Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-05-15
VASQUEz CAPTURED.
-
THE RJBBER SEVERELY, BUT MOI
FATALLY WOUNDED.
A Party OF Los Angeles Men
Reap the Honor Of
the Capture.
Full Account Of tho Sue.
cessfuI Maneuvre Which
Placed the Bandit in
the Hands of
the Law.

up one-half of our places scarcely
more excitement would have ensued
than that which followed the an
nouncement of the capture of Vasquez
yesterday afternoon.
The City Fathers We're in profound
elaboration in their rooms, when there
was rush outside the door, n crowd
surged about the place, and some
body said, "Vasquez is caught" The
Council adjourned sine die, without
ceremony.
In front of the entrance to the City
Prison there was an extremely war
like display. The Sheriff's party,
armed with numberless revolvers,
Henry rifles, and shooting irons of va
rious descriptions had just arrived,
conveying light spring wagon, in
which was lying the man long sought
for-the veritable Vasquez.
The wounded bandit was lifted upon
the shoulders of four men as he lay on
his litter, and borne through the
crowd into the Jail, where he was
placed upon the floor to await medical
assistance.
The circumstances of the capture are
as follows: For some time past, the
authorities have had spy out observ-
ing the movements of the rObber and
his gang, and by this means secured
authentic information of their where
abouts. About s o'clock Wednesday
nigh, d. X. Smith came into the city
with information which caused the
immediate fitting out by Sheriff Row.
land of party to go in pursuit. The
party was made up of Under-Sheriff
Albert S. johnson, Major Mitchell,
Emil Harris, Officer Hartlee, Sam.
Bryant, d. X. Smith, w. E. Rodgers,
and G. A. Beers, correspondent for a
San Francisco paper. Starting about
O'Clock yesterday morning, the party
left the city and proceeded
to the vicinity of Brea Ranch, ahout
ten miles southwest of Los Angeles.
Making a halt in Nicholas Cation, at a
place securely sheltered from view of
the house where they had reason to
expect the presence of their game, they
sent out scouts to reconnoitre their o-
sition. Major Mitchell, with field
glass, proceeded to side of the mount
ain overlooking the house of Greek
George, where unobserved he could
view all that passed about the prem
ises.
After waiting some time, he saw
Vasquez approach the place, dismount
and picket his horse, and then go into
the house. Another man came out,
and taking two horses struck for the
woods. Still another came upon the
premises and went within. Without
waiting for further developments,
Mitchell rejoined his party, and they
together proceeded to complete their
plan of attack. A wood-wagon, COM
ing down the caiion about this time,
was seized upon, and the occupants,
two Mexicans, compelled to further
the plans of the party, as will be seen,
in most valuable manner. The men,
after securing their horses, sprang into
the wagon-box, and there lay down, so
as to be concealed from sight. Thus
lodged to their satisfaction, they lev
eled their revolvers upon the two men
on the seat in front, and under threats
of instantly shooting them should
they make the least sign towards CIV
ing an alarm, they drove direct for the
house of Greek George.
It was an interesting position, surely
packed like sardines in box, lying
on their backs, with the sun glaring
down into their faces, and jolting over
the rough road. Their nerves, too,
must have been at an interesting ten
sion, as each minute brought them
nearer to an expected conflict with
men Of such known pluck and so thor
oughly armed as Vasquez and his
gang. Fortunately their plan of pro.
cedure was so excellently chosen and
executed that their approach was not
suspected by the occupants of the
house. 1t was stealinga march worthy
Of general in the field. Too mucf
credit cannot be given the managers
of the expedition for the willy manner
in which they executed this part o
the programme. Meanwhile the os
tensible wagon load ofwood was near
ing its point of destination. Wher
within few yards of the house, the
Sheriff's party leaped from their place
Of concealment and in an instant sur
rounded the house.
So sudden and so we'll guarded hat
been their actions, that they had ar
rived without raising the least suspi
cion as to their approach. The house
was an ordinary adobe, with frame
kitchen built in the rear. Around thi
they quickly gathered, and had every
avenue of escape cut off. AS Roger
approached the door, which wa
slightly ajar, the inmates for the frs
time became aware of the presence @
y the pursuers. A woman within spran
fethe half open door and made an et
mem close and bar it, but her move
forced o1s anticipated and the doc
make It before she had a chance t
seated in the. Vasquez, who wa
took the instanu eating his dinner
small single bounarm, and with
small window, not m0ent through
inches square, and lanhan eightee
feet OH the outside. Here hppon hi
nv Hartlae from whom heNSaS me