Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-05-12
MatamOros. Mex. May 12.-From Spe
cial Staff Correspondent. via Courier
to Brownsville.

to Brownsville.
AT about 1870 a. III. American time the
peaceful quiet of MatamOrOs was disturb
ed by the swiftly circulating report that
the long expected was about to happen,
that ConstitutiOnalist troops had actual
" been seen within two miles Of the
town coming from two directions. one
body of about 200 men to the Eastward
and another of unknown numbers to the
northwest Promptly followed much
closing of doors and putting up of bars
and scurrying about.
All precautions were taken. and Major
Ramos placed his men on the defensive.
The dav was passed in suspense. In the
afternoon. however. it was learned posi-
lively that the rebels were not within
sixteen miles from the town. and the at
tack which was believed to be imminent
all dav evidently has been put off until
tonight or tomorrow The body of two
hundred. estimated, which was reported
within two miles of the town to the
southeast, evidently withdrew, awaiting
the arrival of the troops from ReynOSa.
At 800 this afternoon, Capt. George j
Head returned from scout of sixteen
miles uD the river. and also in other di-
rectiOns around MatamOrOS. having gone
to seek General RlancO. with a request
that he direct his men not to fire in the
direction of Brownsville He reported
that he found on rebels
\ request from some of the leading bus
mess men of MatamOros to Major Ramos
that he surrender without fighting. see
ing that he is largely Outnumbercd. was
met by him with the reply:
"This is my last chance. and ! am go
ing to fight"
| A request from General BlancO for sur
render. with threat to attack the town
was answered by Major Ramos with a
| fiat refusal and an invitation to Come
on"
4 Major Esteban Ramos, commander of
| the MatamOrOs garrison. continued
| throughout the morning to build up the
!
/ declared to all cOmers that he would
defend MatamOros against attack by the
men in his vbekshrdl neutrality-suspicious.
! rebels. though he had not over three hun
dred men in his command while the Con
4 stitutionaliSts numbered 500. Ii is I'M
dcrStoOd that should the rebels advance
on MatamorOs the garrison will meet
them outside Of the city. and if necessary
gradually fall back to the Notifications
behind which they will station them
selves behind the thousands of sacks
filled with dirt
1t is said that Major Ramos has four
machine guns in his fighting equipment.
and also that the garrison has five can
mons. This cannot be verified however.
A young deserter from the federal gar
rison in MatamOrOs yesterday was shot
and seriously wounded when he tried to
make his escape. He was followed by
several mounted volunteers who fired up
on him when he failed to stop at their
command. He received bullet through
the shoulder and one through the right
leg.
\ Trenches from six to eight feet high
are built west and south of the city in
broken lengths and men have been sta
toned behind them all through the day,
being relieved now and then. 1t is es-
fimated that with returning troops from
Reynosa today Major Ramos has about
four hundred men in his command. all
supplied with plenty Of ammunition.
Captain George j. Head of the Browns
vile militia, c. Y. Mott. and G.. r Cragg.
left Brownsville this morning at IL 80
O'Clock. bearing Il note from the United
States department of war. through Cap
tain Kirby Walker of the Brownsville
cavalry troop. to the commander of the
rebel forces reported approaching the
city. The note requests that the cOmman
der of the rebels instruct his men to re-
frain from firing in the direction OF
Brownsville. and to observe proper re
gard for property of American citizens.
!, The automobile. carrying United
! States flag, left Matamoros going to the
I east in search Of rebel forces reported il
that vicinity. They returned at 123t
J this afternoon after an unsuccessful trip
~, loft Co, ~,