280 GLARING OUTRAGES. 



I 



In the meantime, the American Consul at 

 Santa Fe, having been informed of what had 

 taken place, procured a counter-order from 

 the governor for the release of the prisoner. 

 When the alcalde of Algodones received this 

 document, he determined at once that so ex- 

 traordinary an act of justice should cost the 

 foreigner some trifle. Accordingly, another 

 order was forged on the spot, commanding 

 that he should be taken to the capital — yet a 

 ' gentle hint ' was given, that his hberty might 

 be purchased by the payment of two hundred 

 dollars. Being in a land of strangers, among 

 whom he had but little hope of recei\dng fair 

 play, the doctor resolved to pay the amount de- 

 manded, and fly to Chihuahua, where he would 

 at least be safe from Armijo's clutches. Hav- 

 ing been informed, however, of the fraud prac- 

 tised by the alcalde, before he had proceeded 

 far on his journey, he returned and made an 

 attempt to bring the deliiiquent oflicer to jus- 

 tice, but altogether without success. 



But perhaps the most glaring outrages upon 

 American citizens were committed in 1841, 

 upon the occasion of the capture of the Tex- 

 an Santa Fe Expedition. In Taos, a poor 

 deaf and dumb U. S. Creole Frenchman was 

 beaten to death in open day. In San Mi 

 the alcalde, at the head of a mob, entered the 

 store of a Mr. Rowland, whom he robbed of 

 a considerable amount of merchandise. At 

 the same time, the greatest excitement rage<i 

 in Santa Fe against Americans, w^hose lives 

 appeared in imminent danger; and a most 



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