The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-02
A BORDER RUFFIAN.
Career of the Bandit Cartina Along the Rio !
Grande.


Grande.
GALVESTON, TEX, Sept. 1S.-Yesterday the
representative of The Republic at this point
had q pleasant conversation with Captain Rob
ert Dempsey, for many years resident on the
Rio Grande, and who had just returned from
a visit to the City of Mexico. "Whi19 there"
he said, 81 saw the notorious Cortina, who
had been confined in tie Bclen prison for sew
eral years, but who has had the freedom OF the
capital for some time and has been using ev-
cry endeavor to induce the authorities to per-
nit him to return to the border, but so far
without success, as his well-known hatred to
Texas and Texans gives rise to the fear TAT
should his application be granted he would
again embark in the career of crime which for
years made him the terror of the border"
RED RECORD.
Juan Nepuncemo Cortino was born in
Mexico of Spanish blood on this side OF the
Sena Mode, or Mother Mountains, some SIX
ty-five years ago. He is about feet, inches
i'll height, weighs 146 pounds and is still
powerful and active man. The expression of
his dark face is sinister, sensual, aYaricious
and cruel, He is wholly illiterate, being
able to read or write anything save q scrawl
which passes for his signature, having acquir-
ed that much from the necessity OF signing
numberlesS death warrants, prohunciamentoes
and directions for murder and plumber while
he ruled the Rio Grande country. At the
commencement of hostilties between the
United States and Mexico he entered the army
of the latter country in the canacity of
barbarity attributed to him was the murder on
the 21st of April 1916, of Col. Freeman Cross
Assistant Quartermaster-General OF the Unl
ted States Army. AT the time OF the murder
Col Cross was on his way to see Mexican
girl living on ranch some two miles from
Fort Brown. Coruna's second crime was
the assassination OF LleutenantP orter, and three
men, aud from that time forth for several
years his record was traced III blood. AS spy
courier and assassin he made reputation in
the days OF comparative peace following the
war that made hlm man to DO feared ana
summed.
GAMBLER AND CoCk-FIGHTER.
"Cortina and his mother located on ranch
on the Mexican side OF the river about eight
miles above BROWNSVILLE, ana what were term
ed ms peaceiui days were spent IN gambllng
and cock-1ghtlng IN the towns OF Matamorls
and BROWNSVILLE or driving stolen STOCK into
IeXas as lar east rs Gollad ON the san Anto'
MO River. AS Iachere ne was without an
equal and his skill with the pistol ana MS
dizziness with the larlat were remarkable,
while as horseman he was unexeeiled by
anyone-Texan or MeXican-on the border.
"One sultfy day in 1869 Gortina was stand
ing in front of gambling honse i'll Browns
vile and saw the city marshall-a man named
Speers-shoot down Mexican on the plaza.
Cortina advanced to Speers, spoke to him,
and then deliberately Shot him in the face.
Mounting his horse, revolver in hand, ne rode
out of the city bidding defiance to all Ameri-
cans. Daybreak the next morning found him
thirty well-armed and superbly mounted men
The keys wero demanded from the jaier
(Johnson), who stepped forth, holding the
key one of the fingers of the left hand, re-
marking Come and take it?"
"a Mexican stepped forward to receive the
key when johnson shot him dead in his tracks
and wounded two others, but In turn was rid
died with bullets aud so hacked with sabres as
to be unacceptable. Cortina then liberated
all the prisoners, murdered blacksmith
because he had forged letters for Mexican
prisoners, slew several other persons, plumber
ed a number of stores and rode out OF town
unnolested."
"This deed threw the state of Texas into q
fever of excitement. Cortina was declared an
outlaw and a force of regulars and rangers
dispatched 10 the Rio Grande. In the mean
time Cortina had made his headquarters at
his mothers ranch, where he issued q pronun-
ciamerto calling upon all Mexicans to rally to
his support, and declaring his intention Of
wresting%.ll the lands west Of the Nueces
River from Texas He raised as many as 800
men and in fight near Rio Grande City was
defeated by United States troops under Com
Inand OF Major afterwards GencraD Heintzlo-
man, and Texas Rangers, under Colonel John
S.Ford, known throughout Texas as Old Rip
"Cortina remained on his ranch until the
occupation of Mexico by the French forces I'M
der Marshal Bazaine, when he rallied his for
ces and declared against MaHlmilian, usurp-
na nae for imsef In 1884 he nreTaiIc5 ,,n"n