Year: 1875

Santiago on her arrival and fifteen minutes after
sne was under way for the Rio Grande bar which was
easily crossed.


The commanding officer day or two after arriving
at Brownsville, proceeded up the river In one OF the
launches on tour Of inspection. We had dfleen men.
Gatling gun, plenty Of small arms, and we're well
provided with tents and provisions The little craft
steamed against four knot current about six miles
an hour the ground


The river is very crooked-so much so that while
the distance from Brownsville to Ringgold is ninety
miles by land by river 1t is three hundred The sou
is rch everything growing with the least possible
care or some products two crops year raised
and everything in the eatable line is cheap Eggs
ten cents a dozen and chickens twenty cents pair
and everything in the proportion. Coin % the
currency in general use, greenbacks being at a dis
count of six per cent


THE INHABITANTS


are principally Mexicans who do nothing for an hon.
est living, as | could understand failed TO
see one that doing anything


The banks of the river high and nearly perpcu-
dicular and frnged with a dense underground suth-
cently extensive to conceal regiments of soldiers


We steamed up the river during the day, and when
night came the boat brought alongside the bank
and we encamped 'Jack" stood guard during the
night and when daylight headed up the river
again 1t was singular scenc that camping out"
Under the bank the little boat; above, the level
ground the two white tents with the camp dre, and
stack of arms at hand in of emergency. The
mellow rays of the setting sun threw peculiar shad-
ing over the picture. The navy was on the Rio Grande
for the first time In many years. The ''greasers"
came down the banks on the opposite side and re-
garded us in their listess indifferent manner for
time then squatted their launches smoking their
corn husk cigarettes evidently only interested in their
enjoyment Our progress was, however, reported in
advance, and at each rancho they expected US ana
were out on the watch.


AMERICAN POPULATION
| There great many Americans here on the from
tier; men from the different parts of the country,
federal and ex Confederate soldiers largo extent,
their past differences merged in general sentk
ment Of loyalty TO the flag of the Union. They speak
OF the armies both sides of the last war as the ats
armies OF the United States - If they capable OF
fear they would have been driven out OF the country
long ago. il is, they stand by their arms and turn
their eyes and thoughts to the North and East hoping
that the time will come when the "boys in blue" and
the sboys in gray' shall marching under dag
to the banks Of the Rio Grande They hope to see the
boundary line put where il ought to be-along tho
Sierra Madre. They hope to see the element thas
ploughs the land with a crooked stick expunged They
keep their doors open the loaded rife stands out
side Subject any time to raid upon their lives and
property, they are


FIGHT


at any time The poughman has mis- gun in the field:
the storekeeper has his rifle handy and the civil OFF,
GERS OF the United States are walking arsenals. The
raider respects one; he gives quarter and ex-
poets none | have yet to hear OF a where his
expectations have been disappointed
CATTLE STEALING


goes unceasnglyby twos, threes and maybe fftes.
night after night The crossings made at any time
from midnight to daylight. The following is the modas
operandi-At certain village notice is given that at
such time Will be given 'bailie" or fandango. The
only thing that VIII keep Mexican away from one is
death that is he must be dead himself Word is then
passed around at the dance that crossing will be made
at a certain time and place. and are detailed to
accompany the cattle and others to cover the re-
turn. The cattle thieves go armed to the teeth
and well mounted. If forced to do so they
can make a hundred miles day. They
make descent on the broad pasture lands Of rancho.
and, being among the most accomplished herders In
the world the desired number OF the stock is soon col
ected and they upon sharp trot tor the river
The outside runner started ahead to notify the COW
erng party Of the amount and probable time OF arrival
When within few miles the inside runner is started,
who gives precise news, and then they repair to the
spot and in a few minutes after Texas is minus
herd OF cattle Of from 500 1000 head. They speak
Of herd here as a sbunchn-as for instance. "a
small bunch Of fifty steers"


The sraidersn are generally good fighters. An ex-
Confederate told me that he had fought the best SOL
ders we had the last and had fought the RAIDERS
and he would rather have the odds against him in
Americans AS he expressed It, Tney are fatalists.
They viii stand up TO the rack and take IT, and when
they fail they die without the quver Of muscle; and
when man does that it is all we can expect Of him"
THE STATE
/ Captain McNaly is here at present in command Of
\ .ho lfat dark a
peculiarly fine blue eye slim active he is the beau
ideal Of a ranger. With six OF his he recently
killed thirteen Of these thieves and hopes to kill more
He is worth about 500 o0o and receives Texas prom
ses to pay" at the Of 500 per month and expends
in the prosecution of the thieves about 5000 month
in coin out OF his pocket, all for the love Of this
State His officers all OF position and generally
wealthy The navy has


HARD TASK


before il and long one Four hundred miles Of very
crooked river afford many opportunities Of evasion
The few companies Of cavalry the frontier in
sufficient to operate with any degree OF certainty We
are surrounded by spies who report every movement,
and the only guarantee could have of information
paid for would be TO hold the nformer subject TO for
feiture Of life II incorrect.


The raider thinks little OF the life of a horse He
rides death gets fresh The cavalry can
not do this The officer who returned from scout
with half his men dsmounted would probably bs
interviewed officially,


EXTENT or INSPECTION.


Our inspection was continued as far as Edinburgh,
10 miles from Brownsville Launch No 2 is now
on her way up to Ringgod.


CoRTISAs


is expected back here. II s said that President Lerdo
desires the benefit OF his influence in Tamauipas and
portions OF Nueva Leon during tho forthcoming cleo
tion, and that the redoubtabe bandit Is therefore
likely 20 be set at liberty.


THE REELING or rSDIGSATroS


among tho Americans on the frontier IS intense, ana
one OF those days will express itself in action MUIR
der robbery and kindred crimes are among their
grievances and It will be very little better as long
as the river constitutes the boundary here. Ths
way
TIM SCORE