Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-05-17
Interesting Events In Rio Grande City

The following paper, written by
Miss Julia Vela. IL, student Of the
Rio Grande City high school, was
awarded second place in the senior
section of the historical contest
conducted this year by the Valley
Federation Of women's clubs.
During the early days, Rio Grande
City and Starr county encountered
many difficulties, since they we're
almost without communication with
the outside world. Not long ago II
was very dangerous 10 journey along
the old Canine Real during the day
as well as during the night, because
there were many bandits that used
TO travel within the boundaries OF
Starr county, who robbed the people
and sometimes ever killed them.
One Of the earliest of these was
Juan Cortina. In 1883 Cortina, a no
torious Mexican bandit, made raids
on nearby ranches, stealing cattle,
money, and sometimes people, keep
ing them until n large ransom was
paid. IL Is said that he was in
duced TO make these raids because
Of tales that he had heard concern
ing wealthy merchants who had large
amounts of Mexican gold. He resolv-
ed 20 take II away from them, but in
this he was not successful, because
when the people heard that he was
coming with his band to Rio Grande
City, many hid their money.
Jean Decker. an old French immi-
grant in business here, sewed his
gold in strong canvas bags and low
cred them into a cistern Of water.
This cistern is still in use in the
patio OF the Plaza hotel. and Cortina
used this very cistern to obtain wa
ter. but ever suspected that il con-
tanned the gold for which he was
seeking. Cortina was finally caught
in December, 1859 by Major Heint-
zelman, who was dispatched from
Brownsville to take him, dead or
alive.
Catarino Cara was a we'll known
Mexican rebel Of this region. In
1883 he published two newspapers of
wide fame in Corpus Christi, Tex.
As a young man he had received a
good education and became a we'll
known speaker Of those days. In
1855 he was called by the political
leaders Of the Republican party OF
this city to lecture to its voters. In
his newspapers. "El Commerce." and
lei Baluarte" he had published an
article criticizinr the death of
Ahram Resendez. who had been as
s%assinated in this place during turb-
ulent party strife. 0
The a~ssasinators OF Resendez at
tackled Cara after his arrival in
Rio Grande City while he wss in
the old barber shop OF Mr.. CAvazos,
which was located where Ponce's
barber shop is today. The result
was that he received two wounds.
one on the chin and the other IN
the stomach. They were not very
serious. but IL took him a long time
10 recover.
After this he returned 90 Palito
Blanco, . little town near Falfurrfas,
where he married Conception Con-
zales and continued to publish his
newspapers. On September is, 1891.
he formed a rebellion against the
Mexican government, while Porfirio
Diaz was president. With many arm
ed people that he had gathered, he
would cross the Rio Grande where
he skirmished with the Mexican
army. In order to escape to safety
he would come back to this side and
stop at various ranches in Starr
county. In "El ~Salineno" (mean.
Ing Salty Ranch"l there lives a man
today who was named Catarino be.
cause he vas born on the day that
Cara made on Of his visits 10 the
ranch to obtain cattle and food sup.
plies for his followers.
After the revolution was over. ne
escaped TO Cuba but because of high
spirit as a fighter he went TO Cen
trail America where he also indulS-
ed in revolutions. He died in Bocas
de Toro.
In the years Of 1905 and 1906 the
political parties of this city were
In full force against each other.
The leaders used to put people IN
corrals three or four days before the
election, so as 10 have them ready
70 assure their triumph and to keep
them from being bribed into voting
with the other side. That was the
situation that led to the murder Of
Judge Stanley Welch, well-known
politician of the county. He was
shot 70 death while he slept by an
unknown assailant. this killing, no
doubt, having been planned 70 bring