Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-03-30
An Adventure with Bandits
BY COL. LEON LAFITTE.

After the close OF the civil war IN
the United States, | determined to
visit some of the countries of South
America, and judge for myself if the
stories told of the riches and beauties
of those southern lands were true, or
mere bats to lure the broken down
cotton and sugar planter to come and
settle there, using his experience in
agricultural pursuits to build up the
country. With this intention | sailed
from Vera Cruz to Imalaca, near the
mouth of the Orinoco river, and upon
my arrival there commenced looking
out for a suitable horse for an expedi-
ton which | intended to make into
the interior of the country.
After some days search, l found a
superb horse, and formed the compan-
ionship of an American and two Mexi-
cans, in whose company | started one
fine morning for Serpa, on the Anna
zon river.
1t was long and dangerous journ-
ey, and being well acquainted with
this fact, we had made every prepara-
tiOn to guard against the dangers we
expected to encounter. My Ameri-
can friend was young man of twen-
ty-hve, fine looking and with a reck-
less daredevil love Of fun that had
insured his expulsion from two col
ieges, and gotten him into a difficulty
that he extricated himself from by a
duel, in which he killed his opponent.
He fled the country to avoid arrest,
and having money, and being posses
sed with a love of adventure, he roved
the world at large. His father was
a "merchant prince" of New York,
and though greatly disturbed at the
wild career of his son, supplied him
Iliberally with funds. After leaving
the United States, he left off his faith.
er's name-"for fear he'd disgrace
it, he told me-and merely kept his
baptismal appellations, which were
Charles Danever.
The two MexicanS were men of
some little means, and wandering
spectators. Both Of them were mid.
dle-aged, and having been soldiers
were good companions for a tough
struggle with robbers. All were well
armed and mounted, and the bright
cheerful morning spread its influence
over men and horses as we rode out
of the city, and turned our faces tow.
ards Serpa.
For days we rode along, making
only few miles a day, and camping
at night and enjoying the delights Of
sleeping in the open air in that lovely
climate. Around the camp each night
we sang, joked, and told stories Of
adventures in our varied lives, until a
late hour, and then rolling ourselves
III our Mexican blankets, would sleep
as quietly as if around our own hearth
stones. After passing through the
small town Of San isabelle, we were
riding quietly along, when suddenly
we heard pistol Shoty and "a cry of
help to our left in rocky glen.
We drew our pistols and darted il
the direction of the cry, and upoI
turning around the skirt of a hill
came upon peculiar scene.
The main object before US was al
old stage coach, minus its horses, ant
tied to each wheel was a man, Will
inside were five females and small
boy, with their hands and feet tied to
gether. We hastily released the vic
tins from their unpleasant positions
The boy had his hands loose, and he'll
al old blunderbusS, which he had jus
fired off, for they had heard our vo
ces as we rode along, and had erie
out and fired the pistol to attract ou
attention. We then observed that w
on the top Of the stage were two dea
, bodies, the driver and one passenger
and learned that the stage had bee
attacked by robbers, who fired upo
it, killing the driver and man who wa
riding upon the box with him; the
they had robbed all the occupants,a Jan
rifed them of every article of valu
and nearly all their clothing, havin
taken the ladies' dresses from the
forms. The party consisted Of an oil
Brazilian with his wife, two daugh
erS and son, accompanied by their Sc
= wants.
The robbers had taken their mule
+ and left them nothing to wear; so
i urged Don Alonzo, one of my compa
e ions, to ride back to San Isabelle ft
~ mules, wrappings, and food, while "
would await him there. | never kne
people so rejoiced and thankful
. their release, and we soon made the
quite comfortable, by giving the ladi,
y our blankets to put around them.
a Danever turned cook, and mac
e. some good strong coffee, that was e
-e gerly drunk by the whole party. .
e on inquiry | found that the bandi
e, were about twenty in number, ar
le poorly armed and clad, and ridir
g miserable horses, and that they ha
u gone in the direction of San Felipe
IL About dark Don Alonzo returne
~ bringing a relay of mules, provision
y and clothing, and we determined
remain there all night.
Early the next morning preparation
~ were MADE Ior a start. So. after
y good breakfast, we bade goodbye
our friends, and went on our wa
. going to San Isabelle.
IL This little adventure made US mo
'e careful as we approached the mou
tains, which we had to cross befo
reaching San Felipe. At night ,
% would seek some out-of-the-way pla
ID and camp, and dispense with t
songs We had always INDUCED in, f
,ls fear of informing some prowling bal
ID of bandits of our Whereabouts.
One evening after having enter
the mountain range, we saw before
Is. a crowd of four or five bOrSemen.