Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-09

Notwithstanding the apparent absence OF
population, Mr Porter's census shows 90, 600
people on the Texan side. but they are nearly
all MeXlcans. of Indian descent. concealed In
The chaparral in little huts of tvigs known as
iowis These residences are unique types of
the aboriginal homes of the land and those
VITO live in them are always ready for any ad-
venture.
TEE LoSe-HoRSED Cattle.
The ore industry, il it can be so called. is
the growing of iong-horned cattle To Call
this an industry is misnomer, for the cattle
raise themselves. and the only industry is in the
gathering ard branding. Long before man
had. to any extent. invaded the country these
cattle had thrIved in a wild state and had over
run the land. In fact. nowhere else in the
world co cattle multiply so rapidly, and to this
corner Of the country does the great range in
dlsiry owe Its origin Here only are to be
found the fast disappearing long horns, which,
owIrg TO crossing with higher grades, will, in
another decade, be numbered with the extinct
species. From their breeding grounds the
herds OF range cattle have been driven, until
every foot OF the western range as far north as
Montana has been stocked with theta.
GAaZGs SUPPLIES.
The long horn is the life Of the country. Any
vagabond can live by killing these animals, and
their presence affords Senior CARA an ever
ready and inexhaustible commissary. So album
dan: are they that only few years ago it was
commonly the custom to append to the adver-
tisements Of marks and brands in the Browns
vile papers words to the effect that ''sll needy
persons are welcome to kill an animal for food,
but If any one is detected killing one for its
hide he Will be prosecuted"
AN IDEAL RETREAT.
These conditions have made the lower Rio
Grande an ideal retreat for all restless classes.
1t is not strange then that the Jew American
ranches are fortified, and some of them have can
non mounted within their gates. All the fight
ers are not on one side. The leather-eggined
cowboy Is ever reauy for a scout against plum
derers from the other side or the more ardu-
Gus cattle thieves of his own race. Volumes
could be written OF their battles.
THE COWBOY BATTLES,
numerous as they have been, furnish but a
small proportion Of events in American history
which have occurred in this region. Some of
the most thrilling incidents in al, border war
fare have taken place there From the popu-
Iatlon of mounted Mexcans. ever ready for re-
munerative service. any adventurous leader
has been able to quickly secure a following,
while the cities of Guerrero, Mics and Camargo,
on the Mexican side. with their wealthy cabal-
leros, have always beer the first object of at
tack from American troops or fiibusters. The
tactics OF today arc but repetitions. In this
region numerous revolutions have been organ
lied preparatory to assaulting the ruling pow
ers of Mexico, the real Mexico-the great CEN
tral plateau-belng suddenly invaded from this
ioWiand thicket Inc most notable CT these
was that OF 1872, when Gen Porifro Diaz then
an exile, successfully crossed into Mexico and
overthrow the government of Juarez ard es-
tablished hls place as Que Of the greatest and
most influential men In North American
history.
AN UNFORTUNATE ADVENTURE FIFTY YEARS AGO.
But failure more frequently than success has
marked the adventures Of the border leaders
and In the very region where Bourke, Hardie,
and Diaz are COW making history occurred one
OF the most heroic and unfortunate series
OF adventures that ever befel Americans. On
Christmas day, just fifty years ago, band of
gallant Texans, numbering $50 men, captured
GuerIo, besieged the town of Mier and after
forty-elght hours of victorious battle with
1000 Mexican regulars, during which over 800
OF the latter were killed. were deceived into
truce and surrender. They marched overland
to the City Of Mexico and were decimated en-
route; every tenth man was shot, after having
drawn black bean from a jug. The re-
maInder we've consigned to long Imprisonment
In tie dungeons Of Perote.
THE PRESENT REVOLUTION.
The fate of the present revolution is to be
determined. 1t would be easy to predict fail
ure, but thousands in Mexico are ready for new
adventure. and perhaps the lower Rio Grande
is creating new chapter of Mexican history
The accompanying map will show the situa-
ton The shaded area shows the land Of revo-
ldtionary ferment. Throughout the great
plateau region OF Mexico crops have failed and
thousands may rise to meet CARA and aid him
should his forces reach the table land ct Mon
terey.
Ii the regiment after regiment Of Mexican
troops which saw pouring into the seat of war
In September last have not yet been able to check
mate him, who can tell but what his greatly in
creased army, with all the disturbed and dis
contented elements of lie republic to back him,
may not yet win The clerical and aristocratic
classes OF Mexico do not love Diaz.
The United States troops can be rapidly
placed IN the field to protect our border, for
the great quartermaster depot built by Presi-
dent Grant at San Antonio can readily equip q
small army, and Texans, who are usually
'sPoiing for a fight" will be ready to be in it,
One lesson at least should be gained and that
Is that the Rio Grande border should be asslm.
Hated by our country in fact as well as on
paper. Ii Is time for these border troubles to
suOside.