Forty Years at El Paso, 1858-1898 — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Forty Years at El Paso, 1858-1898
John Stuart Mill · en
“The mob is estimated by Lieutenant Tays at not less than five hundred,
many of the leaders being from the other side. The loss was five
Americans killed and at least one Mexican, belonging to a party under
Captain Garcia, who tried to assist the Americans. The losses on the
side of the mob are unknown, but at least five or six are known to have
been killed and a large number, not less than forty or fifty, wounded.”
_During_ the siege Captain Blair held several conferences with the
Mexican leaders, which he relates as follows:
“I found the people much excited over the fact that Howard, who had
taken a life, was permitted to go at large, while two of their number
who had only _said_ that they would go for salt to his ‘salinas’ had
been arrested, tried and sentenced to imprisonment. They said Howard had
killed their friend Cardis, and they would have his life, cost what it
might. I found their force to consist of about three hundred and fifty
sober, well-organized, well-armed, determined men, with a definite
purpose. Howard they wanted, nothing less, nothing else. I told them I
thought they would regret their course, that for Howard personally I
cared nothing, but I would be sorry if anything happened to Lieutenant
Tays. Yes, they said, but why was he defending Howard?”
* * * * *
The object for which the Mexicans had armed and assembled being
accomplished, they disbanded, seeking no more blood. They killed Howard
because he had killed Cardis, their friend and leader. They had known
Atkinson for fifteen years, and they killed him _on general principles_.
The killing of McBride was inexcusable murder. Ellis, the merchant, was,
I believe, murdered by some personal enemy who took advantage of the
turbulence to gratify private vengeance. Sergeant Mortimer, the only
ranger who lost his life, was killed in the fight. Five were killed in
all. All the other unfortunates were citizens who had exasperated the
people by voluntarily attaching themselves to Howard’s fortunes. There
_were_ some Mexicans, many or few, from the Mexican side of the river,
who came as the commission report, “some to fight and some to steal,”
but there was no “organized invasion.” Considerable property was taken
or destroyed, but the _object_ of the uprising was always clearly
stated, and that object was _not_ plunder.
The good feeling which has usually existed between the two races in the
valley was soon restored, and no one has ever been punished for
participation in this deplorable _emente_.
THE AFTER MATH.