Fair play., 1872-10-17
Brigandage In Mexico.

Mexico, ION JUAN NeT" T""hteS, ic''
the principal theater Of the city
where they had been playing a new
comedy, and turned his steps toward
St. Joseph street, where he lives
The weather was superb, and as {:
consequence, there were more than
the usual ntimber Of people in the
streets at that late hour.
When Don Juan passed the Cafe
dc Ia Concor!e, he noticed four men.
to!craLly well dressed, in converse
ton on the narrow siJewaik-lhe
sidewalks are all narrow in Mexico.
These individuals separated to let
him go by; as he passed between
them he raised his hat, as every well
bred Sraniard or Frencllman would
have done. He was about to con-
tinue on his way, when one Of the
four spoke to him:
"Wc have been waiting ior yon
Don Juan"
"Indeci. and why: inquired
Senior Ccrvantcs, turning toward his
intcrl0cutor.
lie had hardly asked the question
when the four men siczcd him, gag
gcd and tied him, and thrust him into
u carriage that stood near at hand.
The driver Immediately applied the
lash to bis mules, and drove at a
rapid pace for full hour, without
haIting. Arrived at tho place of
their destination, the four brigands,
after receiving u reply to signal,
alightcd with their captive, who, hav-
ing removed the gag, called for help.
but was silenced by blow that
knocked out two OF his teeth.
The house they entered was an old
tumble down Lovcl. Here Scnor
Ccrvantes was united, and furnished
with materials with which to write
to his brothers, informing them that
his captors demanding one hun
drcd thousand dollars as the
price of his life and liberty. Despite
his protestations that such u sum
would never be paid, he was COM
PEELED to obey. Fifty thousand dol
lars were to be placed in a certain
spot ucar cross in the neighbor-
hoood Of Atzcapotzaleo, and the bal
ance in another place. The letter
having been written, the hrigands
ordered Don Juan to ic down on the
ground. They then bandased his
eyes, filed his ears with wax, and,
after covering him with some boards
they spont the night in drinking and
smoking. As for their conversation,
he could not hear a word of 1t.
In this terrible situation Senior
Cervantes passed seven nights and
eight days. During this time he
wretches gave him nothing to eat but
two eggs, piece Of bread and cup
Of coffee, although they had provis-
ions in abundance.
At the expiration ofsevcn days tie
brigands began to be uneasy, and to
doubt the success of their enterprise.
A sort of council of war was held, and
it was decided to kill the captive on
the following might, and bury him in
one corner of the old hovcl. They
were as quick to act as to decide, and
two Of them sat Immediately atont
digging his grave. But, .hc wax in
his cars having partially melted, he
overheard the whole of their CONVEX
sation and in his dispair be awaited
of a moment when his guar
dians were asleep, and succeeded in
loosening the cords that bound him.
Then he attempted to open the door
and escape, but he awakened one OF
tho brlgands in the attempt. The
cry of alarm was given; ho was sciz-
ed and rebound, an two large knives
placed over him in such q manner that
he could not move without being
wounded. In this position he was
allowed to remain for two days.
During all this time Montiel, the
Governor and CHIEF of police of Mex
ico, used every means ih his power,
seconded by Don Jesus Cervantes,
one Of the brothers of Don Juan. 10
get some trace of the captive. Their
efforts would probably have been
- y.