The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-06-04

a DEspEnAgn F1aHr,-The Oakland
-NeWs contains Q detailed account Of tie
desperate fight between Sheriff Morse
ana the Mexican murderer, Juan Soto.
The sheriff and party found the gang ii,
valley, among the Panoohe Mountains
-and The Ne,os says
On entering the door Mr.. Morse saw
the man he was after sitting at a table,
ana instantly covered him with his re.
v0lVer and ordered him to throw up his
hands Soto refused, and sat sullenly
watching. his chance for a spring not
daring ia move for. his pistol. Nor. q
ordered him three times to hold up his
hands. and, Keeping his eye steadily on
the wretoh. drew out pair of handouts
and directed Winohell to approach and
Pnt them!on. at that moment a stout
Mexioan woman seized Morse's pistol
arm, 9 man grabbed the other. md wh;Je
his aim was .deranged Soto sprane be.
hind thifd person, utterine a fiarce
oath and drawing his own pistol. Morse
toEe loose from them and shot over the
head OF the man in front aud tbronoh
Sotos hat, knocking it Of. Finiiinh
himself surrounded. by the desperate in.
habltants OF the cabin, he sprang out Of
the door, and while on the porch Soto
Twice got the, drop on him." aud he
stepPea round the corner Of the house.
Where the tighting commenced in good
earnest, il it had not been. tolerabIv
hvely before. Each. fred four shots
witnout effect. AS often as Soto b ought
ms plsto! down to a level Morse would
drop. and the ball passed over. At this
point IN the conflict. Winohell, having
procured double-barreled shotgun,
came T0nn6 tho
Soto then ran into the house. and Morse
made for his horse to, get, Lis "TIenrvn
rifle. Soto came out with a big revolver
IL each hand and ran for his horse, !
which was hitched near by; the horse
being frightened by the firing, tore away.
ana soto, not being able to catch the
animal, ran down the hill for another
morse some distance of, intending to
make hia escape. N
In the eantime. Morse having got
possession of his rifle, fred at the fnri-
tive about $50 yards off, and shot him
through the right shoulder; Soto stag
gered with the wound, and at once re-
turned toward Morse, with a piatol il
each hand. AT this point Sheriff Harris
having heard the firing. came up at full
speed, md, seeing the situation Of
things, fred; at Soto with his Spencer
rifle but missed. his aim. Soto rushed,
or on toward Morse, who, getting another
chance, fired again, shot the desperate
through the forehead and tore the whole
top OF his head Off This ended one. of
the most exciting and terrific combnts Ne
have ever ~ hanrl of. md which -ids the
settlements OF most pestilent and dan
gcrons scourge. n
Soto. as we have already stated, was
FYn nr n .G.-E
of the traditional Mexican badit, with
long black hair, heavy bushy eyebrows,
large eyes Of an undefined color, and
had altogether d tigerish aspect. He
had served two terms in the States
prison, and was generally regarded as
the most formidable and desperate cliar.
acter on this coast. He was known to
all the Mexican Inhabitants in. the lower
countries. and was held in such dread
that few or none of them dared to offend
or make Known his hiding places. II .
.,l i . .