The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-09
RIO GRANDE AFFAIRS.


COLONEL sHAFrEn's AND LIEUTENANT BULLS
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE MILITARY CON-
MITrEE-FRIENDLY FEELING OF MEXICAN
oFFIcERs-THE EFFORTS MADE TO SUPPRESS
RAIDING.
wAsuIScToS, Jan. s. 1878.
The examination OF Colonel Skater resumed TO-
day by tho Subcommittee Military Affairs. He
stated, among other things that the orco OF regular
troops IRON the central government OF Mexico came
to the Rio Grande toward the close OF last July. He
by request, presented TO the committee translation
OF TWO letters from General Naranjo, addressed TO
him-one dated Piedras Negras, August 8, and the
other August I, 1877. In the former the Mexican
General says
trust you will continue to be able to preserve tho
good understanding which now happily exists be-
tween tho two countries. and will notify my govern
ment OF tho active part you have taken In bringing
about this good understanding.
In the other letter the Mexican general addresses
Colonel Skater IA ''My Dear Sir and Frend.n say
ing
1t Is with great feelings of regret that am COM
PEELED to announce 10 you that present it IS abso
iusely impossible Tor to visit the post OF Fort Clark
as had promised. Important business OF tho service
requires my presence IN the interior OF the line anu
as you well understand It IS Indispensable that such
wii be Installed in my place and VIII DO
ready to do that which you may desire
my charge, ! take the pleasure OF making
you present. which consists OF chest Tor camp use
IL is present which rs certainly on the "ranchcron
s.ye but my principal object manifest you in
some manner my high appreciation, which you
well merit In order that these goods may reach you
1 nave deposited them at the house OF Mir Callscn
subject 10 your order MAJOR Schoheld In addition TO
what | have written you, will INFORM you more
miuutely OF my march Have no doubt but that you
may always count among the number Of your friends
your servant, Z. NARANJO.
PURSUIT OF THIEVES INTO TEXAS.
Colonel Shaitcr during his further examination,
said he could give numerous instances up scptcm-
Dor OF last year OF tho crossing OF Mexican officers to
the Texas side Of the Rio Grande In pursuit thieves
from Mexico The Indians then lived in Texas and
would pass over to Mexico to commit depredalions.
General Falcon himself crossed twice during tho
time the Colonel bud been III service OH tho RIO
Grande IN pursuit oil Mexican thieves who stolen
his own property. Tho crossing OF tho river IN
pursuit OF thieves from either side In accordance
with u mutual Understanding between the military
authorities and was not disapproved by either gov
ernment SO far Us he knew.
LIEUTENANT BULLS TESTIMONY
Lieutenant Bulbs Of the Twenty-iourth regiment OF
infantry. and in command OF tho Seminole at
Fort Clark, Texas, was examined Ho said he had
made a number Of raids into Mexican tcrrtory-,he
first in May, 1873 his command being with that of
General McKenzo-and gave orcumstant,al nara
tive OF the results OF his raids into Mexico in pursuit
and punishment OF Indian thieves Tho total number
OF the depredating Indians Is about hundred and
thirty-lve divided into four different tribes One OF
the tribes mado two raids into Texas in 1876, killing
twenty-five mon and one woman, and these murders
deferred tho settlement oil 200 persons, who as soon
they heard OF them, selected other locality
On one occasion only the Lieutenant encountered
Mexican raiders
EXCURSIONS MEXICO
Nh
crai Mckenzie in 1873 the only two Of the kind
in tho vicinity of towns previous to tho orders the
War Department TO follow the raiders Texas INTO
Mexico, with to their capture and punishment
and tho restoration OF stolen property portion OF
the country side extending 400 miles and up
ward north OF DEVILS River, above San Feupe, con-
taios only ono settlement, numbering about twenty
men. The doprcdating Indians como into this
country, from which they SO to the settle
mcnts to steal cattle and horses, which vocation
they remarkably export. Tho civil authorities OF
Texas could drive them back It Tor the DIM
Guilty Of finding them Cavalry the most efficient
troops 10 suppress raids, except in rough, broken
country, whore horses impeachment opera
tons. Cavalry ia such dsmount and fight on
loot
Tho Lieutenant said he had known Indians to steal
within twenty-five miles ofSun Antonio during the last
moe months. In reply to question whether It would
be possible for sufficient force TO annihilao them,
he answered, "They are cunning thsy hide thor fam
lilies In Businesses and II almost impossible to reach
aud strike them. During the examination he said ho
Tween y-tourtn and Twenty-nith infantry and the
Ninth anu Tenth cavalry regiments operating on the
RIO Grande composed of blacks, and all the other
regiments OF white men.
EFFORTS OF THE AUTHORITIES
In reply 10 question whether tho civil authorities
of Tayu hnu.s axla eod ,lIt nair
persons and property he said he know OF instance
where the civil authorities OF Texas have followed
Indians over tho rvcr. The civil authorities have
done all they could to render protection In their
own limits, but when RAIDS made from the other
side they call upon cavalry.
THE ARMY.
In further examination he said there many ofl-
GERS In our army who DESTROYS of leading active
lie by following the raiders back into Mexico and
there is class who would pleasure In lying
in garrison than operating in the fold. There wcro
no officers anxious 10 br ng conflict between the
two nations unless with just Tho thievIng In
dams have fear OF tho Mcxcans They 20 into
towns and openly trade with them.
The Lieutenant never knew OF Mexcans to take
pains 10 return stolen properly. II in the powor
OF the Mexicaus to punish extcrninato these In
dams, who are tho source almost all the troubles
Tho committee then adjourned until tomorrow.