The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-31
BRIGANDAGE IN MEXICO.
Characterization of the Professional Highway

characteristics of the Professional Highway
The Men Eclectic MagaziaC contains a strik-
ing article on highway robbery in Mexico,
from which we take the following para
graphs
"a Mexican will seldom rsl, his life for the
property he carries with HIM. He will pro-
mise to do so, and will carry pistol for the
purpose, but when the time for action arrives
he is sure to turn up missing. Of native
cowardice and duphcity scores of examples i'll
this connection might be cited, but one will
suffice for this article. In the cemetery at
Jalapa a simple stone marks the spot where
sleeps young American, Yorke by name He,
in company with seven MeXicans, left the
CITY OF Mexico in the morning diligence for
the East, and by way Of the national road,
All were armed with revolvers. AS some of
the party carried money and valuables, it
was agreed before starting to fight their
way through. Each man on the first alarm
was to alight, take position as he saw
fit, and fire without orders. Yor1e carried
two Colts revolvers. No robbers appeared
until some five leagues east of Jalapa when
a band of fifteen issued from the thick under
brush, and Immediately opened a heavy fire
with pistols and carbines upon the diligence.
Yorke, as agreed upon, jumped from the
coach, calling upon his comrades to follow,
and, taking position, returned the fire. Not
he stood alone, with the fire of the whole
gang directed towards him. He fired eight
shots, then fell dead. The fends then rushed
upon him. and literally hewed his body to
pieces with their sabres. His eight shots
killed three and wounded four more of the
assailants. His fellow-passengers delivered
up their arms, were bound, robbed, stripped
of their clothing, and almost beaten TO death.
"When the roads are too well guarded the
suddenly upon some defenseless village, COM
NIT murders. sack it, and sometimes burn it,
then decamp without loss, carrying off their
! booty. Complaints go up to the capital, and
| troops are sent into the lawless district; but
| in the meantime the band has fallen upon
another village in a distant province. In
! these remote districts colonels and captains
are clothed with extraordinary powers in
| brigand cases. They seldom refer case to
higher authority; they apprehend, and when
the evidence is clear, execute the offenders
! in from two to ten hours after capture. FIRE.
quently the shooting follows the instant
after capture. The project of a canton
has similar jurisdiction in special
cases. and he exercises his power without
| stint or hesitation. Here is case in point:
! Two years ago two Americans travelling
overland from the Rio Grande, stopped over
night at town in the State of Vera Cruz.
Employing guide, they set out for the port
of Vera Cruz. Journeying southwark, they
We're ambuscaded in barranca by the COM
rades of the guide, who murdered and strip
ped them, and taking their horses, fed to the
mountains On the following day the prefect
OF that canton pursued with score of sol
dlers, and on the third day overlook and cap
tured the murderers. He carried them to the
, spot where the tragedy was committed; the
5 evidence seems to have been conclusiyeA fol
without form of trial, and within sight of Me
graves OF the two dead men, he swung then
from the nearest trees. The bandits were ef
e hanging Tor weeks as testimony of Mexican
: justice. But this swift punishment does no
e deter men from engaging in the business O
It outlawry. A Mexican brigand goes to hi
II death with as much self-possession as he doe
to the confessional
h '"lhese gentlemen of the road are ofte
P fne-looking fellows dashing and polite, an
:, u exceedingly we'll dressed. Now and then
# spark of the Robin Hood gallantry show
D, tself. They are not wanting in professions