The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-06-26
TIBURGI0 VASQUEZ.
PARTICULARS OF lis CAPTURE, AND A
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH or THE BAN
DTS CAI.fs-R.

| the 18th Of last March. at the intelligence
that TiburciO EasqUez, the leader of the
extensive gang of bandits, whose success
! fUl rJbberies and murders had caused
/ terror and CONSERVATION III all Southern
| California for the last year. had been at
! length captured the previous day, with
! two of his companions in iuiquity, was
! safely lodged in the jail OF tilar city. and
! 30 severely wounded that his escape
| from tie law was an impOsSibility.
! Great was the rejoicing at the cOniirIna-
! ton OF the report. and the leading news
! papers Of San Francisco immediately
sent reporters to Los Angeles to obtain
| the full particulars OF his capture
| From their columns we cOudcHse Il brief
/ history of the career OftIe most success
| full and atrOviOus freebooter OF the
country.
For months previous. two parties. one
led by Sheriff Rowland, OF Los Angeles
county, and the other 10y "A Major Mitch
ell. had been on the watch for the rob
Der, hoping TO eItTGp Lin BY strategy,
and secure the large reward offered Tor
his capture. Sheriff Rowland had. TO all
appearance, given up the enterprise,
while Major Mitchell was supposed to be
actively at work The latter Vasquez
feared. but the fOrTnerhe regarded as of
50 little consequence that he gave him
self no uneasiness about him. believing
he had given up the pursuit. In this
opinion, however, he was mistaken. and
"a events proved, Outgeneraled. Sheriff
Rowland had been infinitely informed Of
the whereabouts of NasqueZ for weeks
previous 10 his capture. and was only
awaiting the favorable moment to Sc
cure his prisoner. Having received
information that the bandit chief would
arrive on the 18th at the house Of a man
known as Greek George, in the vicinity
of Los Angeles, Sheriff Rowland. with Il
party of eight strong, able-bodied men,
stationed themselves in position where
they could command a view from every
direction of the location indicated, and
soon they discovered through a field
glass n party of MeXicans on horseback.
ridind toward the house. and observed
that among the horses was a white one.
which was recognized rs the animal rid
den by NaSqueZ in his various bandit
raids. Observing that one OF the Mex
leans rode away. Major Mitchell and two
Others of the Sheriii's party overlook
him, and made him their prisoner. lie
gave his name aS kealeS, and declared
himself innocent of any crime In the
meantime, the Sheriff party saw a wood
wagon coming down the hilly road. with
two men in it, and making Il dprour.
they captured il, and caused themselves
to be driven under IT over to tie house
of Greek George. The position of the
party was anything but Il comfortable
one. as they were closely crowded to-
gether, and We're jostled over the noun
tain roads, threatening with loaded
revolverS TO shoot their drivers the in
slant they gave the alarm. or otherwise
sought 10 attract the attention ci Vas
quez and his companions
When within few yards OF the house
they jumped from their place Of conceal
ment and Immediately surrounded it.
So sudden and well planned had been
their movements. that none of the in
mates had the least suspicion OF their
approach. The house was small in size,
and built with adobe with IL frame
kitchen in the rear, and around it the
courageous party quickly gathered, cut
ting oil every avenue OF escape. n door
was slightly ajar, and as llr. Rogers. one
OF their number. approached IT. tie i'll
mates first became aware that their
hiding place had been discovered. \
woman sprang TO the IIaIf-oDen door and
endcavored 20 bar il. but He movements
were anticipated and it was forced open
before success had crowned her effort
NaSquez was in the kitchen eating h!s
dinner. and the instant that he took the
alarm he leaped through small window
about eighteen inches square and land
ed on his feet on the outside Here lie
Ill
contents Of a double barreIed shotgun.
and fell to tine ground. Quickly recov-
ering himself, however he sought flight
in another direction. when lie was con
fronted by others of the pursuing party,
and shot in the shoulder with Il Henry
rifle Wheeling around, he sought es-
cape in Il third direction, when he was
again shot. and throwing up his arms lie
cried out in English, Don't shoot, and
Signified his intention 10 surrender.
In the excitement Of the moment he was
shot a fourth time, when lis capture
was effected. The party now divided.
a portion taking possession OF the house /
and its occupants. and the remainder
carsng for the wounded bandit. At first
it was thought that his injuries were
mortal, but subsequent medical eNalnin-
alton showed that all four wounds were
flesh wounds, and that his chances for
recovery are excellent ualcs5 Tie fever
became too great.
Only two OF Nasquez's cOnfeder2teS
were taken. the others having effected
their escape. One was man OF forty
and the other one OF eighteen Or nine
teen. Four hundred rounds OF amuni-
ton and large amount Of firearms
and dirlI-kniyeS We're found in one room
of the house. The prisoners were car
ried to the wagon, driven 20 L0SAngei-s,
and placed in jail. where the wounds OF
the robber CHEF wee attended TO.
During the next day lie was identified by
many OF the unhappy victims Of Ii rob
berries. and the reiCicinCS nj his final
capture. and his euleebicd physical CON
ditions were such that the city presented
the appearance % gala day. From
interviews reported in the san Francisco
BuVstiH. with Na,queZ. we coudenSe the
following brief biographical sketch Of
the career Of tLis yiiaiECus murderer
and thief.
He was born II Monterey county.
California. in 1891, and j. consequently
thirty->even years old. From his youth
he was q villain. never Welding 10 Gi~ci-
pliue. Il species Of Occidental E~iuail.
whose hand was against every one. At
the age Of fifteen he became engaged in
a ballroom fight. in the city OF Monterey.
and 10 escape arrest ne fed. and lived in
the mountains Of Meridian county, sub
sfsting by stealing cattle.
In 1877. he was arrested for grand lar
cenv. and sentenced 10 imprisonment
fora term of five years. but two years
,r+ar he escaped. and was free Tor a
tiur TO con. inue lis thieving career.
when b. was again arrested III AinadCr
counrv and sentenced 10 State Prison
for one wear. the fact Of his previous -
cane not being taken into consideration
bvrbe Amador Court. Serving ont the
latter sentence. he was arrested the third
riua far the same ofIense. in SOuCEa
county and sentenced 70 four years inn
nri.onmenr. and discharged IL jane,
1870.
Subsequently he again went 70 Non
terey and kept ii low IeAIcan dance
house and brothel, and being driven
away by the authorities, he fed 10 the
mountains a before, and began the
bandit and cut-thrOat career which has
made his name the terror OF Southern
California. gathering around INN all the
desnerado..s who had tiOcked 10 that
latitude. attracted by the mild cIimat-.
and the Isolated. unprotected SITUATION
Of the towns. and the constant travel Of
emigranr- 70 the Pacific Coast Here
tbay formed numerous haunJs, and when
together. planned, plotted and executed
raids upon towns far and near. attack
ed ranches and waylayed and robbed
travellers Every attempt az capture
~. aDd for a time II an