The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-09
The MEXICAN "CAPTAIN JACK"
Remarkable Career of the 'Tiger,
of the Alicia"
The Emperor Maximiian's General,
Manuel Losada, as Indian Chief,
Communist and Rebel.
Shot TO Death by Sentence Of Court Martial in
Guadalajara on the 18th Ult.s

Shot TO Death by Sentence Of Court Martial in
Guadaajara on the 18th Ult.s
The canton Of Topic in the State OF Jaisco, 10 one
OF the farest districts In fertile country. In 1t Is
situated the Sierra de Alicia, unsurpassngy rich in
mineral wealth, undeveloped agricultural resources
and Astounding in precious woods OF the finest
| quality. The town OF Topic lies 1t the northern
loot OF the Alicia mountains, on the high road from
Guadalajara the port OF San Bias. Near the town
| the mountains run or In spurs and peaks in q
| southwesterly direction towards the Volcano Of
| Coma, which, towering its snow-clad head into
the srorm-charged clouds . distance Of $4,000 feet,
serves at once their southern buttress and BAR
| rfer. These mountains are the homeIof the noto-
rious-it might almost be said famous-Indian Chief
| Manuel Losada.
Topic s the seat OF considerable foreign and do
| nestle commerce. Local manufacturing interests
| are well developed. The wealthy and influential
house OF Barron, Forbes q Co. have two large COT
ton factories there and cultivate very extensive
tobacco plantations. The cigars Of Topic are the,
| best In Mexico. Some think them superior to the
| finest OF Havana. The Tepiquefos claim to have
carried or the gold medal OF the London Exhibition
In 1851, for cigars. IL was at this exhibition that
General Santa Ana, then in the zenith Of his glory
! in Mexico, won large bet from an English noble
| man In showing the worlds assembled nationals
| ties how the peasant Of Anahuac could dine or
| table six inches in diameter and finish the repast
/! by eating his knife and fork.
The first thing known OF Losada's career is where
| we find him prisoner among others Of kindred
kidney, working on an island in the beautiful Lake
| Of Chapaa, between Guadalajara and Morella Its
! pellucid waters were not then now disturbed
by the splashing of the "devil-ships' wheel, nor
| were the echoes Of the surrounding woods and
glens awakened TO the scream OF the steam horse.
Doubtless the tabled navy OF Aztec build which
fancy at the clear bottom OF STORED Chapaa,
was often contemplated by the young Losada, as
typical Of the misortunes in which the now sparse
tribes OF the red men Immersed.
We have no record OF the crime for which Lozada
was sent TO Chapaa; but in the years 1923 he
TO the surface Of affairs in the Alicia by parti-
ctpating in revolution against Santa Ana's gov--
eminent. In 1866 the triumph Of liberal IDEAS i'm
Mexico ousted the Dictator from power and Don
Juan Alvarez and Don IgnactO Comonfort were sue
cessvely in the Presidential chair. In 1867 the
present liberal constitution was given to Mexico;
but the unhappy Comonfort, In an unsuccessful en-
deavor TO reconcile the interests OF both c0nserva-
tves and liberals lost the support Of the two par
ties, and, after an attempt at coup d'etGt, was
obliged 10 nee TO the United States.
LOzada In the meantime continued to strengthec
his position and extend his authority among tho
bar6aroSs nSrdss q the Indians S Of the Ac
in command; but he needed support, and, In
measure guidance. These he found in the firm Of
This millionaire house was established by then
young and enterprising gentleman all the way
man IN the British navy His ship lay in San Bias,
the officers were invited to partake Of the hos
the young irishman made the acquaintance Of s
blooming Mexican widow, possessed OF wealth
cast anchor there, hooked the widow, cut cable,
from Her Maestys navy and permanently slung
soon became commercially Connected with TIM Mr..
Forbes and one or two other gentlemen Of wealth
the present powerful association. Let It not be-,
forgotten that somewhere along in 1e6o-s1 New
up his
Topic, not far from the house OF the Messrs Barron,
Losada became necessity to Barron's house.
was carried on by the shipfoad-no one else could
wne the Ssna In
on good authority that loads and loads OF American
were thus introduced INTO Tepic stamped with the
trade mark Of Barron's factories and sold in the
market as Mexican manufactures without paying
Still Losada was barbarous fellow, and many
awful stories are told OF his crueties He has been
known to day the skin from his prisoners feet and
force them to walk barefooted over the cruel rocks
anS s.umps Of sns mountain roads women and
by him. Yet he was well protected By Barron
Forbes Co., who used him to enrich themselves.
and he was as savagely prosecuted by the wealthy
house OF Castanos, the commercial rival OF Barron
Forbes.
During the war of reform-that is. from the flight
Of ComOnfOrt, in 1757-till December 1850 LOsada,
was invariably found ranged on the side Of the
the governments OF Zuluaga and Miramon. Tho
liberals ais would never recognize him In any rank.
obstinate siege Of Tepic during which General
Coronado was fatally wounded.
cGse G s ne war 81 OF osds oad
held alot In the ravines and on the pateaus Of the
fruitful Alicia the banner OF 'God and law" Gen.
eral Don Pedro O0azau, at that time Governor OF
the state or Jalisco sent, In 1851, force Of 1000
men, well provided with all the appliances of war,
Losada. II we except patched up truce between
the government and Losada the result OF this
for the death Of the brave American Colonel Of
Artillery William Twist, OF California.
rid OF Losado in some way, II possible, sent General
+. F. Millen to California In the Fall OF 1861, with
orders to raise there, on very liberal inducements,
for settlement In the Sierra de Alicia. Losada did
not ike the idea OF an American colony, SO he con-
condition that General Millen would be recalled
from California and the projected colony broken
terms, and subsequently expressed many bitter re-
grets that any faith put in the old rebels word
and that the American colony was not firmly
During the first period Of the French invasion,
from his loved Sierra. With his wives ana concu-
bnes his riches and friends the Tiger OF the
way nor the other. But the advent Of Macmillan
saw him with the effective rank OF general In the
armies Of the so-called Empire. Here we may in
CHARITY draw vail over the atrocities OF this Mexi.
can Captain Jack, the faithful ally OF the imperial
house OF Hapsburg. Poor Macmillan, what sins ara
not charged at thy door, But rest in peace, thou
hast meritedy met soldiers death like brave
man.
At the fall of the fictitious Empire Losada ike
Othelo, might excaim that his occupation was
gone; so to keep his hand in and make matters
lively about Jalisco the 1fger OF the Alicar deter
mined to ignore both government and law by en-
deavoring to set up on his own nook the unbridled
rule OF Communism. II was decidedly dangerous
project for Mexico that OF Losada. There waa
more truth than poetry IN the pictures which he
drew OF the wrongs OF his race. The whites in
Mexico were thoroughly alarmed, and for once
both decision and action were taken to stop thu
anreadlnQ mr.