The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-01-11
N.,.h and White. this afternoon exam

Marsh and White, this afternoon exam
ined Col. W. r. SKATER, cath regiment
infantry. commanding the district Of
Neuces, Texas, in relation to affairs on
the Rio Grande border.
With respect to raidirg parties, Shat
ter mentioned the case Of six or seven
persons murdered by Indian and Mex
lean raiders in 1877, and said the num-
Der of these raids was much smaller
during the past two years thaH previ-
ously. The object of the incursions
we're to get plumber aud make war. The
Colonel said his troops first crossed the
Rio Graude into Mexico in 1876. He
was in search of Lipans who were seven
miles from the town of Saragossa. and
As miles from the Rio Grande. The re-
suit of this expedition was the killing
and capturing of 10 Indians, their stock
and the destruction of their villages.
He kept up his expeditions all the time
with the full consent Of the local Amer
lean authorities, and the we'll disposed
'Mexicans were anxious to be rid of the
Indians.
At the same time large part of the
lower element live upon plumber. The
first square cooperation Of the Mexican
troops with those of the United States
was under General Falcon. In answer
to the questiou-whst number of troops
would be necessary to protect American
citizeuse be said if the Mexicans would
exert themselves in that direction, we
have more than enough troops, but if
We are to cross into Mexico for that
purpose we have not troops enough In
his expeditions into Mexico he had not
been treated without great cordiality by
the Mexican officers and by the respect
| eble citizens of the frontier towns.
| Before the issuance of the order of
the War Department to cross the Rio
Grande there did not appear to be any
objection on the part Of the Mexicans
that this should be done, but when the
formal order was issued it seemed to
the Mexicans an assumption on our
part to dictate to Mexlcans. That or.
der was, however, modified in July.
1871. so as to provide that when the
Mexican troops were prepared to go in
pursuit of raiders ours must stop. The
bitterness of feeling expressed Oh the
frontier was by those who have been
robbed of their property. Our citizens
on the border are opposed towar. They
only want protection. He knew of only
two instances where the Mexicans had
returned stolen stock, one to q Mexican
who had ranches ON each side of the
river, and in the ether to an American
He knew of no instance in which they
refused to surrender the stolen prop
erty on application, but as general
thing Americans do not go over FOL
that purpose, saying it is useless. HI
did not think there were any persons
on our side of the river who assisted
these thieves. Mexicans expressed I
turbances which produce so much hare
feeling on both sides of the river
Mexican troops on two or three occa
sions have started in pursuit of the raid
ers, but their movements were 80 tard,
they failed.
General Banning inquired whether
there would not be danger Of collision
resulting from obedience of the order.
of the War Department to pursue, over
take and punish raiding parties, as well
a. to retake the stolen property on the
Mexican side.
The Colonel replied if IN the pursu.
ance of that order it became necessary
to follow the Indians or Mexicans into
town gsrrisoned by troops in sufi.
cient numbers to successfully resist
American interference, or if the citizens
were strong enough to offer resistance
1t would result in fight; but in this
opinion he might be mistaken Before,
however, taking the responsibility OF
producing hostilities, he would prefer
to let an unimportaut stealing party 60
He repeated that the most friendly and
cordial relations existed between the
military officers of both sides. so TAR q
professions 60. General Diaz was try
ing to prevent raids and be good
neighbor. but the practice has not
amounted to much.
Lieut.. Bulls gave circumstantial
narrative of the results of his raids into
Mexico in the pursuit and punish
ment OF Indian thieves. The total mum.
Der of depredating Indians il about 235.
divided into four different tribes. In
reply to question whether it would be
possible for sufficient force to annihi-
late them he answered "rhey are cum
ming; they hide their families in the
fastnesses and it is almost impossible to
reach and strike them There were no
officers anxious TO bring on q conflict
between the two nations unless with