New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-01
BRIGANDS AND BONANZAS.
ppospECTIYG IN NORTHERN MEXICO.

EASTERN ENTERPRISE TAXING TIE LEAD AMONG
WESTERN MiNES-TAIE or PROSPECTING
TOUR IL NORTHERN MEXIco-NATURH AND
HABITS or THE MEXICAN BRGAND AND HOW
TO DEAL WITH HIM-BEAUIT AND Fertility
OF THE GREAT VALLEY or sONORA-LACh VI
ENTERPRISE AMONG THE NATIVES.
lFpoJ Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIsUNEl
SAN TRANCIsCO, Oct. G.-Fyo years ago IL was
the popular impression among mining men IN TINS
city. that we had preempHve right 10 ali business
growing ont of operations in the mineral regions
west Of the Rocky Mountains, and 1t came to
be assumed that san Francisco was
the bullion centre of America. Ten years ago TINS
claim was perfectly legitimate. The capital that
then reached out eagerly 20 develop new mines on
the coast came from this city. The great mine man
ayers were here; The machinery came from the local
fouudfies; the mining stock was specuiated IN here
even the names of our mines were almost unknown
i'm Wall Street. Il never occurred to the most I'M
aguajive Spectator of that time that single de-
cade would see the capitalists OF New-Iork ana
Boston transfer the management OF mines on tins
coast to the eastern metropolis
IFfFCT OF RAILROADS.
The marvellous growth Of the railroad SYSTEM
which has become the actual pioneer, and has dogseu
the heels Of the most adventurous prospeetors has
changed all this While capitalists IN tn" city
have been putting their coin in Government bonds
or boarding il in banks, waiting for another Com
stock to be opened up, Eastern men have taken
their places and have reaped a rich harvest The
Western mining capitalists are Just now owai-
eDi,g 10 the f4ct that tho richest mines
of Arizona and New-Ncxico have already
pas4cd beyond their grasp, and that the same tate
threatens TO befaI the far richer ledge, Waich an
other wear VIII see in full working orderm Northern
Nexico Prospcctors have been few because OF the
EXPENSE Of travel aud of the fancied insecurity OF
the country. But those who have yentured report
that the Old Mexican mines Will turn ont IN
the next five years an amount OF Dullloh
equal TO the WELD Of the COmstock in IFS palmy
DAYS They pin their faith t. eastern capital anu
Of the limited number Of companies which nave
recently been organized, all count among ther
LARGEST stockholders wc-knOwn capitalists OF New
York City.
The difference in enterprise and push between
Uoetor, and Western investors and mining opera
tors Is well illustrated by the history of party that
left here early in August on tour OF oDSer'alon'
under instructions from capitalists III NeW-loIh
City. 1t consisted of General La Grange
Thomas Nc"ques and J. {. Alvarado' 'he
latter son of one Of the early Governors Of Cali
foruia. Mr. Alvarado speaks the Spanish language
perfectly. and as an interpreter he was Invaluable
| v.
very interesting. and to give it me in detail he
submitted TO a long interview. His narrative was
substantially as followsi
STORY OF PROSPECTING TOUR
On Augnst 10 We started from Tucson, Arizona for
Uernogillo the capital Of Sonora. Our lot was cast
with miners in prospecting garb and Next
cans returning from California and Arizona.
With the mercury at 1912 IN the shade
we bowled away toward the border.
Tho STAGE ride was like all stage rides, tedious and
dustv. though if was eulivcned 10y several novel eX-
perrpcos. The first Of these was camping out at
njght when no wayside inn could be reached. We
passed through 1ubac. q very ancient Spanish town.
and through Caliblsas. which is a new town on a
sterile plain and rests all IT'S hopes OF future pros
| uerity or success in boring for water. Should this
fail the place will be as valuable FOR residences rs
quarter section Of the Sahara. At early dawn on
| the 10Th we drove into Los BEulta5. where we
| were recalled by q French gentleman with blood
! curdling accounts OF the deeds Oh heye' inc
revolntiouisf. The narrator hal lost mule, fine
lew saddle and so i'm COM He declared that We
would be stripped to Che ln and tried 30 diss made
Us from ventutng further on the road We had
taken on number of Spanish passengers at various
towns on the way, and one OF these, the Subtle
feet of Naclalena. alarmed by the stories about
| fine briraud left the stage and struck across the
I
mountains on mule back.
Asyeuearcd MagIalcna the contrast between
Sonora and Arizona became more striking We
had been travelling over parched desert,
the very picture Of dosoiation; now we
were rafting along through fertile fields
Of grain and by the side OF vast
rolling plains of verdure. The town contains about
2 600 inhabitants and ~ situatodupon an open road.
AZ we entered n the church bells began TO toll the
signal that the stage was coming. The little plaza
was full of people all with very mournful counlen-
auces and all talking about the great eyent-the
bloodless capture Of the town BY BrgIdo Reyes
METHODS OF A MlX;CAE BRlGAND
T. seems that the brigand dashed up to The town
with small following of well-auned rapamuiilnS
and took If without the firing of o single shot, The
authorities had lied. HIS first act was to levy a
forced loan of $4,000, which to be paid within
! twenty-iour hours by the merchants Mean" hiie
each lanquished in Jail until he had made up ms
porrion OF the sum- The Padre assessed u 900.
Inf more fortunate thal the other victims, he EN-
listed tAc and of 9ll the women, and soon gathered
the amount Don Joseph rerS1n, tGc principal mer-
chant. claimed 90 ic al American citizen bd, i yes
was unable to take the same Wow OF MS nation
oltv. and mulcted him in $1,000 The Don
fingered in limbo q. the tIme OF our arr val
II wa, hi-h noon when drove mp IN 'front.' OF the
batel. crowd Of il-l0oldngmea scanned closely,
but General la Grange, who had given CLirqui,
tbe Mexican driver. a fee Of so. ordered him
TO he ready for departure promptly al
o'clock We then went into The hotel,
but scarcely had we seated ourselves when
Ch,ioui rushed in, and said 30 Spanish, The Com
mandant has ordered me not to leave town uuul lie
shall give me ordcrs.p The Commandant, IL was
found. was Don Bigllo Reyes, who was in the
nc.ehlorng barracks. The General and went over
there at Once. At the entrance two ragged, bare
footed guardsmcn presented arms mutteIod some
thing in Spqnish but allowed us 70 pass. An officer
usl cred II, into the presence Of o small swarthy
,.,p with fall dark beard tinged with gray, VINO
was very suave and polite. He gave us his hand,
and We fouud it was none other than the ferocous