Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-24
FOR ISABEL'S SAKE.
A Romantic Reminiscenoe OF Cor
tina's Historic Raid

The Adventures of Cosmopolitan Adj
yenturer in the Land of the Monte
Winning Bride by Killing
HIS Rival in q Duel.
A recent dispatch from the City OF Mexi-
co announces the release from prison OF
General Juan N. Cortina, probably the most
noted bandit that ever preyed upon the
Texas border, or any other border, for that
matter; and the mention of Cortina's name
recalls to the Honey Grove (Tex) CORE
spondent of the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat
an incident of what was called the "Cortlna
war; which may be Of interest to some
old-timers. When Cortina had taken pos
session of Brownsville Tex, in 1889, ana
had committed numerous outrages on amer
lean citizens in that city and vicinity, caus-
ing the murder of at least twenty Ameri-
cans. including two custom ofhclais, Gap
tain w. G. Tobin, Of San Antonio, was au-
thorized by the State authorities 70 raise
company of Ran gers and repair to the scene
of hostilities. The writer, then fourteen
wears of age, Joined Captain Tobins COM
nany. and on the I'd of October, 1859, the
command, numbering sixty-hve men, look
I'D the line of march for Brownsville, DIS
tant three hundred miles, and the grass was
not permitted TO grow under our horses
feet on that march.
Tobin's company took part in all the
movements of the campaign which ensued
against the famous bandit our first snlH
of powder being on the 10th OF November,
when our command was ambushed by
Cortina's forces, about four hundred
strong. and forced to fall back Although
in the whole number of sixty-fve men
there were probably not more than dozen
who had ever been under fire before, the
command behaved well, and fell back IN
good order (but, then, they were Iexans)
until a good position was reached, when
they were halted and formed line OF battle
in position from which the enemy never
tried to dislodge them.
Among the members of Tobin's company
was man named De Hamel, a native OF
Cuba. whose father was French and his
mother Irish. He was fne-looking man,
about twenty-eight years of age, standing
six feet two inches in his stockings, as
straight as an Indian, with handsome
face. q coal black eye and hair and long
silky mustache as black as night. He was
well educated, spoke at least four Ian
puages fiuently, and, like the majority of
for the sake Of adventure.
And 81 the path be dangerous known,
That dangers self is lure alone.
And always will be for such men as De
Hamel.
In the latter part of December, 1859,
Major John S. Ford-"Old Rip,' as he was
calied-arrived on the scene of action with
forty-fve men. He was reinforced by sixty
men, a part of Tobin's company being
among the number Cortina's forces now
numbered six hundred men, but Major
Ford. with one hundred and five Texans,
attacked and defeated him, killing sixty of
his men, wounding fifty and taking num-
Der of prisoners. There were fifteen Tex
ans wounded but none killed. In this ac-
ton De Hamel acted with distinguished
eallautry, and had three horses killed under
him.
On the 5th of February Majer Ford
crossed INTO Mexicowith forty-nine men and
attacked Cortina, who had two hundred and
fifty men, again defeating him. In this
fight Ford had two men wounded, while
Cortina lost Twenty-Five men killed and
forty wounded. Cortina retreated to Mat
amoras and Ford pursued him to the gates
of the CITY, where he was induced to halt
bv the assurance of the Mexican authorities
that they would adopt vigorous measures
to rid the border of Cortina and his follow
ers at once.
While on the other side of the Rio Grande
De Hamel managed somehow-just how
never knew-to make the acquaintance OF
Donna Isabel Herrera, about six miles from
Matamoras. The Herreras were immensely
wealthy, Donna Isabel was beautiful and
No
with his looks and accomplishments rarely
signs in vain at beauty's shrine.
When the Cortina troubles had in meas
ure subsidized the writer accompanied De
Hamel to the hacienda of the Herreras on
@ brief visit Arriving there we found the
family had gone to Matamoras to attend
ball which was TO take place the next night.
We rode on to the city, and meeting Don
Manuel Herrera were provided with tickets
TO the ball.
Donna Isabel had suitor, merchant of
Matamoros, Don Poncha Galan by name,
and the marked attentions of De Hamel to
the senorita aroused his jealousy to such
pitch that he took the first opportunity to
offer gross insult to De Hamel, and, without
waiting to see whether the latter would re-
sent it or not, threw a glass of wine in his
face, and was promptly Knocked Down Tor
his pains by De Hamel.
Friends Of Galan gathered around, and
meeting was soon arranged for the follow
ing morning. The writer acted for De
Hamel, and tried 10 dissuade him from
fighting, representing to him that Donna
Isabel was probably engaged to Galan and
had only been amusing himself with him.
He replied that "a woman that was worth
kissing was worth fighting for" and that he
proposed to kill Don Poncha in the morning
and then, as soon as possible, marry the
senorita.
Well, they met at sunrise the next morn
ing, and were accompanied to the ground
on the bank of the Rio Grande by four other
Americans and five Mexican army officers.
Gslan was shot through the heart at the first
fire, while the bullet from his pistol slightly
grazed De Hamel's tenple. About eight
months later De Hameland Donna Isabel
were married in Brownsville. De Hamel
served through the war in the Confederate
army. attained the rank of Major and being
wounded five times. He and his wife are
still living in New Orleans, and recently the
writer received an invitation 10 attend the
marriage of their youngest daughter.