The Mesilla Valley independent. [volume] (Mesilla, N.M.) 1877-1879, 1878-06-01
FROM Our SAX ELEzARIo TEXAS
CORRESPONDENT
SAN ELEzARlo Texas,


Aay ", 1879, ~
Nm. EDIroR 1T hiss been some time
since you have had letter from this place
Some account of the situa-io and occuraencs
here may not I've uninteresting TO your read
ers. The trouble here Is not entirely oYer
vet. There is some danger but it IS not
iminent The majority If tbe runaways are
sorry for wlis; they have done. or rather
disheartencd At the result. II is true that
there are few reckless characters among
them who would do mischief if they had the
chance
4 few days ago three of our citizens had
business across the river at a ranch about
mile from this town, where they found
large number of tn rHna~ays collected
Some Of these manifested considerable ex-
citiaieni. and talked rather ttreatningly
One OF them abused Don Martin Aiarcon
and young Jesus Monies, made threatning
demonstrations. and attempted to draw his
pistol, hut was prevented by the interference
Of otheE heard the remark that his
passion was 50 furious that his mustach
twisted and cur!ed like the lock on a
gorgops head lie mentioned the names Of
several persons living in tins town, some
Ms-xicans, and some Americans whom he said
il VAS their intention to kill ii they got a
chance On the sth. or 9th, DR.. J. r. Ball
went 10 Guadalupe on professional and other
business and stayed all night at house in
the upper part Of the town. The next
morning at day break young man came to
his room under great excitement. and told
him TO get up quick and make his escape.
as there was a party of = or 10 men outside
who had ccme 10 Kill him. He and his
companion Mexican who went with him
from this town hurried on their cloths grab
be,si their arms, slipped out the back way. and
made for the hills not far of There they
reinaiued hid about an hour. when they @err
/ notified by tile old gentleman at whose house
F. they were stopping, that the party had re-
/ tired. pevhas to take q drink, wien they
slipped back to the corral, and mounting
their horses which were already saeldied
/ made for the river the nearest wax through
| the wood, crossed and come up on tins side
| bAck home where they sr.iysi in safety
| They saw no body on the.! way ar. lgehaI's
lzscause they calae rognd~bou, Way, and
n,t ~ tie !. rect road.
/ our government and the officers Of the
arrny cot here have hitherto manifested a
+ singular Indifference to our situation. Tho
ran4Aays eouid easily come over in parties
I Of s or 10 ur m1r., anil Kill some OF our best
citizens before iii- people could get 70 geiher
"a defend themselves There is olly the
/ river between as and them, ar,iiiis generally
/ forslal,lc every where, and covered by thick
j sonsIs and iupgles. so tlai they cnnld easily
/ vrssc; and cptrahcc 10 this town even in ih,
| day time without Icing seen, until they hav;
/ dome snme mischief II might be said tina
we could watcl, Tor them, but our people
have something else 20 de- l,esi,Ies stantlin.
guard They have their little farming ope
rations and other business TO attend Ia II
order to make living for themselves an,
fsmilia.
The course pursued by the commissioner
sent ont by the American government con
not le regarded ia any other light than
rare sample Of stupidity and prejudice
They seem to have come here with stron