The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-01-10

our quarters at the nrSt noise, ana de-
manded protection. He said that c.
Ellis had put his revolver in his boot
and started out when the riot COM
menced, but had not returned. This
was the last time he was ever seen by
friends. His body was found in the
sand hills, two days after, his scalp,
eyebrows, and beard taken, his throat
cut from ear TO ear, and stabbed twice
in the heart. sent Miguel Garcia to
the store with orders to keep it safe
while Charlie was absent. Capt. Gar
cia and several Mexican friends of
Charles were also there. The night
passed off without further disturb
ance, and at daylight l found that our
quarters were surrounded by three lines
of pickets, who had stretched rawhide
ropes across the openings, and cut
holes to command them, in such a
manner that it was impossible for US
to go out and charge them. On the
outside of the lines they had squads of
cavalry stationed about two hundred
yards apart and numbering about twen-
ty men IN each. placed three men
on John Clark's house, and John At
kinson went with them. Capt. Gar
cia sent tor more men and | sent him
his son, G. D. and Frank Kent, to de-
fend the store. Atkinson brought
over trunk containing 500 in spe-
Gle. Cista Calcieda told him that they
would give us three hours to deliver
Howard, and that if we did not do so
they would take him out and shoot
oil
are interfering in our business"
About 8 O'clock l ordered the men
off from John Clark's house and placed
seven on the roof of the quarters.
Sergt. Mortimer went over to Ellis's
store, and then walked to the corner
of John Aikinson's house. He turned
and was coming back when a shot was
fired from Nick Calhoun's window.
He cried out, Il am shot," and ran
down the street, and when opposite
the mill he became so weak that had
to go out and help him to the quarters.
The ball entered his back and came
out below the right nipple. DR.. Ball
pronounced it fatal, and he died at
sundown. At the sound of the shot
the mob commenced to fire from all di-
rectIons, and they were so close that 1t
was impossible for my men to return
the fire from the roof, and I cut hole
through and ordered them down. 1
then ordered them to different posi-
tons in the quarters and corral, and
from then until 4 o'clock in the even
ing we kept up a steady fire. At that
time the justice of the peace came in,
Aao ond told ma bo ba Nav
leans did not want to fight, and that
he would be personally responsible for
them that night if they fired on US. 1
sent one of my men on the roof short
ly after, and the moment he appeared
they fired on him from all quarters.
One ball tore the top of his hat off and
another went through his coat. l then
barricaded the doors, opened port holes
in the wall, and stationed two men
in each room and at the doors. The
firing almost stopped during the night.
Next morning they charged the corral
and were repulsed. They thea at
ticked Ellis's in the rear and were
again beaten off. They retreated but
kept up continual fire all day. At
about twelve O'Clock they charged
Ellis's from the other side, and the
fight lasted for an hour. They then
attacked US and attempted to draw US
from our guar ters by sham retreat,
but, finding it useless, came up again
and were beaten off. Mrs. Campbell,
an American lady, came over in TIE
morning and asked us to open the
door, as her husband wished to get in
to the quarters. AZ she was going back
she was fired on twice. Her husband
and Frank Kent came over safe-the
others would not leaYe. Kent reported
thst the mob had cut the wall between
Ellis's and Atkinson's, and were ready
to break through at any moment.
Captain Garcia wanted them to run
away, but they refused to leave. FIR
Ing continued all day. At night they
charged Ellis's, and Capt. Garcia es-
capped under cover of our fire. The
Mexicans plundered the store, fortified
the windows with sacks of flour, and
opened fire on our quarters from the
mill.
At about twelve o'clock next day
put up flag, as l wanted to let the
sheriff of Pecos county go out. He
had been with US from the first and
could not remain longer. They let
him go, and sent me word they would
like to talk with me. | went to meet
them and they agreed not to fire dur
ing the night and would talk to me IN
the morning. They kept their word,
but erected fortificGtions and dry rife
pits during the night. met them in
the morning, and they told me that If
| did not give Howard up they would
blow up the quarters, as they had gun
powder under it. They promised that
If Howard would 90 down to them of
his own will and reiiDquish all claim to
the salt lakes, they would
not hurt him. 1 told How
ard, and he said, 81 will
go, as it is the only chance to save
your lives, but they will kill me-" L
went down with Howard. But before
he left the quarters told him. publicly
that / did not want him TO 60, and il
he would stay would protect him to
the last. He said, sit is useless for
US to attempt to stand them of any
longer: this Is our only chance of es-
cape" He bid the boys goodbye,
gave his valuables to Mcbride, and we
walked ont. As there was no one at
their quarters TO interpret for Us sent
back for John Atkinson. When he
came they took him to another room
and made some arrangement with the
mob. He turned back to the quarters
and told the boys that / had ordered
them 90 come down with their arms,
as everything was peaceably arranged.
When my men arrived they were dis
armed and imprisoned. The leaders
then came 10 me and told me could
60 TO my men. objected, and said
that had brought Howard at their
request and would not leeYe him till
all was arranged. Then twelve men
filed in and showed me into another
room, where the sheriff Of Pecos coun-
y, who they still hold, was Imprisoned.
Then, for the drst time, I heard my