Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-07-14
PUGH'S CAPTURE.
Sensational RumOr That IL was
by Disguised white Men.

Cincinnati Enquirer, Ill
The alleged capture of Thomas Key
Pugh, of this city, by Aapche Indians,
details ofwhich appeared in the En-
quirer yesterday, is assuming an in
teresting phase. Il will be remem-
bered that the statement was made
that Pugh, when in CalifcrniA, became
very intimate with General Rosecrans,
and in connection with him became
interested in the purchase of large
rancho in Mexico. Last January he
came East, having in his possession a
written option to purchase the rancho
at fixed price He visited New York
city several times and employed a
broker by the name of Henry Altman
to negotiate the sale ofthe land. Mr..
Pugh's portion was about $4,000,
$4,000 Of which was to have been
paid Mr.. Altman for his services.
Early last June Mr.. Pugh went to lei
Paso, Texas, and there he found Mr..
Altman, the New York broker whom
he had employed, endeavoring to make
negotiations with the owner of the
rancho, by which he (Pugh) would be
left out OF the transaction entirely. A
serious quarrel took place between
Mr.. Brewer and Pugh, and the tor
mer, in company with the owner OF the
rancho, started out to visit the prop.
erty in private conveyance. Young
Yugh took the stage to follow them to
chihuahua, city two hundred miles
southerly, and below the location of
the property in Mexico. On Sunday
morning, July 3, at about 3 clock in
the morning, party of Apache Indi-
ans attacked the coach and killed all
OF the passengers except Pugh, whom
they took prisoner. The attack was
made about seventy five miles below
Pass Del Norte, on the Chihauhau
stage route.
Another chapter came to hand last
night, which complicates the matter
and renders it all the more sensation
al. This chapter comes in the shape
of special from Denver, Colorado,
and is as follows:
DENVER, July 10-Rumors now
current in New Mexico indicate that
the capture last week of Thomas X.
Pugh, of Cincinnati, near I'll Paso, is
assuming an extremely sens .tional
character. 1t is supposed now thathe
was not captured by the Apaches at
all, but by gang of villains disguised
as Apaehes, who had a motive to put
him out of the way. 1t is known that
young Pugh had secured a contin-
gent claim of the Mexican govern
ment upon twenty miles square, or
four hundred square miles of land, to-
gether with fifty thousand head of
cattle, for which he was to pay a spe-
cifc sum at the end ola time desig-
mated. Mr.. Pugh got all his papers
executed properly, and went to New
York and put the matter into the
hands of broker to sell for him. IL
is believed the land is not only good
for grazing purposes, but is rich in
the precious minerals. Mr.. Pugh is
reported to have secured the services
Of Henry Altman, broker ia New
York city, to sell tbs Mexican claim
for him. After perfecting arrange
ments with his broker. Mr. Pugh pro-
ceeded at once TO New Mexico, and,
arriving at I'll Paso, was astonished to
find Altman there before him. 1t il
rumored that Altman was trying to
negotiate for Puph's claim, and beat
him out of it; and that Pugh, before
taking the stage in which he was cap
tured, had high words with Altman.
1t is also further regarded as incredi-
bic that the Apaches should permit
him to drop letter in the road say
ing, II have been captured by the
Apaches." And it is believed that
such an act is supposable only Of dis
guised robbers who had purpose
and a motive for taking his life, and
meant to do it. These rumors are
rife now, and most searching inves-
tigation will verify or dispel them.
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