The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-29

toned chair, and regarding the ranger with q
look OF interest and inquiry.
MAJOR JONES INTERVIEWED.
Major Jones, the Ranger-Tve been there
and can tell you all about it. Firstly, then, as
to Ell Paso the Pass: The Ell Paso on the
Texas side OF the Rio Grande, now beginning
to be called Franklin, to distinguish 1t from
El Paso on the Mexican side, is small village
inhabited almost altogether by Mexicans.
There are but few Americans in 1t. 1t Is not
the county seat OF Ell Paso county, as is the
idea generally entertained.
Correspondent-Wha then, Is the county
seat?
Major Jones-Halt q moment and I'll tell
you. It is q little place--a mere Mexican
hamlet called Yslete, twelve miles below Ell
Paso, or Franklin. This is the capital. Then
, tanning some $50 inhabitants, all Mexicans.
with chance "Gringo" or American. San
Elizario, the scene OF the mob, is q small
Mexican town, eight miles below Soeorro, and
places are inhabited chiefly by Mexicans-
for that whole region is nothing but Mexi-
can country, whose people, with the excep-
in unison with the dwellers south Of the Bio
Grande: They are related and inter-
married MAJ together, agdds linked by, other
ton ton or Of ths ' Mezieans 'I''' in Il Paso
county were born In Mexico. To show you
the sentiment OF this .popalation last Oeto-
ber, Or | may say, the first Of November,
when was out at El Paso, was ordered by
Gov. Hubbard to recruit 8 company OK
rangers there to serve for putting down the
marauders and thieves constantly in the
habit of crossing over from Mexico into Tex
as. | proposed to Senor Garcia, leading
Mexican citizen of Ell Paso and the head OF
one OF the oldest and most influential families
of the place, to give the Mexicans the privi-
lege OF forming the company themselves.
and [ guaranteeing first-class arms OF the
latest and most improved style to be fur
nished by the State government.
| GARCIA's COMPANY.
This pleased the Mexicans greatly, as they
are all fond of being soldiers, like to wear
uniforms, and are in fact good soldiers
Under the auspices of Senior Garcia q meet
ing was held, and the rules for the govern
ment of the company and it's purposes being
demanded OF me. / wrote out q brief sum-
mary Of what they would be required to do.
Among the rest / stipulated that the COM
pany would be held liable for service In sup
pressing invasion from Mexico. This was
sufficient for the Mexicans, who could not
bear the idea of fighting against their breth-
rem from the south side OF the Rio Grande.
That was the last of Senor GarciaS COM
pany.
Cor.-What sort of country is it out
there?
Major Jones-Pretty well, lean tell you. It
is some 700 miles from the settlement OF Texas
The country around Ell Paso, and in which are
situated the places / have mentioned, is q
poor, sandy, barren region, only the river
and creek bottoms being capable OF irrigation.
The soil of the plains out there will hardly
sprout cowpeas. Pretty poor, tell YOU.
Cor.--Yes;, nearly as bad as the sand hills OF
North Carolina?
Major Jones-But 1t has its redeeming fea-
lures. South OF the Rio Grande, and just
back of the town of Ell Paso rise the Guada-
loupe mountains, whose lefty eminences loom
up In the blue distance like grim sentinels
guarding the dim gates OF the west; II some
OF our poets and painters were out there they
would go crazy over 1t, think.
THE SCENE OF THE MASSACRE.
| Cor.-And San Eiizariol
Major Jones-It is, as said, a small Mex
lean town of six hundred inhabitants. The
story adobe structures with clay floors and
roofs thatched with straw, In the Mexican
style. In one Of these adobe houses, In the
centre of San Elizario the first Of November,
when was out there, left my Twenty-Five
rangers, under command OF Lieut.. Tays.
| quartered.
Cor.-Where were these twenty-five men
from?
Major Jones-I enlisted them all In Ell Paso
county, where it was difficult to get Amer
cans at all. They were all, however, Amer
leans except two Mexicans and one half
breed. Tays / selected from the American
citizens OF the county for his courage and
GOODNESS.
Cor-What was the immediate cause of the
late Mexican mob and uprising at San Eli
zario?
Judge Howard, the cause Of the original diff
Guilty in Ell Paso last fall, returned among the
Mexicans. who hold him. When I was out
there at the time, shortly after Howard
arrested and put him under bond for his ap-
pearance at the next term OF the court In I'll
Paso. / advised him TO go to Mesilla, some
fifty miles from San Elizario, and stay there
| ,,,fsl p,f h6A n
otherwise, and came straight back into the
midst OF his enemies
THE CAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY.
The or iginal cause Of the trouble. was as
follows: banking firm OF Austin, OF which
Geo. B. ZimplemaH, ex-sheriff OF Travis
county, was a partner, procured and received
from Mr.. Groos, state land commissioners.
patents conveying lands In E Paso county.
and including some salt lakes or ponds.
These ponds have been used free by the Mex
leans for two hundred years, and in fact, it Is
claimed, belonging to original Mexican grants
before Texas became State; Judge Howard.
agent, went out to Ell Paso, and. taking pos
session of the ponds, Or endeavoring to do so,
informed the MexicaDs that If they got any
more salt from the lake they must pay. for
was threatened and it is said by prominent
Texans who knew him, that Howard was an
unscrupulous, bad man, generally despised-
a cut-throat and a desperado. In the pfo-
RreSS OF Inc QuaTTel oenaUol CdIulS, VINO ndu
represented Ell Paso in the Texas Legislature,
and who warmly espOused the Mexican side
of the difficulty, was shot and killed by
Howard, for which, as Major Jones states, he
was arrested and bound over. The remainder
OF the story has already been told. Howard,
who was regarded as thief come to steal
their rights and take away the privileges of
their fathers, returned from Mesilla, and In
spite Of the protection OF twenty-five rangers,
ne was taken by the mob and made tc suffer
| the penalty OF his temerity, and expiatb the
murder of Cards, which the Mexicans knevs
never would be done by the courts. The two
men, Atkinson and Mcbride, also executed.
We're friends Of Howard.
THAT" continued Major Jones'. lis the
origin OF the difficulty at San EiZario."
| THE LEADERS.
Cor.-Who were the leaders in this last mob
at San FlizariO?