The St. Johns herald., 1886-09-09
,D1SoBEYIEG ORDERS.
How Certain Confederate Soldiers Dis- posed of Mexican Thief and Murderer.

During the Summer of 1863, Browns vile, near the mouth of the Rio Grande, was the only place in the Confectionery where cotton could be sold and supplies purchased, owing to the proximity of Mexico.
 Several gangs of Mexican cutthroats infested this region. They murdered and robbed the unsuspecting Americans, with a liberality and success peculiarly Mexican. Hardly day passed without some horrible crime being committed.
 Duffs regiment of Confederate cavalry was camped at Resaca, the lagoon near which the celebrated battle of ReSaca de la Palma was fought.
 The men became indignant at these continual outrages, and Sergeant Reed and Frank Travis, and several others called on the Colonel of the regiment for permission to hunt down the Mexican banditti.
 Col Duff, rigid disciplinarian, refused to allow the men to scout for the thieves. It was indispensable to the welfare of the Confederacy that no complications should arise between the two goyer- ments hence he informed Sergeant Reed that he would be held to strict re- sponsibility for the killing of any Mexi- cans.
 The delegation retired, but in less than half an hour, four as daring men as ever lived, we'll mounted and armed to the teeth, could have been seen emerging from the regimental quarters.
 Discipline" remarked their leader, "is a very good thing in it's place, but blood is thicker than water. I reckon evil l-n foty Movinonc ntrf& murderin' white women and children be- Colonel Duff"
 The scouters had not proceeded more than three miles, when they discovered wagon near water hole in the prairie. No human being was in sight.
 They rode up and horrible sight met their view-a man and woman riddled with bullets, with their throat cut from ear to ear. Sitting on the ground in the hot blistering sun was a little boy cry ing, and calling on his father and mother to wake up.
 Trunks had been broken open, and such of the contents as the robbers had no use for were scattered on the ground. The crime had just been committed. In fact the eutthroats had fled on the ap- prOach of the Texans, and were con- cealed from sight by depression in the prairie. The little boy pointed out the direction they had taken.
 Standing up in his saddle to get bet ter view, Frank Travis perceived num- Der of dark specks on the horizon of the prairie. A moment later the four Texans were galloping at @ breakneck speed in the direction of the robbers.
 Although there were six of the robbers they made no stand to defend them selves. Being better mounted the Texans soon overhauled them and tumbled them out of their saddles one after another.
 The leader of the Mexicans, who was none other than Pedro s ndoval, better none as Fl Coyote, or the Wolf, being better mounted, was the last one to be overtaken. He turned in his saddle and fired several intellectual shots at his pur- suers.
 Sergeant Reed, who was nearest to the Coyote, thrust his smoking pistol back into the scabbard, and detaching his Iassoo from his saddle, swung it over his head. The moose fell over the head and shoulders of the Mexican. He was dragged from his saddle and moment later was lying helpless on the prairie bound hand and foot
 He was taken back to the scene of the murder and identified by the little boy. Frank Travis wanted to hang him in the spot where the murder was committed.
 "No," said Sergeant Reed. "1've got better idea than that. We will bury these poor people the best we can. As soon as it is dark we will return to camp and take MT. Wolf with us, and tonight we will quietly hang him on mesquite tree right in front of Col. Duff's tent, just to convince him that we obeyed his orders not to molest any of the Mexican cutthroats."
 This programme was faithfully carried out, and next morning when Col. Duff emerged from his tent to inspect the landscape, the first object that met his eye was the swinging body of Fl Coyote.
 The little boy was cared for by his res cuers, and is to-day prosperous stock ra'sor in Frio COunty.-[ Adapted from 2 5exas Siftings.