The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-09-14
A BLOODY STORY.
1>senty-three Americans Killed by Two
Mexicans-A Reminiscence of Early
Times I'm Colorado.

10 the summit Oh the oduRre-ue-OnflSt
range by means of the wonderful Denve
and Rio Grande Gauge railway
and when they had gathered for littl
rest about one of the bubbling spring
just over the "divide," attention wa
called by Judge Hallett, member o
the party, to group of rocks some dis
lance from the valley, named, presumed
ly from their shape, the "Anvil rocks.
II was from this group of rocks, as al
ambuscade, that the famous Espinosi
Mexican outlaws shot and killed, with NJ
other purpose than TO shoot and kill, Sc
many innocent travellers. The story il
still an occasional STARTER to the reflect
i've old settlers of Colorado, and the
story is truly terrible enough in all its
details to startle the most disinterested
whether resident IN Colorado or thou,
sands of miles therefrom. 1t is as fol.
lows
From time to time, all through the
year 1868, parties of troops or travellers
passing through the south-central por.
tons of Colorado would come upon the
dead body of some traveller, lying as il
fell, with horse or team straying some
where in the vicinity, and with no APP
parent attempt at robbery, or other
reason for the murder having been COM
mitted. A man would be found dead
on the road, with all his valuables about
him and his horse by his side and the
next day another would be found, many
miles distant, under exactly similar cir
cumstances. A rifle-shot would be
heard in the vicinity of a mining camp
and proper investigation would reveal
the dead body of some companion mi
ner, herder, or other attache of the
camp, who had wandered away, care
lessly or upon some errand. After nine
of these murders had been discovered, it
was noticed that every victim was an
American, although the Territory at the
time contained large proportion of
Mexican and other settlers.
But, murderers will out, and the
agents of this wholesale slaughter first
came out in this wise:
One day, two prospectors were riding
together toward California gulch, when
suddenly couple of Mexicans appeared
in the road ahead, with rifles in their
hands, and fired simultaneously. One
of the prospectors fell dead, while the
other, though badly wounded, succeeded
in retaining his saddle until he could
reach the gulch and report what had
transpired. A party of miners soon left
the gulch in hot pursuit of the murder
ers. Their trail was found and followed
until, with long-range rife, one Mexi-
can was picked off his horse. The other
managed to make his escape The
wounded man was recognized as belong
b Sc,
dents of Southern Colorado. He breathed
long drawn curses upon all Americans,
boosted of the number he and his brother
had killed, and, while regretting his own
untimely departure from the field of ac-
ton, was in some degree content to leave
the rest of the hated race to the tender
mercies of his more-skillful brother.
The wounded Espinosa was hung to a
tree, and left for the fowls of the air to
feed upon.
From few days after the hanging
until many months had elapsed, MUIR
ders of the usual kind were of frequent
occurrence. On one occasion the Gov
ernor of the Territory received letter
from the surviving Espinosa, in which
| the latter stated that he and his brother
had once been deeply wronged by some
| Americans; that they had vowed venge-
ance upon the whole race; that he had
killed or assisted in killing twenty three
Americans; that his brother was dead.
and he was tired of the business, and
would transgress no more, provided the
Governor would proclaim his pardon on
or before a certain date. Of course no
notice was taken of this proposition, and
very soon the killing began again, fort
unately soon to be ended in this wise:
Col. e. w. Wynkoop, now of Denver,
was then commanding Fort Lyon, South
ern Colorado, and had detailed Lieut..
Baldwin, of the Colorado volunteers,
with squad of men, to escort a Gov
eminent train to Fort Garland, across
the Sangre-de- Christie pass. On his re-
turn, Lieut.. Baldwin discovered, near
the summit of the pass, the dead body
of q man who had left Garland shortly
before the troops. The body was still
warm, and the Lieutenant resolved to
improve his opportunity to capture the
murderer. Fortunately he had with him
an old scout and guide named Autabees
-one who was not excelled in his peculiar
line in all the mountains. Under the
RulttduCe Vi hutdDctS, WIZ soou iouh,s
the murderers trail, the troops started
in pursuit. The trail led up the noun
tain-side, and was rendered obscure by
the presence of much fallen timber.
But, after half miles stealthy progress,
the party came to sudden halt at sig
nails from Autabees. There, about fifty
yards away, in small clearing, could be
seen Mexican boy, not over 10 years OF
age, engaged in building a fire, and
man in the act of cutting meat from
quarter hanging to limb. Autabees
thrust his rifle through the aperture
which had revealed the murderers, and
fred. Espinosa number two-for he 1T
was-leaped high into the air, and then
fell. But, quickly regaining his feet, he
sprung to his rifle, shouting to the boy,
in Spanish, run, Manuel The Amer
leans are on u.s." Before Espinosa could
reach his rifle, two shots from Autabees'
revolver had let out his life. Lieut..
Baldwin felled the boy with one shot.
Espinosa's head was put upon pole
and carried to the fort. Manuel was
buried where he fell. Thus ends one OF
| al, a n,oot farrih1a of all trlle stories OF