The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-12

a falI Account III His Trip Into Mexico,
ana the Encounter with the
Cattle Thtevss.
IN. Y. World. /

Cattle Thteyfs.
IN. Y. World.l
WAastrurps. Jan. Cool Hhagter, command.
ing At Fort CLARK, noar the lilo drande, with
Lieut.. Bulls, Of his STAFF. arrived here tins
morning, and both eIii ers will testify before the
House Committee on Military Affairs 70 morrow
on the Mexican frontier question. Nothing has
been published heretofore Of the details OF she
last raid made by Lisut, Bnlis into Mexico alseI
q bard OF Mescalsro Apaohea which IN Octoeer
last came into Texas, ootnmittod several mar
dess, and whoa they had stolen seves n hnnar'd
head Of horsse made their way Aoross the river
u Mexico Eieut. Bulls. soen ai.ee she nawau
the raid wss received NJ Fort CLARK. was detailed
with his command Of thrty-sotn Seminole scouts
10 pursne che raiders. He tolls the story oil the
pursnt ~ follows
went perth, by the way OF Devils river. 70 Tho
peaos where two OF our soguts that had been
preyio,sly sent 100 miles further norss TO search
Tor the trail OF the raiders reported that they mad
fonna the point Of y recent Irdan e1oampment
On both sides OF the Rio Hrande. near San Ostlos.
rhs scouts said that tho Indiana had gone into
MEXICO. aud had driven 400 head of horses into
Che sierra Carue Mouptatns, We Immediately
broke Damp, and three days after osossed the H.o
Ursnde ~ sierra paehope, marobed south. and
on the second day found three Indian trails.
One village had moved south about three weeks
before. A second trsii, seven days old was or
a village moving 10 the northwest. and the
third trail was OF prmber 81 horses. which
had been made the might before our arrival
We had nj that zine been without water
for thirty SIX hoars, and we went into camp
near a water tsesk. and on The morning OF
October 30 a,arted on the freshest trail. IL
ioined the trail Of the village. moving to The
northwest few miles from he water tank. We
followed as rapidly an The nature OF the country
would permit for three days. and on NovemherH,
late In the efternoon. we came upon an Indian
village ON the Texas eide OF the Alo arande.
They discovered ms when we were three miles
distant from their camp, and began running their
AI.. - ttsttsS II Ira tn thn
grass. and then they took sheltered positions
among the rocks on tho river bank, and whom We
came up opposite opened fire on us. The rsyer
NJ this point WINS only 'tiity yards wide. but tho
bluffs were very steep and nearly three hundred
feet high. We returned the fire. No one was
killed or wounded on either side. think: but
not knowing the number OF the Indians, and
seeing no advantage to be gained by bunting
about for = place TO cross the river,
turned back, and At Pecos sent pote'to Dol.
fHhafter TOR reiuforeements. He sent three CON-
paniea OF cavalry, under Capt. Young, and W.
took up the trail again on tho 23d OF November.
and on Thanksgiving Day, at suarise, We came
upon che Indian camp Ia the Sierra Oarue, and
killed two Indiana and wounded three others.
The Indiaas we're aware OF our coming = short
time before we discovered them. Our $aeItoAn
guide and scout discovered the camp o. about
Che same tame that the'1 indians discovered i've 81
our scouts. who had been sent ont in the oppo-
site direction the night provious and ont off
three OF them while they were crossing a. arroyo
indiana ~ bay until the troops came to their ~
sistapee. We only succeeded In capturing about
thirty stolen horses, and returned to Fort CLARK
The Mexican Judians armed with 'Winches-
Ter repeating riaes Of the best pattern. They
dispose Of their plumber TO the Mssioaps Of
the villages OF barssosss. Remolino, San
Carlos and Del Norte, receiving arms,
munitiona, ,na.ec1 (MoIioan whisky) and
suoh articles ~ they need A Winchester roe
peater lie worth two sules or two horses. They
are encouraged In their raids by the Mexican
population. They usually cross the Rio Grande
81 h point where for.A0O miles there are no habi-
tatiops u man. They come over the river wear
ing naoeoasins. which give very little trail, and
take 70 the nnderbrush. making their raids at
the fuE OF the moon. They make saddles out OF
grass, fastening them on their horses backs
with the skins efsoatte which they kill, making
brides also OF strips Of skin, with - piece Of
wood Cor n bit. Within the present year they
have stolen cattle within twenty five miles OF San
Antonjo. and about year ago they stole from
ranohero, seven miles from Fort Clark, forty Two
horses and over 400 cattle.
Both Dol. bhaitsr and Lieut.. Bulls are well
aware Of tho exact condition OF affairs on tho
frontier, aud their testimony will be Of great
value TO tho Com mittee on Military Affairs In
deviHing proper means for the protection OF the
Rio Grande border.