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

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 were
almost without communication with
the outside world. Not long ago II
was very dangerous TO journey along
the old Canine Real during the day
as well az during the night, because
there were many bandits that used
TO travel within the boundaries OF
Starr county, who robbed the people
and sometimes eve 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. II is said that he was in
duced 20 make these raids because
bA LdltS luHl nc HdQ 0GdFu COnCGTn~
ing wealthy merchants who had large
amounts of Mexican gold. He resoly-
ed 10 take IL away from them. but in
this he was not successful, because
when the people hearG that he was
coming with his band to Rio Grsnde
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 never suspected that it 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 10 take him, dead or
alive.
Catarino Cara was a w~ell-known
Mexican rebel of this region. In
1888 he published two newspapers OF
vide 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 10 its voters. In
his newspapers. Gel Commerce." and
"El Baluarte" he had published an
article criticizing che death OF
Abram Resendez, who had been as
sassinated in this place during turb-
ulent party strife.
The assasinators of Resendez at
A-AIAI E- - -. ---. -.
Rio Grande City while he was 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
to recover.
After this he returned to Palito
Blanco, a little town near FalfurrIas,
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 lei Salineno" (mean-
ing SALTY Ranch") there lives a mar
today who was named Catsrino be-
cause he was born on the day that
Cara made on of mis- visits 70 the
ranch 70 obtain cattle anc food sup
plies for his followers.
After the revolution was over, he
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 1905 the
political parties of this city were
IN full force against each other.
The leaders used 20 put people IN
c~orrals three or four days before the
election, so as 10 have them ready
TO 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, we'll known
politician Of the county. He was
shot 70 death while he slept BY an
unknown a~ssailant. this killing, no
doubt, having been planned to bring