The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-06-07
EnSted States Troops to F0tLoac the
MeGtc0H MUraNders Across the
Border.


The letter of the Secretary of War to
General Sherman in regard to the Rio
Grande trouble is as follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, June l, 1877.
GENERAL: The report of William Shafter,
Lieutenant Colonel of the Gath Infantry,
commanding the district of Nueces, Texas,
concerning the recent raids by Mexicans,
and Indians from Mexico, into Texas for
marauding purposes, with your Endorsement
of the Goth inst, has been submitted to the
President, and has, together with numerous
reports and documents relating to the same
dent desires that the utmost vigilance on the
part of the military forces in Texas be exer-
cised for the suppression of these raids. It is
very desirable that efforts to this end, in so
far at least as they necessarily involve oper-
atlons on both sides of the border, be made
with the cooperation of the Mexican au-
thorities, and you will instruct General Ord,
commanding in Texas, to invite such coop
Grafton on the part of the local Mexican au-
thorities, and to inform him that while the
President is anxious to avoid giving ofense
to Mexico, he is nevertheless convinced that
the invasion of our territory by armed and
organized bodies Of thieves and robbers to
prey upon our citizens, should not longer be
endured. General Ord will at once notify
the Mexican authorities along the Texas
border of the great desire of the President
to unite with them in efforts to suppress this
long continued lawlessness. At the same
time he will inform those authorities
that if the government of Mexico shall
continue to neglect its duty of suppressing
these outrages that that duty will de-
volve upon this government, and will
be performed even if its performance should
render necessary an occasional crossing of
tie border by our troops. You will there
fore, direct General Ord that in case the
lawless incursions continue he will be at
liberty to use his own discretion when in
pursuit of bands of marauders, and when
his troops are either in sight of them or
upon a fresh trail to follow them act oss the
Rio Grande, and to oyertake and punish
them as well as retake all stolen property
taken from our citizens and found in their
hands on the Mexican side OF the line.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
GEO. w. MCCRARY,
To Gen. w. 7. Sherman, Secretary of War.
cities DeCastate ed by a Tidal W0ce.
A great tidal wave is recently reported as
having washed the State of Guerro, on the
Western coast OF South America, in Mexico,
and ran as high as the plaza in Acapulco
The steamer Elder arrived at Panama, re-
ports the almost complete destruction of
Autofagasta, 1quique, africa, Tambo de
Mora, Pabillon de Pico, and Ilo. Although
severe shocks of earthquake were felt, they
caused but little damage. The destruction
of life and property was owing entirely to
the frightful upheaval and the ingress of the
sea. The flourishing town of Iquique, the
| principal port for nitrate shipments, is left
as complete ruin now as it was after the
frightful earthquake and inundation of 1868.
At africa the sea washed over the town to
| the hill back of the church, and destroyed
much valuable property. The wreck of the
United States steamer Wateree, which was
carried inland a couple of miles by the tidal
wave of 1868, was again foated and carried
a mile or two further up the coast. The
lower part of Autofagasta, which is part of
the celebrated Caracoles mining district in
Bolivia, is reported as completely destroyed.
The smelling and other works near the
shore were all swept away. The shipping
at Pabillon de Plea and guano deposits
suffered severely, and some half dozen fine
vessels are reported ashore and complete
wrecks. The sea in some places is stated to
have risen over sixty feet. Between six
hundred and eight hundred lives are said to
have been lost.