The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-09-12
.FICHT ON THE BORDER
American Cowboys in a Battle With
Mexican Guards.
TWO DEAD, SEVERAL WOUNDED.

Armed Cowboys Gathering in Force
For an Attack on the Mexican jail
where Their Friends Arc Confined.
Another Fight Imminent.
Bsbee. A. t. Sept. 12.-Late Satur-
day afternoon there occurred at Naco,
a small town on the international line
nine miles from here. a shooting af-
fair which has already caused the
death of one American cowboy and
Mexican guard and the wounding OF
several others, and ultimately in de-
livering over to the Mexican authori-
ties of 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 IIerron's asked
permission to accompany him to
Nogales The Mexican officers consent
ed but at the same time notified Clay
ton that he would have to disarm him
self, giving him 30 minutes to do So
When the time was up the guards
started toward Clayton, who pulled his
gun and commenced firing, at the same
time backing towards this side of the
line. The guards, seven in number,
returned the fire, while two other cow
boys, one of whom was named Franco,
came to Clayton's rescue, who escaped
to this side, but received a bullet
through his body, from the effects of
which he died here Sunday night.
Captain Molina. of the Mexican guards,
was shot twice, neither wound being
serious.
Franco was arrested by 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
American cowboys, friends of Heron,
who were bent upon Tescuing him. A
lively fight took place, resulting in the
killing of a 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 re-
fusing to come back with his rescueTs,
but continuing on to NOgales, where
he gave himself up. He chose rather
to face the charge Of smuggling than
risk being taken by officers here, who
hold a warrant for HIM, ne having es-
capped from the penitentiary in Okla
homa after being sentenced for 25
years for murder.
Late Saturday night a cowboy named
Lee Ramsay, wo conducts a saloon on
the Mexican side, was arrested by the
authorities charged with being impli-
Gated in the affair. and is now in Jail
at Naco with Franco.
The cowboys, since the fight, have
been gathering horses, and their
friends are heavily aIming themselves,
preparatory, it is said, to an attempt
to rescue Ramsay and Franco. There
are now in the city and at points near
here and Naco so of them armed with
Winchesters and six shooters. The
Mexican guards at Naco have been re-
inforced by the addition of a body of
25 Cordados under Lieutenant Colonel
Kosterlitzky, and they now have an
armed force of nearly hundred men
guarding the line and Jail in which the
Americans are confined Should the
attempt at rescue be made a most seri-
Gus battle will result.
The four cowboys who attacked the
guards in Sonora are well known in
this city and are here today, not hav-
ing been placed under arrest They
will not be allowed to leave the coun-
try.