The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-06
THE WAR CLOUD ON THE RIO GIANDE

There has been a good deal of enAtonal
talk in the Texas papers, and various bogus
telegraph dispatches have been sent norh with
the evident aim to convey the impression that
the cattle stealing and general outra4 bust
ness on the Rio Grandc is fourishing beauti.
fully: that constant collisions are occurring
between the few scattered companies of United
States regulars and the Mexican brigpds in
that quarter; and that speedy breaking out
of regular war between the United States
and Mexico is reduced to an almost dead Ger
tainty.
The New York SIM had one of its attaches
interview Fred Seward, assistant secretary Of
state. and from him EFFORTS expressions which
the SIM cOnstrues to mean that the admins
tration is engaged in deep plot to seize two
or three northern states of Mexico in The in
terest, apparently, Of the Tom Scott Southern
Pacific railroad scheme. Seward says the al,
ministraion plan is to recognize and support
Daz against the reyolutionists Of northern
Mexico, and as Diaz will be unable to sustain
himself our government will send United
States troops to occupy those states under the
pretext of aiding Daz to suppress outrages
on the border.
Meantime the anti-Diaz party over the border,
which includes about the whole Mexican
population is said to be so fired with indigna-
ton at this threatened interference and espec-
tally this plan to interfere with their chief
means of gaining an honest living-to-wt,
raiding across the border-that they are arm
ing to Il man to resist American invasion" in
whatever form, to the death.
Next it is said the Washington administra-
ton, not having, to guard frontier 800 miles
in length, over three or four regiments Of
United States troops in Texas, the most of
whom are negroes, utterly inefficient and use
less except for garrison duty, has entered into
An arrangement with Gov Hubbard, Of Texas,
to place ten regiments of Texas rangers on the
Rio Grande to guard the border and what sort
of guard duty such troops will do is easily
foreseen A dash across the river and pitched
battle on the slightest prcteXt would be newt
able, and thus war inauguratcd beyond pray
ing for.
This by way of preliminary. What has ac-
tually occurred on the Rio Grande during the
past two weeks can be told in few words, and
really seems to have very little connection with
the portentous prclminaries referred to above.
About the only raids across the river within
the last month or two have been by Lipan In
dians, who, however, are recognized by MeXi,
can law as citizens as full rs the best bleach.
ed greaser Capt Bulls learned that some of
these malauding Indians, including several
connected with the prison breaking outrage a
month ago were cncamped at a point in Mex
leo, near the town Of Saragossa, about forty
miles from the river and on the 26th ult, he
decided to take small cavalry force, 80 men,
and look them up He crossed the river and
proceeded in the direction of the camp; but
the Indians were notified Of his coming and
made hasty flight, only four sQuaws, one boy
and about Il dozen Of horses and mules falling
into the hands of the gallant invaders. Bulls
turned his cuptlScs loose, however, except the
horses and mules, and returned to his old
camp on the 2Sh, followed by Il body Of about
sevcnty-fve Mexican cavalry, who, however,
kept carefully out of reach Of his carblnes,
and who showed no disposition to attack on
their part.
This is really all the foundation there was
fora dozen of sensational dispatches during
the past ten days, representing that Capt.
Bulls had got into II sharp fight, and after
loosing most of his men was in tight quarters,
and that Col Shatter had gone to his aid with
"A whole (niggcD regiment and that Il terrific
battle was imminent, etc, etc, etc.