The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-05
Collector Shades Report to Secre-
tary Sherman.
ORIGIN OF THE DIFFICULTIES
A POt-POurri of Personal EnmltieS and
Business Operations.
HOWARDS OFFENCE AND Its EXPIATION.

Tho discussion was general upon topics connected
With Mexican relations II was thought proper
10 make certain reports regarding tho recent troubles
public, and consequently the following were gwen TO
representatives of tho press by the Secretary Of the
Treasury
ORIGIN THE TROUBLE
CcLLEcroR's OFFICE, CUSTOM HOUSE. Ell Paso [ Z
Texas, Oct %, 1871 !
SIR deem u my duty TO make you acquainted
with the facts relative TO the. recent troubles this
frontier as have been able 10 learn them.
Although the trouble was manly OF local character
II cannot be denied That many Mexicans from our
ncighbor were engaged in II and that the mob had
surances OF further assistance II needed. Many Of
mo newspaper reports are entirely without iounda
ton, others sensational, and some well calculated TO
deceive. About loo miles from here are some very
Savs sns adincen 0s
also the Northern States of Mexico with salt.
until recently this salt has been Tree to whoever
Wished 10 take it, ana It's transport Chihuahua
yher points for sale mas afforded ploy many
persons In 1868 clause was inserted in the cons-
luton Of Texas permitting the location of salt lakes by
private parties From that time TO the present the
jut lake question has been used by designing poi-
Hans IN this country with Mexicans TO obtain their
votes the politicians promising to obtain for them
fbsoiute right and ute from the state II they would
elect them TO office. am informed that this has
been done several times, and each time
Tho Mexcans have been deceived. Wuen
NE State OF Texas granted to the Texas
Pacific Railroad Company The right Of way through
The State these salt lakes fell to them; consequently
The state could not grant letters pateui Tor them,
aeither could they DO located with State certificates
the Texas PACING Railroad, not having been competed
further than Fort Worth, could not obtain from the
STATE certificates sufficient to supply the demand, and
IN consequence thereof they were very scarce and
commanded very h Oh price, Those difficulties, IL is
believed, stood somewhat in the way OF the politicians
complying easily and without troubling themselves
more or less with their obligations to tho Mexlcans Of
this country.
THE SALT WORKS LOCATED.
company IN Austin finally succeeded in locating
lhem and employed local agent 10 look after them.
severe ana harsh were at once inaugurated
20 Keep tue Mex!cans from going there. statement
pi some OF them 70 the effect that II the whole Town
went they would 80 also was considered sufficient Tor
arrest and Imprisonment At this time there was
higher authority in the county than the County
Judge who was Mexican but, strongly
asserted acted entirely III the nerest OF and for the
salt agent TO whom he stands, it Is said considerably
indebted Tor his election. This County Judge gave
The order Tor the arrest 1.-Two or three parties upon
me complaint OF tho salt agent that they had said they
we're gong after salt II the whole town went
CAPTURE OF THE SALT AGENT.
THIS hgh-handed and unjust proceeding SO cxas.
pcrated the Mexicans against the salt agent ana the
County Judge that they proceeded IN BODY in search
'he agent VINO III the meantime learned OF their IN
ention and made all haste 10 put himself under The
projection OF the sheriff. The Mexcans in the mean
limo had arrested The County Judge and placed him in
confinement and, ascertanng that The salt agent was
~ tho SherlfPs house, proceeded thither and sur
rounded IT, The Sheriff tearing it was safe place
Tor his wife took to neighbors ana hts return
OIL and prevented IRON entering his house.
In the. morning they took possession OF the
placed him In room, put guard over hun and
informed him that II he would sign certain papers
TO the effect that he would leave tho salt lakes Tree
competent authority should declare decide who
lhe Legitimate ownor Of them, ana that from this datc
lhs people oil FL Paso county shall have the right to
20 take salt said lakes with liberty, and that
he will leave this county within twenty-iour hours
and never return, &c, &C., they would SGT him ut
liberty. For three DAYS aud ulshts they kept him in
confinement, not permitting him 70 speak write to
any one. On the Third day he signed the required
papers, having been informed by The priest that II he
did not they would certainly Kill him before nightfail.
The Sheriff was not put IN jail, but merely kept by
the from gong to his ouse Tor about tour hours
the morning tho Sheriff told them he wished 60 to
get his breakfast, alter which he would return to
them, but he came 10 FL Paso instead. the mob
numbered iiom three hundred to Jour hundred, and
the most Of them were cltzens Of this county. What
lew there were from the other side OF the river
relations ny blood or by marriage and perhaps
That Interested in having the salt lakes roe
After the release OF the salt agent he went 10 La
Messilla New Mexico, and gave MS side OF the story
IL tue press He then returned to I'll Paso.
CARDS.
Many vi the Americans here believe that Mr. Cards.
VINO ,s to the Mexicans what Montezuma
Aztecs, s they say themselves, was the instigator
b. and advised them this step order 10 get
The salt Lake agent killed, Tor It will DO remembered
They were bitter enemies. II rs also believed by
many that the Mexicans needed no urging IN matter
vital to their own interests BE TINS as may the
Salt Lake agent nrmly believed that his lie IN
great danger through the instrumentality Of Mr.
Cards, aud the community at large had vague i'm
preston that should the Two meet ono the other
would DO kiIied but scarcely before the impression
settled into conviction they met, and Mr. Cards
shot and killed The Salt Lake agent Immediately
lett Tor LA Messlla, N. NJ, whore he now Is since
The above events, which Terminated IN the death Of
Mr.. Cards the 10Th iust has been no further
8 q. sLADE, Collector
:, Hon. SECRETARY OF THE TRExS-sy, Washington,
D. q.
THE MOB AND THE RANGERS.
CUSTOM HOUSE, Ell PAso, TExAs,(
CoLLEcroR's OFFICE, Dec. 20, 1877. I
SIR-In compliance with telegraphic Instructions OF
the present date 'to send by mail quick prac-
tcaUle a full detailed account OF transactions ~ Ell
Paso," have the honor first to refer you to my
letter this subject OF October % Tor tho origin OF
the trouble al that time and which teTmnatcddn the
OF the Hon. LOUIS Cardis the 10th OF October
last, shot by Charles Ii. Howard, agent for the salt
Lakes. Alter ho had committed this Howard immc-
datcly fled 10 La Messia, N NJ lity miles from here,
whore he remained most Of Tie time until tho I'd
inst, when lie returned to this place and gave boud
Tor his appearance before tho District Court which
meots IN March next. About the middle OF Novem-
Der Mr.. Jones came here from Austin, Texas, with
authority from the Governor OF INC State to RAISE
Company OF twenty men "Tcxas Rungersn 10 assist
tho Sheriff IN enforcing the law aud prcserv-
lug peace and order The company was organ
lied and established AT San EliZdrio with
J. W. Toys as lieutenant. On the 9Th
or 9th inst. large number OF Mcxicans
with wagons lett San Ezario Tor tho Sal: Lakes. They
were expected back Tho 18Th or 18th, ana the
afternoon OF the l2h Mr.. Howard lett here TOR San
Ezario with an escort oil tho Texas Rangers for the
uvOwed purpose OF serving wrts ol sequcstration and
arrest Of parties having the salt am informed that
utter they got there they went INTO the plaza and
through the principal strcels vi the town, and that
howard greatly exasperated and tDcenscd the MeAi-
raLs by calling thcm reascrs" and other opprobrous
rpithets, and by inviting them to come ana take him
now
FIGHT.
During the night the Mcxicans gathered and armed
themselves; In tho morning the rangers found them
selves surrounded aud firing commenced both
sides IL Is impossible to who tired the first
shots some aliegc that man named AtkInson, wuo
attached hlmscf TO tho Rangers fired first; others
that the hrst snUt caiDo from Mexican side; all
are agreed however, that The Mex killed the nrst
man, Mr. Eis, who had The contract 10 supply The
rangers with PROVISIONS NC II appears that many OF
the rangers had congrcgated ms house
when Mr. Ellis proposed TO 20 out nnd SEQ what was
gong on. He never returned. IL Is supposed 10
spying around aud did not halt wuen comma mod
to do and shot or that he had obtained some
formation while cavesdroppng and had been caue ht
Ia The For Tour days they had the rangers sur
rounded and had commanced to tunnel under the
building In whicn the rangers wero quartered
NEGOTIATIONS
On the 10th inst. "a whitc Hug was raised by tho
rangers Tor the purpose oil getting an old gentleman
Mr.. LoomiS out OF the rangers quarters, VINO hap
pcned TO DC caught in tnero when they were sur
r0unded. THO MexIcans also raised u white dag aud
MIR. LOOMS got OUT From THIS circumstance ncgo.
re- started Lieutenant TOYS kcdt