Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-10-30
0ortcster @ailg SPY


For the Worcester Daily Spy.
Life in Mexico.
Mr.. thinking you might like an
item on Mexico, the writer of this (who re-
sided fer some ten years near the city, sends
you the following extract from letter just
received from friend there.
After writing on several other topics, he
says; 81 do not know as you have heard Of
my adventure in the mountains so | will give
you short sketch. Having made so many
lucky trips, as regards being taken by the rob-
bers, to the TERRA Caliente, or Warm Coun-
try, 1 began to think myself exempt from
them, but the time came when l did not
escape, The last time | went there was
caught by set of fellows called here, in the
language of the country, 'Platiadoes,' a class
of robbers whose clothing is literally covered
with buttons and other ornaments of plata
(silyer), and who make it their business to
steal people and carry them to the mountains,
where they keep them until they obtain a ran
som for them from their friends.
As | was going from one hacienda, or plan
tation, to another adjoining, three of the ras-
ME, and one taking the bride of my horse
from my hands, off they went with me at
double-quick (but without any music y. We
rode in this way into the mountain two or
three hours, until we reached a suitable tree,
where they ordered me to dismount. They
then tied my hands together with leather
thong aud passed lassO or rope between my
wrists, and throwing the other end over a limb
of the tree, h0isted me up just off the ground
BY this time, a matter of course, my curl
osty began to be little excited and in
quired of them what they wished of me. and
what they intended to do. They replied that
l was to hang there until l would give them
letters to my friends or family requesting them
to pay the bearers six thousand dollars. re
piled that such thing was impossible and
that they might just well ask me for SIX
stars from the heavens. Then one of them
drew his sword, (thcy were all fully armed)
and kneeling upon one knee, placed the hit
upon the other, and the point directly under
my chin, SO that with the rope slackening and
Tightening by the motion Of the tree, and the
sword coming nearer and nearer by his gently
raising his knee, was in great agony. But |
would promise nothing. OF course | cannot
say how long they kept me in this position,
l begged them to do. 1t seemed a long time
and | almost tainted before some OF them got
tired, and, mounting their horses, rode OFT,
leaving me tied up there. After IL while,
another Of the gang came on foot, and lead.
ing off my horse, made me follow him long
distance. and then allowed me 10 rest, while
anotherwent oft after some tortiIias, (cakeS of
coarse unleavened bread, weig ling about two
ounces each,) only one of which they gave
imagine | did not grow very fat during the
time | was with them, although l did take
the fever and ague, which l have had ever
since. We then went on until we came to the
foot of another mountain, where stopped
all night, and the next morning we marched
up the mountain, where they kept me four
days and nights. On the third day the whole
band came and insisted upon my giving them
letters to my friends tor the money, which |
still refused to do. Finally they said if |
would give an order for two thousand dollars
on an acquaintance of mine (who, by the
way, knew would not pay it) they would let
me go. He refused them, as | had antici-
pated, so matters remained without change
until the next morning, when one of them
came slyy and said that if | would give him
some small change for himself he would ar
range matters that | could get off. This 1
promised to do, and the following night he
conducted me out of the mountain into the
high road, and left me there, and | managed
to get home as best | could. But that my
trouble might not come alone, my wife had
little adventure at home during the same time.
1t happened in this way Three persons, all
well known to you, one Spaniard and the
other two Americans, one of which they call
Napoleon, or the one-armed Yankee, and the
other Don Thomas, forged Il letter purporIing
to he from me to my wife, stating that was in
trouble, and that she must send me four hun
bred dollars and ask no questions, which she
did snpposng the letter to be genuine until
informed to the contrary by me-
We caught two of the scamps, but the other
kept out of the way until his comrades got
clear, as such matters are managed here, and
got no redress from them. SO you mat
tiers have not changed much for the better
here since you left this part Of the continent.
Many of your acquaintance have been MUIR
deIed. The roads were never more infested
with robbers than they now are. One Amer
ican | do not know his name, was killed by
them last week at Pena Pobre paper MILL and
the factories at Santa Beresa and Been have
both been visited by the same gentry, and
their machinery has been destroyed. The
director at Belen shot two of them, but was
forced to leave after awhile, and has gone
home to Germany. Matters generally, here,
are in bad fix; but | can say nothing fur
ther about it for reasons which you very
well understand.
So with many kind regards from myself
and family, to you and yours,
l remain as ever, yours truly,
SANTIAGO BENTLEY.