Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-01-27
CONFLICTS ON THE TEXAN FRONT
TER.

Garza's Revolt against the Mexican Govern
ment-A Biographical Esketch of Cara,
from "Printer's Devil' to Revolutionist.
SAN DIEGO, DUvAL, Tex, JAM, II, '92.
Editor Stauaston Spectator: We have
stirring times down here in the Pow
derhorn portion of Southwest Texas,
and, being on the ground, will give
you few facts which may be OF, inter-
est to your readers.
Perhaps before this reaches you,
more important facts will have reach
ed you concerning this border war; it
is my object, however, to give you a
synopsis of what has occurred in the
last few days and the situation at pres
ent.
The seat of the war is on the Lower
Rio Grand River, where General r. E.
Lee, then colonel of a regiment of q.
s. troops, hunted the bold Juan Cor
tinas in the Spring of 1850. In order
to understand the situation a disc rip
tion of
THE LOWER RIO GRANDE
river will enable your readers to under
stand why few hundred bold outlaws
can operate against an army success
fully. This river starts in the SHOW.
covered mountains of the northwest
and runs in a zig gag course to the gulf
through desert country, witho ut
having its volume increased by any
tributary of any size. At Ell Paso,
Eagle Pass, Laredo down to Roma, it
is what we call in Virginia creek,
with fords almost any place. From
Roma to Brownsville, boats are used,
which, during high water, sometimes
reach Laredo. From the latter place
to Brownsville at its mouth, its course
is like snake on the travel, in and
out, for every mile by road the river
bends five in it's channel, and from
Roma to Fort Ringgold, which is
fifteen miles overland, by the river
seventy-fve. The banks are steeI
bluffs of clay, limestone and gravel, 81
or 100 feet high, washed out by the
water until the ravines become bewil-
dering, especially to a stranger.
There is no grass whatever, owing to
the drouth for the past year, but the
country close to the river on both sides
and extending for miles to the right
and left, is covered with a dense Cha
parral, from six to ten feet high, O.
mesquite, retama, black ebony, cactus
and other forms of thorny vegetation
which offer distractions to pursuit
while affording fruits and mesquite
beans, which are very good food 70
the banditti, smugglers and revolution
lists who seek shelter in these parts.
THE POPULATION
Of this border, especially from Lared
to Brownsville, are a peculiar people
| There are few of education and re
| [finement, but the masses are ignoran
and supertitious. In speech, habit
and dress they are anti-American, a
well anti-Mexican. when we sa
american" we mean the Unite
States. This term has become to
understood thoroughly in this portio
of Texas, any person not Mexican Q
Mexican descent, here or in Mexico,
IAN American" whether born in En-
gland, France, Germany, the Unite
States or any other place-) These pee
pie have no love or sympathy for tn
Mexican government or for that of th
United States. This refers principal
to the country; in the citi es, or rathe
towns, the minority of th Q people al
different. The ignorant class, in styl
of dress, cooking, their habitation
&C., are hundred; yes, two hundre
years behind the times. Ichey believ
in witchcraft, sorcery, ard cures b
magic. The population is scanty an
the ranches are far apart, and til
towns are few. From Laredo