Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1878-06-22
The San Elizario Massacre.

The San Elizario Massacre.
Some months since we gave de-
tailed account of the treacherous
massacre of ohm G. Atkinson-whose
parents reside in this town-and two
other Americans at San Elizario, Tex
as, after they had surrendered to a
Greaser mob, under solemn pledge
that their lives would be spared. At
kinson gave up to the leaders of the
mob over $11 900, on condition that
he and his associates should be per-
mitted to leave the besieged town.
A friend of the murdered men, in a
recently published article, portrays
the state of feeling in that region, as
follows:
sThe. persistence and earnestness
with which the press of New Mexico
and Western Texas continues to COM
ment on the San EIizario massacre,
eyinces how heep is the public feel
ing in those sections of country in
regard to that matter. This butchery
took place now some six months ago,
and yet the people and the press OF
that region seem as much alive to the
subject as if it were an event OF
recent occurrence. That these cruel
murders should have aroused general
indignation at first is not at all
strange, but that this feeling, instead
of abating, should with the lapse of
time have grown more intense, de-
notes how deep a hold it has on the
popular heart and how very likely it
will be to eventuate in serious trouble
unless proper measures are taken to
allay it. Indeed, there is little doubt
the American residents, supported by
the better class of native-born Mexi-
chns, would long ago have proceeded
t. avenae this most atrocious crime'
had not the public authorities, taking
it upon themselves, promised to visit
the guilty parties with condign and
speedy punishment.
ssIn pursuance Of this purpose, a
commission of three was appointed by
the President and the Governor of
Texas to investigate and report upon
this horror. What may have been
the exact finding of these commits
sioners, if any report has been made
by them, has not publicly transpired.
With the delay and uncertainty at
tending their action, the citizens OF
Ell Paso have grown FESTIVE, the whole
look Of the business seeming to them
not at all reassuring; hence, this
growing discomfort and revival of
the excitement, that the hope of Wig
orous measures on the part of the
commission had for time partially
abated.
"If now the Government expects,
through the adoption of non-com-
initial and temporizing policy, to re-
press this excitement, or, through
mere promises, to appease this we'll
founded demand for justice, it is pre-
pairing the way for disappointment.
These bordermen do not like to dis
pose Of injuries that way. To an
open and manly foe they are apt to
be forgiving and generous; to the
cruel and cowardly, exacting and i'm
placable. "Remember the Alamo! "
how wildly that war slogan fred
the Texan heart! In her struggle for
independence, it was worth to the
"Lone Star" State more than 10000
armed men, 1t will be sad day. for
the banded assassins on either side OF
the border, if ever the avengers OF
this most recent and most dastardly
of these frontier murders, shall raise
the cry of "Remember San Elizario? y
If once breathed it will be the death
note Of many Of them. Ifthese treach-
erous assassins or the authorities,
American or Mexican, aatter them
selves that crimes Of this kind can be
committed without provoking retail
alton or notice, they will in good
time be disabused of this notion"
ACCORDING to tho latest returns
from Oregon the Democrats elected
-