The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1846-11-05
MEXICAN HIGHWAYMEN

Whoie, varied, and sometimes very cav life
One OF the American travellers saw at one of the
villages where the stage changed horses dashing
and picturesque figure, gaudiIy dressed. who rode
by on handsome horse richly caparisoned. On
lnquirlng If the coachman knew him, the answer
was that he knew him perfectly well, and that he
was the captain OF a band OF robbers who had plum
dered the stage several times since the whip and
relns had been in his hands, On the American mr.
glng the question why he had not brought the rob
Der 10 punishment, the answer was ssthat he
would be sure to be shot bv some of the hand
the next time he passed the road - the honor of
mexican thieves being peculiarly nice upoD this
point 1t appeared that the dashing horsemen
had gone through the village on RECONNAISSANCE
but probably not liking the obvious preparations
OF the travellers, had postponed the capture
The mode OF managing things in this somno
lent country is remarkable for Its TRANQUILITY
The American who narrates the circumstances
had taken with him from Vera Cruz four dra-
goons; but on accidentally inquiring on the road
into the state Of their arms he found that bnt ono
carbine had lock in fighting order and even
that one was not loaded on which he dismissed
the guard and trusted to his companions. who
were all well armed. The Mexican travellers
taking the matter in another way, never carry
arms but prepare small purse ''to be robbed of e,
OF which they are robbed accordingly. A few
miles from Perote the road winds round q biob
walk The Americans on this occasion had left
their arms in the carriage, but their more prudent
chief Immediately ordered them TO carry them in
their hands, and in the course of the ascent tbey
bounced upon group of ruifians whom the driv
er pronounced to be robbers; and who. but tor
their arms, would probably have attacked them.
In less than month after this, five or six Amer.
leans having left their arms in the stage at this
spot, were attacked and stripped of every cent
belonging to them.
1t must be owned that this country has fine
advantages for the gentlemen OF the road. The
highway between Vera Cruz and Mexico is tho
great conduit OF life in this country. Nearly all
the commerce goes by that way, and ninety ont
OF every hundred travellers pass by the same
route. The Chief portion of the road is throueb
an absolute desert. 1t frequently winds nm tbo
sides OF mountains, and then is bordered bv for.
ests OF evergreens, forming a capital shelter for
the land pirate, the whole being a combination NJ
Hounslowheath and Shooters Hill on Grand
scale, and making highway robbery not merely
snowy but a safe speculation, the gaming ia
Die being the chief recruiting Office of the whole
battalion of Mercury.
/ ne statistics OF gaming might borrow chan
ter from Mexico. The passion for plav nnb.
lie, universal, and unbounded II is nrobahl,,
even superior to the passion for puIoue Everv
one plays, and plays for all be is worth h tbe
world, and often for more. But he has HE -
source-the road. A man who has lost his lac,
dollar, but who is determined TO plav On i'm ~
dies, lays himself under strong temptations n
covetlng his neghbor's goods The honr ,vbon
tue stages pass Is known to every one the points
OF the road where they must 90 SLOWLY m ~
hill, are familiar to all highway recollectons i
Associates are expeditousy found amono 10
lolterers, who, after their own ruin SIT ro,,rJ -
room watching the luck OF others. The bsnS
formed In moment; they take the road WIKI,
aeiay, post themselves in the eyercreeno
Joy the hhest imaginable prospect, and breatho
'he most refreshing air, until the creakino of tbo
coach wheels puts them on the alort m
then exhibit their weapons the nasne lhey
dnce their little purses, the stage 80 pr
every thlng portable, or convertibIe int -
Tue Ddhd return to the gaming table Ai,.. -.
thelr com, and play till they are either rish on'
ruined once more 'i0I rch or
sumo une alter an adventure. such 10 ,,a
nav, nave described, the stage was robbed near D.
- sang an Of whom had the appearance
o,,os,. LI "heb the operation OF rinno
every oody and every thing was connnIo,,i ing
OIL the robbers observed ethat tho, w. one
iooKed on as professional thieves. for H. 30 NC
gentlemen; but having been untortnrJ 80
p'ay' 'hey were forced TO put the co,nran, -
.h h.S Inconvenience, for which thew renneStoJ
thelr particular PARDON Nques'eu
an incident OF this order occurring in ,bo -
49, punt parsonage, some wears heforo
lons eHcned remarkable interest Tho So
CONSUL had been assassinated at noondav WISE
mage hdu driven up to his door. ont Of -:
tnree men came, one in the dress of rn;'a.
vi 'ne uoors being opened they seized ard ~.
ecu 'lie porter rushed into the apartment sos
Tue cohsui was sitting, murdered and
dnu t"eh feuedted. None knew whanno I'm
came or whittier they went but he NINE, .ney
man IN us dying struggle had torn hh, ,1.
tie coat Oh one OF the robbers which - , VI,
SUI clenchedin his hand. A soldio. 10y 'ouhd
~ after seen with more money than j." a. snort,
account ior' Suspicion naturally fell unon t L?
MS quarters were searched and on ~ ~. nm
was found with the button torn oF us coats
convicted but relied on pardon tb,o ne Was
Colonel Yanez, chief aide de cam - ',pugn me
dent Santa Anna, who was bis ao - ule Fresi
the transaction Ga being brm,ol,t ~. PHce ~
cu.lon' ana placed on the fatal bench W IKE IKE
criminals are strangled, he cried on' where
Will acknowledge my accomplices o'op,
pronounced the name OF the Colonel "'u nc
was Immediately made in the hon. search
and letter in cipher was found cone oI fanez,
with this and other robberies Tbis 1 Ia MIN
ieit In the hands OF one of the iudges sttgr was
offered a large sum Of money 10 des.. ne was
refused. In a few days after he was 10y y, but
as was supposed, by poison. The ' Ou Dead
then transferred to another ;ud P"Per was