Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1881-09-01
Lerada afterward took to the road q

Lerada afterward took to the road -
brigand and was q terror for miles
around. Many times troops were sent
after him that never returned. About
this time came the French, who, hear
ing of his many exploits and influence
with the Indians, made overtures to him
to join them, promising $4,000 per
month to pay his men. Lerada accept
ed and went, with eight thousand men,
to Mazatlan, received the first INSTALL
ment, came back to Topic, disbanded
them, and put the money in his pocket.
He afterward received the same sum
regularly, and as regularly he
pOcketed it. This was the
beginning of his political prominence,
and he rapidly made advancement in
his endeavors for q complete control of
the government of this Sec
ton of the Republic. He APP
pears to have been a terribly revengeful
man, and anyone that he imagined had
done him any injury lived but little
time after. On one occasion, at ball
In Topic, he observed an official of the
Government in conversation with a sem
orita with whom he was enamored. He
directed one of his own officers to 90 to
him and tell him to leave the house.
Lerada, seeing the official still convers-
ing with the young lady again called his
officer and asked if he obeyed him, and
at the same time pointed to the pistol
which the officer carried, asking if he was
aware to what use such an instrument
was put. Snow 90 to that
man." he said, "and take him
by the beard and lead him
from the house." The officer, well
knowing that if he disobeyed his own
life would be forfeited, did as he was
told. On another occasion he sent an
Indian with a watch and sum of mon
ey from his place at San Luis to Topic.
The Indian stole both, pawning the
watch. He was apprehended and shot,
and so, too, the poor pawnbroker and
the innocent purchaser of the watch
from the latter-both were arrested and
shot by order of Lerada. But his am
bition for extended power ruined him.
His frequent successes had led him to
believe that he could capture Guadala-
jara, and with eight thousand Indians
he started for that city, when, after a
well-fought battle, he was routed and
obliged to return to Topic, having lost
the prestige he had gained in eighteen
years, as well as the confidence of his
officers. The latter "went back on
him." and one "gave him away" re-
ceiving, it is said, considerable sum
for the information; and so at last Lee
rada was captured and soon after was
shot near the bridge crossing the river
passing this city. He begged earnestly
for his life, one person assuring me that |
he offered to iquidate the American
debt if released. But it was of no use
his death was inevitable, and while pro- |
testing that his actions had been for the |
good of the Indians, whose chief he |
was, the drums were rolled, a volley of |
musketry was heard, and the career of |
Lerada was at an end.
AS to his wealth during his lifetime,
there are many stories. One is that |
barrels of gold and silver were carried
at his order to the mountains and there
deposited by four men, who, after fin
shing the work, were, of course, shot,
that it might not be divulged. There is
1T Santiago an old man who tells that
he, in company with another, Ateiro,
came to Topic in the nighttime, escort
ng Lerada and six mules heavily laden
with gold and silver bars, brought from
Jig Ill Guc VI OdQUld-
20, and which were deposited in Lera-
las house; that after their arrival he
vas sent out to buy mescal, and as he
1ad weakness for the "vine CELESTIAL"
ne drank too much, got drunk, and did
not return to the house. In the morn
NC the mules were found astray. Lerada
vas on his way to Guadalajara, and the
,ther man, his companion, never was
heard of again. His ideas of discipline
we're as severe as his ideas of many
,ther things. 1t was his custom to re-
rev his "a 900 Indians on the first Sum
lay of every month at s o'clock q. m,
Ind it was expected that every man
would be present or with sufficient ex-
,use. AS they had to come from many
eagues away it would not seem strange
there were many delinquents. On one
at one of these reviews, when
hose present were in the line, one I'M
ortunate arrived ten minutes late. He
vas called before the chief, and, after
,eing reprimanded before the whole
Irmy, was led to tree and shot.
The family of Lerada, his wife and
wo daughters, reside at San Luis. She
8 in very comfortable circumstances,
md is represented as very lady-like
nd amiable person.-Alta California.