The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-21
JIM HODGESS LAST RAID
HIS BAND OF CATTLE THIEVEI
HIPED OFT NJ RANG
Surprised nv Cant. Hob RnieS's Wen ne Thei
Wero Preparing n New Forny. ana shot
Icrorc They Could Fire Innlrn Doren TImes,

wero Preparing n New Forny. aud shot
ucrore They could Fire EniTa DoTen Times
SAN ANroNIc. Tex, Nov. Colt was in the
fall OF 1873 that Capt. Bob Raiey and his com.
pany ot Texas Rangers were called to AtascVsa
county. lex, to go in pursuit OF q gang OF ca..
tie and horse thieves who had been operating In
that section for some sine. The thieves were
led by Jim Hodges, u half.hrecd Mexican, who
seemed TO know every foot of ground in south
west Texas. lilo and HE woll-traincd men could
cut out n nice bunch OF cnttio and get them
away into n distant part of the country and
cover up their trail 40 successfully that tho
average cowman could not follow them; but 10
took n clcvorer man than Jim Hodges TO fool
Capt. haley and his company of Texas Hangers.
They could follow the blindcst trail in the dark.
and wcro quicker than chain lightning with "'
their guns. They were bravo and cool in the
face OF tho greatest danger.
Capt. Raley and his mon rode on horseback all
the way from old Fort Stockton to San Antonio.
They laid in n fresh supply of food and anmu.
milton here, and then went down into Atnscosa
county, only q days ride south of here. II was
late at night when they reached Bosgs's store.
They had already been told of n fresh raid made
by Hodges and his band. Old man Boggs was n
friend of Hodges. and the latter had made tho
store his base of supplies. Capt. Raley knew
this. and when he and his company rode up to 3
the place late at night he called BoRgs to tho
uoo NV lolh nun lhdI ~ WdS lnCTc uilcr
Hodges and his gang, and that IL Boggs didn't
tell him where the outlaws could be found no
would "shoot he'll out OF him" This threat
seemed to have the desired effect, and Boggs re- d"
piled with apparent sincerity: ""'
II won't keep nothing from you, Capt. Raley.
Hodges and his fcllcrs was here last night, and
left nj daylight for the IN pasture. They never
told me where they were going from there"
You may be cling me straight, hut [ am
| going TO search yOur Dlacp for them bCfnrD II
leave for the IN ranch, . replied Capt. ltalcy.
Boggs did not object to n thorough search.
Tho outlaws were not there.
Capt. Italcy and his men started Off in tho
direction of the IN pasture. They had not gone
far when when the Captain turned in his saddle
and said 10 his company:
Boys, 1 believe that scoundrel Boggs was
lying. He's friendly with Hodges and his gang.
and 1t amt likely he would give them away
even il | did threaten to put n hole through his
ornery hide. 1t is moro than likely that Hodges
is in a part of the county in tn opposite direc-
ton to the IN pasture. We won't go to the TX
pasture at present. We will first 20 toward the
Martinez ranch, and II we don't get on their
trail over that way we will then go to the TX
pasture
The company agreed that their Captains
theory was worth trying. A few miles beyond
Boggs's store they changed their course. and,
after making a circuit, headed toward the Mar.
tinez ranch. They were following a mere by
path, which had been used by cattle going to
Nolan Spring for water. This spring was loca ted
on the Martinez ranch, and 1t was a likely camp
ing place for outlaws.
1t was late in the afternoon and the shadows
of the stunted and scrubby live oak which GOV.
cred the prairie thickly were lengthening.
Capt. Ralcy was riding in front with one OF his
best men. The others were following two
abreast close behind. They were nearing Nolan
| SDrinp and were prOcepdinp with cautinn Cant
Raiey had told his men to shoot the outlaws on
s ss nn dn ho re s thieves He qhn sd ta DO X Ri hhose a TSe s sa.,
timent OF the settlers was against trials and i'm
Pris Snnns En.v , This tbs little nsr so%RpHay Of Texas
every clump of bushes they passed and every
nnd EOp ,siy yh elSs they nns hth meet tf the out ia lgf in
the open and fight 1t out in a downright, square
every man had his oarbine ready for quick
t asrinn and i he had a%in hara MIi tuned l + dr BIS he hor @ssf hs sni
when the : 7 report Of a rifle ram, rang out not
followed fHH"ss S By q v 70 eso from M the hani ca r%ai sn and Wis his
men. who had quickly crowded into tho narrow
back. These four mem mem ali ipH fell iron from al" tSe Gn h nSfss,
at the first ,vollcy fired by the Rangers. Capt.
found feslss s una p three soo OF them rove We're sp d TO ih sna a the
other fatally wounded. Three of them were
The wounded Mexican 4 made a dying Pioss State
ment to Capt. Raley. He said that he and his
man Boggs was their leader. They had been
working in connection with Hodges and his
quarrelled on tho previous night over the d.
vision of the spsoiils and Bosgs had given the
Raley in the hope that the Rangers would Kill
all his gang. Boggs had left his store that
raid on Hodges camp could be learned.
He well knew that If any member Of the
s ssssinsted. o He was ss' p D , aG to UG so wife 9S h a.,
three Mexicans TO Mexico If the results of tho
hangers raid on Hodgess band were not salts
| factory. me BtrAnReSt mart OF The Nnuniad.
Mexican's story was that the shot which led to
The The P Pise WITCH ON t OF the Fsn MeFic %as c sGqissn Ma;
DISCHARGED by I'm overhanging limb striking
We've done good days work, boys" said
Capt, Raley 70 his men with a smile. after the
70 ss }he spr aaS a and pat % %p for seSt Tie night ESs' T % SS? VIII
finish with Hodges and his gang tomorrow
the ees alaii w the ssr tse Sof hsd ify S!P:n. BY En the hs s1Ss q.
went to the spring: They took the dying Mexi:
soIndiy, ali night Without even posting a guard.
When they arose they found that the wounded
M Mes bnria nIa a atea af aeFi the t sSm e's dispos Ito OSSa aSS
been made of tho other bodies the Rangers gall
It was a long ride and not unit. late in tho
afternoon did they reach tho place where the
baaiaC OF a T little ' stresm-a in1 id S@ns SPOT %aI for on r .as
and repose. Back OF it a hill shut out the view
ihfs'I m Sn9 s Todo diqeets tou his hill iaP and 'f from "n ita
summit they looked down gpon tho camp;
i IaDaf1' on n" the Hi gro med e Wfds tiyet taxing a r rSls
preparatory to making a raid on some ranch
I'VE must kin all of them. I" said Capt; Raley.
mistake in your aim. We done well yesterday,
so now let's finish with these fellors; and We wfll
be In San Antonio tomorrow, and stay there
until some more OF these devils get ready to DO
sent to hell"
The attack was carefully planned and so neat
~ executed that the outlaws did not fire q half
dozen shots, and all of them went wide Of their
mark. Hodges was shot through the heart, and
his companions were killed on the spot. 1t was
n complete determination of the Hodges gang.
The bodies were buried where they fell. and the
spot is pointed out to visitors.
Capt. Raley, and his company returned to
San Antonio the next day, and il they had any
regret on account OF the twelve lives they had
so quickly blotted out they gave no evidence OF
II in tho lively manner in which they saw life
here for the next several days. The justice
which they haG Meted out Ia. the two bands Of
nnlln MA MAS swift and tnrrlhle. hul their not