The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1878-01-05
COLONEL sHArrER.
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Yesterday morning Colonel shafter
and Lieutenant Bulls left San Autouio
Tor W ashington city, where they are to
testify before the congressional commit
Tee as 10 the condition of the frontier
Your correspondent did not have the
pleasure Of an interview with Lieuten-
ant Bulbs but had quite long talk
with Colonel W. " Shafter.
Colonel Shafter is square built sol, |
der, rather below than above medium
height, about forty years Of age. wears
sida whiskers in English style, aud has
very much the appearance and bearing
OF an EnglishmaD. Colonel Shafter Is
one OF the most active officers on the
frontier, and the people of Western
Texas owe him debt of gratitude for
The stock he has recovered. aud the
raids dread of his swift pu. suit pre-
vented. The following conversation
contains some valuable information
from trustworthy source on the yexed
question OF responsibility for the border
ontrages.
espondent-Cclonel. il is going
the rounds of the northern press that
the reports oil Mexican raids are yeiy
much exaggerated 10y the Texas press.
Now, are these raids real or imaein,
aryf
Colonel Shafter-I am surprised that
any body who has mad any opportunity
OF knowing enough about the border
should have the hardihood 10 assert
! that raids do not take place. There
may be some difference of opinion as 10
the number of Mexicsus that accom-.
pany the Indians, but that thousands
upon thousands of head of stock have
been stolen and driven into Mexico
within even the last few years, is not a
matter OF conjecture AT all. | have the
atiidavi.s OF the owners of several hun
| dred bead that / have recovered myself
from raiders. and where one head of
| stock Is captured, AT least twenty are
not.
rrespondent--Wh is it. colonel.
that steals the cattle and horses in
Texas Are the raiders Mexicsns?
Colonel Shatter-The raiders are
mostly Lipans, but there are thieving
Mexieans with them The Mexicans
buy the stock They fit ont the raiding
parties. These are, however, matters
that are notorious. The raiders hardly
ever miss a full moon, and sometimes
| there are several parties raiding at once.
| For instance, when Lieutenant Bulls
went over and nearly captured large
| Lipan camp near Zaragossa, there were
three raidlng parties in Texas.
Correspondent-lth has been stated on
| the authority of a United States officer
on the Rio Grande. and also upon the
| say-so OF the United States consul VIII
| son, at Matameros, that thesa troubles
on the border were very much in the
nature OF dog eat dog" that the Mexi>
cans We're as much siDned against as
SHINING; that the Texans raided into
| Mexico as much as the Mexicans raided
IN Texas. Now if you have had any
| opportunity of observation, please state
If your experiences corroborates the
views Of these gentlemen.
Colonel ShatteI--i have been station.
ed on the Rio Grsnde ten years, during
that time | have known of two raids
from Texas in Mexico. The raiders
were MeNicans. On demand OF the
Mexicans authorities they were arrested,
and the property returned TO its owners
The Texas COW boys frequently raise
the ID, but it is among themselves.
Correspondent-rh Mexican papers
have charged. colonel, that YOU and
t Lieutenant Bulls went over into Mex.
leo on an old trail, for the purpose of
causing bioodshed.
Colonel Shafter-As there is to be an
Investigation of my conduct, have no
desire to say much on tina; subject. but
my report to General Ord has appeared
IN the papers, and that furnishes all
there is TO be said on the subject.
Correspondent-Did Lieutenant Bull
lis cross over on an old trail ?
Colonel Shafter--At that time there
| We're three parties OF raiders in Texas,
and Bulls knew it and was after them
As soon as raiding party crosses the
Rio Grande it disper.es, SO that there is
virtually no trail to follow; but they all
meets. eneir camp. Bulls knew where
their camp Was, and made a bee line
tor getting there as soon as they did. 4
don't understand, in following raid
ing party over on a fresh trail, that the
pursurer Is 70 follow in the exact foot
prints OF the raiders. If however. ID
was required to cross the Rio Grand.
at the very spot where there was a fresh
trail, all he would have been Obliged To
do was TO go down the Rio Grande a
few miles, and he could have crossed
where 2oO Mexican cavalry returned to
Mexico. and the fight at Painted Caves.
,aat.aaspl go s W tue o'ner Diazistas at
'S CNsas eur9 ea''gh.
aliaoaJ ,i po"eei- cotohei' Is
| fight
,v;it Ell -, 49,: III my report you
nla;nsd = ,snJ',,h, l" p' erossng luily ex>
cnr,har,5 - puiiis niieh. oe en-,
Inv a snn.r;"r s soe W OF 1e a'Iaeked
hnnLred M lne ony hsu one
wo Ia 49, 80. . ave no uouo' ne
.sn ca,.ai' G 'e a'.scNeu oy .he Me1i>
nearancs w;,h Ia, no' pu. 10 an APP
/ Corresnondant W., ~ mn.
Observation-Disclosures , $3.50. NJ snnh
trooos 10 nurse Ins,aas 90 a 80 A ;ean
| Of tbe rixsrS y" oo'n SUES
60,
Iolonei Shaiter-i have never known
cars 81, r,,rs,, -, " aso. me a"sri-
! 800 W s"1 rs'uers IN Mexieo out
and again bn, 49, ma noa,ns" 'ine
| ont Of 4, hn, .han, -, aa.. ~ ee'