The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-05-13
BULLET-PROCF.
Twenty-three Shots Fired in vain at
the Bandit Chavez.

From Peter Sicily, who lives on the
MERGED River or miles above Smell
ing, we learn Of an exciting encounter
which, says The MERGED Gal Express,
took place between a Mexican supposed
to be Chavez, OF one of his gang, and
George Halsted, deputy sheriff of this
county, Mr.. Lucas and himself. on
March 20, about 10 miles north Of Smell
ing, at a place known as New Years
Diggings in this county. On Sunday
evening while Sicily was stopping at
Mr.. Lucas house, Mexican was seen
to walk up to his horse, unite it and ride
off, Sicily Immediately gave chase,
and late that evening discovered his
horse at Mexican camp some ten miles
from MERGED Falls. He watched the
place until after nightfan, when he start
ed for Smelling to obtain the assistance
of the Deputy Sheriff, Mr.. Halsted.
after getting lost and wandering over
the plains all night, he reached Smelling
about daybreak next morning, told his
errand TO Mr. Halsted, and the two, to-
gether with Lucas (who joined them
there, started to capture the stolen
property and the thief.
When about ten miles from Smelling,
on their way to the place where Mr.
Sicily saw his horse, they saw a man
riding toward them. Lucas who saw
the man when he took the horse, remark
ed to Sicily that this man looked like
the thief; and when they had got within
30 yards of him, the Mexican, who
seemed to comprehend the situation at
once, Immediately drew pistol and be-
gan firing at them. They also drew
their pistols and returned his fire, and
according to our informant's statement,
s'for the next five minutes ivlier fight
took place there than had ever had the
honor of engaging In before" After
the Mexican fired the first shot he wheel
ed his horse TO run, but our friends were
too quick for hi1n and closed in on the
gentlemen, firing at him all the time.
The Mexican seemed to be bullet-proof,
however, for although % shots were ex-
changed, 13 of which were fired by the
Sheriffs party, none of them brought
him down. During the fight Mr.. Lu-
cas- was shot in the right foot, which
caused quite painful wound. It is
thought that the Mexican was pretty
badly wounded, from the fact that after
shooting away all their ammunition he
more than mile by the three gentlemen
after they had procured ammunition and
reloaded their pistols, and was seen the
same evening passing Fred Lebright's
house on the Conlterville road, holding
tightly to the horn of his saddle and
leaning to one side. The scoundrel IN
doubtedly was not unaccustomed to en-
gaging in like encounters, for he emptied
two pistols during the fight, and as he
rode off he drew a third and remarked,
''n you want more come on" No trace
of the Mexican could be found after he
passed Lebright's, and it IS supposed
by some that he rode up on the noun
tain just beyond, and becoming EXHAUST
ed from the loss of blood, laid down and
died. 1t is to be hoped that such is the
case.
We learn, says The Tulare Times, from
DR.. George and E. M. Bently that
Chavez robbed man near the State
Range Hill, twenty miles from Pana-
mint, taking his horse, saddle and S65
in coin, on the 20ult. He was generous
enough to loan his victim one of the bro
ken down stage horses that he had taken
from Little Lake Station. This was
done IN the morning. Chavezs party
Were eating breakfast when the man
came by. They let him pass q short
distance, then hating him, presented a
Henry rife and a six-shooter, and told
him to s'shell-out. -