Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. III

TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859

175

them. That they informed affiant that they were the persons who recently fired into the steamer Comancho as she was passing up the Rio Grande and wounded several persons on board of said steamer. They :-tlso informed this affiant that they had a commission from General Canales authorizing them to kill every American upon the Texas side of the Rio Grande which they intended doing. That their number consists of thirty four In- dians besides Mexicans, and that they were expecting an addi- tion of Indians from above soon. That said party is in the daily habit of sending spies to watch for travellers on the main roads leading up and down the Texas side of the Rio Grande; and that said spies give information to the main body who intersect and kill them. That on the 7th day of June, A.D. 1852, ten or twelve citizens of Cameron County came to the rancho of Rosario, the residence of affiant, and made enquiry of affiant respecting the killing of William Remmington and others, and while at said rancho they were advised to return immediately, as it wa8 thought the Indians and Mexicans would attack them. Tha affiant fearing longer to remain in said rancho, after the de parture of the company, as he was the only American resident, desired said party to remain until he could obtain a horse upon which he might remove himself and family. That having pro- cured a horse he proceeded on, or about 4 OClock, P.M. of said 7th day of June with a female and a boy about six years of age in company with the aforesaid party of Americans; and having proceeded down the left bank of the Rio Grande, about half a mile from the rancho of Rosario, affiant with said party of Americans were fired upon by a large party of persons from the Mexican side, by which one of the party was dangerously wounded and one horse crippled. That affiant verily believes from one hundred and fifty to two hundred shots were fired from the Mexican side at a distance of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred yards. That no provocation was given by the American party, while at Rosario, or while returning, and that the party in Mexico had not been seen before the attack was made. (signed,) THADDEUS M. RHODES Sworn to and subscribed

before me, this 11th day of June, A.D. 1852. To certify which, Witness my hand and seal of office at Brownsville, in the County of Cameron and State of Texas.

Powered by