Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-25

| uaiul, eimply hchIleJ WouleH eulr u
His form was graceful and his magnifi'
tcent oval face was strongly re.
lieved by superb blond mustache
with melancholy reverie, seemed
to bathe themselves in sea Of
sadness, and indicated sometimes q
feverish resolution. His voice, passion
ate and eonorous, with the charm of q
rythmic cadence, exercised sort ol
domination over all with whom he came
in contact. His simple and unaffected
eloquence seemed to magnetic his
hearers, He knew how to charm those
who approached him, and to communi.
cate to them the fiery ardor which had
penetrated himself.
The unfortunate enterprise of the
Marquis Of Pindray had the effect to in
/ fame his imagination. Assisted by the
counsels of M. Dillon, French consul at
San Francisco, he went to Mexico in
1867, for the purpose of having an un.
derstanding with the Mexican govern.
ment in regard to the privileges accorded
to the French colonists.
Mr.. Levasseur, French minister in
that city, received him cordially and
encouraged him to perseyere in his un-
dertaking. He had the satisfaction OF
succeeding in his enterprise, and imme-
diately formed mining company called
the Restauradora, which was placed
under the friendly patronage of Presi-
dent Arista.
The object OF this association was to
explore the resources of the frontiers of
| Sonora. Ra09eset agreed to form body
OF reeolute French colonists to defend
the Mexicans against the attacks of the
Apaches. AS compensation for this
the government was to furnish ammuni-
ton and food, also a half of the pro-
| ducts of the mines.
Allured by these encouraging prom
ises, q large numper of French volun-
teers assembled at San Francisco.
Raousset contented himself with se-
lecting 250 resolute men with whom he
embarked on May 10, 1852, on the Arch
ibald Oracle. A brig of war in the ser
vice Of the custom house at San Fran
cisco was disposed to prevent their de-
parture. The count having made satis-
factory explanations in regard to the OBJ
ject of this expedition, the difficulty was
settled.
The buccaneers arrived at Guaymas
May 30th, but in the: meantime new
English company had been formed with
the sole object to impede the efforts OF
the French. This British plot was dis
astrous to our countrymen, as it served
to revive the Jealousy OF the officers of
the Mexican army, who did all in their
power to oppose the landing of the for
eign forces.
Denounced ae an intruder, Count
Raoueset encountered on his route every
obstacle, and Governor Blanco attempt
ed even to rid himself of the. count by
treacherously enticing away bis men.
The motive Tor this hostile reception by
the Mexican authorities is clearly set
forth in letter from Raousset, dated
July IL, 1862.
"The company which has been formed
to plunder ue counts among its numbers
the governor, the military commandant,
two judges and two delegates from the
opposition.
"On my side count former govern
or, but they assure me that he is inter-
ested in both enterprises."
The refusal of justice of which Raous-
set was the victim justiies him in all
his subsequent measures. Desiring to
strike decisive blow, he sent agents to
San Francisco and Mazatlan to try to
obtain provisions, ammunition and re.
his course towards the south at the head
OF his brigade of 250 men, completely in
rags, with the sole object Of getting
possession of Hermosillo, the most i'm.
portant city of Sonora.
Once master of the capital OF the
state, the count believed that he might
be able to obtain the fulfllment of the
provisions Of his contract. He also
cherished the chimerical hope of secur-
ing the independence of the state, trust
ing that he should be sustained by the
expected re.enforcements and by the
revolutionary factions of the country.
An amorous escapade of the count de-
layed for several days tine execution of
his project, and gave Governor Blanco
an opportunity to occupy Hermosillo
with 1900 brave soldiers, determined to
defend themselves and the city. But
this mishap pid not dampen in the least
the indomitable courage of this fiery
Frenchman. He commenced the at.
tack upon the city, and with the aid of
four guns he succeeded in capturing the
plac Q October 4, 1852.
The French forces consisted of 253
volunteers, of which AZ formed the cav
airy. In this affair Raousset had II
men killed, nearly all of whom were Of
fcers, and 25 wounded.
Nevertheless this magnificent feat of
arms proved to be fruitless. The Mexi-
cans were by no means disposed to sur
render to foreigners, and the expected
re-enforcements did not arrive. Besides,
the fear of foreign annexation served
to unite more firmly the hostile actions
of Sonora.
Discouragement now settled upon the
ranks of the buccaneers. 1t became alb.
solutely necessary to find means for re-
treating from the midst of the irritated
Mexicans and to attempt to find refuge
at the port of Guaymae. In the mean
time Raousset was taken sick. The dis
heartened soldiers evacuated Hermo-
sillO after occupying the city IL days,
and began the march to Guaymas, car
rying their chief on a litter. A few
days later the local authorities per-
suaded the French to lay down their
arms and return to California.
Raousset on recovering from his i'll
ness embarked for San Francisco, where
he received from the people the most
fattering tokens of their regard, and
was surnamed "The Victor OF Hermo-
sillo."
The facility with which Raousset had
captured the capital OF Sonora against
all the military forces of the state con-
firmed the general belief that an inva-
sion could easily be made effectual.
The enthusiasm aroused by this feat OF
ny g.