The Ranchero [Corpus Christi, TX], November 17, 1860
Corpus Christi, Nov. 12th, 1860.
Editors Ranchero:–The following circumstances, communicated to me by Mr. Santos Benavides, of Laredo, are, I think, of sufficient importance to excuse my troubling you or your numerous readers:
On the 5th inst., a negro arrived at Laredo with two horses, both of a light cream color, (in Mexican, Malados,) one a stallion. He persuaded the ferryman to pass him over the Rio Grande, by representing himself as a free negro. Shortly afterwards the fact came to the knowledge of Mr. Santos Benavides. That gentleman, who has ever been foremost in confronting danger in support of the laws and institutions of Texas, immediately got together a small party of ten of his friends, crossed the river at 8 o’clock P.M. same day, and in the face of the entire population of the place, seized the negro, and succeeded in making good their retreat to the boat. The moment they pushed out into the stream, the Mexicans opened a heavy fire upon them; which was returned as warmly as the number of the party assailed would allow. They, however, landed on this side of the river, with the negro, who was immediately lodged in the City Jail, there to await the orders of his owner when discovered.
I regret to say that one of our friends (Fines Mussett) was severely wounded during the firing.
It is not the first time that Mr. S. Benavides has distinguished himself in restoring runaway slaves to their owners; always with the same indifference to danger, the same prudence and foresight in forming his plans, and complete disinterestedness, as he has invariably refused to receive any recompense for his exertions.
The above facts, when known to the people of Texas, will, I hope, go far towards opening the eyes of many to the erroneous impressions so generally entertained regarding the portion of our fellow-citizens of Mexican origin.
Similar action if not so daring, and dangerous as the present, frequently repeated, have sufficiently proved, that the citizens of the counties on the Rio Grande have as much at heart the interests of the country and the welfare of its citizens as the most rabid orator of the party now inimical to them.
Respectfully Yours,
Mich. Lidwell.
We are in receipt of a letter from a reliable gentleman residing at Laredo, who corroborates the above, and states that Mr. Mussett is recovering very fast from his wound. The ball entered just below the eye and came out under the jaw.
Our correspondent also gives an account of another capture of runaway negroes by a part of Americans going from Laredo to San Antonio, on Saturday, the 3rd inst. They met two negroes in the road, who broke and ran, but were fired into by the party, and one of them was wounded and taken on to San Antonio. The other boy escaped, but was captured and lodged in jail at Laredo the next day by a party of Mexicans residing there. He says he belongs to Mr. Harris, who resides near Halletsville . The Americans who took the boy on to San Antonio, reside in Atascosa county.