El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-03-06
BY J. ID. PONDER.

asset. The salt from the 1aKes was
loaded On OK wagons and hauled hun
dreGs OF miles to be sold or exchanged
for clothing and such other necessities
carlo community. The salt was hauled
a. far as Chihuahua. Mexico.
Texas Nan Buys the salt
The inhabitants had enjoyed this
privilege unchallenged for years and
believed the entire world recognized
their ownership Of the salt lakes By
right OF discovery and possession FOR
more than a century. Then came a
rumor that some other person laid
claim 70 the salt lakes Gas Saiinos)
and was TO assume control OF them
San EliZario people were dumb
founded at the temerity OF what they
considered this new land jumper and
Immediately sent committee to con-
fer with their trusted friend at Frank
lin-nOW El PasO. Lewis Cards. an
Italian, was the name Of that friend.
whole town OF san Elizario. He
talked with the committee, Quieted
their alarm and assured his people that
everything would be all right, and the
members OF the committee returned
home with this comforting assurance.
In the meantime. Charles h Howard.
attorney II fact for the new claimant,
George B. Zimpelman. purchased q
home at San ElizariO and gave notice
that no more salt would be taken from
II seems that on aseertaining the value
Of the salt deposits, Mr.. Zimpelrpln
had gone to Austin and purchasedNor
patented the land on which the salt
lakes were located.
Howard starts TrO1ble.
After a consultation with Lewis
Cards, the people OF san EliZario ig-
nored Towards order and went cut 20
the lakes to bring in more salt. The
next move was a writ OF seQuestra-
u
after the salt, and an indictment TO-
theft
such proceedings had never been
dreamed Of by the San ElizariO sople-
The idea OF their leading citizens be
ing charged with stealing put them IN
an ungovernable rage. The whole
population Of the valley was in an up
roar and indignant beyond expression
in words.
he heating OF drums called the ex-
cited citizens together and they pro-
ceeded in a body to Towards house.
He and the county judge were both ar
rested and committee was appointed
to try them The men Howard had
caused TO be arrested were set rec
Howard Kills Cards.
Again the pacifyinG influence OF
Cards prevailed and the cooler heads
persuaded the angry men % let the
Judge and Howard go on Howard s
promise TO never again set foot IN san
E.llEaTlO. 10 TINS E10N al u eAE-A eA-Ae-
he was allowed to depart, being es-
corted as far as Fl Paso and ordered
to beat il" for New Mexico From
there Howard appealed for Texas
Rangers. returned 10 FL Paso and on
October 10 1877. walked into the Joseph
Schultz store, where Cards worked
and shot him dead as he was rising
from mis- seat behind his desk. Howard
believed that Cards was espOnsible
for the assault upon himself in san
Elfzario but Cards was Il tn time
writing 4 letter 10 his people AT san
Ellzario urging them 10 e peacetnL
The late y krakauer was IN me ONCE
when the killing occurred he was
then n bookkeeper for Schultz.
Following the killing. Howard ned
again to New Mexico. but returned here
in December and. placing himself IT
the head Of two companies OF Texas
Rangers, aoOut 30 men. commanded by
Lieut.. J. B. Tays. Howard returned 10
San FliZarfO and established himself
and the rangers in the home Of c. y.
Garcia. jr.. which was converted into
q fort
The salt War
The San EliZario men had retired TO
their beds when the announcement OF
Howards return flew through the
town as if on the wings of the wind.
Sleep was forgotten and he people
of the town hastily gathered in small
groups on the outskirts Of the town TO
discuss the situation All agreed that.
while a fight with the state police was
not desired. still Howard had 20 go and