Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-09-12
THANKLEss EXPLOIT OF PARTY
OF ARIZONA COWBOYS.
TRIED TO RESCUE A FRIEND
HE WAS UNDER ARREST IN MEXICO
FOR SMUGGLING.
Preferred Trial for Smuggling to Re
turning to Oklahoma to Finish
His Term for Murder
Two Killed in the
Fracas.

BISBEE, A T., Sept. n.-Late Saturday
afternoon there occurred at Naco, small
town on the International line, nine miles
from here. a shooting affray which has
already caused the death of one American
cowboy and a Mexican guard and the
wounding of several others, and which will
ultimately result in delivering over to Mex
lean authorities four American citizens
who will be tried for murder.
Several weeks ago James Heron was
arrested by Mexican line riders, charged
with smuggling horses, and was being taken
by guards to Nogales for a hearing. While
at Naco. Bob Clayton. a friend of Her
ron's. asked permission to accompany him
to NoSales.
The Mexican officers consented, but at
the same time notified Clayton that he
would have to dsarm himself, giving him
thirty minutes to do so. When the time
was up, the guards started toward Clay
| ton, who pulled his gun and commenced
| firing, 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 ramed
| Franco, came to the rescue of Clay:o
who escaped to this side. but received 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 arm, neither of which is Sc
rious. Franco was arrested by the guards
| and placed in JAIL while the other cowboy
| escaped.
An hour and half later three guards,
who started with Heron to NogaleS, were
| overtaken by a party of four American
cowboys, friends of Heron, who were bent
upon rescuing him. A lively fight took
| place, resulting in the killing of guard
| named Pedrogan, and the wounding OF
| Manuel Rivera so severely that death Is
expected hourly. The third guard escaped
| to the custom house, and, securing help,
returned and drove the cowboys across TO
| this side of the line. Heron refused to
come back with his 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 hav-
| ing escaped from the penitentiary in Ok
Iahoma after being sentenced for twenty
| five years for murder
Late Saturday night another cowboy
| named Lee Ramsey, who conducts sa-
loon on the Mexican side Of the line, was
arrested by the authorities, charged with
| being implicated III the affair, and is now
! in Jail at Naco with Franco. The cow
| boys, since the fight. have been gathering
| horses and their friends, and are heavily
armng themselves. preparatory, it is said
TO an attempt to rescue Ramsey and Fran
CO. There are now in this city and al
points near here and Naco, over fifty OF
them, armed with winchesters and SIX
shooters
The Mexican guards at Naco have been
reinforced by the addition of a body of
| nj
Colonel Kosterlitzky, and they now have
an armed force of nearly 1G0 men guarding
the line and Jail in which the Americans
are confined. Should the attempt at rescue
be 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 well known in this
city and are here Tonight not having beer
placed under arrest Their movements art
being watched and they will not be al
lowed to leave the country.
Mexican Consul Gavito is arranging mat
ters at once to have the authorities here
arrest and hold them until the proper pa,
perS can be arranged for.