Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-27

crossed into Mexico and got what they
went after In 1874, acting under
orders of Gov. Coke, the Rangers
crossed near Laredo in pursuit of
Mexican outlaws wanted for depreda-
tions on this side Of the border, and
Gov. Colquitt, in his memorandum to
the state department a few days ago,
referred to that invasion" The
Rangers got the outlaws.
| But this incident cited by the gov
ernor was not the big invasion they
;tell about along the border. That hap
pened in 1892, when the late Gen.
Shafter, then a colonel, was in COM
mand Of Fort Bliss, near Ell Paso.
The famous Lee Hall was the senior
Ranger captain at that time and his
command was camped near Fort
Bliss
| Hall lnvades Mexico.
For several months a band OF Mexl-
can cattle and horse thieves had been
riding across the border, stealing
horses and cattle and keeping the
ranches in a state Of terror. Hall was
ordered to Ell Paso to put an end to
the depredations. The band num-
bered thirty seven Of the most des-
perate and bloodthirsty outlaws in the
great Mexican state of Chihuahua
| Capt. Hall went about locating the
outlaws in way peculiarly his own.
He won the confidence Of one of the
outlaws How he did 1t no one knew
but Hall. Through the Mexican in
lformer Hall found that the outlaws
had camp in the Chihuahua noun
tains, about forty miles due south OF
lei Paso. The camp was natural for
LITIGATION and it teemed with stolen
horses and cattle taken from our side
of the border.
Shafter and Hall were great cronies.
Hall went to the headquarters at Fort
Bliss and told Shafter that he knew
where the Mexican outlaws had their
camp and that he had a mind to go
and get 'em."
Don't do that, Lee, it would be
them some other way, but On this side
of the creek" Col. Shafter told the
Ranger captain.
Hall gave the soldier to understand
that he would see that the interna-
tional aspect of the affair was kept in
mind, and about an hour before sunset
left Fort Bliss and joined his own
command, not far from Ysleta, little
town about twelve miles east Of Ell
Paso.
Saddle up, boys-we are going to
take a ride tonight" Hall said to his
men. That night fifty Rangers
crossed the Rio Grande. They rode as
Rangers can ride and followed the
trail throungh an unknown country
with the skill of plains Indian. At
O'Clock the next morning they were
outside the stronghold of the outlaws.
Hall placed his men in a Gordon
around the camp, and at daybreak the
battle began. 1t lasted an hour, and
when it ended every outlaw was dead.
Hall rounded up the stolen cattle
and horses, and at o'clock the Rang
ers started back for Ysleta. In those
days the American army officers used
to hunt in Mexico, but never in uni
form. About five miles from the
| American border Hall and his Rangers
met Shafter and a number Of his Of
Ulcers. They were hunting wild game.
Lee, what have you been doing? l
Thought I told you it was against in
ternational law for you to get the out
laws on this side of the river" said
lShafter, who knew when he saw the
horses and cattle what had taken
place.
But, colonel, didn't get any Mexi-
cans: I left 'em where found 'en,"
Hall replied, and that was the end of
what was perhaps the greatest Of the
Ranger "invasions."
The "Red Ride"
No story having to do with the his
tory of Rangers would be complete
without a reference to 'The Red
Ride" That was forty years ago in
the days of Gov. Ireland. The border
was infested with thieves and muir
derers. Not a day passed but word
Of some outrage reached Austin. Gov.
Ireland determined to clean up the
lborder from Brownsville to Ell Paso.
He sent to San Antonio and asked
Lee Hall to come to Austin. Hall
went.
when I entered the governors Of
flee a few days after he sent for me-
Capt. Hall said years later, in telling
the story, "the governor was in his
shirtsleeves and deep in work.
Governor, believe you sent for
me-" said Hall as he entered the ex-
ecutive office.
Yes; I want you to do something
for me-" Governor Ireland answered.
"Well, here I am"
IT sent for you, Lee" the governor
continued, because things have come
to such a pass along the border that
no decent man can live or even travel
in that part of the state with safety.
III want you W Soi SOu Wv
lit?"
"I can"
"An right-go ahead" said the gov
ernor and five minutes later the
famous Red Ride was being planned
The advance began at Brownsville.
Hall used the entire Ranger force.
He divided the companies into squads
of two and four men and formed them
in a straight line, reaching north into
the state, at intervals Of from 200
yards to a mile between squads. The
length of the screen was about twen-
lty miles.
!. The Record Clean-Up.
A week after Hall saw the governor
the screen began it's westward sweep.
1t moved with deadly precision, and
each night when camp was made all
was clear in the rear. In ell the his
: tory of the great southwest there
never was a cleanup like that. The
lcountry was literally swept clean OF