Details for Porvenir Massacre

Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5507018324

Data

Marker Number 18324
Atlas Number 5507018324
Marker Title Porvenir Massacre
Index Entry Porvenir Massacre
Address US 90
City Marfa vicinity
County Presidio
UTM Zone 13
UTM Easting 557631
UTM Northing 3375379
Subject Codes
Marker Year 2015
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark No
Marker Location 27 miles west of Marfa, about 0.5 miles east of Jeff Davis-Presidio county line and 0.9 miles east of FM 505
Private Property No
Marker Condition In Situ
Marker Size 27" x 42" with post
Marker Text Porvenir was a community in remote northwest Presidio County on the Rio Grande. In the midst of military conflicts and raids across and along the international border and in the immediate area during the Mexican Revolution, the small farming and ranching settlement was the site of a notorious tragedy in 1918. A group of Texas Rangers from Company B in Marfa, U.S. Army soldiers from Troop G of the 8th Cavalry, and local ranchers arrived at Porvenir in the early morning hours of January 28, 1918. They came to the ranch of Manuel Moralez and separated fifteen able-bodied men and boys from the women, children and other men. Though initial accounts denied any wrongdoing, later testimony confirmed that these 15 victims were shot and killed. Family members crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico to bury Antonio Castañeda, Longino Flores, Pedro Herrera, Vivian Herrera, Severiano Herrera, Manuel Moralez, Eutemio González, Ambrosio Hernández, Alberto García, Tiburcio Jáquez, Róman Nieves, Serapio Jiménez, Pedro Jiménez, Juan Jiménez, and Macedonio Huertas. In June 1918, Governor William P. Hobby and Adjutant General James A. Harley disbanded Company B, dismissed five Rangers for their actions at Porvenir, and forced Captain J.M. Fox’s resignation. State Representative J.T. Canales filed charges with the Texas Legislature against the Texas Rangers, for the oppression and murder of hundreds of ethnic Mexicans along the Rio Grande. At an investigation beginning January 31, 1919, legislators heard and received testimony regarding several incidents including Porvenir. As a result, the Texas Rangers were reorganized and reduced in size. In the aftermath of the attack, approximately 140 remaining residents of Porvenir abandoned the community. (2015)
ATLAS_NUM=5507018324

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