The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-01-13
A FIGHT WITH DEsPERADoEsi
Horse Thieves and SmuggIers Killed ly
Texas Sherilss Posse.

HtOFho thteVes ana SmuRktefS fAltteu
Texns Sherinss Posse.
About twenty miles below Eagle Pass, or
the Texas side of the Rio Grande, is large
and ancient ranch owned by Mexican
named Manuel Delgado. This ranch for
nearly ten years, has been the general rem.
devious for cutthroats, murderers, and
horse thieves from both Mexico and Texas.
All the thieves paid tribute to Delgado. the
greatest thief and smuggler of them ALL who
was reputed to be worth several hundred
thousand dollars. Besides horses Delgadc
smuggled anything that he could sell at o
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 mas
ter, and would allow the officers to search
his stables every week If they wanted to,
but always surrounded by band of Mexi-
can cutthroats. Many warrants have been
sworn 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
small army to take him at his ranch.
Finally Sheriff Oglesby undertook the
dangerous job of breaking up the desperate
band. Taking Deputy Robert Dove and
James Oliver, two brave frontiersmen, with
him he arrived at Delgado's place last night
about eight o'clock, armed with warrant
for the brigand's arrest. When they reach.
ed the ranch and quietly approached the
big house they found Delgndo asleep with
his Winchester beside him. They were
about to manacle him in his sleep when he
suddenly jumped up and fired at Dove,
who was nearest to him. The bullet pro-
duced only scalp wound. Before he could
ire again Sheriff Oglesby raised his rife
md shot Delgado near the heart The great
'muggler gave terrible yell, uttered fear
full cursein Spanish, leaped several feet and
foil dead. The firing aroused the sleeping
band of cutthroats. 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, Will.
Oglesby and Oliver took up positions where
they could command the river and shoot
down any one attempting to escape. AT
i've o'clock next morning Dove returned
with posse of fifteen mounted men. They
tethered together their horses and surround.
ed the house. The Mexcans opened n
murderous fire on them, and regular bat
tie was fought, lasting fully two hours The
Sheriff's posse kept we'll under cover and
riddled the house with bullets. Every
once in while they heard piercing yell,
which told them another greaser had gone
to his long home. Seeing that it was i'm.
possible to dislodge the smugglers without
loss of life to the Americans they fell back
so as to give the Mexicans IN opportunity
to escape across the river. This they did
in double quick time, carrying five wound
ID comrades with them and leaving three
dead behind, including their terrible chief,
Delgado. Only one live Mexican occupied
the house. When the officers returned he
was arrested, brought here and jailed. He
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.