The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-23

ture OF vasquez, the Mexican leader of band OF
robbers, who Tor many months has been the ter
ror OF California by frequent "swoopsu down
upon villages, which they pillaged and then HE'D
away TO the mountains. Several thousand dollars
reward has neen standing bid for his capture,
and although he has several times narrowly es-
capped armed forces sent out, he was, on the 14th
inst, taken prisoner near Los Angeles A cor
respondent OF the San Francisco Chronicle, who
vas one of the capturers. under Deputy Sheriff
Johnson, describes
THE vAsoUEz HUNT.
The party, numbering seven armed men, left
Los Angeles secretly, sending their horses TO
point in the suburbs, where, armed with Henry
rines, revolvers and shot guns, they centred from
different routes. The correspondent wrltes:-
We crossed the plains, eight miles. to the Also
canyon IN the CuJunga range.
vASoUEz'S HEADQUARTERS
recently have been at the house OF Greek George"
the mouth or the canyon. Arriving at a point
near Greek Georges, we halted removed our
barking OF dogs, and reached the spot chosen by
our leaders Tor camping ground, little way
1y Of cr 20 sas
Bryant and d. X. Smith lett us there, and pro-
ceeded to point on the mountain side command
Ing view OF the whole valley, and, crawling
through the cnaparral from point to point, occu-
pied the time until ten O'Clock in
SURVEYING THE OPERATIONS OF vASQUEZ
ana his men below through an excellent field
glass. About ten O'Clock Mexican, answering to
the description or Vasquez rode white horse into
little hamlet about q mile and half from Greek
Georges. About the same time person answering
the same description. VINO subsequently proved to
he Vasquez, led his horse to water from where 1t
was s;aked near Greek Georges, and then re-
sakea u aud re-entered the house. In the mean
time three mounted men had ridden of in the
direction oil Los Angeles. 1t is unnecessary to
further detail these movements observed by
Mitchell further than to say that they led Johnson
and himself to decide that 1t was necessary to ?
DIVIDE OUR NUMBER ~
and attack both the house ana the party rososn.
bling Vasquez who had ridden OH. In the meantime
those OF us who had been lett in the canyon were
nine O'Clock two young Mexicans rode into the
canyon with wagon, and were halted, the traces
were directed TO remain stationary until Iurtner
orders, the object being simply TO prevent their
reporting the presence OF an armed party IN the
canyon. The party OF observation returned from
their position on the hill, and the following plan
was adopted :-Mtchell. with D. X. SMITH. was to
VINO mad ridden away on white horse, and the
rest OF our party, under Johnson, were to attack
the house OF Greek George. The house is In the
form OF the letter L. The stem or the is built OF
adobe and the proper OIL boards. The house Is
surrounded by dense thicket OF mustard, averae.
ing generally six ieet in height ana afrording an
intricate retreat. Near the house a thlcket or
willows, In which several horses were concealed.
The mountain side IS about quarter OF mile dis
tant, and Is rather destitute OF chaparral. 1t was
evidently impossible lor our party 70 get near the
believed that, even If VasqueZ himself was not ar
the house, several OF his men were there, and that
SHOULD HAVE A DESPERATE FIGHT
against the ODDS OF men equally wei armed and
Immediately determined to utilize the unonendinS
MeXicans whom we had stopped in the canyon.
They were compelled to turn their team around
and move to The rear OF the mouth OF the canyon.
There we lett our horses, and johnson, Harris,
Hartley, Sam Bryant Rodgers and myself packed
were directed 10 drive the wagon directly to Greek
Georges. Ihey were informed that the SLIGHTEST
any tnluI contrary to would
RESULT IN INSTANT DEATH.
It was about the most unpleasant ride ever TOOK
The sides OF the wagon box not Icing very high it
was with great difficulty we could jam ourselves
down so as TO be concealed from view. Arriving
at point about 100 yards from the house and
close to vasquez's white horse-so near 1t that 1t
could get to the horse before any one from the
house could've suddenly threw ourselves nom
party, without formal orders, spread out right
and left, ike administers, and, with heads bowed
low,
PLUNGED INTO THE MUSTARD THIcKET
ana moved rapidly and as silently as possible to-
ire OF the llne ana FASTENED to his side, pushing
through the weeds toward the house. Reaching
the house, Bryant asked me to remain at the
dows and the west side OF the house. cannot
just now give every mans position, as at that
windows anc the west side OF the house with very
particular interest. lew moments elapsed and
heard the sound OF a door burst in; second
later
RIFLE Oh PISTOL SHOT,
and my interest in the affair became intense. /
knew could hear any approach to the two win
dows, and suddenly divinlng from what under
stood OF the position Of our party, that any at
would probably be undertaken by the west side or
tine house, took step to the right, and the mo-
the act OF bounding toward me.
FIRED UPON HIM.
saw MN n row up ms hands ana those OF our
him, and two or three other shots were fired. l
confined my immediate attention TO preparing for
thinking proper to maintain the position l held
and SIN watch the windows A Jew moments
later 1t seemed probable that we had no more ene-
mics to contend WITH and moved around to the
east side, and vusquez and LeDrado, sometimes
called Corova, were there,
vAsQUEz BLEEDING, SMILING AND pxPosTuL AT1Ng
IN agentlemanly and excited manner. handed
my rife to Harris. and taking a sheepskln from
the top oil box. placed IL In The shade in the inner
angle OF the house and led vasquez to it, ana,
thanking me and smillng, he lay down. ! began
woman to staunch the flow OF blood Johnson,
and IN TACT, every one OF the party, did all in their
little time the expectation OF an attack from the
balance oil his party was so great that particular
attention could not be paid him.
HOW vASQUEZ WAS TAKEN.
Harris 1T seems, burst In the Kitchen door, which
had been shut by Greek Georges vile. Vasquez
was eating his dinner, wholly unarmed, and there
waa no way Tor MIN TO roach ms arms without
leaving the room by the very door Harris was en-
tering. He sprang like panther through an open
window, only ABOUT eighteen inches square, and
aIlgnted on Ills ieet, intending to fee towards the
willow thcket but discovering his enemies
Bpringing towards him from that direction, he hur-
red up the west side, as before stated to get his
horse.
WONDERFUL GOODNESS OF THE WOUNDED ROBBER
vasquez is a remarkable man. While looking
for his wounds placed my hand over his heart
and found Its pulsations gave no indication OF ex
element. His eye was bright, ana there was a
pleasant smile on ms face and no tremor In his
voice. He polite and thankful Tor every
attention. Supposing that he was fatally hurt at
first confined my attention entirely TO assist
ing the women 10 battle and bandage his
wounus and therefore took little note OF his
expressions. l Will give a lew, however, that will
sufice as examples, without trying to give hts
broken English. Although he thought ana said
that he was about TO dle-"Gone up,n as he ex-
pressed this expression OF countenance was one
OF admiration oil our determined attack ana our
good luck. sYou are good men--good men,
Some one said, 1--WE are sorry to have had TO
wound YOU So but 1t could not be helped.n ut is