Mower County transcript., 1871-12-14

AN OUTLAWS FATE.

AN OUTLAWS FATE.
How " Buckskin - Met his Deaf, In
Lower ca Culifornin-suicide ide of hi. In.
dian Wife.
From the San Diego <Cal.) Union, Nov. 8.
Our readers will remember the brief
account published in June last of the
death of the notorious desperado,
Buckskin," who had fled to Lower
California after the murder of the Bill.
derback brothers in Los Angeles
county. A gentleman who has lately
returned from visit to San Rafael,
Lower California, gives us some exceed
ingly interesting facts in connection
with the pursuit and final killing of the
outlaw, and the melancholy fate which
subsequently overlook the Indian wo-
man who was the companion of his
fight and her babe.
''Buckskin," with one Graham, mur,
dered the two brothers in Tejunga can.
on, Los Angeles county. The latter
was arrested, and il his confession, il
is said, implicated the former, fol
whose apprehension reward of 81, ,00C
was offered. ''Buckskin' had in the
meantime escaped, passing through,
this county across the line into the
mountains near San Rafael. The real
name of this man was Pyburn, as may
be inferred from the record of the birth
of male child TO the Indian woman,
catered in an almanac found on
''Buckskin's'' body, where he names
the child "James Pyburn." He was a
tall and well-formed man, with the ex-
ception of deformity in his feet, the
great toes of which overlapped the
smaller ones, and was constantly clad
in full suit of buckskin.
"Buckskin was accompanied in his
flight by the Indian woman and his
little son, eight months old, and part
ner named Mcfarland, who had been a
counterfeiter in Los Angeles county.
During their sojourn in the mountains
a dispute arose between the two men
they left camp together one morning to
hunt, and at night Buckskin" " came
back alone. This was his way of doing
business.
The Sheriff of Los Angeles county,
while on visit to San Diego early in
June last, heard of Pyburn's where.
abouts, and accompanied by Under
Sheriff Crosthwaite, proceeded to Low.
er California to capture him. Arriving
at San Rafael, they learned tat
"Buckskfn'' and his squaw were
camped in the mountains, not far away,
and offered reward of $3.50 for his
capture alive Or dead. Four well
armed Mexicans accepted the offer,
and started into the country imme.
diately. Upon reaching his place OF
concealment, one Of the party came un-
expectedly upon the desperate, who,
with rifle in hand, was apparently
awaiting an attack. No time was given
the Mexican to draw a weapon, even,
and he grasped Buckskin's'' rifle and
endeavored to wrest it from him. In
the struggle the weapon was discharg,
ed, carrying away two of the Mex1can's
figures. "Buckskin threw down his
useless rifle and started for his revolv-
er, which he had left at the camp near
by. Another of the Mexicans came up
at this mement, and appreciatiug the
situation, shot Buckskin" through
the back. The outlaw fell, helpless,
and seeing that there remained no hope
for defense or escape, besought the
Mexicans to kill him. This they did
not do, but after his death, which oc-
CURED IN about half an hour, they cut
off one of his feet, and with that and
his clothes, returned to San Rafael fo1
their reward. The Indian woman, who
had witnessed the tragic event, express.
ed great satisfaction at the result, de.
claring that for many weary months
and miles she had accompanied t'Buck'
skin " through fear.
The squaw, with her child and the
horse, were taken to a neighborine
rancho to be kindly cared for until she
could return to her tribe in Oregon
But, Notwithstanding the frequent as
surances that no harm should come tc
her, she seemed to feel continually that
her past association with the dead
murderer would yet bring trouble upor
her, and manifested great uneasiness
A few days after she was brought tc
the rancho, she quietly arose one night,
and taking her babe, with some of Its
little dresses, stole away in the dark
ness, leaving behind her horse, blan
ket, provisions-everything. Diligent
search was n ade for her and the child,
but to no effect.
And now comes the probable sequel.
About two weeks ago a young man,
while riding over an unfrequented poi
tion of the Guadalupe Rancho, about
twelve miles from the main road, came
suddenly upon human skull, nearly
denuded of flesh, but covered with
long, jet black hair: In his horror al
the sight, he looked no further, but re.
turned to the ranch and told what he
had found. The next day, with several
companions, he returned to the spot
and found in one place the bones oi
the woman, with some clothing, and
near at hand those of an infant
with some little dresses. These were
the remains of the poor Indian woman
and her babe. Near the bones bed o1
leaves was discovered where they had
evidently lain down to die. It was con.
jectured that the despairing mother
had taken the life of her little Que, and
then her own. The hair was cut from
the skull by the discoverers, and,
with the clothing, sent to the authori
ties at San Rafael, who Immediately
sent back an order for the burial of the
bones.