By the
next afternoon it was known from Mexico to the Canadian border
that the old ranchman had been shot by Mexican soldiers in Romero.
It was reported that a party of Americans had invaded foreign soil
and snatched Ricardo's remains from under the nose of General
Longorio. But there all reliable information ceased. Just how the
rescue had been effected, by whom it had been done, what reasons
had prompted it, were a mystery. With the first story the
newspapers printed a terse telegram, signed by Captain Evans and
addressed to the Governor of Texas, which read:
"Ranger force crossed Rio Grande and brought back the body of
Ricardo Guzman."
This message created tremendous enthusiasm, for the Texas Rangers
have ever stood for prompt and decisive action; but two hours
after the publication of this despatch there came a sharp inquiry
from Washington, and on the heels of that the State House at
Austin denied the receipt of any such message.
When this denial was in turn made public, the newspapers demanded
to know who had performed this sensational exploit. One rumor had
it that the sons of Ricardo Guzman had risked their lives to
insure their father Christian burial.
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