The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-02-08
The Banditti on the Isthmus,

There Is aregulary organized band of robbers
on the l>thmus, and every mail from there bring,
an account of their dcpredations The n Y Her
aid gives the following cNt act Of q letter, written
by G., b. Stevens OF that city:
Randolph and myself,toppcl at a small ranch
about miles from paudma, on our way to Cru
ces, Dec. I. 1t was about sunset our mulctecrs
fearing or refusing to go farther that day We
had barely got our baggage out of the road when
u stout, broad shouldcrcd, ugly looking Mexican,
or SpanIard, came up IN full speed on a fine, large
chesnUt coiured mule. without shirt ar hat and
his face and breast covered with blood. | hailed
him rs hc passed, and asked where he was bound
llo made nu reply but spurrcd up his mule and
on lac rushed towards Panama. A few minutes
after, man came staggering t. the hut, covered
with mud and bleeding, and inquired ifany of us
were gong to New York. Said he, 81 wish you
would call on Madam Cox in Beekman street, and
tell her that her husband has been robbed and
murdered by native, ON the lSthmus and that
ho could live but few mOmonts-that he went
by the name of Dandy Cox, in New York--was
on h- return from California, and had come down
in the steamer Tennessee"
We laid him on blanket, -'oshcd and exam.
med his wounds, though bad, thought them not
mortal He had long, deep cash on his left
breast, which reached the hunc-the knife clan.
eed and saved his life. He had another deep cut
on his right breast, and another on his side and
bis right thumb was nearly cut oil He told Us
that he had come from Cruces that day. looking
after his baggaEe--that when within 30 rods of
this ranch, n native came up with him on n mule,
and asked him If he would like to ride Cox said
yes The Spnnard jumped of, aud Cox stepped
In trYl Nyb ha u tb., /
knocked him down, fell upon him. and with h4
long knife, tried to Kill him. Cox grappled with
him ns he recovered from the blow, and succeed
ed IN getting on top and Wrestling his knife from
him, and for n moment, cut his antagonist terri
bly,. Cox, worn out from hi- long walk, and faint
with the loss of blood fell again under, and was
then robbed of fifty dollars in change, n beautiful
gold watch, aud n revolver pistol--n another
pocket he had drafts for the dust he had sold at
Panama, and 20 dollars which were not taken
The robber being surprised by some natives com.
ing up to him with baggage, Cox called on them
for help; but they only stood looking on IN fear
The robber jumped upon his mule, and olfhe went
nt full speed and in five minutes after, gave us u
full view ofhim. Cox tore his SHIRT from him. aud
brought in his hand the robbers hat, which was
Chagres wide braid, pam.caf hat peaked top,
and three black braids, or strcaks around it.
Cox is quick, energetic and spirited fellow !;
AMI II he had not been worn out and exhausted
by his long walk on that Cruces road | believe
he would have killed the Spanmrd and brought
in his head instend of his hat. Cox had revolv.
or with him--onc of Allens--but j was either
wet or good for nothing, and he could no, get it
oil Randolph and myself did not sleep much
that night, but watched our baggage. In the
morning we found Cox more comfortable, and On.