The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-24
A SPLENDID PRIZE
THAT TEMPTED MEXICAN BRlGANos
TO THEIR DEATH.
Plucky and Effective Defense Of . Silver
Mine by Americans Five of the Rob-
bers Killed and n Number wounded
The Riches That Were Fought for.

SAN ANTONIO, Tex, April 24.-Capt W.
P. Toal, an American mining engineer, ar
rived here by Thursday evening train from
Lampasas, Mex, and relates a thrilling ex-
perienee of an attack by Mexican mountain
bandits, a few nights ago, on the mining
camp at Dolores mines, in Nuevo Leon. The
Dolores silver mines are 10, ated about two
leagues from the village Of Vallecillo, some
forty miles from the Mexinan National rail
way line these mines are celebrated
throughout Nuevo Leon for their rich ore,
and this is not the first time bandits have
attempted to rob the camp About 200
miners, principally Mexicans, are employed
in the mines at the present time.
Last Sunday night about l O'Clock the
little camp, which is situated In gully at
the foot of the mountains, was suddenly
raided by small army of bandits, whose
number is estimated from 100 to
200 They had surrounded the camp,
and were first discovered by
the solitary guard at the shaft,
who gave alarm. A high stone wall sur
rounds the camp About fifty of the rob
ber and had scaled this wall when the min
ers sailed forth from their quarters under
the leadership of Superintendent r. }.
Boguische and opened fire on the intruders
Bosuische and his men were driven back by
the bandits, whose numbers now swarmed
the surrounding parspet Besides Superin-
tendent Boguische and Capt Toal,
there were only three other Amer,
leans in camp, and it was with the
greatest difficulty they held the miners to-
gether. The latter were panic-stricken and
wanted to open the gate and fee, but
Boguische rallied the more courageous of his
men and charged the bandits three times in
the open enclosure.
The battle lasted over an hour, the bandits
exhibiting the most undaunted bravery in
the face of scathing fire from the miners
quarters. The firing had fortunately at
tracked the attention of neighboring ranch.
ers, who hastily rode to Nallecillo
aroused the alcalde, Senator Cinchon
Garcia, who Immediately sounded the alarm
bell, and, gathering fifty citizens, they rode
to the camp arriving just in time to pre-
vent the massacre of the entire colony. The
outpost of the bandits discovered the alcalde
coming and sounded a retreat to the noun
tains. They left five dead and eleven des
perately wounded behind them. The night
was moonlight, and the miners say large
number of bandits were wounded who were
still able to escape. Among the miners
nineteen wore wounded, about hall
a dozen fatally. These bandits ART
not believed to be under the leader
ship of any one particular chief, but con
sist of individual desperadoes among whom
are several Americans None of the dead
men or wounded prisoners are known ir
that vicinity.
There was nearly 500 600 worth Of
bullion in the camp at the time of the raid
which fact the bandits undoubtedly knew
for they concentrated their attack on the
ore house. The wounded prisoners wer,
carried to Vallecillo next day and thrown
into prison Should any survive theil
wounns, Toal says they viii be summarily
shot.