after robbing the gallatin bank, the james boys left missouri and went to texas, where they remained a short time and then crossed the border into mexico. it has been suspected that they drove a herd of cattle across the border with them, but of this there is no ready proof, and the crimes of some greasers may have been attributed to the bandits. in the month of may, 1860, frank and jesse james rode into matamoras and, as there was a fandango advertised to take place at a public house on the night of their arrival, they decided to attend. accordingly, when the night shadows fell, they paid the price of admission and entered the hall, which was rapidly filling up with swarthy senoritas and hidalgoes. from the belts of the latter protruded the glittering handles of bright, keen stilettos, in preparation for the affray which is always anticipated.
the dance began about eight o'clock, with much spirit, and the whirl of the graceful girls soon excited a desire on the part of frank and jesse to [pg 48]participate, although they were not familiar with the movements and figures of the spanish dances. nevertheless they essayed an attempt, which only served to excite the ridicule of the mexicans who, by gesture and speech, went so far in their sport and mimicry of the outlaws that at length frank james knocked down one of the boldest. this act came near proving disastrous to both the boys, for the moment the mexican fell to the floor another powerfully built hidalgo struck frank a blow on the cheek which sent him spinning into the laps of two girls who were seated on a bench awaiting partners. for a moment he was so stunned as to scarcely know what to do, but jesse saw where his aid was most needed and the next instant the powerful mexican fell with a bullet in his brain. a general fight then ensued in which jesse and frank rushed for the door, but their passage was impeded; so nothing remained for the boys except to clear a way by shooting those who stood before them. frank received a thrust in the shoulder from a stiletto and jesse's right fore-arm was punctured with a similar instrument, but the boys fired rapidly and with such effect that four mexicans lay dead and six others were dreadfully wounded, some mortally. jesse was the first to break through the doorway, and as he did so he turned at the very instant a dagger, in the hands of a strong mexican, was directed at frank's heart, but ere the hand fell to its purpose a bullet from jesse's pistol entered the [pg 49]mexican's eye and he dropped dead at frank's feet, striking the dagger deep into the floor as he fell. this fortunate shot enabled frank to escape from the building and as the mexicans had no arms except stilettos, they were powerless to continue the fight, but many of them rushed to their homes to procure fire-arms and horses, and the place was swarming so rapidly with blood-craving hidalgoes and greasers that the only avenue of escape lay in the river. they accordingly rushed toward their horses which were hitched in the woods near by, but just before reaching them three powerful mexicans suddenly sprang upon frank james, who was a little in the rear, and attempted to bind him with a stout cord which they threw over his shoulders. fortunately, in running he had picked up a large bludgeon which lay in his path, and shaking himself loose from the grasp of his assailants he laid about him so briskly with this formidable weapon that in a moment the three mexicans lay stunned on the ground at his feet, then hastily joining jesse, who had already mounted and was holding his horse for him, he sprang into the saddle, and putting spurs to their restless steeds they plunged boldly into the rio grande and swam to the other side, while the mexicans were riding about in every direction trying to find the bandits whom they did not imagine would dare to take to the river.
