The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-03-09
A DEADLY SORROW.


of the English steamer, Flintshire, as we
passed the last lighthouse on the Flor
ida reefs, on our way to Liverpool, from
Galveston, Texas.
We we're pacing the quarterback,
when Captain Read made this remark,
and had Just taken my last look at the
shores of my native land, that lay dimly
in the distance. bathed in e crimson and
purple hue, under the soft beauties of
declining December sun.
This conversation led to personal
"reminiscences on my part, and one of
them that will relate made marked
impression on the mind of the captain as
the scene itself, in stern reality, made an
everlasting one on mine.
Some years ago, Cortina, then gen.
eral in the Mexican service on the Rio
Grande, in the Zona Libra, encouraged
cattle stealing from Texas. His armed
guerillas, IN strong force, would cross the
river above Brownsville, invade the
United States territory, fifty or sixty
miles, and on their return, drive before
them all the cattle and horses they could
find on the unprotected ranges to
designated ford, where they would be
crossed into Mexico, and sold to the
highest bidders in the small interior
towns.
To defeat the designs of these bold
raiders and protect the property OF
American citizens, q company of Texan
rangers, under command of Captain Nc
Nelly, was put in service on the Rio
Grande.
Having been a ranger against Cortina,
in 1859, again enlisted to fight my old
enemy.
On q July morning we encamped
few mile north of Santa Rita Ranch, in
a bend of the tortuous Rio Grande.
had lust finished drinking cup of coffee
and was smoking fragrant cigarette,
looking through the chapparel toward
the Mexican side of the river, when l
heard the jinging of steel spurs, and
hastily turned. Captain McNe]ly rode
toward me. He spoke in quick tones:
"Prepare three days rations take Fair
fax with you. Skirt Palo Alto, cross the
Arroyo Colorado, above Mesquite Spring
and rendezvous at the Spanish dagger.
tree, that is surrounded by cactus. Lose
no time. Twenty Mexicans have crossed
the Rio Grande. We must learn their
destination and attempt to destroy them.
They are under the command of Pancha
Barrillo Cortina's most desperate cattle
thief. If they cross the Arroyo Col
ora,lo at that point, gallop toward Los
Indies, ON the eastern bank Of the stream.
We will meet you there"
In u few minutes, Fairfax and myself
we're riding beneath the moss-covered
trees, through which patches ofsunshine
only stole at intervals, en- route to the
trail we were to follow across the prai-
ries to the rendezvous on the copper
colored Arroyo Colorado, that during the
summer months lies sluggish and poi
sonous under the rays of fierce South
ern sun.
NY companion was taciturn. He had
been with the command but six months,
but in that time had shown himself to be
a man of courage, education and q thor
ough soldier. His history wss unknown.
He met the company at Ranch Santa
Rosa, and applied for membership. Be-
ing we'll armed and mounted, Captain
McNelly Immediately enrolled, and from
that time on he gained in the good opin-
ion of the whole command.
Fairfax was a man OF slender form,
about twenty-five years old, and nearly
six feet high. His hair was black, face
pale and handsome, eyes dark and
luminous, and head with width of
ridge that Lavater said was worth
kingdom.
AS We crossed the Arroyo Colorado,
reached the designated rendezvous, it
was Just shutdown, and the prairie, as
far as Palo Alto, was covered with
light saffron tinge, and an xanthic beauty
seemed to pervade the air even to the
deep shadows that lay Numbering under
the tall trees margining the old battle
ground.
With field-glass we surveyed Palo
Alto, and soon saw advancing from its
depths body Of armed men, their guns
and steel accoutrements flashing rs they
emerged from tine shadow of the wood.
They proved to be Cortina's raiders,
under command of Panche Bsrrillo, and
enoamped at Mesquite spring on the
western side of the Arroyo Colorado, in
dense chapparal. about two hundred
yards from our rendezvous.
After the moon rose, they made small
fires, and from their actions We knew
they would not move until that luyninary
was high in the heavens. Il was our
duty 10 ascertain their route after leav-
ing the spring, and dismounting, We
sprecd our blankets on the ground, lay
down upon them, and, with lariats in
hand, let onr horses Craze on the short
grass that grew on the almost barren
shores of the saline river.
As we Law thus at least two hours,