The San Francisco call., 1899-09-12
COWBOYS SHOOT
DOWN OFFICERS
They Seek to Liberate a
Prisoner.
ARRESTED FOR SMUGGLING
MAY CAUSE INTERNATIONAL
COMPLICATIONS.
Mexican Guards Have a Hot Fight
With Cattlemen Who Make Their
Escape to the American
Side.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

BISBEE. Ariz., Sept. u.-Saturday
afternoon shooting affray occurred at
Naco, nine miles from here. and as "a
result serious international complications
may arise.
James Heron, cattle man and resi-
dent of La Morita, Sonora, was arrested
by Mexican guards for smuggling horses,
and was being taken to Nogales for trial.
While at Naco a cowboy named Bob
Clayton, an employe of the Erie Cattle
Company, asked permission TO go with
Heron to Nogales. The guards assented
but told Clayton he would have to disarm
himself and was given thirty minutes to
do so.
In the meantime Clayton had taken
several drinks and when the guards
asked him to surrender his arms, he re-
fused, and drawing his revolver he be-
gan TO shoot, al the same time backing
towards the American side of the line
The guards, seven in number, returned
the fire and two other COWBOYS, one
named Franco and the other an unknown
man. came TO Claytons rescue. Clayton
escaped to this side of the line, not, how
ever, until he had received a bullet from
a 45-Winchester through his stomach,
from the effects of which he died here
last night.
Captain Molina of the guards was
wounded twice, one ball passing through
his right thigh and another through his
arm. Franco was arrested by the guards
and is now In jail at Naco. while the
other cowboy escaped and is now on
American soil.
Shortly after the shooting three guards
who bad started to Nogales with Heron
were overtaken near San Pedro Custom
house by four American cowboys, who
opened ire on them. killing one guard
and wounding another. The third guard
escaped unhurt. The cowboys then re-
turned to this side of the line. being
pursued by other guards. Heron refused
TO return with the cowboys and continued
to Nogales, where he surrendered him
self
He chose to face the charge of snug
CLING rather than risk being taken by Of
ficers here, who hold a warrant for him,
he having escaped from the Oklahoma
penitentiary after being sentenced for
twenty-five years for murder. Late Sat
urday night another cowboy named Lee
Ramsey, who conducts a saloon on the
Mexican side of the line, was arrested by
the authorities, charged with being i'm
plicated in the affair, and is now in Jail
a NacO with Franco.
The cowboys, since the fight, have been
gathering horses and their friends and
are heavily arming themselves, prepara-
Ramsey and Franco. There are now in
this city and at points near here and
Naco over fifty of them armed with Win
chesters and six-shooters. The Mexican
guards at Naco have been re-enforced by
the addition of a body of twenty-five cor
dados under Lieutenant Colonel Roster
litzky and they now have an armed force
of nearly a hundred men guarding the
line and the Jail in which the Americans
are confined. Should the attempt at res
cue be made a most serious battle will
result, as both parties are worked up to
fever heat over the killings.
The cowboys who attacked the guards
in Sonora are well known in this city and
are here tonight, not having been placed
under arrest Their movements are be-
ing watched and they will not be allowed
to leave the country. Mexican Consul
Bavito is arranging matters at once to
have the authorities here arrest and hold
them until the proper papers can be ar
ranged for.