The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-24
SAN IGNAcIO MASSACRE.
Its Memory Revived by the RcIeasc
of Jesus Guerra.

Mexican Herald.
The kilograms Of yesterday state that
the American State department has Anal
Mexican government for the extradition
Of one Jesus Guerra. charged with muir
der, robbery and kidnapping.
Tins Guerra was one of the leaders Of
the famous San Ignacio raid on December
8. 1893. Cartarino Garza had already been
bounded out Of the lower Rio Grande coun-
try. and the struggling remnant of his
revolutionary band We're outlaws on both
sides of the river. Long after war and
rumors of war had ceased, number OF
these outlaws came together and crossed
the Rio Grande between Rio Grande City
and Laredo and surprised the fort at the
small town OF San Ignacio, which was but
weakly garrisoned. The fort was sur
rounded and set Are to. No quarter was
given, and the helpless Mexican officers
| and soldiers who, to escape cremation,
| ran directly into the arms of the at
lacking party, were mercilessly shot and
| thrown back into the blazing ruins OF tha
| fort.
| The victorious invaders reorossed the
river to Texas. bringing the soldiers
horses with them. Among the number was
| the Jesus Guarra inqustion and Juan
Duque and a full blood American called
Fred Fern. When Sheriff Watt Shelly and
other peace officers and State Rangers be-
| gan to beat the bush for these inffaetors
| of the treaty between the United States
and Mexica, Juan Duque and Fred Fern
turned States evidence and were appointed
deputy marshals, and proved most efficient
in the capture OF their quondam COM
panions. They were gathered up by the
| dozen and the score, and for several terms
of the Federal court In San Antonio Shelly
and his trusted deputy marshals were
kept busy conveying these captive revolu-
tionists to be judged and punished for
their crimes. But 1t so happened that al
that time the law was lenient, and the
prisoners got off with small fines or at
thu most few months In jail. Jesus
tGuerra was not captured until afterwards.
| Pretty soon the revolutionary material
began to be exhausted and some one else
turned States evidence and 1t came In
former Juan Duque's turn TO be tried for
infraction OF the treaty. But by this time
the courts had changed their minds about
the exact offense committed at San Ig-
nacio The lawyers and judges squabbltd
over the nature OF the offense. whether
1t was political or criminal, very much
as the medicos disagreed the other day az
to whether Galveston had the yellow fever
or only the dengue. 1t was decided af-
tier the case had Travelled back and forth
TO Washington and return, that Duque
was a murderer. Just about a year ago
, he was duly extradited to Mexico from
the San Antonio Jail, and was executed.
Meanwhile, Fred Fern, the other informs
, er. had met with fate more tragic than
Duaue's On the anniversary OF the mas
sacre OF San Ignacio, Fern fired two shots
at the heavens 10 see II hi5 gun was In
: good working order and with the third
shot he blew the top Of his head off.
,, This occurred in Rio Grande City. For
, long time he had been haunted man.
J He conGded to his intimates that a cOspze
ALWAYS followed him around and sat down
TO meals with him. and that dead bo1y
was always awaiting him In bel at night
e Fern. before the Cara outbreak, was q
: good hearted. harum scarum cowboy.
S why he Joined the GarSaites no one knows
: when asked. he always answered, II want
y ed 10 right the wrongs OF my adopted coun'
!. ltry!''
y free although a precedent OF the suprem'
! court. In the decision In the Duque case
= vas against him The punishment mettt
J. ont TO these actors in the sal igneci'
J. massacre appears indeed to have been
IS NOT in accordance with what they hah done
! but according to when they we're tried
Mason and Dixon's Line Vanishing
Atlanta Constitution
= Fraternal sentiments have largely take
Y the place of sectional prejudice and natpr
!" ally as the result Of this granfying cnaEs
:. cur brethren of the Norsh a-e besinnin
|. to appreciate more fully the exIraor1ans si !,
:, resources and possibilities OF the sontn
i with the utmost confidence In the genii
i, ouality OF her climate and the labor en-
ID riching fertility Of her soil. the south ea
. tends a cordial invitation TO -estiess an
2, dlssatisfied spirits in all sectians 70 con
I. into ter midst and aid her IN deyelopin
y Ihsr marvellous rssourcss.