The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1910-03-22
TEXAS RANGERS.
Daring Acts Would Fill Volumes
picturesque Force Which Kept Out
laws in Bounds May Be Dissolved


not reasonable to be expected that I
can always successfully operate in
every direction against half thou
sand well armed savages with thirty
eight privates.
IF IL was not for this cursed in
ternational law, | know very well
what to do to clean out these bloody
savages on the other side of the Rio
Grande."
The law which prohibited armed
forces from crossing the Rio Grande
was not observed by many of the old
time Rangers. Captain c. l.. Nevill
and his men found the international
border stream no barrier when in
close pursuit of Indians or outlaws.
In the early part of 1881 Indians
killed a stage driver and passenger in
Quitman Canyon. Captain Nevill and
nine men took the trail of the red
skins and followed them into the
mountains of Mexico, keeping close
on the trail for twenty days through
a wild and uninhabited region. finally
overtaking the Indians, killing six Of
them and recovering sixteen stolen
horses and mules.
Before railroads were built into the
territory between San Antonio and
the Rio Grande that region, more
than two hundred miles long by three
hundred miles broad, was the base of
operation of many desperate bands
OF Mexican thieves and smugglers.
Captain L. II. McNelly and his COM
pany Of Rangers were the flying
squadron that subdued the lawless-
ness in that big scope of country.
They undertook and accomplished
tasks that seemed unsurmountable
to the State authorities at Austin.
Captain McNelly mastered the stu
alton by conducting a plan of cam
paign that struck terror to the heart
Of the border outlaws. He and his
men were on the so constantly. They
entered the field in the middle '70's
and kept up constant warfare
against the border thieves and Snug
glers for several years. 1t was in
1882 that Captain McNelly and about
thirty of his men had a battle with
Mexican smugglers which is still
prominent in the annals of the lower
border. A band of Mexicans crossed
into Texas and stole herd of cattle
from the ranch of Richard King and
headed the animals for the Rio
Grande.
Captain McNelly was quickly in
formed, and he and his men took up
the trail. They arrived at the cross
ing of the Rio Grande few hours be-
hind the thieves and stolen cattle.
Braving the dangers that they knew
awaited them on the other side, they
swan their horses across and made
an advance upon the town of San
Miguel, in Mexico, in when place the
thieves had taken refuge under pro-
lection of the Mexican authorities.
Their advance was repulsed and
fight took place, in which twenty
nine MeXicans were killed. After
much parleying, the stolen cattle were
turned over TO the Rangers and
driven back to the ranch OF Mr.. King.
Time after time Captain McNelly
and his men raided camps of border
outlaws, killing all who offered re-
sistance. Many members of the
Ranger force were killed in their
work OF Kidding the frontier Of the
lawless element.
OF the latter-day Rangers, none
has a greater reputation for bravery
than Captain John r. Hughes, who
entered the service twenty-five years
ago and is in command of one of the
four companies which compose the
State force. He had many single
handed encounters with bad men in
the early days, and has a score or
more Of notches on his gun. all of
which were put there in the perform
ance of his duty. 1t is said of him
that he was never known to show
the slightest trace of excitement. He
is low voiced. quiet and unassuming
He is a devout church member and
possessed of q comfortable fortune in
lands and money. lie was recently
transferred from the little border