New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-03-17
Experiences of a Mexican Guide.


Experiences of a Mexican Guide.
: Here is a curious thing that may
be OF interest to YOU" said a gentle
man as he laid a formidable weapon
on a desk. 1t was an old colts Is
callber army revolver, and on the butt
were numerous notches, which had
evidently been cut with a sharp knife.
"That six-shooter belonged to a man
with a history" continued the visitor.
He was an old friend of mine, and he
always said | should have that pistol
when he died. It was received by me
a short time ago, and with it came a
letter telling me Of my friends death
recently near Laredo, Tex. His name
was Jesus Sandobal, and he was per.
haps the most noted Mexican guide
ever on the southern Texas frontier.
After many years OF strange adven-
lures and hair-breadth ESCAPES he
passed away at last quietly enough.
"Sandobal was a fullblooded Mexi-
can, and until he was about forty
years old, lived quietly on his little
ranch near Ringgold Barracks, on this
side OF the Rio Grande. He had awife
and daug liter, the latter a pretty girl
OF about l8 years, and he spent most
OF his time with them on the ranch,
only going off every now and then to
sell some cattle or trade horses. He
was always considered a. quiet sort of
fellow at that time.
Zone day he went off on q horse
trading expedition, and when he came
back he found his house in ruins. his
horses and cattle driven off and his
wife and daughter shamefulIy treated
by a party OF marauding Mexicans.
Tie tracked these men to the Rio
Grande, and some distance into Mexi-
co, but could not catch them. Then
he rode back again, sold what was left
OF his property land started out deter
mined to be revenged. He went into
Northern Mexico and poisoned the
wells and springs where the cattle and
horses drank. He burned ranch
es and barns and destroyed
everything he could. Every now
and then a Mexican would be found
dead on the road, with a. bullet in his
brain or his heart. Parties were or
gained to hunt him down, traps we're
laid for him, and every endeavor was
made to either kill or capture him.
but with no success. He never tired
of his work, and for months he terror
lied the country.
cat last it grew too hot for him
and he was forced to spend much OF
his time in Texas. In 1874, when
Captain l.. II. McNelly went down to
the Rio Grande with his company Of
Texas rangers to try to stop the cat
tie stealing, Sandobal was chosen as
guide, and q better one could nothave
been selected. The rangers were most
ly young fellows about IS or.l9 years
Of age, and the Mexican cattle thieves
and white desperadoes who had sue
cessfully eluded the United States cav
airy for years laughed at the company
OF beardless boys, and said they would
be sent home to their mothers within
q month"; McNelly went into camp
about three miles above Brownsville
and waited for a chance to show what
he could do.
Gone day word was brought down
the river from a place called Los
Cuevas, about sixty miles above, that
a large number of Mexicans were taking
a big herd Of stolen cattle from Texas
into Mexico. The news reached the
ranger camp at noon, and thirty Of
the men started for the place immedl-
ately, guided by Sandobal They
made the sixty miles in a little more
than six hours, and over a bad road
at that a wonderful feat, even for those
reckless frontier riders Seven of the
horses died afterward from the over
exertion. In spite Of hesplend1d time,
however, the rangers arrived at Los
Cuevas just as the last OF the cattle
boat and the boat turned adrift. Aft
er a long search little rowboat was
found. and as soon as it was dark Nc
Nelly, Sandobal and Sergeant Hall of
the rangers crossed over in it. The
captain gave orders when he went for
the boys to fire at the flash if there
should be any shooting when he
reached the other side.
"The boat disappeared in the gloom
and the men knelt on the river bank
and waited. In about ten minutes
the sharp report OF a carbine came
from the opposite bank. Immediately
a volley flashed from the rangers Win
chesters. The captain shouted across
to stop firing, and when Sandobal re-
turned with the boat for more men it
was learned that McNelly had acct
IDENTIFY discharged his carbine as he
was jumping from the boat.
By midnight all the men had crossed.
They waited until just before dawn,
when, under Sandobal's guidance,
they marched five miles into the in
terror, and at sunrise were within
sight OF a large ranch. At this ranch
were the cattle thieves and large
force of Mexicans who had come from
the surrounding country during the
night. They were evidently expecting
an attack. When McNelly saw how
matters stood he turned to his men
and looked them quietly over. He
held an unlighted cigar between his
teeth and althOlloh he was ra1o ha