The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-02
THE CALIFORNIA TURPIN.
AN UNPARALLELED CAREER.


HIS WILD AND BLOODY LIFE AND HAIR
BREADTH EsCAPEs-THE MANNER OF MAN
HE'S.
From the San Francisco Chronicle of the
18th inst, the particulars of the capture of
he celebrated robber Tiburcio Vasquez. are
obtained. A party OF eight special sheriffs
and detectives started out from Los Angeles
on the 18th inst, under charge of Deputy
Sheriff III. NJ. Mitchell. This successful
movement was made on information OBJ.
tanned by Sheriff Rowland from
a native Mexican. The party had
| to take every means TO prevent de-
lection as spies OF vasquez, were every
where to De found. The members left Los
| Angeles in the night on separate routes and
met at an agreed point near the Also can
yon. VasqueZ' headquarters were found TO
| be at the house of a Mexican of bad repute,
called Greek George" Proceeding out on
the side OLA spur of the mountain range, by
| the aid of field glasses they obtained view
of VasqueZ and few of his party. The
| latter moving off in another direction, Vas
quez was seen to enter the house of "Greek
George" The attacking party divided
itself, one part to proceed against Vasquez,
and the other to follow the retreat
ing party. Finally, by stealthy APP
proaches, the men managed to arrive
near the house and secrete themselves in a
thick grove of mustard weeds. At length,
the men being stationed around the house. |
an attack was made upon one side and the !
robber Vasquez was quick to make his
appearance. He was unarmed, as at that
moment he was eating his dinner. As he |
attempted to leave the house and escape /
into the thicket, he was fired upon by sew
eral of the party, and falling to the ground, /
quietly gave himself up a prisoner. He /
was wounded in the head, and also in the |
calf of each Leg in each arm and in the
thumb. He was very calm and possessed
during all of the scene, and very wisely re-
marked that it was all his fault; he should |
not have attempted to escape. Vasquez was
without money at the lime of his capture, |
and was taken Immediately to Jail in Los
Angeles where the greatest excitement pre-
vailed on his arrival.
THE ROBBERS CAREER.
Tiburcio Vasquez was born in Monterey,
and is now about thirty-t1ve years of age.
In his youth he attended the public school,
and showed indications of intelligence
superior to that of most of his class. His
parents were of the lowest class, and he was
reared in idleness, and became lazy,
good-for-nothing fellow, following no &C.
cupation, but spending most of his time
around saloons and other loafing places
He spoke and wrote English and Spanish,
and was looked, upon rather spoiled,
worthless fellow, than as a Desperate How
ever, he early developed spirit of lawless-
ness. He divided his time between Los
Angeles, Monterey, Petaluma and other
places, and was engaged in several
iawless transactions. In August,
1885, he was sent to the state prison from
Los Angeles for grand larceny, for five
years, but escaped June %, 1859. Soon he
found his way back to San Quentin, where
he arrived on August l6, 1859, under COM
mitment for one year, for grand larceny in
Amador county. Having. served out this
sentence of form
sentence, he was discharged from the prison
on August ID, 1868. At this time Tomaso
Rodundo, alias PrOcopio, the noted outlaw
and an old compadre of Vasquez, met the
latter; A band was formed, with Procopio
and VasqueZ as leaders, and a magnificent
program OF plumber and outlawry was
mapped out. On January Is, 1867, VasQuez
once more arrived at the state prison. to
serve out sentence OF four years for grand
larceny committed in SOnoma county. He
was discharged June IA, 1870.
NEW BAND oRGAIzED.
Vasquez did not long remain idle. A new
band was organized, with him as leader Mar
eesa Rodriguez and Francisco Barzelias be-
ing members. About two years ago thew
started on systematic plundering expedi-
ton. The Visalla stage was stopped and the
passengers robbed near Soap Lake, and [
number of men and several houses robbed
afterwards. Vasquez seem to
bear charmed life, for all efforts to capture !
lslm resulted in complete failure. The next we
bear OF Nasquez is in connection with the c
daring robbery at Firebaugh's Ferry, and c
the robbery of the Twenty-one mile House. | 1
between Gtlroy and San Jose. UIzerath, I
Snyder's clerk, at once road into Hollister t
and spread the appalling news. Within a '
couple OF days Sheriff Wason, of Monterey, 7
OF Santa Clara, Morse of Alamenda
and Rowland of Los Angeles, each with a r
party of followers, were on the track of the f
bandits. For some weeks the hunt was il
kept up; but the recesses of the mountains t
afforded protection to the fugitives, who r
knew thoroughly every gorge and ravine v
which could afford them a hiding place. I
Besides Vasquez was not unpopular with 6
sne nauVe californian element, which p
doubtless aided him and his companions in 6
eluding the search OF his pursuers. Soon q
The band perpetrated another daring out v
rage, no less than descent upon the town I
Of Kingston, Fresno county. One night in O
Der, Nasquez, with eight native Cali ii
Iornians, two Americans, and a negro, tied il
heir horses on the bank of the river, opposite b
crossed a bridge on foot and Il
look possession OF hotel and two stores on q
he main street. Thirty-five men were O
bound by the gang and relieved of their Il
money and valuables. The safes and O
drawers were also robbed of their contents q
IN this raid they obtained $1,000 in coin, be- il
tides watches ard other jewelry. The citi- 81
sens of the village on hearing of the robbery, fl
irmed themselves and opened fire on the Il
bandits from the opposite side of the street. "
md the fire was returned. Vasquez him Fl
elf was armed on that occasion with four b
navy revolvers, and though holly followed a
Up, the gang managed to make good their b
fed i'm different directions. The d
lame of the bandit first became notorious s.
throughout the state in connection with a
THE TRES PINos TRAGEDY, a
which occurred early in the evening of the y
9th of August last. This fearful crime filled v
he people of the state with horror. n
This affair was as follows: The is
laring robbery committed by him n
IN Wednesday. April 10th, once more a.
learly pointed out his exact whereabouts n
o the pursuing officers. On the day named. "a
'asqueZ and four of his followers appeared in
t the residence of . wealthy Italian sheep tr
L.. H. L. -