Disaster in Rio Grande Valley 69 



eigns and half eagles which Layton and Hewes 

 placed in my charge, and now I can swear to my 

 money if that paper was with what you have 

 showed me." He told me he had always been 

 satisfied it was mine, as he knew there was not such 

 an amount as I had lost, in the settlement. He 

 counted it twice, took my receipt, and as we went 

 to Camp Ringgold to leave it with the Quarter- 

 master, Lieut. Caldwell, who was always most 

 kind, Mr. Upshur told me the manner in which 

 this portion of our money had been regained. 



Don Francisco, a Mexican, and father-in-law of 

 Clay Davis, was sheriff for the time, as the cholera 

 had taken ofT the regular officer of "Star County." 

 Whether Don Francisco was taking a midnight 

 walk to see the fate of the "Californians," or 

 watching what others might be doing to them, we 

 could never find out, but either he had followed 

 White and Hughes until they separated, after 

 which he could only watch one, which he did until 

 the thief had buried his share, which the Don 

 promptly removed; or else, with the wonderful 

 power of trailing which Indians and Mexicans 

 possess, on the fact of our loss being made known 

 to him, he may have found and followed the tracks 

 of the thieves, and on discovering the money think- 

 ing this was all, have given up any further search, 

 until the trails were obliterated by the footsteps of 

 others. I may add here, that Don Francisco 



