The herald., 1895-05-19

daylight the shooting began actively
again. and in the afternoon fresh bands
Of Mexican soldiers just arrived were sent
out to scour the counry on both sides OF
the river. but to no effect. By that time
the " Saint was well up in the Texan
hills. and all attempts TO discover her
whereabouts were useless. In her fight
she took the clever precautlon to cut
the telegraph wires between chihuahua,
Paso del Norte and El Paso, Tex. Four
hundred armed men of the Mexican
troops were at once sent to Ell Polve to
guard the town, and 100 more to partol the
American side of the river. Three thou-
sand carbine and revolver cartridges were
purchased in the local stores, and the
towns resumed their normal peaceful
ness.
But the Beautiful Saint" over whom
low-caste MeXicans and Indians were
raving, had only played the first act of
her drama. From her retreat amid the
Texan hills she was planning a fresh ex.
oursion across the liver and was only
waiting for things to cool down, and the
senses OF the local government to be
ever planned more prettily than the Sec
ond attack executed by this vigorous
frontierswoman.
The actual number OF her followers is
not known, but it is an assured fact that
the Saints party was far outnumbered by
the Mexican troops, who by this time
counted up over 600, and were reinforced
besides by Company ID of the Texas RAN
gers, brave body OF scouts under the
command OF Sergeant Kirchner.
Saint Teresa had her most valuable aid
in little hunchback, who served as lieu
tenant. and was the genius OF the attack.
Beside this tall vigorous woman, this ugly
little fanatic. malformed and leering.
seemed a veritable Quasimodo. Once the
excitement on the Mexican side of the
river had somewhat Gained down, he
sent from his mountain stronghold a
positive and vigorous demand.
In the riot at Mulato the authorities
promptly jailed them in the town Of Ogen'
aga, which lies directly across the river
from the Texan town of Presidio. 1t
was the surrender of these prisoners that
the hunchbacS demanded. and when
that was refused he sent word back that
he would use force to obtain them.
No notice being taken OF this. with
the $50 men the woman and the dwarf
came down from the mountains, crossed
the river and approached the clty's gates.
In spite of the notice that had been given
them, the authorities were i'll prepared to
withstand even SO slight an attacA as
this, specially as the fanatics fought like
demons when opposed to the Mexican
troops. II does not appear that the regu-
lars were very vaiorous. for notwithstand-
ing that they outnumbered the insur-
gents at least two to one, they were out
classed and finally beat retreat.
The conflict took place Just outside the
gates of the city. and it proved the most
Stubborn battle that the little war had yet
seen. eight men having been killed and
as many more wounded. At dusk the
authorities retreated within the walls of
Ogenaga and closed the gates. The val
liant little hunchback thereupon placed the
IA, OF, q ca.iu ia hnI no
on every hand inspired by Saint Teresa.
who had remained at the front since the
beginning of the battle. constantly hold
ing her image aloft and inciting the reli-
gious enthusiasts to tireless exertions.
For three days the religions besiegers
held Ogenaga in state of terror and it
was only by the greatest exertions that
the women and children OF the town were
spirited away by night across the Rio
Grande intot American territory. The forces
of the fanatics were augmented daily by
crowds of the country folk who had heard
stories of Saint Teresa's miraculous cures.
Everywhere was seen the hunch backs
grin. and everywhere outside the lines OF
the fortifinatons the beautiful saint NOV
ed with her image displayed without fear
or caution.
She certainly bore a charmed life. Not
a marksman among the Mexican regulars
could touch her. though she stood out a
neckerchief, her leather leggings and her
broaa sombrero. To her followers and to
those who came from afar to look at her
this was only sign of her divinity.
More than ever the story spread around
the region that here at last was the Saw
iour Of Mexico. AS in the old-time story
OF Joan OF Arc, the calamity that had ov-
ershadowed the country was to DO re-
moved by a"chaste virgin.
Northern Mexico became then all astir.
Though fifty gendarmes and more troops
from chihuahua were sent to Ogenaga, it
was seen that the SAINTS party still re-
mained firm With the approach of add
ed government forces Saint Teresa raised
her Siege, but remained hidden within the
businesses of the mountains OF the state
of chihuahua. No further outbreaks OF
importace have been reported, but the
Saints party is constantly growing in
number, and the entire country is in an
increasing state of uncertainty and terror.
So marked is the Mexican governments
fear of the Saint and her followers that
the governor OF Chihuahua has appointed
peace commission, consisting of two OF
the most popular men in Ogenaga-Dr.
Viviano Jiminez and DR.. Pedro Paredes
to trea. with Nina Gracia Dona Maria
Rebec a. This commission has made the
remark able concession that if the fanatics
will lay down their arms and 20 about
their business the government will let the
matter drop and guarantee not to intro
duce proceedings against them
But the Saint knows her strength. She
has returned no reply whatsoever to this
proposition, and still remains encamped
in the mountains. gathering fresh
strength and procuring new ammunition
to carry on the warfare. An interesting
feature of the religious war has been the
scouting party of four Texas rangers,
headed by Carl Kircher, of Company d,
who were set over ON the Mexican side of
the river to examine into the situation,
restore confidence as much as possible, and
keep an eye OH American interests.
Under date of April 3D., the day after
the battle of Ogenaga was fought, Ser
geant kirchner sent the following de
tailed account to Captain Hughes, at Is.
leta. This is his report:
'Sir: On the evening of the 9th inst.
l received letter from Mr.. John Hum
phries of Chispa.s giving an account of a
riot which had taken place at the town
of Mulato, Mexico, which place is about
sixteen miles below Presidio del Norte.
"The information further stated that the
town OF Palai Tex, which is directly in
front OF the scene of the riot, was at that
writing full of armed men.
Immediately upon receipt of the
news, preparations were made for scouts.
and early on the following morning the
deach NJ ent moved out, The route was
ever very broken county, probably as
much as any in Texas. The distance
was about hundred miles. We made the
ride in two days, and reached Presidio,
Tex. on the 9th at 4 p. m. We found
the people in great excitement, the result