Porvenir massacre (1918) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Porvenir Massacre
Part of the Bandit War, Mexican Revolution
Location	Porvenir, Presidio County, Texas
Coordinates	30°25′7″N 104°50′40″W / 30.41861°N 104.84444°W / 30.41861; -104.84444 (Porvenir)
Date	January 28, 1918 (1918-01-28)
Weapons	small arms
Deaths	15
Assailants	Company B, Texas Rangers; Troop G, 8th Cavalry Regiment; local ranchers
Motive	Retaliation for Brite Ranch raid

The Porvenir massacre was a terrible event that happened on January 28, 1918. It took place near the small village of Porvenir in Presidio County, Texas. During this event, Texas Rangers, local ranchers, and some U.S. Cavalry soldiers killed 15 unarmed Mexican American boys and men. The Texas Rangers had been sent to the area to stop crime after another event called the Brite Ranch raid. Even though there was no proof that the people of Porvenir were involved, the Rangers separated 15 men and boys from the village. They then shot them on a nearby hill.

Why the Massacre Happened

Tensions Along the Border

In the 1910s, the Mexican Revolution caused many problems for Americans living near the border. People's feelings against Mexicans grew stronger. Fighters from the revolution sometimes attacked farms, water systems, and railroads.

After a group called the Villistas, led by Pancho Villa, raided parts of the United States, like the Battle of Columbus in 1916, authorities took action. Federal, state, and local groups worked harder to stop these raids. Many Texas Rangers, including Company B, were told to make the border areas safe. They were supposed to stop attacks by bandits and Villistas. They also aimed to stop Anglo-Americans who tried to cause trouble with Mexico.

The Plan of San Diego

Another reason for strong anti-Mexican feelings was something called the Plan de San Diego. This was a secret plan made in 1915 by two Texas Mexicans. They wanted to start an uprising against Anglo-American settlers. This was planned for lands that the U.S. had gained after the Mexican-American War. The plan did not succeed, but it made people in border states very worried about more violence. This added to fears about bandits and the ongoing civil war in Mexico.

The Brite Ranch Raid

The Brite Ranch raid happened on Christmas Day, December 25, 1917. This was in Presidio County. During the raid, a mail driver was killed. Two Mexican passengers were also shot and killed. The ranch foreman was hurt. The attackers stole many valuable items and horses. Then they ran towards Mexico. The U.S. Cavalry chased the suspected Villistas into Mexico. This raid led to the Rangers being sent to Porvenir.

What Happened at Porvenir

The Rangers Arrive

On January 26, 1918, Texas Rangers Company B, led by Captain James Monroe Fox, came to Porvenir. They searched the homes of the villagers. They suspected the villagers were involved in the Brite Ranch raid from the month before. During their search, the Rangers found only two weapons. One was a pistol belonging to an Anglo-American man in the village. The other was a Winchester rifle owned by a Tejano villager. Both weapons were taken away. Three Tejano men were arrested and held at the Ranger camp. They were let go the next day.

The Killings

Soon after two of the men returned to Porvenir, the Rangers came back to the village. This was in the early hours of January 28. They made everyone leave their homes. Ten Rangers, eight U.S. Army Cavalry soldiers, and four local Anglo-American ranchers were there.

A total of 15 males were separated from the women, other children, and Anglo-Americans in the village. These 15 included two boys and 13 men, all of Mexican heritage. The Texas Rangers and ranchers led these men and boys outside the village to a nearby hill. The U.S. Army Cavalry soldiers reportedly stayed closer to the village. Soon after, the Rangers and ranchers shot and killed all fifteen men and boys.

After the Shooting

The bodies were left where they fell. The next day, 13-year-old Juan Flores, whose father was one of the victims, went to the site with a schoolteacher named Henry Warren. They found the terrible scene. The remaining 140 villagers left Porvenir. Many moved across the border to Pilares, Chihuahua, Mexico. There, they buried those who had died. In the days that followed, U.S. Army soldiers burned down the empty village.

What Happened Next

Differing Stories

The incident was not reported to the Ranger command for almost a month. Captain Fox of the Rangers said that the 15 Mexican villagers had attacked the Rangers. He also claimed that stolen items from the Brite Ranch were found on the bodies. However, Captain Anderson of the U.S. Cavalry and Henry Warren told a different story. They said the Rangers and ranchers had killed the men. They also stated that the U.S. Cavalry was not involved in the actual killings.

Possible Revenge

It is not fully known if Mexicans took revenge on Anglo-Americans after the Porvenir massacre. One possible act of revenge was the Neville Ranch raid. On March 25, two months after Porvenir, a rancher and a Mexican female servant were killed at nearby Neville Ranch. The servant was shot. Not much was stolen during this raid. Because of this, some thought the Neville Ranch killings were revenge by Villistas for the Porvenir massacre.

Investigations into the Massacre

Texas Rangers Investigation

The Texas Rangers Command started an investigation. Captain William M. Hanson led it. The investigation used statements from several widows of the victims. Henry Warren was their lawyer. Warren stated that the dead men were all farmers, not bandits. The investigation decided that Company B should be tried for the killings.

However, a grand jury did not find any of the Rangers guilty. Still, five Rangers were fired by Texas Governor William P. Hobby. The rest, including Captain Fox, were moved to different jobs. Company B was shut down. The investigation also concluded that the U.S. Cavalry was not directly involved in the killings.

Broader Ranger Investigation

The Porvenir Ranger investigation finished in June 1918. Soon after, Texas State Representative José Tomás Canales started a larger investigation. This looked into bad behavior by the Rangers across Texas. The 1919 investigation found that the Texas Rangers had committed many cruel acts and illegal killings. This was especially true for people of Mexican heritage.

The investigation guessed that between 1914 and 1919, somewhere from 300 to 5,000 ethnic Mexicans died due to violence. Many Rangers faced charges, and the department was made smaller. Canales also demanded changes within the Texas Ranger Division. These included much stricter rules for hiring Rangers and better pay. This investigation largely helped stop the widespread violence by law enforcement against Mexicans. It also brought a new level of professionalism to the Rangers.

Archaeological Research

In 2015, scientists studied the site where the killings happened. They found bullets and bullet casings. These likely came from standard U.S. Cavalry weapons. In 2002, Juan Flores, who was 13 when his father was killed, identified the exact spot. One of the archaeologists, David Keller, said that the items found strongly suggest this was the site of the Porvenir Massacre. The findings also strongly suggest the U.S. Cavalry was involved.

Remembering the Porvenir Massacre

Legacy and Historical Marker

The families of the victims of the massacre created an organization. In 2018, they held events in San Antonio and Austin. These events marked 100 years since the massacre. Many news outlets covered the anniversary.

On November 30, 2018, the state of Texas placed a historical highway marker. It is located 27 miles west of Marfa on Highway 90. This marker remembers the Porvenir Massacre. It was put there as part of the Texas Historical Commission's program to tell "Undertold Stories."