Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1878-01-12
A CALIFORNIA TRAGEDY.


correspondence San Francisco Chronicle. ]
BAKERSFIELD, Cal, Dec. 22.-On
Dec l6, after dark, party of eight
Mexicans, two mounted and six on foot,
made q raid on the town Caliente, near
Santa Ana. They first proceeded to a
corral near the station and cut by force
from the attendants several fine horses.
The next point of robbery was store,
in which is located the post-office. Here
they took entire possession and appro-
pristed every thing that pleased their
fancy. In the drawer was a small
amount of coin, which they carried off.
The Postmaster, with great presence of
mind. coolly threw pile of greenbaeks
which he held in his hand into the
waste basket before the very eyes of the
robbers. who did not detect the trick
After taking all they desired, rush
was made for Wells, Fargo d Co.'S Of
fee, across the street, but the agent had
taken the alarm and locked the money
and yaluables in the safe and fed to the
mountains with the key in his posses
sion. There is usually large amount
of gold dust, ect., in the express office at
this point, awaiting shipment to San
Francisco, and the timely flight of the
agent saved the company from a heavy
loss. Having obtained every thing they
could in the shape of money, valuables,
horses, and provisions, the troop started
off in the direction of Ivanpan Noun
tains, it was supposed, on their way to
Mexico, mounted.
THE CAPTURE.
Several parties were sent out in pur-
suit, and one of them, from Bakersfield,
stopped at John Miller's ranch, on the
TETON trail, ~ miles above Newhall, on
Tuesday night On Wednesday morn
ing two of the robbers came from
their camp near there to the house 10
get some coffee, and were captured. A
shor1 time after third came and he was
also taken in. The Bakersfield men
then left two of their number to guard
those captured, and the balance of the
party went to the camp Of the robbers
and captured two more. There were
six of the gang, and only one escaped.
Those captured have very little money.
II is supposed that the one not captured
had most of the money with him.
LYNCHED.
Last night, between shutdown and
dark, the five Mexicans were brought
into town by James Young, w. L. Ken
needy, and others, and lodged in Jail.
The news of their capture spread over
the town at once, and created much ex-
citement during the evening. 1t began
to be whispered about that violence was
anticipated, and this coming to Under
Sheriff Lightner' ears, he went up to the
jail, and, having first locked all the cells
and outer doors, deposited the keys in
the safe, locked it with combination
that no one understands but himself, |
and carried the safe-key with him. Be- |
tween and O'Clock this Saturday |
morning eight men went up to the Court
house and demanded the keys of Deputy |
Sheriff Fountain. He told them they |
were locked up in the vault of
the safe, and that he did not
have the key. They then caught him
and took from his pockets his private
keys, but, not finding the jail keys or
the key TO the vault of the safe, they
sent committee of three after Under
Sheriff Lightner. He was called out of
his house just as he was getting ready
for bed and told that he must 60 and
open the safe, but he declined, saying
that he would not think of it, and moth
ing could induce him to do it. Finding
they could do nothing with him, they
left. This was about half-past l. The
party went back TO the Courthouse,
and, having secured a sledge-hammer,
An AK, and crowbar, passed into the
small room by the side of the main jail,
and which communicates with it by1
means Of a heavy wooden door. Upon
this door they commenced work, and
after battering and chopping two or
three hours, they finally succeeded in
breaking the door to pieces and effecting
an entrance. By this time not less than
100 persons had gathered. Once inside
Tho ia;l l. took hut lit l.a tina. To hrcal |