The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942 Page: 13
409 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Laredo City Election and Riot of 1886
Behind them came the Bota band of music heading a line of
men two abreast and about sixty deep, all armed with Win-
chesters, "evidently new." Next came a column of about 150
men four abreast, armed with revolvers, and a body of about
thirty horsemen, armed with Winchesters and revolvers, brought
up the rear."27
After forming in line, the procession moved east along
Iturbide Street to Flores Avenue, turned south two blocks on
Flores to Zaragoza Street, where they turned east and marched
along the south side of San Agustin Plaza, with the band play-
ing. On passing the house of Raymond Martin, the ladies threw
flowers down from the balcony above. In the meantime the
Guarache party had followed closely in the rear, pushing the
cannon and ammunition box along with them. Those in charge
of the cannon continued on down Iturbide Street to the inter-
section of San Agustin Avenue, where they planted their cannon
in the middle of the street, the main body of the Guaraches fol-
lowing along behind the procession. The Guarache musicians
were playing "El Torito" (The Little Bull) as they marched
along.
In all the excitement of the moment, no one has ever defi-
nitely stated who fired the first shot that brought on the general
engagement between the two forces. One spectator a few days
later wrote, "The Guaraches attacked the procession in front
and rear, breaking their ranks and scattering them in confusion,
flying helterskelter to places of shelter."28 A few months after
the riot the good priest, Father A. M. Souchon, testified, "I saw
the procession as it marched along, I saw it across the Plaza.
They were going quietly. They had music with them. I saw
the first shot fired, but do not know who fired it. It came from
the street northeast from our houses--two shots, fired at the
procession. . . . I suppose it was about the east part of the
block that the first two shots were fired, and the men shot
from the north towards the procession. The men who did the
shooting were on horseback, and they were running. They
shot and ran up the street from the river."29
After the first burst of gunfire the shooting became general.
The combatants on both sides took cover where they could find
27San Antonio Express, April 13, 1886.
28Ibid., April 13, 1886.
20Transcript, testimony of Father A. M. Souchon, p. 135.
Do Not Remove From
COLORADO COUNTY ARCHIVES
Property of
Colorado County, Texas13
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942, periodical, 1942; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146053/m1/19/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.