The San Francisco call., 1896-11-18
SANG OF LOVE AS
FOES DREW NEAR
Mexican Serenaders Fired
Upon by Jealous
Rivals.
Battle Under the Windows OF
Ell Csjon Valleys Fairest
Bellies.
Several Youths Wounded in an
ARRAY Following a Merry
Fandsngo

SAN DIEGO CAL, Nov. H-There was
a fandango in the placid vale of Ell Caion
Sunday night and all the pretty Mexican
girls were there with their tall and
swarthy sweethearts. The party was
given at Miguel Acosta's house, at the foot
of the big hills separating the valley from
the Jamacha country. Geronimo and
Ramon Martinez, brothers, and Donaciano
Flores were the fiddlers three. Among
the guests were the Estrada boys-Flor-
encio and Agustin. the Arces, Halmas and
others. some of them the scions of famous
old families, and othes the scum of
Mexico. There were one or two profess
sional smugglers in the party and they
were as fine dancers anu expert lady
killers as there were on the floor.
TIE Gonzales girls the bellies of Mexi-
can society, were at the fandango and they
favored the company by dancing the jota
in true Spanish style. Ctemente Esparza,
good-looking young fellow, played the
guitar, accompanying the dancers, and
this fatal act of galiantry started all the
ruction.
The Estrada boys gathered their factions
and drew off IN high dudgeon. There
were sallies at parting, but knives were
carefully adjusted in the bootlegs. The
Gonzales girls sent cruel smile after the
departing gallants that served to key them
up to desperation. About midnight the
bellies of the ball withdrew TO their home,
not a balf-mile distant, and soon after
young EsparZa the guitarist. with the
Martinez boys and Donaciano Flores the
other fiddler. went over to make melody
under the windows of the sweet joven-
citas who mad won their smiles. The Es-
had tiraiv- dicor ad ~
was supposed to be dreaming.
The mellow mingling of nasal tenor and
vibrant catgut had hardly begun to ravlsh
&. the ears of the girls before a clatter of
hoofs struck terror to the ears of the
Romeos. Two minutes later the Estrada
faction gathered on little knoll behind
the house, dlsmounted and began to shoot.
Donaciano Flores fell at the first volley
with bullet through his shoul der.
The musicians gathered together like a
flock of sheep, and only one-Ramon Mar
tineZ-had the presence of mind to draw a
weapon. He TOOK out revolver and fired
into the bunch of assaiiants and hit Au-
gustin Estrada in the fore head, the bullet
grazing the eyebrow and passing around
the corner of the victims head. He
dropped, and then the fight began in
earnest.
Fsorencio Estrada had separated from
his gang and crept up TO the corner of his
house. He aimed at his arch enemy, the
handsome Clemente Esparza, and fired.
The bul ct struck E+parZa's hand, and two
fingers flew off and Jet of blood imbrued
the guitar he held. Ramon Martinez fired
the contents of his revolver at the intrud-
ers. but did not hit them.
The Acosta people, dancing away in the
house, got wind of the scrimmage at the
home OF the pretty girls, and all mounted
their horses and hurried over. The shoot
ing was in full progress. The newly ar
rived MexicanS unlim bered their guns and
started shooting, apparently indiscrimin-
ately. The result was a three
fight in which no man knew his friend,
and was forced to treat all as foes.
The fight lasted until the available
ammunition was gone. Then the Estrada
gang started out to cross the Mexican
line. A constable followed them as far as
Otay and captured Fiorencino Estrada,
who made no resistance. The others got
across the line and gathered at res.
taurant in Tia Juana and laughed and
joked over the affair. Florenco Estrada
The only prisoner. was released on his
recognizance pending an investigation
The American authorities are nonplused
over the affair. not Knowing which faction
TO believe and being unable TO determine
who are in the wrong. Three of the men
who escaped over thellne carried wounds.