Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-09
A CIVIL WAR.
A Bloody Battle Fought on the Plaza
at Laredo Between Local
n, NJ Political Factions.
UAsl' ~ =, Troops Take Possession
OF . 'te Militia Hasten
q Scene.
The Result of the Encounter, SIX MeI
Dead and Five others Seriously
Wounded.
DETAILS OF THE FIGHT.

,peCiol 70 the 6aEeuc.
LAREDO, TEX, April SIT was usually
Tuesday night after the returns
we're made that the excitement attending
he elections would subside, but yester-
lay the victorious party, Las Botos, fol-
owing an old-time custom in Mexico,
started mock funeral for the burial Of
the defeated party, Las Guiraches. The
leaders OF the latter party requested the
victors TO forego the usual ceremony.
From testing they came to argument, until
at noon both sides were determined In
having their own way, one that there
should not be procession and the other
equally as determined that there should
be The hour set for the march was 3 p.
m. 1t was to begin from the hall Of the
Botos, called the two republics, and sit
uated on Main street, Early In the after
noon small crowds of two and three men
began gradually To congregate in the
and many on horseback,
all Of the latter being fully armed with
pistols and the majority with Winches-
tiers. The Botos saw that their oppon-
ents meant business, as one block down
the street the Guiraches had the only
available piece OF ordnance in town,
which for many years served for hitch
ing-post, the muzzle being planted down
in the soil This was mounted in front
of the Pacific Express office, loaded and
pointed up the street so as to command
full sweep OF the doorway of the
Botos hall. At D. III. the latter
had still been deferred from
starting out, apprehending trouble
from the armed crowds of Gulraches,
which by this time numbered probably
one hundred Small attachments of
eight or ten began TO file out Of the hall.
Some Of them proceeded to the store of
Merchant Mcdonald, and after few mo-
ments were seen coming up the street,
all armed with brand new Winchester car
blnes that had been furnished them, or
had been distributed from the store Of
r. Martin. The two gentlemen, McDon-
aid and Martin, are leading and very well
known merchants. The Botos were only
doing what the others had made prepare
tions TO do IN case of success. BY p.
m, 1t was plainly evident to every citizen
of Laredo that in less than an hour there
was going to be bloodshed, for by this
time on every corner were armed and
mounted men. A file stretched across
the streets leading to the Botos hall where
the men were all armed In the two par
ties there were probably 200 or more men.
Seven-eighths Of the crowd were Mexi-
cans, only an occasional American being
seen, and not word of English was spo-
ken. At precisely 40 p. IN. the Botos
began TO form In line and at once pro-
ceeded TO march up the street, leaving
the party in possession of the cannon in
the rear. Your correspondent was stand
ing at the corner of Randolf's store, exactly
midway between the two. The last man
had hardly come out of the hall when
there came around from the neighborlng
corner, from the south and from the river,
q crowd of seven mounted Guiraches, one
Of them bearing large flag. They rode
at full gallop, and when within four feet
of where we were standing suddenly
pulled up their horses. One young Mexl-
can appeared to be the leader. He was
about twenty-five years of age and well
mounted. Brandishing his Winchester
over his head, he turned and addressed
the crowd OF his companions who held
the cannon. His words were few but
forcible to the last degree, not over COM
plimentary to their ancestors on the
maternal side, and that they were cow
ards, etc. He had hardly ceased speak
ing when the crowd surged forward and
then began to move rapidly, following
directly behind the procession of the
Botos, dragging and pushing the cannon
with them, also the ammunition box BY
the time they arrived at the second corner,
leading TO the plaza, they turned into the
side street and were out OF sight, Three
of us followed, and when about TO round
the corner going TO the Commercial hotel
shot was fired. This was followed by
another and very rapidly by others, until
IL became Il regular fusilade, and at regu-
lar intervals could be heard the
cannon. All the lighting was concentrated
in the plaza In front OF the cathedral and
the Wilson house, and for the time being
IL was an actual battlefield in which at
least 100 men were engaged. Most were
armed with Winchesters and others with
Colts 40 caliber. The firing continued
necessarily for FIVE minutes and gradually
died out. Then from every street lead
ing from the plaza came mounted men
tearing at full gallop and begging from
the friends they met for more ammuni-
tion. In two instances IL was promptly
furnished, and 1t was then divided and OF
they sped ready once more to help their
friends in the plaza who only ceased for
lack Of cartridges. IL was fully one hour
before people began 10 venture out, and
cautiously went their way 20 the
scene of conflict. Not a trace could be
seen OF the eombatants, but the ground
was thickly covered with empty cartridge
shells We had hardly got three blocks
away coming from the plaza when once
more q rapid firing began Ia the plaza
II was q rally. The combatants had got
more ammunition and returned TO the
fight, and in few moments this was
gone and they broke up into parties OF
IRON two 10 three and dispersed IN diff
ierent directions. About p. "a. while
the Botos were returning to their hall
they were attacked once by small
party Of guiraches from near the
point Of the procession. II was In this
fire that Mr. Pogenpole was shot. The
ball passed thresgh the right side and
came cut through tine back. lie Is very
dangerously burt. just at this moment
two companies Of United States troops,
under command Of Col. Bernard, APP
peared. They marched directly through
the crowd to the plaza, and then came to
halt. Immediately on the appearance
of the troops, people appeared on the
balconies OF the houses, and doors and
windows were opened and confidence
was at once restored, whereas, only an
hour before, regular pandemonium
reigned and a regular war was going
on. one very praiseworthy and
noticeable feature during the fight
was the presence OF the leaders