Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1878-09-06
A Fight with Mexican Brigands.

The Hamilton CONT Spectator says:
Mr.. j. B. Chambers, of San Francisco,
late of Montreal, gives the following ac-
count of serious ARRAY in Mexico, of
which he was an eye witness: "Lieu-
tenants Sonnes and Sullivan, of the
government engineering department,
left New York en- route for Hong Kong,
China, and in about two weeks arrived
at Acapulco, town on the Mexican
coast. They went ashore in full uni
form, with five more friends, to visit the
town and forts, and having procured a
Spanish guide went first to visit the
military forts, where they received every
attention from the officer in charge.
When leaving the forts they proceeded
through magnificent groves of bananas,
plantains, cocoa nuts, oranges, lemons,
lines, alligator pears and mangoes.
After leaving the town at a distance of
little more than half a mile, and when
near large cave in the mountain, the
guide blew whistle and out of the
cave rushed band of brigands who
we're known and a terror to the town.
They surrounded the whole party.
Lieutenant Sonnes drew his revolver
and shot the guide in the breast, the
ball passing through the left lung
When the chief of the band saw that he
instantly levelled his pistol at Lieuten-
ant Sonnes and fired the ball struck
the officer on the side of the head and he
staggered backwards and fell to the
ground--but to rise again, for he was on
his feet almost as quick as lightning and
fred at the chief, who was within ten
yards distance. The shot took effect,
and the lieutenant gave fearful yell
and fell backwards bleeding. Lieuten-
ant Sullivan, who is deeply attached to
the brave-hearted Sonnes, fred at one
of the other villains, but himself re-
ceived an ugly wound in the arm, which
placed him hors de combat. When the
other brigands saw that they were get
ting the worst of it, they tried to make
their escape, but it was too late, as some
natives who had heard the firing, and
who had few minutes before met the
party, FASTENED to the fort and inform
ed the officer in charge, who promptly,
with squad Vt men, fastened to the
spot and surrounded the whole band
and took them prisoners. He also pro-
cured wagon for the wounded, took
them back to the Military Hospital and
placed them under military guard.
The prisoners were chained together and
placed under strong guard OF the fort.
Lieutenants Sullivan and Sonnes had
their wounds dressed by the military
doctor at the fort. When the whole af-
fair became known in the town a great
crowd assembled to see the two brave
soldiers who had been the means of
Kidding the neighborhood of outlaws of
the worst kind. The British officers
were conducted through the streets,
headed by the military band, to the
Japanese consul's house, whose son was
one of the party. Mr.. Kikuyo the con-
sui, took his gold diamond ring from
his finger and placed it on the finger of
Lieutenant Sonnes in recognition of his
gallant conduct, having been the pro-
tector of the consuls son. Lieutenant
Sonnes received terrible injuries in
Toronto, in June, 1876, while connect
ed with the police of that city. He
acted on that occasion with great de-
termination and bravery and received
from the city of Toronto 81, 900 for his
mi uries.