Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-10-09
THE CHAvIs TRAGEDY.

A Murder Committed In Isas That Caused
Trouble Between the United States and
Mexico.
In the early part Of 184S, when in
/ ternatiOnal good viii between Mexico
and the United States roasted low; when
/ little things were occurring almost every
day that threatened the peace Of 1Iezco
and the republic Of Texas; when Texas
needed help and the United States
seemed half inclined to help her, and
when Mexico eyed the United States
with some suspicion and Texas avari-
ciOusly, there was a crime committed on
the border Of as much international con
Germ to the United States and her south
ern neighbOr as is the Arresures outrage
or the Cutting case. The excitement
over the latter-inUense In Texas and eZ-
tending IN a varied degree over the whole
cOuntry-is scarcely less intense, SAYS
the st. Louis Republican, than it was
over the affair Of 1843. Then a Mexican
was mUrderedi two American citizens
paid the penalty Of the crime, as fixed by
the United States court in st. Louis by
being hanged by the neck until they
were dead. The excitement caused by
the late Mexican Outrages and kept at
high tension by the uncertainty Of the
final outcome recalls that Of 1843, when
st. Louis was the scene Of greatest ex-
element and most action.
AT that time the people in the west
carried on considerable trade with the
Mexicans. The centers of trade were
> Santa Fe and st. Louis, and the most
rapid and satisfactory traffic connection
between these two points was a mud
] road, over which great trains of clumsy
wagons were drawn by oxen and horses.
The Mexicans wanted blankets, guns,
ammunition, hardware, and food, and
: their main means Of purchase or pay
i ment was silver, furs and wool. Many
3 citizens Of Mexico, Texas and the Unit
ed States were actively engaged in this
e exchange, furnishing the Mexicans with
o considerable Of their vital wants In re-
turn for metals, and, though trouble
il brewed between the countries, their trBde
= connections were not disturbed until
some adventurers took advantage Of the
unsettled condition Of things IN the
west, and then only for a brief time
when the United States showed that in.
justices by her citizens would be pun.
ished, and confidence on the part OF the
# Mexicans was restored. Among the Cit
a zens Of the United States engaged In THU
traffic were John Mcdaniel, David Nc
Daniel, Sam O'Beary, n. H. Morton
y. William I. Harris, Joseph r. DePrefOn
= tame, Thomas IOWsOn, John Mccormick
y Gala in Seacy, Christopher Searcy
10 Benjamin 7. Harris, Schuyler Oldham
= and Benjamin Talbot
- A few of these had an interest in tn,
= goods they exchanged, and the other
accompanied the wRgOn-train as hunters
Z or drivers, But they always went to
gether, and John Mcdaniel was recOg
nized as the leader Of the party. They
were in st. Louis some time in January
ia 1643, and Mcdaniel represented that Ia
3 had gone south with a wagon train and
AZ been robbed by the Mencans. They
n went west about that time and stopped
n at Independence, in Jackson county
L which at that time was the main station
8 on the old Santa Feroad, connecting the
N city and Santa Fe. From there they al
ar went south, crossed the line, and at the
"a nearest station enlisted on March ] Al
ar soldiers in the army Of the republic o
Texas Then they set out to aveng,
themselves against the MeZicans for tn,
Z; robbery Of which they complained. TIL,
10 first Mexican they met was a very
70 wealthy trader named Antonio Jose Cha
g Wis, on his way to st. Louis with a long
% chain Of wagons loaded with furs, wool
% and a considerable quantity Of silver
T. They overlook him soon after he haC
BIZ crossed Cow creek, and, believing he wa
still IN Texas territory, decided to rOl
IN his train. While a few Of the men Weu
lie going through In wagons In search o
le silver, ChaVis was shot and instantly
/. killed. Mcdaniel and his party disap
h peared, and the teamster and hunteu
1- who had attended the train to providl
Is game for food returned TO tell the stOrl
II, Of the murder Of their master and tia
robbery Of his train. They told thei
kindred at home 1t was done by citizen
Z Of the United States, as some OF the oil
= drivers had seen Mcdaniel and his par
- ty while on former trips to st. Louis
- The MeIcans were enraged, trade be
q tween the countries stopped, the pun
lshment Of the murderers Of their fellow
cOuntrymen was demanded, and promp
action was taken by the United State
e authorities. Early In HAY a grand iur-
k sitting in st. Louis found an indictmen
to against each member OF the Med jamie
rs party for acting contrary to the form
ct OF the statutes In such case made anl
provided, and against the peace, dignity
and good government OF the Unite.
l. States" In existing In the Texan army
= They were arrested few DAYS later b
q United States troops and placed away Il
= the body OF a jail situated on the come
OF Sixth and Chestnut streets. Ver
soon after federal grand jury, OF Wlaiei
-a John Thornton was foreman, ratuIna.
g bllla against John Mcdaniel. JolspI
a. Brown, Dan Mcdaniel Thouaa IoI7s1-l
e j1ssnh Is T7. 1Esraf1-Eai-.s rr-tl--s741 =