The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-10-10

rusting beside his bones bespoke his coun-
try and his Occupation-the only relic OF
the wOuld-be Conquistadores of the 10Th
century.
The stolid native who had sworn fealty
to the mushroom republic, under pain OF
Imprisonment for refusal, easily forgot his
oath when the accUrsed "Gringo" had
turned his back. The rancheriO, whose
sole mementos of vanished horses and
cattle were the bonds of the Republic of
Sonora, vainly proffered those securities
at the cockpit and the monte-table.
The American of the North had come
and gone like peStilence. or like his ante
type OF buccaneering days; naught Pc
NAMED save disappointed ambition with
the one, and bitter memory with the
other.
The invasion was every way inexcusa-
Die. Ihat his interference was unwel-
come to the natives Walker soon found
out; nor was he slow to learn that moth
ing less formidable than an army of oc-
cupatiOn, backed by 4 strong power. could
push his cherished dream of a new con-
quest of Mexico beyond the unsubstantial
realms of phantasy.
With sinking heart, but bearing the
calm front which never failed him. he
led his starving, travel-worn band toward
the California frontier. The natives made
feeble show of opposing their retreat
y host of ill-trained soldiery, formula
| Bile only in numbers, held the mountain
nights; their Indian allies were drawn up
on the plain to contest the passage Col.
Melendrez, commanding the Mexican
forces, sent four Indians with a flag Of
| truce into the flibuster camp, bearing an
| offer of protection and free passage across
| the American border 10 all except the
leader; Walker, with all the arms of the
| company, must be first given up Such
an offer would have been rejected in the
face of certain death, by men familiar
| as these were with the Punic faith of the
! Spaniards. Made as it was to men who
had followed their chieftain through hun
ger and want, battle and defeat, I'D TO
this moment, when they could see their
| country's flag waving over the United
States military camp across the border. it
was treated with scornful laughter Me-
| lendreZ then begged the United States
commander to interfere and compel the
surrender, request which. as it could
not have been granted without viola
| ton of Mexican territory, was properIy
refused. Three miles of road lay between
the filibusters and the boundary line.
! Walker, resorting to strategy, left half a
/ dozen men concealed behind some rocks
to cover his retreat.
The natives, with n wholesale dread of
the American rifle. followed him at what
seemed a safe distance and rode straight
into the ambush. Half a dozen rifles
emptied as many saddles, whereupon
Melendrez and his Mexicans gaIloped off
at full speed, leaving their Indian allies
to follow as best they might.
The tlibusterS lost one man, victim
to his own indiscretiOn in having Dor
rOwed leaf from the enemy's tactics
and fortified his courage with too much
aguardiente.
So ended the last battle of the Repub-
lie of SOnora-if it he not a trayesty to
call by the name of battle a fruitless
Light between a score of men on one side
and 100 ignorant savages on the other.
Four and thirty tattered, hungry, gaunt
pedestrians, whimsically representing in
their persons the President, Cabinet.
Army and Navy of Sonora, marched
across the line and surrendered as prison.
ers of war to Maj. McKinstry, q. S A,
at San Diego, Cal. 1t was May s, 1854,
and so Walker kept his Both birthday.
\ parole. pledging the prisoners to pre-
sent themselves for trial to Gen. Wool. at
San Francisco. was signed by all, after
which they were allowed to depart.