The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-21
LEAD FOR AEX|CANS
Sings From the Rifles of Their
Ancient Enemies.
LAREDO SMALLPOX RIOTS
Terminate in a Deadly En-
counter With Rangers.

Laredo, Texas. March 20.-The crisis in
the disturbance here over the carrying
out of the state health officers regula-
tons in suppressing the smallpox epidemic
seems 10 be passed When the work OF
removing the patient was resumed this
morning. the scenes OF yesterday were
repeated and Captain Rogers OF the sla-e
rangers, and four assistants, who attempt
ed 10 dispense the crowd, were nred Upon
and Captain Rogers received a ouliet Il
the left shoulder The rangers returned
The fire, killing Agapito Herrera, an eA-
policeman, who was leading the notes
and another Mexican, and woundins
woman, Z sister Of Herrera, who had n-ed
AZ the officers from the window or
house near by. Several other MeXicans
were wounded but the number cannot yet
be ascerLa!ned, as they escaped IN Inc
crowd Dozens Of peop.e reFor- seeing
wounded rIel., but how many saw Inc
same ,n.s is not known. me rangers
were followed by a number OF scattered
shots IN a different quarter OF the Gil!
populated largely by Mexicans, and they
were construed as preconcerted signals oy
the rioters for achievements Dr.. Blunt
according TO arrangements made, had no
titled Captain Ayers, in command at Fort
Mcintosh. that the United States troops
were needed, and at 1913 detachment
OF the Tenth cavalry, mounted and fully
armed with 100 rounds Of ammunition
each, arrived at the market place. City
Marshol Joseph Bartholomew was sworn
,,l-~- n 4 ire or ION
the crowds were quickly dispersed.
The leader Of the first crowd encoun-
tered by the military undertook 10 talk
instead of obeying orders TO clear out, and
was promptly. knocked down with the
butt Of a carbine and so badly hurt that
he died within a short time after being
carried away. His followers took the hint
and rapidly fed. A Calling gun and an
ambulance corps accompanied the cavalry
men, and affairs took on a decidedly mill
tary appearance. All places Of business
were closed and the placing Of the Cat
ling gun in a position to rake street will
quickly clear that thoroughfare from end
10 end Platoons of troopers circulated
through the disturbed district and scat
tered or drove out the crowds gathered
on the cross streets, most of them tafiing
refuge under the river banks but offer
ing no resistance.
Mayor Christen had requested Colonel
O'Hearn. the commandant of the Mexi-
can military force in Neuvila Erilla, 10
cooperate with the Laredo authorities in
preventing the crossing and re-crOss'ng
OF the river by crowds in case Of trouble
and while several hundred Meyica1s
driven out of the disturbed district were
refugeeins III der the river bank strJ1g
detachment of Mexican cavalry jeployed
on the south bank Of the Rio Grande
Those on this side concluded they were
coming across TO assist them against the
colored United States cavalry, and
mighty cheer went up. Fortunately. how
ever. they discovered their mistake be
fore dcing anything rash. The city tetrg
q1Iietcd. the work of the health cTiccls
was again taken up with guard OF cav
airy with each wagon, under orders from
Captain Ayers that If anybody attacked in
any way the Mexican officers or them
selves 70 shoot, and shoot 70 Kali" The
work progressed during the rest Ct the al
te-noon without further interruption and
will be continued under the cavalry guard
until completed. The chances of serious
trouble seem remote though there may be
isolated cases Of resistance 10 the health
officers.