Mexicans in this place, down to the old
man who has resided there for upward of
twenty years, Elojio Garzia, were taken
prisoners and placed under guard. While
arrestlng the Mexicans, one of them recog.
Bized one of the robbers and saluted him.
The man addressed cursed him and ordered
him to 60 on. Hesitating, and asking what
was wanted OF him, he was shot through
the head, falling dead in his tracks. He
was after ward buried by the people of the
rancho near the road. He was represented
as of good character and an industrious
worker, having resided in this country for
several years.
While at the store of Mr.. Franks the rob-
bere captured an ambulance containing
Mrs. E. D. Sudbury and Mrs. r r Savage,
placing the ladies under guard. Hon. H.
A. Gilpin, Mr.. John Fellman. Mr.. S. G.
Borden, justice of the peace of San Patricio
county, Mr.. G. w. Saunders, his son, from
Banquete; Mr.. George Reynolds and chill
dren, Misses Laura Allen and DeBerry,
Messrs. Fred Franks, Mike Dunn and wife,
and others were captured in regular order
From these persons they obtained quite a
sum of money, Mr.. George w. Saunders
shooter; s. G. Borden of 5000; John Fellman
of $50 and a pistol; and Mr.. Franks, of the
store, losing in the neighborhood of $3.50.
Other amounts swelled the aggregate to
about $500. Fred Franks lost all his wear
ing apparel but his drawers, in which he
was forced to travel with his captors. In
addition to these robberles the store was
plundered of everything valuable.
After satisfying themselves at this point
the robbers left the captured ladies under
guard of two men, starting the male prison
ers ahead, keeping them in long run, their
own horses at swinging gallop. Mr.. Page
soon succumbed to the rigorous treatment.
and told his prosecutors be could travel no
further, and that they might kill him. 70
do this one of them seemed exceedingly de-
sirOus, but was told by another that the riejo
was no account and to let him go, and he
gladly returned to his home. The bal ance
of the prisoners, both American and Mexi-
can, were kept in run, regular Indian style,
and if they Jagged the least their steps were |
quickened by punch under the ear with a |
six-ehOoter or violent push with the hand. |
Mr.. Mike Dunn says he thinks they sent him |
about thirty feet at a time. Occasionally the |
riders urged the footmen forward by riding |
their horses against them, telling them to |
,rote, trote! and they .'trotted." The treat
ment received by the unfortunate prisoners
exceeds anything We have ever heard of in
civilized country, SURPRISING, if possible,
he atrocities of the Indians. Neither old |
nor young were spared, but trOtted through,
up hill and down hill, at rapid pace.
The party arrived at the store of Mr.. T.
J. NOakes, NuccestOwn, at about five o'clock
n the evening. The first intimation Mr..
NOakes had Of their presence he noticed
Mexican, gun in hand, dismount rather
in front of bis store, followed by q
econd and a third. He bethought himself
# his Winchester in the adjoining room,
md started to get it, He had scarcely sue
eeded in getting his gun before an Amer
can by the name OF Smith, familiarly
,nown as 'lying Smith," hurriedly entered
ollowed by Mexican with gun. Imme-
lately upon entering the room the Mexican
aught sight OF Mr.. Noakes and transferred
lis aim, but before he could shoot Mr..
toakes fred, his ball striking the robber in
he right breast, passing through the body
q downward course, infictlng, it is be-
eved. mortal wound; at any rate the
rounded man turned without firing and
taggered toward the outer door. where he
,as taken in charge by his companions. I
Ie, it is said, was the leader, and the one ,
Tho killed the man at Juan Saens' ranch