The sun., 1900-08-12
A MEXICAN FREE LANCE.
CAREER or GEN. SANDOVAL. NOW
PRISONER Nv CARACAS
His Bsyhood FrIendship for President Diss
and How II Came to an End-An Escape
Made BY swimming tho Rio Grande Once
Sentenced TO BE shot, bat Pardoned.


AUSTIN, Tex. .,Aug+ The fact was mentione
briefly In THE Sun few days ago that Gen
Francisco Ruiz sandoval has been imprisoned
in Caracas, Venezuela. While the nature o
the latest charge against him IN not known here
II Is supposed that II Il Of political nature AM
that he was involved In some kind Of plot 70
the overthrow Of the established venezlelai
Governmsnt. The piece Of news Of Sandovall
imprisonment was read with the deepest inter
eat by his old-time acquaintances In this par
Of Texas and along the Rio Grande border
But II Is In Mexico that this latest phase In thu
career of this man Is OF the greatest concern
President Por1rio Diaz has doubtless had
great load removed from his mind by th'
knowledge that his hitter and persistent po-
litical and personal enemy is again removed
temporarily at least. from the freedom whicf
gave him the opportunity to foment plots
against his administration OF AFFAIRS In Mexico
Gen. Sandoval has given the Federal authori'
ties Of the Western district Of Texas, which
embraces In It's territory all OF the Rio Grande
border country, more trouble than any other
one man. For a number OF years he was a
constant source Of annoyance and he only
csased his revolutionary practices few years
ago after having narrowly escaped conviction
and sentence to term In United states
prison for alleged violation OF the neutrality
laws, The native Mexican is naturally Of u
revolutionary disposition and Is very similar
in that respect to the natives OF all Central and
South American countries. The Rio tirande
border country Of Texas has been a fruitful
section In which to instigate revolutionary
schemes against the ruling government OF
Mexico. Il was on the Rio Grande border. near
Brownsvillc. that Gen. Porfirio Diaz. now Presi-
dent Of that country, gathered together the
nucleus for his army that overthrow the ex-
on a firm. and what promises to be, Il lasting
footing. Here II was that Gen. Cortina with
an army that at one time numbered over five
and capture the capital of that country but was
doomed 70 defeat Of all his plans. Gen, Cata-
rino Cara. visionary newspaper man OF
pan Diego, Tex was - ths % latest S rsyoiniionary
his few hundred men kept things lively for the
United States authorities and Mex ican troops
for nearly three years, but gave up the struggle
in 1893 and since then quiet has reigned all
along the course Of the treacherous river.
There are several thousand Mexican political
refugees on the Texas side Of the river They
living in their native country because OF some
overt act planned or attempted against the
Government and have been banished with the
injunction to never return. In addition to
these political refugees there are hundreds OF
bad characters who have fed from Mexico to
escape punishment for crimes they have COM
mitted The existence OF these two elements on
W .ne eNas o0rusr mas raHe possiuie
with considerable ease and Gen Sandoval was
fully aware Of this fact when he settled at Rio
Grande City, Tex. and set about the working
ment This was about 1883 He seemed to
oe vel supplied WIN money and " was sad
ut the time that he was receiving financial sup
p9rt iron such people OF the Slty cI Mexlco
ton Of President plaA Gen Sandoya Is
suaye oi manners and CHEEKY OF disposition and
ne Quickly made many iriends az all places on
got his first revolutionary. expedition organ
ized and one night his party OF probably two
hundred tha crossed INTO Mexico
numbers as the they mar marched through O that country
Their first objective point was the city OF Mon
Grsy !,r wnlch they h0ped 70 take wlthout seIiou
dlf1cuty, Hardly had they crossed the river.
which we're stationed at San lgnacio swept
down upon them and after vigorous fight in
which several on both sides were wounded.
TO the Texas side Of the river. Their troubles
did not end when they reached this side. for
the United States troops stationed at Fort
q ssas Rangers Ram sot on hsr ra rp and ths r
volutionary army had to scatter to save their
individual hides.
Gen ssndoya did not lose heart On on aSGoun.
States authorities, but found plenty OF friends
who secretly gave him aid and announcement,
among the Mexican ranchmen residing in
his little army together again and made another
attempt to invade Mexico This attempt
was also futile. In 1880 he made his third and
last attempt With about one hundred men
he crossed Into Mexico near Laredo, Tex. They
had hardly reached the Mexican bank Of the
river when they were observed by a detaoh-
ment OF Mexican troops. Gen. Sandoval saw
attsmpt 10 escape' Ne quickly threw III bis
riothes and jumped Into the Rio Grande and
struck out for the Tex a. shore. He was shot
at repeatedly as he swan toward this bank
Of the river but none Of the bullets took effect
The firing. however. attracted the attention
Of Eugene Yglasias, City Marshal Of Laredo,
and rushing down to the bank OF the stream
Just a. that officer aot out OF. the water. The
crestfAlen revolutionary leader was marched
as he was by the stern and relentless City Mar
shal fglasias 10 the city jail and placed In a
Of the neutrality laws, Gen. Sandoval was
removed to San Antonio where he remained
u JAN for several months before trial In the
Federal court tie was well supplied With
IN San Antonio to defend him. Upon trial his
defence was that he was not bearing arms
whom captured and that he did not enter Mexico
ON political eIpedition nor had he orsanized
for the purpose OF invading Mexico. After
a hard trial he was acquitted.
Alter bis acauittal In San Antonio he dropped
out OF sight for several months and was next
beard from In COLOMBIA, South America. where
he was at the head OF one division OF revo-
lutionary army that was seeking TO overthrow
that government. tie was finally captured
and after term OF IMPRISONMENT IN that
country ne was Danbned ana next turned
up in CUBA where ne remained several months
and then proeesded to New YORK city, where
he resided until Few months ago when he
went, again to Colombia and secured COM
mand In the insurgent army.