The Bossier banner., 1877-08-23

uVlty OF these partially animated grave
yarus $50 incomprehensibly dull are
they) Is the traffic that is carried on in
horses stolen from Texas. The In
dlans, several hundred families in nun.
per- according to the best authorities.
used to live in and about the Mexican
towns, but ever since Gen. Mckenzie
broke up their housekeeping arranpe-
ments at Remolino, several wears a9o
they nave preferred the more salubrious
atmosphere of the mountains, where
United States cavalry can not penetrate.
These Indians, however, do all their
trading and obtain all their supplies.
arms, ammunition, etc., at these Mexi-
can villages. The expense of the trip
OF supplying ammunition and provisions
(for there will be time for hunting and
hshlng picnics during the raid) is borne
by the Mexican hidalgo, often Govern
ment official. The Indian raiders, and
the few Mexicans who accompany them
in the hope of becoming their EQUALS in
the higher branches Of horse-stealinc,
are paid, as general thing, by the day.
In some cases percentage is allowed
on the net proceeds; the greater the
number OF horses stolen, the smaller the
percentage allowed. Your correspond
ent has read a letter from a perfectly re-
liable gentleman in one of those Mexi-
can towns, German, by the way, who
mentions incidentally that the naucha-
chos (boys, youth),. instead of taking
advantage of the last full moon, had
struck, giving as a reason for the de
mand for more favorable terms that on
the last raid the Texans had captured
one of their number, Mexican named
Jesus, and had hung him. But this is
a depression.
WHERE AND HOW THEY GET INTO TEXAS.
line of hills extends from the mouth
OF the Pecos River east, and in the di-
rectiOn OF San Antonio. This line of
hills and the country to the north of it,
thanks to the activity of the Indians and
the strict neutrality uniformly preserved
by the Mexican Government, so it
claims, are totally uninhabited. The
country to the south of these hills and
between them and the Rio Grande is the
paradise of the American stock raisers.
Along the banks of the Hondu, Seco,
Sabine, Blanco, Turkey and other creeks
flowing south from this range of hills are
the large stock ranches, on which are
raised the fine horses that the raiders
drive off. Here are the cabins and IL
ONES of the pioneers of that irrepressi-
BILE army of immigrants, steadily push
ing westward, and before whose ad-
vance the Mexican must give way, soon
Ell or later, as the Indian has already.
To all intents and purposes this range
of hills is the frontier, and will continue
to remain so until by some means or
other this brigandage has been put
stop to, for great many families have
been obliged to fall back into the more
thickly settled portion of the country
for protection. The raiding party, usu-
ually consisting of about 80 men, sup
posing an Indian like Sambo to be a
man and a brother, emerge from our
sister republic as if they had unexpect-
edly become disgusted with her, some
where between the mouths of the
DEVILS and the Pecos Rivers,
and Immediately take to the hills,
on the south of which are the horses that
do not belong to them yet. Following
along this line of hills the banditti some
times approach within 80 miles of San
Antonio. Dividing, usually, into sew
eral small parties, the invaders sweep
through the valleys, driving the horses
that do not belong to them and taking
the scalp Of any who may chance to be
in the way. Having fresh horses, and
being able, owing to their knowledge of
the country, to ride day and night, it is
no wonder that before the pursuers, who
have no fresh horses and who have to
lie over at night, can overtake the
thieves they are safe and sound On the
Mexican side of that sacred stream, the
Rio Grande, bringing their sheafs with
them, so to speak, They usually re-
cross the Rio Grande. about $50 miles
below the point where they enter Texas,
and at point where there are towns
and cities, into which they fly for refuge
when pursued by United States cavalry,
which was of late, owing to the excite
ment of the pursuit, contracted the
habit of crossing over after the thieves,
and sometimes not very much after them
either. Once on the Mexican side the
thieves are among friends and admirers.
The horses of the American brands are
driven to the ranch of that kind, good
man who fitted out the expedition. The
muchachos are paid their honest wages,
and the employer can now fill some OF
the orders he has had on hand from the
interior for good horses.
THE LOSS SUSTAINED BY AMERICAN CIT
IZENS.
1t is very difficult even to approximate
the loss sustained annually by the citi-
zens of Texas at the hands of these
theiving scoundrels. Hardly full moon
passes without their taking advantage OF