The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-24
ALONG THE RIO CRANDE.
1t Is not Thought at Washington
That the Trouble Is Very
Serious.
Energetic Efforts OF Troops of Both
Governments to Quell
Disturbances.
Garza's successor, Ramon, IL q Mexican
Outlaw Who Took Refuge on the
Texas Side.


WARRINGTON. Dec 23.--The vigorous
measures taken both by our governments
and Mexico show that they attribute no lit
stle gravity to the recent raid at San Ygna-
clio. Were IL trus, as a Laredo paper has
suggested, that the affair waa only the Sc
quel of a dance held on tho Texas side of
the river, where tho ranchers Lad quarreled
With the visiting Mexican officers. we should
hardly see the present movements. Indeed,
whatever the immediate origin of the fight
at San Ygnacito. Esteban Benevidas has
since distributed pronunciamento in
Guerrero and it's neiQhborhood, calling up
on the people of Tamaulipss to overthrow
President Diaz, whose new term of office so
recently began. Benevidas was onoe. it ia
said. i'll the Mexican army. and afterwards
in the revolutionary movement of Catarina
Garza, and was one of those indicted for
violating our neutrality laws.
So far AS can be seen, however, the pres-
ent attempt at revolution is neither wide.
spread nor formidable. The official ac-
counts indicate that the band which crossed
the Rio Grande and surprised the detach-
ment of Mexican troops at San Ygnacio, ten
miles above Carrizo. was about 13O to $50
strong, while the garrison there numbered
only forty five, and their defeat was com-
plete. Capt. Segaar, Lieut.. Lopez, and
perhaps eight or nine soldiers killed. the
barracks were fred, and more than dozen
prisoners were carried off across tho river,
with forty horses and large quantity OF
guns and ammunition. The bandit leader
was Ramon, who had escaped arrest in
Mexico some years ago and established
himself on ranch in Starr county.
While this raid was undou btedly success
full, there seems little reason to apprehend
general insurrection. Major Julian
Esquebel, the commander at Guerrero, who
promptly marched are-enforcement of 150
troops to Ygnacio, only fifteen miles dis
tant, found that Ramon's party had al
ready retreated, thus indicating that they
could not rely on local support to main
tain themselves. Some of our officers sug-
gested that they were originally trying to
make their way to the Santa Rosa mount
aims; but it seems more probable that they
started with the intent to return to Texas.
This audaeious use of tho territory of the
United States for organizing hostile opera
tions against the govrrnment and people of
Mexico makes the violation of our neutrality
laws all the moro fragrant. The prepara-
ton of an expedition to ford the river and
establish a rally point on Mexican soil for q
revolutionary outbreak would be outrage
enough. but the practice of the CARA revo-
lutionists is to betake themselves promptly
to our side of the river whether they have
succeeded or failed in their raids.
1t is hardly LIKELY that we snail hear of
renewed activity for the present on the
part of the outlaws. The Mexican govern
ment is said to have dispatched about a
Thousand troops to the border. and perhaps
with the rutals and garrisons that have
been ON duty sinoe the GarzR iiasoo, there
will be two Thousand men available for
patrolling the right bank of the river.
Gen. Lorenzo Garcia is in command of
the immediate region. with headquarters at
Mer,
On our side. troops A and G. Third cay
airy, under Lieut.. G. A. Hedekiu, were
promptly dispatched from Fort Mcintosh
10 Carrizo, in Texas. and a large posse of
United States deputy marshals and MeIi-
can scouts began searching for this bandits.
These latter are now thought to number
about 200, perhaps, having been able to
arm more followers with the spoils secured
at San Ygnacio. Gen. Wheaton, command
ing the department of Texas, promptly
sent forward by rail from Fort Sam Hous-
ton, at San Antonio. troop ID. Third cav
airy. Capt. G. j. Chase, and troop K Capt.
G. x. Hunter. while companies A and b.
Eighteenth infantry, were ordered to hold
themselves in readiness. 1t is also said
that troops Q and ], Third cavalry, are out
scouting from Fort Ringgold. and COM
pany of the Eighteenth infantry from Fort
Mcintosh. Two companies of state
rangers are also reported to have been
called out.
The earnestness of our authorities be-
comes still more conspicuous by prepara-
tions to send cavalry reinforcement to
Texas. This ia made the moro practicable
because among the lnterchanges of station
for the coming year had been marked that
of the Third cavalry, Col. Miles. with the
Seventh, Col. Forsyth, now mostly at Fort
Riley in Kansas. 1t ia therefore deemed
advisable to forward the Seventh az soon
RS possible. while leaving this Third in Texas
until the present trouble is over. Some
time ago it WAS represented by the military
authorities in Texas that the force of troops
there had been uuduly diminished, and tho
present Developments will confirm that inl-
preston. But i'll the nature OF the case it
is impossible to keep suoh a guard along
the Rio Grande frontier as will absolutely
prevent the crossing OF bandits and revo-
lutionists. There is a length of q Thousand
miles or more of this river boundary. and at
times it is very easily crossed. All along
the Texas side. here and there. are ranches
by people of Mexican birth an
descent, who have affiliations with their
neighbors across the river, and many fugi-
tfves from former unSuoceSRtul revolutions
in Mexico have taken refuge on this bor-
der. Accordingly il 10 not difficult for
attempts like that of CARA or that of his
present successors to find recruits or at
least sympathizers. One Of the curious re-
ports in the present affair is that OF the
turning over Of the Mexican prisoners
taken ut San Ygnaoio to the Texan authori-
ties OF the town of similar name on this
side OF the river, and their retention as
prisoners for several days. The difficulties
of campaigning in that region arc also
known to be very great.
President Diaz ID we'll aware that our Off
GERS in Texas are sincere and energetic in
their efforts to hunt out the outlaws who
Thus violate our neutrality statutes. Hence
even the troubles nrisiug our OF the Garza
affair cauaod no i'll feeling between the two
nor any demand for indem-
nifty. II is said. in fact, that our govern
ment was at an expense OF about $500 600
on account of the Garzs movement, and
just before the recent raid OF Ramon, one
Of Gar2a's officers, Carmen lbanez had
been put on trial at San Antonio. and our
officers had testified that he was one of
tho leaders in the GHrzn affair. There is
no doubt that every effort will be used to
secure the capture of tho marauders con-
oernsd in the affair at YsnRoio.