Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-12
A NOTED BANDIT KILLED.
Msnu.i Deisado Shot Dead BY Iea"s
sheriff.


sheriff.
An Eagle Pass Texas special says:
At A point on the Rio Grande about
twenty miles below here, on the Texas
side, is a large and ancient ranch owned
by q Mexican named Manuel Delgsdo.
This ranch has been known as
Delgado's Den " for nearly ten
years, and has been the general
rendezvous for cut-throats, muir
derers. and horse-thieves from
both Mexico and Texas. 1t has been
the great market-place for stolen horses.
Those stolen in Mexico would be
brought across the river and sold IN
Texas; those stolen in Texas would be
run across at night into Mexico. All
the thieves paid tribute TO Delgado, the
greatest thief and smuggler Of them all.
lie was reputed to be worth sew
eral hundred thousand dollars,
but he met his end to-day from an
American Winchester in the hands of
a Texas officer. Besides horses Delga-
do smuggled other goOds-in fact, any
thing that be could sell at profit on
either side. Hundreds of stolen horses
had been traced to his ranch by Texan
officers. and there the trail ended, for
Delgado was as polite as dancing
master, and would allow the officers to
search his stables every week if they
wanted to, but always surrounded by
band Of Mexican cut-throats. Many
warrants have been sworn out against
Delgado on information and belief"
but no officer ever succeeded in finding
him off his guard or away from his
ranch, and it would have required a
small army to take him at his ranch.
Finally Sheriff Ben. 0glesby, of this
(Mayerick) county, undertook the dan
gerous job of breaking up the desperate
band. Taking Deputy Robert DOVE
and James Oliver. two brave frontiers.
men, with him, he arrived at Delgado's
place last night about o'clock armed
with a warrant for the brigand's arrest.
When they reached the ranch and
quietly approached the big house they
found Delgado asleep with his Winches-
ter beside him. They were about to
manacle him in his sleep when
he suddenly jumped up and
fred at DOVE, who was near
est to him. The bullet passed through
Doves hair, near the temple, producing
only a scalp wound. Before he could
fire again Sheriff Oglesby raised his rifle
and shot Delgado near the heart. The
great smuggler gave a terrible yell, ut
tered fearful curse in Spanish, leaped
several feet, and fell dead. The firing
aroused the sleeping band Of cut
threats. They swarmed down stairs
from the upper chambers and opened fire
on the brave officers, who quickly re-
treated. Dove jumped on his horse
and rode to Eagle Pass for assistance,
while Oglesby and Oliver took up posi-
tions where they could command the
river and shoot down any one attempt
ing to escape.
At 5 o'clock this morning Dore re-
turned with a posse Of fifteen mounted
men. They tethered their horses and
surrounded the house. The Mexicans
opened a murderous fire on them, and
regular battle was fought. lasting
fully two hours. The sheriff's posse
kept well under cover and riddled the
house with bullets. Every once in a
while they heard piercing yell, which
told them another greaser had gone to his
long home. Seeing thatitwas impossible
to dislodge the smugglers without loss
Of life to the Americans they fell back
so as to give the Mexicans an opportu-
nifty TO escape across the river. This
they did in double-quick time, carrying
five wounded comrades with them,
leaving three dead ones behind, includ-
ing their terrible chief, Delgado. Only
one live Mexican occupied the house.
When the officers returned he was arrest
cd, brought here and jailed. lie said that
nineteen had escaped. Over 200 shots
were fired during the attack, and sew
eral Americans received bullets through
their clothes. 1t is believed this attack
will break up the most dangerous band
of smugglers and horse-thieves in Texas.
They were cleared out without single
loss of life to the Texans. Immense
quantities Of struggled liquor and to-
bacco and all kinds Of merchandise
we're found hidden on the ranch. Some
Of it was buried in deep watts. They
took about thirty horses with them
when they crossed, leaving nine poor
ones behind, all with Texas brands on
them.