Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-12-03

and the death warrant recited, and
Judas is given an opportunity to
sneak for himself, but remains as
mute as o dead mutton, which is
taken as an acknowledgment that
the Judgment ia just, and that he
ought to die. Now the military
com mander orders his men to
nload! shoulder arms! ready! aim !
firev and poor Judas, for the
eig hteeu-hundredth time or more
suffers q public execution. The
yoliey riddles him. Then load
and fire at wilI.u and the soldiers
take huge delight in firing at
Judas until there is not a piece of
him left large enough for a cigar
wrapper. In the meantime the
band plays, the crowd yell and
boot In triumphant glee, aud Judas
is sent to the devil until Saturday
the year coming, when he is again
disposed OF in the same way.
After the gIingo nation had
nailed it's flag to the mast in this
angel land, the ceremonies attend
ing the annual execution of Judas
became less inspiriting and salts
factory. because of there being no
military to blow the old traitor
into the next year. Happily, in
1854, one w. w. Twist, he who had
been Sheriff of Santa Barbara and
got SO worsted in his tussel with
Jack Powers, raisedsa company of
volunteer infantry, responded to
the pious call of Father Anacleto,
marched his company to the plaza,
and with Uncle SANS muskets
riddled Judas as effectually, a.
we'll and as much to the satisfac-
ton of all concerned as ever did
the Christian soldiers of Spain and
Mexico. Twist came to California
with Stephenson's regiment, was
natural-born soldier, was an
American by birth and Mexican
by marriage and won a crown i'm
morta' in being the first. and pos
sibly the last man, who ever used
the arms of the gripgo governments
In so pious way. Alas! poor
Twist. he went to Sonora and
assembled thence to glory on the
smoke of a Mexican revolution.
Some of the great ranches of the
country were baronial in their
extent aud surroundings. Their
proprietors being great dlgnitaries,
maintaining large numbers of vas
sals--for such really they were,
mostly indians who, under Next
can major domos, did ali Of the
labor for the ranch. The chief
major domo, under the immediate
direction of the patron, had entire
supervision of tho business; then
there was the major domo do la
casa, or steward; the major domo
del Campo. had charge of the
vaqueros, or mounted herders in
the field; the major domo de las
caponeras had full control of the
gentle horses; the major domo de
las mandas was in charge of
thousands of wild mares and their
foals, and attended to the branding
of colts, others to the marking and
branding of cattle. There were
hair-rope and halter-makers, Others
who made ctDches or broad hair
girths, makers OF raWhide riatas,
the 6urers OF hides, the triers out of
tallow, the howers of wood and the
carreta men, all of whom amount
cd to huadreds of people depend
ent upon the rancher0 or lord of
tho manor. AT morn you hear the
CHATTER of horses feet and the jing-
ling of spurs as the mounted men,
hat in hand report for duty to the
msjer domino-in-chief and then in
detuchments dashed off at a full
gallop In all directions to their re-
spective duties. BY this time cof-
fee is served in the dining hall,
aud the patron, members of his
old, and guests take their
morning cup. AT nine Or ten
O'Clock the vaqueros begin TO re-
turn from the field, and herd of
gentle horses are driven into the
corral, fresh ones are caught, and
those of the day before are turned
loose. may be not to be used again
for week; the fresh ones are sad
died, and then the under major
dOmos report to the chief, who in
turn, hat in hand, reports to the
patron, and then the Whole ranch,
goes to breakfast, which being dis
posed OF the duties Of the day are
resumed.