The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-01-10
An Ineligible Account of the Ell PasO
Troubles.

S. G.. Slada, Collector at Ell PasO,
Texas, has forwarded to Washington
the following account of the recent
troubles at San Elizario. After giving
detailed account of the troubles arising
from the adoption of measures to pre-
vent the Mexicans from obtaining salt
from the lakes in the vicinity, and which
terminated in the death of Candis, he
SAYS: "On the 9TH or 9th inst. large
number of Mexicans, with wagons, left
San Elizario for the Salt Lakes. They
were expected back on the 18th or 18th,
and on the afternoon of the 18th Mr..
Howard left here for San EliZario with
an escort of Texas Rangers for the
avowed purpose of serving writs of Sc
questration and arrest of the parties
having the salt. l am informed that
after they got there they went to the
Plaza, and through the principal streets
of the town, and that Howard greatly
exasperated and incensed the Mexicans
by calling them 'Greasers' and other OPP
probrious epithets, and by inviting them
to come and take him now. During the
night the Mexicans gathered and armed
themselves. In the morning the rangers
found themselves surrounded, and fir
inc commenced on both sides. 1t is
impossible to ascertain who fired the
first shot. Some allege that a man by
the name of Atkinson, who attached
himself to the rangers, fired first, others
that the first shot came from the Next
can side. All are agreed, however, that
the Mexicans killed the first mana
Mr.. Ellis, who had a contract to supply
the rangers with provisions, etc. 1t APP
pears that many of the rangers had con-
gregated at his house that evening and
were having a convivial time when Mr..
Ellis proposed to go out and see what
was going on. He never returned. 1t
is supposed that he was spying around
and did not halt when commanded and
was shot, or that he had obtained some
information while eavesdrOpping and
had been caught in the act. For four
DAYS they had the rangers surrounded
and commenced to tunnel under the
building in which the rangers were
quartered. On the 10th inst, white
flag was raised by the rangers for the
purpose of getting an old gentleman,
Mr.. Loomis, out of the rangers quar-
tiers, who happened to be caught in
there when they were surrounded. The
Mexicans also raised white flag and
Mr.. Loomis got out. From this circum-
stance negotiations were started and
Lieutenant Toyes asked them what they
wanted.
."They replied that they wanted How
ard and would have him. They asked
Lieut.. Toyes whether he was hired by
Howard, or was on duty under orders
from the Governor of the State.
"When informed that he was under
instructions from the Governor it APP
peared to give them new idea. They
then told Lieut. Toyes that if Howard
would come over to their camp and talk
for himself they thought the trouble
could be settled.
"Lieut. Toyes went back to his quar-
tiers and told Howard what they had
said to him, but that he need not go
without he so wished. Howard, how
ever, concluded to 90, and Lieut.. Toyes
went with him. The Mexicans then
sent for Atkinson and Mr.. Mcbride,
who had been acting as Towards agent
in the salt business. Lieut.. Toyes and
Howard were in a room together, At
kinson and Mcbride outside. The Mex
leans went in where Toyes and Howard
were and told Lieut.. Toyes that they
wished to speak with Howard alone.
Lieut.. Toyes then refused to leave him,
whereupon they took him in their arms
by force and carried him out of the
room. In the meantime the remainder
of the rangers had surrendered, and
they dissrmed them and placed strong
guard over them.
"They then took Howard, Atkinson
and Mcbride out to one side of the town,
to place where they had already dug
a grave, stood them in a row, picked out
nine of their best n1arksmen and shot
them down. They held the rangers
prisoners during the night and released
them next day, giving them their horses
but retaining their arms.
':.During the fusiiade two rangers
were killed and, it is thought, three OF
four Mexicans and number wounded,