Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-01-05

rado reopfved q liter written in Spanish
which anted fhat some time back The
writer end ~ brother had been deeply
wronged b. me- Americans; that they
then swoce vengeance against the whole
race ard hed delermiaed to devote then
| livcs TO ~ fqI1ilment OF their vow, but
that his bEuth4 now being dead, he had
becoras: tirod q killing, and on certain
conditions W willing to forego further
vengeaace and become good citizen; that
| he had % Is killed and assisted. in killing
twenty thFee americans, and be would be
satis6ed With that number, in case the
f0ovefnor would grant HIM q free pardon
for hrs p18 transgression1 The letter was
aligned <.Espanosa" lie further stated
that unleaDtL tie pardon was publicly pro-
claimed by certain date, be would con-
tinue The course he had been pursuing
while he had life. OF course no response
was made to Ibis unheard of proposition,
and for awhile longer Espenosa resume:
bis old trnde. but fortunately his career
was SON ended. At this time the officer
commanding Fort Lyon, in southern Colo
rado, detailed Lieutenant Baldwin, Of the
First Colombo Battery, with squad of
men % escort government train to Fort
Garland scross the Sangre de Christie pass.
On the Lisufenant's return while near the
afore ueutioned pass, the body of q gen.
tleman Who had left Fort Garland little
in adv AnCe Of the command, was discov-
cred, hnylng been Just killed, the remains
still warm. Fortunately Lieutenant
Baldwin lad with him as scout and guide
an old mountaineer by the name Of Auts-
bees one'who was not excelled in his Pc
culiar ifnr in tine country. He imme-
diately discovered the trail Of the muir
dcrers; 1nding out from what to him were
sure indlcations that there were two of
them Cader the guidance OF Autsbees,
Lieutenant Baldwin with some of his men
started in pursuit. The trail led up the
side Of . mountain, which was covered
with fallen dead timber, and the utmost
precauiinn was necessary to prevent their
approach being heard, but under strict in
functions from the guide they crept
stealthily along until they had got over
aoout half mile Of ground. when sud-
denly Auta5ees. who was in the advance,
by q rapid motion halted the party who
were following, and dropped on his face,
the rest following lis example. He then
signed 10 Lieutenant Baldwin to approach,
who In the most careful manner did so.
The scodt pointing through a small space
between the logs. the Lieutenant beheld the
following scene: An open space in the
timber. Mexican boy about sixteen
years qsd lighting small fire; a man In
the act Of cutting sume meat from a quar-
ter of Beef that hung TO the limb of tree.
Autsbees had thrust his rifle through the
logs and had the man covered, the distance
about f.ty yards. He looked to Baldwin
for permission TO fire. The Lieutenant
fearing lie man might escape, nodded his
hesd. The rifle cracked, the man leaped
into the air. then fell. In an instant he |
was on dis feet making for his ride which |
stood ,ainst tree q short distance of,
at the same time to the boy, in |
Spanish, '.Run Manuel, the Americans are |
on usL Before reaching his rifle Auts- |
bees was on him; two rapid shots from his |
revo yer and Espenosa fell dead in the act |
Of rs.c.sing for his gun The boys fight !
was iaopaeI by fatal shot from Lieu
- c., sr -
veyd to Fort Gariart. The boy wa-
nephew and was buried where he fell.
Thus closed career that is without a par
allel. 1t seems like an incredible state
ment, but the truth Of which can be
vouched for by all the old residents of
Colorado. A character Of that kind de-
picted in a romance would appear absurd,
simply proving how much stranger is truth
than fiction.