The Red Cloud chief., 1914-04-23

On Friday, February IS. Vergara
was invited to cross the border into Mexico. inti
nations having been made to him that he could
learn about his lost property. He went at the
Invitation OF federal troops
He did not return, but for some time there
was little uneasiness about him. He knew the
country thereabouts and his friends thought he
could take care OF himself Finally, as the time
Of his absence grew longer. an investigation was
started. first by Texas and then by the American
government. Not much came of 1t except that
Mr.. Garrett. consul Of Neuvo Laredo. reported
that he believed the American had been muir.
dered.
Reports began to drift across TO the United
States side of the river that q man answering
the description Of Vergara had been seen hang.
ing by the neck on the outskirts of Hidalgo. a
little Mexican town hve miles from vergara's
ranch. Later. Mexicans told that they knew
where Vergaras body had been buried-in the
old cemetery at Hdalgo
No definite action having been taken to procure
the body. In so far as either government was
concerned. the friends of vergara grew somewhat
irritated Gov. o. B. Colquitt Of Texas asked
send a company Of his rangers across the border
to make more rigid investigation.
Mr. Bryan notified Governor Colquitt that such
action could not be taken by one state-that 1t
was strictly in the province Of the federal govern
ment to undertake such deeds And the federal
government did not undertake the matter.
On the morning OF Sunday. March 8, at three
o'clock, the body of Clemente Vergara
brought across the Rio Grande by a party Of
Americans and placed on American>soil. Consul
Garrett notified and went to the place where
he had been told the body lay 1t was there.
No one seems to know who brought the body
back from the Mexican cemetery. All Governor
ColQuitt would say was:
1--WE wanted Vergaras body and we have It,"
All deny that the rangers recovered it-but no
one offer reliable reason for thinking others
did II, according to those who have watched the
incident closely
This incident has served to bring into the pub
iic eye what undoubtedly ia the most picturesQu,
body Of legalized fighting men in this country.
The Texas Rangers have no counterpart In the
world. Only forty In number, they are equal to
almost any emergency that may arise when It
comes to putting to test real fighting qualities.
The presence of one solitary ranger upon a scene
OF disorder and threatened lawlessness has In
innumerable instances been sufficient to quickly
restore peace and uphold the dignity Of the law.
The ranger organization was created about
forty years ago and was established primarily for
the purpose of frontier protection. But Texas no
longer has frontier. The ragged edges OF civili-
cation which once existed along the Rio Grande
border and In the vast plains country Of western
Texas have disappeared. And the conquest OF
this formerly turbulent region. infested with va
rious and divers bands of outlaws. must be at.
tributed largely to the exercise Of unexcelled
bravery, endurance, and expert Workmanship
the part of the brave bands OF men who have at
different times comprised the ranger organization.
In the old days the rangers had the distinction
of being the real gun-nghting men Of the world
and this distinction still belongs to them. Their
methods of operation are different today. how
ever, although the little army OF men now in
the states service IL Just a. brave and a. expert
In the use OF the rife and pistol as In the time
when their chief occupation was fighting bands Of
depredatng Indians or running down the bandits
Of the borders.
A movement was started some months ago to
disband the rangers on the ground that their
services are longer necessary and that they
are used chiefly to perform the duties that prop
erly belong to the peace officers Of the different
counties. But the fact that they were the first
to be called upon when protection was demanded
in connection with the Mexican Misunderstanding
has probably, put an end to this movement for
all time. Besides Texans as q whole. have such
sentimental pride In the wonderful deeds OF
valor of their rangers that It IL doubtful II such