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THE MEXICAN BANDIT.SOME OF THE EVIL DEEDS OF TIBURCIO VASQUEZ.lie Was On© of Garcia9© Ylautl of Cutthroat, and When Garcia W#i Hungeri Vasques 8©t Up for Hlmsoif—Hour II© Stole Horses From Ills Put suers.The life of the Mexican, or Californian, bandit of the early days was romantic as well as criminal—more romantic than the typo depicted in many of the novels, especially by writers who never saw oven tho mildest type of road agents. Tibur-cio Vasquez was a typical Mexican higwayman, whoso band of cutthroats hold California in terror.Vasquoz’s criminal career began when he was about 18 years of ago as a member of Anastacio Garcia's band, for never at a tlnjo aftor tho American occupation until recently was California free froqj Mexican bandits. At a fandango in Monterey one night his chief quarreled with another Mexican. An Amorican constable was killed whilo attempting to arrest them. Next morning one of tho Mexicans was hanged by tho vigilantes, Garcia was captured and hanged at Los Angeles and Vasquoz escaped, being secroted at tho house of Garcia's sister.While in tho state’s prison for stealing horses, Vasquez planned an escape with others. Ho was wounded, but made his escape and again took to tho road, afterwards robbing a sheriff who was in pursuit of him.To the ordinary obsorvor he seemed to bo quiet and inoffensive and possessing a soft persuasive Voice. He was not suspectod of being tho bold robber, for few Americans knew him personally. Ho frequently rodo into tho towns, noted tho preparations being made for his capture, and acted accordingly.One of his most daring exploits was that near tho New Almadon quicksilver minei, according to tho Philadelphia Times. His band had raided tho village of Knriquita, killed a man and taken soveral hundreds of dollars from the store, which they had set on liro. Vasquoz wore a mask, and was not suspected until after the inquest Ho was appointed interpreter at the inquest and his manner of testifying created suspicion. Next day ho left in advanco ol a vigilance committee.His next adventure was a romanno, blended with crime and tho usual vengeance. He-was thrown from his horse and seriously hurt noar tho rosidonco of one Kafuei Moreno, who was wealthy and had a daughter passing fair with tho pretty namo of Anita. Under tho ministrations of tho dark-eyed senorita Vasouez recovered slowly, as wo read in tho novels ol such cases, and. as wo further read, tho sequel was tho same—-he ran away with tho old man's daughter- -but the prosaic senor pursued Vasquoz with a shotgun, shot him and brought his romantic daughter homo.As soon as ho recovered from his wound Vasquez was again in tho saddle, and tho country became more alarmed than ever. As soon as a robbery was committed his band escaped to tho almost inaccossiblo fastnesses of Cnntua canyon, which spot was unknown to the Americans, who we'o astounded at tho sudden disappearance of tho bandits—as complete as if the earth ha 1 swallowed them.In antua canyon, in tho Mount Diablo mountains, noar the headquarters of this band, Abdon Loiva )i’'cd. Ho had a pretty wife, aged about 25 years, also two small children. ilis wife Rosario, seomod charmed with tho gallantry and daro-deviltry ol Vasquoz, and persuaded her husban l to join tho gang, which had then been reduced to about ten men, through tho aid of some American sharpshooters. I^eiva hesitated and his wife taunted him with cowardice. Ho had not long been a member before ho became jealous of Vasquez. When sent on a mission one day he resorted to tho usual tactics of a sudden return, with tho usual results. He drew his pistol, uttered “carajo” and was about to fire.This exclamation, which all Mexicans deem necessary before action, uiaced him at a disadvantage. for on the instant Chavez, tho lieutenant of vasquez, lovolod a pistol at Leivo’ i head with another ••carajo.” Tho unfaithful woman sought protection it; the arms of Vasquez from her infuriated husband. A comyrorolaewas effected by Leiva bundling his dishonored wifo and two children into a wagon, resigning from the band und going homo. A few weeks afterwards Vasquez and his lieutenant, Chavez, wont to the house and stolo tho woman, she leaving her children bohind. Tho band cutno to Southorn California, finding a hiding placo in tho Soledad canyon, north of Los Angoles. Tho pursuit becoming too hot, Vasquoz deserted the woman, leaving hor alone on a road far from any reliof, she being sick at tho time. This inhumun treatment aroused tho tiger in hor Mexican nature and she made a rosolve.She was rescued and taken care of by somo Americans and soon afterwards a sheriff's posse was on the right trail of tho bandit. Hs was found at tho house of Greek George, which was surroundoil, and the bandit surrendered aftor being wounded.On being confronted by a man whom ho had tied to a troo to wait for tho arrival of a ransom of $1,000 ho placed his hand over his heart and with u very polite bow said: “Idid rob you, sonor, but you must admit I am a gentleman. I did not kill you.Vasquoz was convicted of murder and hanged at San Jose, and thus ended tho caroor of California’s most daring outlaw, whoso band had coinmittod about 100 murders.A Ufa-Saving CMtlo. ^ jBamborough castlo, Northumberland, England, which has beon purchased by Lord Armstrong from the trustees of tho lute Lord Crewe,dates from tho year 517. To sailors on that portion of tho perilous northern coast it is what tho convent of St. Bernard is to the traveler in tho Alps. A constant watch is kept in tho top of tho ancient tower, whence signals are made to tho fishormon of Holy island as soon as any T03sel is discovered to bo in distress. By these and othor means many lives are saved, and an asylum Is offered to shipwrecked persons in the castlo for a week or longer.Hoarding Hours It ©revHsitlng Friend—So you married 4 total stranger from Boston. I always expected you would marrv tho star boarder. Ho is such a nice, quiot gentleman.Mrs. Hashly—That’s the reason 1 didn’t marry him. I don’t want to Jose that kind of a boarder. They are too soarco.—Texas Siftings.A Query.Lord Angus—Ah, well, Miss Rom-sen, ’tis a pity you haven’t in this country any old ruins like “McGregor’s Curse,” just outsido of Ldinboro.Miss Hemson—What’s tho matter with McComb’s dam. at tho upper end of New York?—Brooklyn Life.UNUSUAL HAPPENINGS.An American has invented an odorless whisky which contains all tho llavor and bad properties of the genuine stuff, but leaves no taint on tho breath.Rev. Henry Manchester of Attleborough, Mass., administered a sound thrashing to a man on a recent Sunday for leaving church during tho reading of the scriptures.A boy of 15 was arrested at Richmond, Va., for having in his possession 850,000 worth of Confederate money, lie declared ho had no intention of putting it into circulation and was released.Lawton A. Sherman, aged 99, and his wife, aged 97, lately observed, at Exeter, R. I., the seventy-eighth anniversary of their marriage. The following week they buried their eldest daughter, aged 77.A Liverpool magistrate who found his own name among a batch of complaints charging the defendants with having their chimneys atire through neglect to clean them fined himself double the penalty he imposed upon the others.A Boston man was dreaming tho other night of untold wealth that was being bestowed upon him. When he awoke from his dream instead of having a fortune, he found he was losing a part of one. There was an open window in his chamber and a burglar was going through his pockets.Rev. W. R. McNeill, pastor of a Baptist church in Emporium, Pa., has received from Bridgeport,Conn., a check for 810.000 in recognition of a loan he made to Miss Harriet Johnsoh some years ago. though she was a comparative stranger to him. Miss Johnson died recently and remembered him Sflih*r will*
Newspaper Details
Rocky Ford Enterprise
Rocky Ford, Colorado, US
Thu, Jun 07, 1894
Page 1
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Clipped by
Raymond M.
NA, 25 May 2022
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Rocky Ford Enterprise
