New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-07-23
VOLUME lX.--NO. 81.
OUR SAN ANTONIO LETTER.

! The Visie of General Ord to Washington
and the Arrest of CoYtinn-''The Watcl
on the Rio Grnpde'' still to be Kep
To- The Old Alamo 8areIy EscRpe'
the Fire Fiead.
I SAN ANTONIO. July ~. 1875.
| EDi1oE REPUBLICAN,:
] The authorities at Washington had NJ
| prope. conception of the real condition O.
| affairs on the Rio Grande until the recen
visit Of General Ord, commanding this de
partment to that city. Neither the Presi
! dent. nor the Secretary Of War, seemed Il
! understand that blaze Of war was flaming
I satisfied that the reports Of General Ord 4
I Secretary Belknap caused indirectly the
| arrest Of Cortina. Tho Mexican govern
men. was given to understand that ''fne
! words butter no parsnips." and that az
| effort must be made to bring up the scourge
! of the Rio Grande with short turn
Hence the sudden and unexpected display
| Of energy in the arrest OF the dreaded
! bandit.
/ Colonel Christie deserves much credit FOL
! the mastery strategy and indomitable
| firmness he displayed in the matter. Itwa.
| believed that it was impossible to remove
C0rtina from Matamoras to the gunboat al
| the mouth of the Rio Grande without his
being forcibly rescued. The best explana
ton tor the feat having been successfully
accompl shed is to be found in the credenee
given the official statement Of Colonel
Christie, that should rescue be attempted.
he would shoot his prisoner on the spot.
COrtina has since arrived at the City OF
Mexico in close custody. but hear that his
mistress and few trusted and influential
There goes with them. too. one OF the most
powerful: and eloquent advocates in all
Mexico, whose influence is even sometimes
felt in thi. model republic. His name in
! Spanish is Don Dinero. In English we call
him plain ''Stamps." His repairing to the
capital from distant province Of the re-
public. the mistress Of the disgraced Gen.
| eraf with large bribes for the Senate. reads
very much like q chapter from Sallust.
But Don Dinero to the contrary notwith.
standing, Cortina is in = tight place. and
the sooner he begins to count his beads the
better for his soui, and our cattle too. He
seemed to understand this before he left
Matamoras. for he made his last will. and
predicted an early demise. In Mexico there
is no middle course in dealing with dan.
gerous mamie is shot without any delay,
or he is liberated. and becomes President
Of fhn ro,,uhl;c. apH oa tboro 10 20 no a ror
eral election in Mexico before long, the
chances for the heavenly crown are de.
cidedly in the ascendency.
General Ord does not regard the capture.
or even death of Cort;na. az likely to end
the Rio Grando troubles. There are several
thousand able. bodied Mexicans who are pro-
fessiona! cattle thieves. and who live on
both sides of the river. And it will not be
long before they will be at it again. unless
constan. vigilance is kept up on the part Of
the troops. The lower Rio Grande is cap.
able Of being securely guarded by com.
paratiyely small force. the fords not being
very numerous, and General Ord himself
assured me that there would be no abate.
ment in patro1ling tho line. Every effort
is being made to place the military tele-
graph line in running order as soon as pos
sible. particularly that portion from Browns
vile to Fort Mcintosh.
The indians have been unusually quiet OF
late. but as we arc in the enjoyment of
beautiful moonlight nights it will not be
long before will have the old story about
scalps and horses being taken off without
the consent Of the owners.
Our city has recently been visited By two
serious fires, ona of which came very near
destroying our sacred .Thermopyle. the an
cient ruins OF the old Alamo. where Crock.
EFT and Travisfeli and the United States GOV.
ernment now has some 5000. 900 worth of ma
terisl stored. The Alamo property consists
Of a number of large buildings, forming the
two connected sides Of parallelogram.
The government teams we're stabbed in the
courtyard in wooden buildings. and they
caught fire through carelessness. The es
cape of the main buildings, including the
old historic church, was aim Ost miraculous,
although it was accomplished through the
exertions Of the steamers. Six mules were
burned to death. and about $1,000 worth of
woodwork destroyed.
The other Ere involved loss of Si' 600.
and was the work OF an incendiary. who
has not get been arrested.
Last Sabbath y as desecsated by tho pris-
oners confined in the county Jail falling
upon their jailors. beating one nearly to
death. depriving both of their weapons, and
nearly succeeding in making their escape.
The five or Elk who took part in the affair
have been sentenced TO terms of imprison.
ment, and since the horrible cruelties prac.
ticed ON conricts have become known there
is disposition on the part Of prisoners to
avoid going there if possible.
Tho Galveston. Harrisburg and San An
tonic railroad 10 completed to KiRgsbury.
or within nine houfs staging. We all look
forward with pleasure to tho event Of our
being brought within easy reach Of the Cfes'
cent City. BEXAR.
New Orleans and Pacific Railroad.
At Alexandria, Monday. Mr.. E. s.
Wheefock. the president Of this road, I'D
dressed a very large public meeting on its
affairs. The meeting was very enthusiastic,
and cor e;Ho~oh1a aid svos promised Epoun