, 1888-09-26
ANOTHER MIDDLE.
A Bloody War Raging on the
Texas Frontier.
Rio Grande City in Possession
of a Mob.
U. S, Troops Ordered to the
Scene of Riot.
Trouble in Texas.

NEW YORK, Sept. 25.-Ihe Herald S
Austin, Tex, special says: All day Sun
day and Monday most alarming kilograms
continued to pour in on Governor Ross
informing him there was a bloody and
fierce war raging on the Texas frontier,
and that Rio Grande City had been for
the past twenty-four hours in possession
of an armed Mexican mob. Alltelegrams
came either from John p. Kelsey, county
judge of Starr county, or the sheriff, and
each succeeding one more startling and
sensational than the other. All demand
troops Immediately and convey the i'm
preston in plain words that rampant an
archy runs riot on the border and the
lives of American citizens in that section
were in imminent peril.
The extraordinary and sensational state
of affairs had their origin in a fatal en-.
counter in Rio Grande City last Saturday
between Catrino h. Garsa, editor of Ell
Commerce. MeDicdRo, and the United
States revenue officer Victor S. Sebree.
In the fight Sebree shot and killed Garsa,
who was very popular all along the Rio
Grande, and as the result all Mexicans
lOSt III lCNblu duO Cl~uGdNOTe1 10 IIDcn
Sebree. The Texas officials, however,
saved him for a time from the fury of the
mob and wired Governor Ross as follows:
"A great riot is raging here. Armed
men are paradIng the streets. Send state
rangers or call on the United States troops
at Fort Ringold."
This despatch was followed by another
from t. w. Kennedy, member of the
legislature. as follows.
Send all available troops you can at
once. Armed Mexicans in control of the
city and county"
Still later one was received saying:
"a fight Just taken place between two
Mexicans and one American; one Mexi-
can killed. The Mexicans now demand
the American delivered to them. A riot
was prevented by placing the American
under arrest.
Another telegram reads
Over one hundred armed M~exicans
are attempting to lynch Sebree. Send
rangers at once. The riot still continues"
Rio Grande City is eight miles from
the nearest railroad station and it is very
difficult to reach it. Governor Ross has
ordered the entire ranger force of Texas
to proceed with all possible haste to the
scene. The Mexicans number ten to one
of the white citizens of that section.
There is no telling to what excuses they
will resort, especially as they have no diff
ficulty in escaping to Mexico.
Governor Ross has also te~legraphed all
sherltfs OF all counties on the border or
contiguous to proceed by forced marches
to the troubled district and to take armed
posses with them. He likewise tele.
grapned the San Antonio rifles, the Belk-
nap rifles, and the Houston ~light'guards to
hold themselves in readiness to march at
a moments notice. 1t is believed there
will be a general massacre of Texas citi-
zens, unless the United States troops
from Fort Ringold come to the rescue,
The event is likely to lead to international
complications. Last night Governor Ross
said the situation was extremely grave.
and the absence of advices for several
hours gave rise to the worst fears.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25.AActing Sec
rotary Thompson this morning received
the following from collector of customs st
Brownsville, Tex, dated the oath inst.
THE situation at Rio Grande City is
precarious but quiet to day, pending the
conference of a committee from the mob
with the sheriff. If no agreement is
reached the United States troops will
probably be needed tonight. 1t is desired
to have them ready to protect the town.
At the request of the sheriff of Starr
county state troops will reach there
Wednesday. Inspector Sebree and Dep
uty Marshal billiard are still in Fort Rim
gold"
Secretary Thompson this afternoon
transmitted the contents of the kilograms
received from the collector on the subject
to the acting secretary of war with the
request that he take such action as may
be deemed necessary for the protection
of life and property at Rio Grande City.
McFeeley, acting secretary of war,
telegraphed this afternoon to Gen. Stan
ley, commanding the department of
Texas, to send troops to Rio Grande City
for the protection of life and property and
also to take such steps as may be deemed
advisable for the preservation of peace
and order in that vicinity. Gen. Nc
Feeley said this action was based on in
formation. received from the acting
secretary of the treasury and was taken
more as a precaution than with idea
that troops would be forced into action.
lie SAID he thought the difficulties were
about over and they would eventually be
adjusted without the Intervention of mill
tary.