Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-12
4 RUNNING FIGHT
Between Mexican Guards
and Cowboys.
TWO MEN WERE KILLED
One Was an American aid the Otter
a Mexican--TrGuble Grew Out Of an
Attempt TO Rescuea Prisoner Who
was Charged With Smuggling
MEN WERE KILLED

Denver, Sept. l1.-A special to the news
from Bisbee, Ariz., say $: Late Saturday
afternoon there occurred at Naco. a small
town on the International line. nine miles
from here, a shooting affair which has al
ready caused the death OF an American
cowboy and a Mexican guard and the
woundins of several others and the ulti-
mate turning over to tine Mexican author
tiles OF four American citizens, who will
be tried for murder. Several weeks g
James Heron was arrested by Mexican
line riders. charged with smuggling
horses, and was being taken by Mexican
guards to NoSales tor 4 hearing. While
at Naco, Bob Clayton. a friend OF Heron,
asked permission to accompany him to
Nogales. The Mexican officers assented,
but at the same time notified Clayton
that he Would rave to disarm himself,
giving him 80 minutes to do SO.
When the time was up the guards start
ed toward Clayton, who pulled his gun
and commenced shooting, at the same
time backing toward this side of the line.
The guards. seven in number, returned
the fire, while two other cowboys, one of
whom was named Franco, came to Clay
tons rescue. who escaped to this side.
but not without receiving a bullet
through his body. from the effects of
which he died here last night. Captain
Molina of the Mexican guards was shot
twice, once through the right thigh and
through the arln neither Of which is
serious. ran was arrested by the
guards and placed in Jail, while the other
cowboy escaped. An hour and a-half
late" three guards who started with Her
ron to Nogales We're overtaken by a par
ty OF four American cowboys, friends of
Heron, who We're bent uDon rescuing
him. A lively fight took place. resulting
in the killing of a guard named Pedrogan
and the ~wounding of Manuel Rivalo SO
seriously thai death is expected hourly.
The other guards escaped to the customs
house and, securing help, returned and
drove the cowboys to this side of the line.
Heron refused to come back with the
rescuers. but continued on to Nogales,
where he gave himself up He chose to
face the charge of smuggling rather than
risk being taken by officers here, who
hold a warrant for him, he having es-
capped from the Oklahoma penitentiary
after being sentenced for % years for
murder.
Late Saturday night another cowboy
named Lee Ramsey. who conducts a sa-
loon on the Mexican side of the line, was
arrested by those authorities, charged
with being implicated in the affair, and is
now in Jail at Naco with Franco. The
Wv % ~ thS u6AL. Il OcCll Sdli-
ering horses and their friends are heavily
armins themselves, preparatory. it is
aid to an attempt to rescue Ramsey
and Franco. There are now in his city
and at points near here and Naco over so
Of them armed with Winchesters and six
shooters. Mexican guards have been re-
inforced by the addition of a body of %
cordados under Lieutenant Colonel Cor
tleslsky and they now have an armed
force of nearly 100 men guarding the line
and Jail in which the Americans are con-
fined. Should the attempt at rescue De
made, a most serious battle will result, as
both parties are worked up to fever heat
over the killings.
The four cowboys who attacked the
guards in Sonora are we'll known in this
city and are here tonight, not having been
placed under arrest. Their movements
are being watched, and they will not be
allowed to leave the country. Mexican
Consul Gavito is arranging matters at
once to have the authorities arrest and
hold them until the proper papers can be
arranged for.