Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-07-20
LawIessness Run Wild.

The southern wing of Pima county,
Arizona, Is rapidly earning a reputation
for lawlessness and ab1ect wickedness that,
New Mexico, In the shade. The building
Of the Arizona and New Mexico Railroad
to the Sonora border has been introduced
band of reckless characters from all parts
OF the country, and owing 20 the facility
OF escape afforded by the close proximity
OF Sonoro crimes OF more than usual vic-
business has been prevalent OF late. It is
nc eXaggeration TO say that the Sonolta
valley, through which the railroad passes,
has been thoroughly irrigated with blood.
Mexicans from Sonora, Irishmen from
Galway, Englishmen from Cornwall, Ger
mans from Luxemburg. Italians from the
banks Of the Arno, Russians from the
eteppes of the Oural, ScandInsvians from
Denmark, Sweden and Norway, and
Americans from every part of this vast
continent, have contributed their mite to
heterogeneous medley.
For some time back the American and
Mexican laborers have not been getting
along amlably. Frequent and heavy doses
of mescal on one side and bad whisky on
the other led TO frequent disputes, aud the
lively slX-shooter and keen blade have been
made 10 play prominent part in the settle
ment of disputes. Not more than three
weeks ago an American and a Mexican
engaged in drunken brawl and the latter
was shot and instantly killed. A Cor0.
ner's jury was held the next day and the
murderer was made foreman of the jury,
"A oil o9k
CARDS the shooting and the identity OF the
participants. Nothing was smoothed over
end held back. 1t was an honest, open
investigation The jury retired and after
an absence Of twenty minutes returned the
following verdict "We, the jury en-
poneled In the above-naned case, having
examined the body, do declare that the
name of the deceased, when living, was
Jose Moreno; that q stiff Arizona zephyr
was blowing across the plains on Tuesday
evening, and that the wind concentrating
on one point hole was bored through the
SAID Jose and he died in consequence"
The chief seat Of the devlltry is on the
border; sometimes the ruff ans are IN one
country and sometimes in the other. Cal
abasas, Tar Flat and CrIttenden are way
stations, not unfamiliar with the crack of
a pistol or the sharp shrek indicating the
entry OF knife into the human body.
Igo's ranch is situated about equal dis
tance from the places named, and not
more than an hours walk from Sonora.
Sunday evening q number of Mexicans
with their families arrived in Ethe vicinity
Of the ranch and went into camp. There
were fourteen men and eight women and
girls in the party. A number of railroad
ers were engaged In general jamboree at
q neighborlng saloon, and were soon Joined
by the Mexicans, and kind of an inter
national drunk indulged in. Soon the
railrOaders began to covet the Mexican
women and demand was formally made
for their surrender This, or course, was
refused and q row ensued. Pistols and
knives were drawn and freely used. The
noise Of exploding shots, the shouting Of
men and the shrieking of women for
time made the atmosphere hIdeous. In
half an hour it was all over and the smoke
cleared away, Seven Mexiclns lay stark
dead and thrice that number of MexicAns
and Americans were lying on the ground
wrlthing in the agonies of pain. Three
of the Americans were fatally wounded
and are probably dead by this time, and it
Is expected that two more Of the MeXIcans
will die. Of course the chief instigators
Of the terrible deed, if not dead or serious
ly wounded, are across the border AMI OUT
of the reach of the officers.