New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-06


have been over worked ard uHderpdid.. Now
they have brought the companies {" terms III"
we are glad of it. Their work l. severe III ocS
with its hour after hour of enforced s'auui"S
and it's exposure. They deserve lar treatment
ard fair wages. They struck Mt Eoou ''"iG
for Themselves. In such Il m'dWin'er hiiM 'lu
as WAS raging, the companies could nor III
thei, places The companies surIenacreu' ou'
they can console themselves with the thougnt
that it was right and justice that TIA 'pheu'
-------------~--------
THE DEATH or CAPTAIN CRAVF0R"
The report OF Lieutenant Mius on the r'ceht
encounter between United States troops 'h"
Mcxicans on Mexican territory tcnns 20 'hTo"
serious doubt on the theoly that the co'',Si"''
which resulted in the death OF that Eiildnt
officer. Captain Crawford, was accideh'al'
Lieutenant Maus. who saw all that passed. eNI-
IDENTITY believes that the Mexcans knew per-
fectly we'll whom they were attacking. In the
first place he points ont that these Mexicahs
- wore no uniform" He supposes they were
Nationally but according TO his later dpscrlp-
ticn they appcarcd aud act d more Ike
b, gands than anything else. The evidence
that their attack was not the result OF a mis-
take seems strong. Lieutenant MauS says:
Although We tried IN every way, waving
handkcrchiefs and by calling ont IN Spanish
| "whO we were, they continued sharp nro ior
- about fifteen minutes" Then they stopped
firing, a party of them approached and Cap
tain Crawford and the lieutenant went to meet
them and talked with them. The lieutenant
SAYS: al told them in Spanish that we were
American soldiers called attention to our dress
and said we wnuld not fire. They answered
that they would not fire, hut in spite OF THIS
nromise the firing WAS renewed and 1t was thl'
volley that killed Captain Crawford. The eH-
nlonotion sent 10 Senior Romero from Mexico
does not explain anything, nor even refer to TINS
! TACT.
Now when it is remembered that Gring had
ceased long enough to admit of explanations ;
that IN Sc had been made. aud that in proof OF
| their comprehension Df them the MeXicans had
promised to fire no more; it is difficult TO see
, how their recOmmencement OF the attack aitcr
these incidents can be regarded IN any Other
way than "a a del .berate purpose to XIII the
! United States troops, knowing them 10 De such'
Lieutenant Naus evidently Is convinced oil ms
for he says ia his report. speaking OF tue Noiley
which killed Captain Crawford: Il am sure
tney knew VINO we were perfectly well ut TINS
rimer; and again: here can be no mistake
these men knew they were firing at American
solliersr IIllf an hour passed after this be-
fore the firing was stopped, and there Is aoNo-
! lntply no ground for the belief that during any
part of this time the MeXiclns were not per-
! fectly awPre that they Were firing at American
regular llicrs. Lieutenant Maus. howeVcI'
formed a theory on the spot. He says; II
seemed hardly possible that these men should
continue this artacl when they knew who we
were. but now believe they expected to drlVt
us of with AN overwhelming force, aud secure
our camp and Effects
The affair must not be left in this unsatlStnc-
tory state It has cost us one of our best Indian
fighters. 1t may prevent the surrender OF
Geromino. Natchez and their followers. The
fact that the Mexican attack was made after
daylight shows ,hat the assailnts cOald not
have taken the American troops for hostile In
dams. Such an error could Only occur IN the
dart; or at night Lieutenant Mdu' IN his re-
nnrt seems to intimate that he has more in
| formation than he can commit % plpei' an'
which he is rcscrving for a verbal narrative
| Already, however, he has said enough to JnShiJ
the suspicion that the death OF Captain Cia~
ford WAS the result OF wanton outrage upon
American troops by lawloss Mexican, and Tn,
country will assurcdy not be content with any
thing less tnan a thorough investigation, wit!
the fullest reparatiOn Chat can be exacted IL th'
facts of the case prove to be what they nov
appear