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BADLERVASQUEZ DIED GAME.A Bandit's Equanimity and Quiet Nerve on Meeting- Death.ITom i hlt;* Ni''-*« York .itColton, Cal., Anril 24.—A party of ranchmen sat about the office of the International hotel the other evening, waiting for tlio Southern Pacific train to [jjh Angeles. The train was belated fourhours by a washout on the Coloradodesert, and the ranchmen had plenty of time to tell stories as they srnok cd theirpipes and cigars. A majority of themnad been on the plains in the west overtwenty years, and some had come overland in the days of ox teams unci buffaloes. fjouis Phillips, who owns almostas much property in Ijoh Angeles countyas • Lucky Baldwin, and who is famous throughout Southern California for his wealth and plain, common mode of life, told the most interesting reminiscence of the evening.“I have seen at different times in my thirty years of life in California, Arizona and New Mexico over forty men hanged and shot for.al! manner of crimes. I have taken part in the execution of about twenty of the most ruthless bandits we ever had on the roast, and I have seen several men dropped in the same room with me by an assassin and outlaw, but tin* most remarkable villain, and the least moved man that I oversaw or heard of in the presence of death, was Tibureio Vasquez.“vasquez was a Mexican of good family, but he was as bloody and bold abrigand as was ever pursued in Arizona.His field of operations for ten or fifteen years was all the way from Tucson to Stockton, Cal. The Vasquez band was known all over the coast in l*b* and 1*70. Part of his gang was lynched at Phumixin 1*71, and two of the bandits then confessed that they bad taken the lives ofover eighty men and hoys on the coastand along tin* Rio Grande in the course of five or six years. They did not know how many other men had been slaughtered by Vasquez and bis fellows before theyknew the chief bandit. At last Vasquez v.as caught and held so securely that he could not escapetrial and sentence of death. It was in I Hi 5 that he was confined in the Jail atSan Jose, and as I knew Sheriff Adamswell I went to see Vunquez, of whom many a time 1 had been in terror. As I, in the company of several ranchmen, went into the Jail corridor. Vasquez waslet out of his c ell to meet us. He was adapper little fellow, with bright, laughing eyes, and we could not believe for a time that lie was really the famous bandit. He had just been writing Ids last letter, and came forth nodding pleasantly to Ids visitors. Each of us handed him acigar. * I thank you, gentlemen, he said, but I am afraid that I won't have time to smoke all these* He was so polite that he would not bo seated until all of us had chairs. He gossiped about the latest news from San Francisco, about the political troubles in Mexico and Central America, and was the most cheerful man on the premises. He told me that he had heard of me many times, and said he believed he once had got hold of a horse with my brand upon him. and that it was a fine animal.“As he stood there, one hand on the arm of his chair, the newsjaiper in theother, and showing a courteous interest in the efforts of the bustling deputy to find seats for his guests, he was fur from formidable in appearance. He was now but a short, broad-shouldered, dark-skinned. pleasant-faced Mexican, with nothing whatever about him forbidding. Indeed, his manner was engaging The fellow was a gentleman. He showed it not only in Ids politeness, but In th© cool courage w ith which he faced his dreadfulcud. * 1•**J would rather talk about somethinjf else, if It is ag ieeabie to you, gentlemen.'he suid to u reporter who had Jotucd us,| and began business at once bv asking Vasquez about his mental condition. *1/am to be hanged to-morrow. Very well.! don't like it, hut I have no choice. See And he shrugged his shoulders andsmiled. • *“‘Do you feel that you deserve yourfatof* solemnly asked the i*eporter.“Well, that does not much matter,' ho answered, lighting a lt;igar. ‘While I never killed anybody myself, 1 permitted my men to do so, and in the eye of the law that is the same thing: so I suppose! deserve what is going to happen. Since I cannot help myself I am content. Will you pardon rr.e, gentlemen, if I ask you to talk about something else than myself. £ am glad to see you: i like company. Tho weather is pleasant, ehf'“He leaned back in his rude chair with an animated countenance, ready to chat, like one who wished to while away dragging hours, lie had about fourteen of them left. 'Hie man's face was strong and firm. He was in the prime of life and in perfect health. ‘His courage had been proved in many a bloody fight, and if. by murdering all his visitors, it would havo have given him one chance in a thousand of escape, that chance would have been taken, and God thanked for it. As it was. In* smiled cordially and accepted tho inevitable with manly composure. His politeuces was inexhaustible. Tho editor of one of the local newspapers came in. greeting him witha boisterous hParity, meant at once to cheer the eomdemned and display to the metropolitan Journalists his superior intimacy with a celebrated character. The editor actually took a c opy of his paper from his pocket and, with thoremark, I suppose you want to hear what I said about you to-night.’ sat down andlead to Vasquez three solid columns aboutbis crimes, the preparations for the hanging, and a minute description of the gallows. with mention of the other criminals who had stepped u]xn it. Vasquez boro it in silence, without a wince or a frown.“Sheriff Adams appeared, and the Mexican retired into the shadow with him. They whispered together, and the sheriffseemed to be trying to dissuade his chargefrom some pur)ose. But Vasquez was resolute and the officer retired with a deprecatory showing of his palms. Soon there was a tramping of feet without, tho key turned, and the iron doors were thrown open. Two men bearing a coffin, and followed by a black-coated undertaker vvitn a pair of trestles in his hand, came in. The coffin, a fine one, studded with silver-headed nails, was placed on the trestles, and the brigand, cigar in teeth, stepped up and inspected it with lively interest. He half squatted and ranhis hand along the side. § v '** ■lt;*• ‘It s too short.’ he said, with surprise, looking at the awed undertaker, who assured him that it was all right; that it should be measured near the top, not near the* bottom. Then, pleased at tho quality of the coffin which had been provided by his friends, he put his hand inside, felt the* padding, pressed the little pillow, and, with an upward tiirt of his cigar .observed: ‘Well. 1 shall sleep there very wellforever.’ ’••52PSBu^S“On the next morning Vasquez walkedout into the sunlit jail yard, climbed the steps of the scaffold, gazed indifferently at the gaping mob of men below, threw a wistful glance beyond the walls at tho blue hill, over which he had ridden ott many a fray with his cut-throats, and then gave all his attention to the ghastly business of tho moment. They sought tounbutton his coat and collar. He waived them aside politely and did it himself. He assisted the hangman in adjusting th© straps and rojie, glanced down to see that his feet were precisely on the crack,kissed the crucifix held out to him b.v thepriest, and boro himself with patience and dignity while they drew over him a white shroud and placed oil his head and shoulders a great block hood.‘**1 am ready/ ho said, serenely, closing his eyes, and that was the la#t Of; V*** quvZ.'’
Newspaper Details
Savannah Morning News
Savannah, Georgia, US
Sun, May 14, 1893
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Raymond M.
NA, 25 May 2022
Other Publications Near Savannah, Georgia
Savannah Georgian Georgian
Savannah Supplement to the Republican
Savannah Republican and Savannah Evening Ledger
Savannah National Republican Supplement
Savannah National Republican
