Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1856-07-03
The Desperado's Last. Laugh.
BIZ CHARLES sUMMERFIELD.

Among the desperadoes and due
lists of the South and West, | hav
J never known one who did not hav
e his "eoyardly days. seasons whe
e be used dishonorable means to avoit
) the very personal difficulties whicl
at other times furnished his ehie
amusement aud delight. Some mel
jare only heroes when intoxicated
Others borrow all their bravery from
the passion of. love, and revenge
Many fight we'll in the ranks Of al
army, yet fly in terror from an indi
vidual foe; while some display the
most reckless daring in all single
combats but runaway at the first fire
Of a platoon.
The most remarkable popularity
aud Inconsistency of desperation may
be found among the Mexican braves
of the Rio Grande, who eyince the
utmost fear at the sight Of pistols
especially revolyers; but shrink not
from the most terrible combat with
Bowie-knives; indeed, they never re-
fuse the challenge from even an
American, provided they can have
the choice of those favorite weapons.
As it may naturally be supposed,
they become wonderfully expert in
the use Of their deadly implements.
| have seen them stand, and, without
a tremor or token of alright, hew
each in pieces, until one or both
adversaries sunk down dead or ex-
hausted.
I But woe to the unfortunate enemy
who did not possess their marvellous
dGxterity with the naked dagger!
The first blow, one mortal Mexican
stab, always, in such. cases, termin-
ated the struggle by piercing the
combatant's heart.
Among the most notorious duel.
ISIS in this savage species of conflict,
Pedro Palacios, Of Brownsville, was
altogether prominent. He boasted,
and doubtless with entire truth, Of
having slain a score of men on the
Rio Grande, besides unknown num-
bers in other parts of Mexico. He
followed the profession of a gambler,
aud, therefore, wandered from the
mouth Of the river to Laredo; in
every neighborhood might be seen the
graves Of his victims, until his
name became terror TO the whole
frontier.
1t may seem strange to persons
unfamiliar with the country, that he
was not doomed to legal punishment
for bis deeds; but the singular fact
admits Of easy explanation. For two
or three years after the war the courts
we're not organized; and besides he
perpetrated all his various homicides
in fair fight, and according to the
forms recognized by the coGe of
honor; and, moreover, when prosecu-
tions at last assailed him. he obtained
security in the character of the jurors
called to try the issues.
1t must not be imagined, however,
that his countless quarrels originated
at the gambling-table. or grew out
of the questions relating to his fair
ness in dealing cards; the cause was
both more romantic and revolving.
His wife Juana, one of the most
fascinating women ever born in Mex
leo, accompanied him as a partner,
and bewildered the adverse players as
much by her extraordinary beauty,
as the husband did by bis skill; while
on every occasion and wherever she
went, her charms inspired the be-
holders with a sort of phrenzied pass
ion, thatsSin spite of reason, pru-
deDee, and peril, brought adventur-
Gus lovers te her feet. a3 .
Bnt Peiro:: Palacios was jealous
even to madness, and the slightest
attentions 70 his bewitching siren
aroused his murderous wrath and
vengeance, and he never failed to
throw the oiaus Of the challenge on
bis enemy, or to provoke the trst
assault, when one blow of his BOWIE
knife usually settled the controversy
and silenced the .Hooing OF bis rival
forever.
In the month of September, 1897,
the District Court was inaugurated
in the town Of Laredo, and g grand
.fandaago. was given on the FIRST night
in honor of the new Judge, and to
! the boundless delight Of the lawyers