Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-21
ON THE MEXICAN BORDER.
An Interview With Cutting-Thc
BLACK HOle''-"Wet Horses"
From me E8ening Post.

upon arriving at Eli HdSO lOunu UuSi-
ness almost suspended. The ciLizens,
gathered in knots on the shady street cor
ners aud under awnings, we're all wild
with delight at the glowing prospect OF
war with Mexico. Patriotism runs high
while lager beer runs low. The feeling
here seems very bitter against
the MeXicans in general and few in
| particular, not specially on account OF the
! Cutting case; the Texans name numer-
GUS unwarranted, arrogant and unjust
acts to American citizens in the past, and
they hail with delight a test case, but they
are unwilling to have it settled except by
| declaration OF war. II the United
States government will not declare 1T,
they think the "LODe Star State" can and
will, but in case the State fails to do her
duty, they have confidence that the war
riOr citizens of Ell Paso can take matters
into their own hands and give Mexico
ubbing.
Were 1t not for few conservative citi-
zens, a conflict would be likely to arise
here at any moment. Mexican soldiers
are to be seen parading upon one bank OF
the Rio Grande and Americans upon the
other. Citizens are forming companies
of home guards. Brass bands flood the
streets with martial music. Only bridge
separates the Mexican and the American
towns, and all these warliKe demonstra-
tiOns of course tend to excite the people
on both sides. No one pFetends to curb
his tongue, but cries, Down with the
MeXicansD A slight aggressive act
upon either side to-day would set the ball
in motion.
After viewing the situation from the
American side, crossed over to Paso del
NOrte. This, with the exception OF few
buildings, is purely Mexican adobe
built town, very irregularly laid out. The
streets zigzag here and there like flashes
OF chain lightning. l am told that the
streets were originally COW paths leading
down through the mesquite brush to the
river; the MeXicans accepted them as
streets and built by the side OF them rather
than to straighten them up by clearing
the brush.
Here l found scene similar to the one
across the river in knots OF MeXicans
upon the street corners and in the alley
ways talking and gesticulating over the
situation. If anything they talked more
cOolly than the Americans, yet many of
them showed considerable excitement.
/ passed down the main street to the
Plaza, in the centre of which stands the
old church of Guadalupe. This is an
adobe structure about 1875 feet in length
by 90 feet in width, with walls about six
feet thick. 1t was built $50 years ago.
Three old Spanish bells hang in
the arched beltry. The interior is SIM
liar to all Mexican churches, the walls
hung with old Spanish paintings of the
Virgin Mary, the CrucitiXion and the Res
direction. A life sized wax figure of the
Virgin Mary stands In glass case near
the chancel rail. The altar is loaded down
with candesticks and burning tapers,
emblems and figures Of wax and beaten
brasswOrk and gold. The old adobe floor
has been covered by one of matched pine.
The altar, the great doors, the massive
timbers that support the roof, and all
woodwork is most elaborately carved, and
is in good state of preservation,
MeXicans were coming and going con-
tinually, and fearing that should disturb
them in their deyOtions, / crossed the
Plaza to the old Mexican prison, which rs
a one-story adobe building, occupying a
whole square. Ten Mexican soldiers
clad in white suits and white caps
guarded the gateway. l had less trouble
than | anticipated in gaining an en-
trance. The interior is an open court
with the cells and dungeons surrounding
it. | found my way first to the cell Of
Mr.. Cutting, the editor, as being point
of the greatest interest just at this
time. AS | entered, Mr.. Cutting was
busily engaged reading the St.LOuis Globe
Democrat, which had devoted three col
umns to his case, and conspicuous on the
page were photographs of President Diaz
and Mr.. Cutting. He greeted me with
cordial shake of the hand, and placing a
chair he said he was glad to receive visi-
tors, as his seven weeks incarceration was
beginning to tell upon his social ia ture.
He inquired for the latest news about his
case, and wondered if the United States
government "would not have backbone
enough to force his releases" said it was
not for HIM alone; that it. would be
benefit to other American citizens whose
cases had not been made prominent and
that he knew We're now languishing
in prisons of Southern Mexico. He
inquired if the MeXicans were
making preparations for the de-
tense of the prison and city. He seemed
to enjoy talking upon the subject, and
evidently the notoriety he is gaining is
not distastetul to him; yet he thinks the
uotoriety of having "his head cut off and
presented to the Americans" would be
carrying the thing too far. He seems in
good health, though he is much thinner In
flesh than his photographs showed him to
be six weeks ago. His quarters are much
more commod1ous than the ordinary cells
of the prison. He Is In a room that has
heretofore been occupied by the Alcalde.
a room some forty-tive feet long by sixteen
feet wide. The walls are four feet thick
and the ceiling is twelve feet high. There
is but one window, and that was cut
through for his benefit some two weeks
ago. There are in the room three large
handmade Mexican chairs that resident
n the north side of the river would say
look as though they came over in the
Mayflower-twO benches, table, and
three cot beds. Nails driven along at IN
tervals serve for wardrobes, and a niche
IN the thick wall as a cupboard. Two
other American prisoners occupy the
room with him by day and about twenty
MeXicans by night. The air of the room
is very close and oppressive in this hot
season OF the year, and Mr.. Cutting wears
only thin cotton shirt and trousers and
says he sleeps on the bare wire cot at
night.
Oneofthese American prisoners Albert
Stevens has now been in the prison five
months on charge Of resisting arrest,
and has never had a trial. He claims
that the officer approached him in citizens
clothes, and drawing siX-shooter COM
manded him to halt. He broke and ran,
and the officer fired two shots after him,
aud finally captured him. He says he had
no intention of resisting an officer, but he
took him for a highwayman. The third
one was moving with his family in camp
wagon, as Is the custom in this country.
They had about $l2 worth of provisions in
the wagon when they crossed the line.
They were ealing the provisions as they
Travelled. He was arrested for smuggling
and gwen eighteen months in prison, and