Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-25

| pOb6Q III Qlb IaVOI. lut Il reHCu Mlhio
ter, NJ. Levasseur, urged him strongly
to persevere in his enterprise.
On the other hand Mexico had just
entered into period of pronunciamlen'
tos. President Arista had been over
thrown in January, 1858, by Caballos
who met the came fate the following
month and was succeeded by Lombar
dinni, who two months later was sup
| Ana. This leader in spite of all solici'
ceseion to the French colonists, at the
same time amusing the count with
! empty promises, until incensed and ex'
asperated he allowed himself to be
| drawn into plot which was soon de
arrest was issued, but Raousset suc
| country.
On arriving at San Francisco he found
himself exposed to the chicanery of gov.
| ernment officials. Thenceforth he had
to count as rival an American by the
name of Walter, who had powerful pro.
tectors at Washington. The American
government ordered the authorities at
San Francisco to keep close watch up
on the movements of the French.
Alarmed by the prospects of renewed
efforts on the part of the French, Santa
Ana could discover no better method
than to distroy them by ordering the
Mexican consul at San Francisco to en-
gage and enroll for the Mexican govern
ment all the best French buccaneers,
with the mental reservation of distribut-
ing them along the Pacific coast in
small groups that would be easy to con-
troll. The Mexican government agreed
to pay them 81 day, to furnish their
ratione, their arms. and to allow them
to choose their own officers. 1t promised
also to give them further aid in case
they became colonists after the expira-
ton of one years service.
Ignorant Of the treacherous Intentions
OF Santa Ana, his mortal enemy, Raous-
eet was delighted with the unexpected
cooperation of the Mexican president
with his project, who paid all the ex-
penses of transporting the warmest par
tisans Of the count. About 600 inen
were enrolled and accepted.
Under the direction of the Mexican
consul these men embarked on the Chal-
lenge, vessel chartered by Meesrs.
Cavalier & Chauviteau to transport the
l. iChCu lulAiklduUns DuG now QlLQCul-
ties arose from another quarter.
Regarding this maneuver as directed
principally against them, the friends of
Walter melted the authorities against
this enterprise, which they represented
as flagrant violation of the laws of
neutrality. The Challenge was seized
in March, 1854.
For some unknown reason this vessel
=
on it's voyage the 9th of April, 1854, but
the number of its passengers lin accord
ance with the law of tonnage) was re-
duced to 400 colonists, of which half,
chosen by Raousset himself, were COM
pletely devoted to his interests.
They disembarked at Guaymas on
the 18th OF the same month, organized
themselves into battalions, and selected
their leaders. M. Leonce Desmarais. a
former surgeon in the army of Africa.
was chosen commandant. Among the
other officers were: Messrs. de Flurv,
formerly shiei OF staff of cavalry; e.
Laval, a former pupil of the Polytechnic
school, and A. Loiseau, paymaster.
But the departure of the Challenge
was an excellent opportunity for the
Americans to administer to the Mexi-
can consul an effective and durable Ii a.
son. Indeed, his own government had
complained recently and with Justice
against the government at Washington,
who had authorized the enrolment of
filibusters.
All the responsibilities of this affair
recoiled, as we have seen, upon Consul
del Vale, who had knowingly violated
the laws of neutrality. The attorney-
nf TTrs
order for his arrest, and the representa-
tive OF Mexico was arrested and taken
before jury. During the course of the
trial the attorneys for the prosecution
and the defense expressed a desire to
hear the deposition of the French con.
sui, M. P. Dillon.
ing any compulsory summons for its
representatives, a polite request was
sent to him praying that he would pre-
sent himself before the court presided
over by Judge Hoffman. Nevertheless
care was taken to inform him that in
case of his refusal he would be taken by
force.
With such violation of international
treaties, M. Dillon was brought before
the national tribunal. He was soon
oltCl oiiOcbCo DC bIo luSLlkdUOr Vi bu6
enrollments OF Del Valle.
But the defense proved that the OBJ
ject OF this expedition was to thwart the
efforts of the filibusters, and the Jury
rendered verdict of acquittal.
M. Dillon was arrested the second
time the 10Th of May, 1854. The diff
Guilty and danger of condemning the
consul of France was one safeguard for
M. del Vale. The court then decided to
remand the case.
This affair naturally caused an ex-
change of diplomatic notes between the
cabinets at Paris and at Washington.
These negotiations ended satisfactorily,
apologies were offered, and the tri-color
flag was hoisted again over the consul
late, from which it had been absent for
18 months.
Raousset had promised his partisans
in the Challenge to follow them soon
with large number OF volunteers. The
discontinue of Walters undertaking
which happened in the meantime served
to dampen the ardor of the French ad-
herents. Hereafter the only hope of
the hero was from Sonora. Surrounded
on all sides, nothing remained for him
but to Join at any cost his partisans
there. Under the cover of night he set
sail on the 23d of May, 1854, on a a lit
tie schooner of 10 tons, called The Belle,
accompanied by Messrs. Pigne-D -Dupuy-
tren, Vigneaux. Percheval, four French
sailors and three American marines.
M. Raousset did not choose to reveal to
L