The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-25
AWOMAN'S GRIT.
Death Of a Female Horse Thief in
COlOrado-Pursuit and Battle
q Pitiful Revelation.

Some time during the early part of
the month three horses and two mules
were stolen from San Luis Park. They
are said to have been the property of
Mr.. Humphrey, OF Canyon City. But
it makes very little difference in this
country who is the owner or who Is
the thief; it is generally understood
that horse stealing is a crime which
must be punished. To put It IN plain
English, the life of Il nan who will
stoop SO low as to steel a bit of horse
flesh is worth less than the animal
This was the rule that loverned Col
orado in the early days, and it is
an honor able exception IN these
days, made honorable by the number
who observe the exception instead of
the rule.
ON THE TRAIL.
When these animals disappeared it
became incumbent upon the authori-
ties to see that they were restored to
their legitimate owners and that they
rogues should be awarded the full
need of justice. Deputy Sheriff
Wltherow, of Costilla county, volun-
teered to head a party to go in pursuit
He found one or two followers at Gar
land, and finding the trail of the de-
parting raScafS followed in close pur
suit. They had headed toward the Up
per Arkansas country, and III hat dI-
rection Mr.. WItherow and his little
band started III pursuit. AT SoIth Ar
kansas they received the glad tldings
that two men with three horses and
two mules in tow had preceded them
but a short while. Here the pursuing
party was reinforced by the addition
OF three men, and the party of the de-
putty sheriff, thus augmented, pushed
on in pursuit OF the bold violators of
the law. At every turn they heard
that the thieves with their booty were
fast making their way up the river,
and thus spurred on by the hope of al
most certain and early success. the
pursuers followed fast and followed
faster.
FIGHTING o LIFE.
The rogues had evidently had no
tidings that they were in jeopardy,
and they seem to have taken things
quite easily, making easy marches and
camping over at night without seek
ing any hiding place. Monday night
they larlated their horses out on the
banks of the ArkanSas-at this point
a ripping and rapid mountain stream
near the town of Buena Vista, and
made their beds near the stream. lit
tie dreaming that they had witnessed
their last sunset and that their lives as
we'll as their flight would very soon
be cut off by the faithful bullet of that
dread avenger, the laws executive.
Monday night the Sheritf's posse came
up and discovered that their game was
III sight. No move was made until
tho d1 NTn nnvf ,,,Ar,,. - -
few minutes before sunrise that they
went up to reconnoitre. They found
the thieves already astir, and being.
as they thought, prepared to take
them IN charge then, the posse.
with Mr.. Witherow at its head, order
ed an unconditional surrender. The
two men-such they must be called
saw their situation at a glance and
made up their minds quickly. Their
decision was made known to each 9TH
er in a second, and it was escape or
death, They announced as much bv
replying to the demand for a surren-
der with a shot.
This was the signal for the begin
ming OF "a sklrmiSh which lasted sever.
al minutes. The horse thieves ran
down the river and tried to secure
themselves behind the bank of the
stream 1t became necessary. there
fore. for Mr.. Witherow to divide his
forces, m send two men across the
river where they could have fair
view OF the enemy. The smaller of
the two had a navy revolver and the
larger a carbine, each firm two shots.
Apparently driven to frenzy by some
occurren e, the larger one all OF a sud