The Northern Pacific farmer., 1881-08-04


Many times troops were sent after him tha
never returned. About this time came the
French, who, hearing of his many exploits
and influence with the Indians, made over.
lures to him to join them, promising $50
OOO per month to pay mis- men. Lerada &C.
cepted and went, with 5000 men, to Mazat-
Ian, received the first installment, came
back to Topic, disbanded them and put the
money in his pocket. He afterward received
the sum regularly and as regularly he pock.
eted it. This was the beginning of his po-
litcal prominence, and he rapidly made ad :
vaneement in his endeavors for complete
control of the government of this section o1
the republic. He appears to have been a
terribly revengeful man, and any one that
he imagined had done him an injury lived
but a little time after. On one occasion at
ball In Tepio, he observed an official OF
the government in conversation with sen
orita with whom he was enamored. He di-
rected one of his own officers to go to him
and tell him to leave the house. Lerada,
seeing the official still conyersing 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
Wds put. NOW 60 70 tnaC 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
place at San Luis to Topic. The Indian
stole both, pawning the watch. He was
apprehended and shot, and SO, too, was
the pawnbroker and the innocent purchas
er of the watch from the latter-both were
arrested and shot by order of Lerada.
But his ambition for extended power ruined
him. His freqtent successes had led him
to believe that he could capture Guaaalajara
and with 5000 Indians he started for that
city, when, after . we'll fought battle he
was routed and obliged to return to Topic,
having lost the prestige he had gained in
eighteen years, as we'll as the confidence
of his officers. The latter went back on
him." and oae ''gave him away" receiving,
as he said , a considerable sum for the in
formation: and so at last Lerada was cap
tured and soon after was shot near the
bridge crossing the river passing the city.
He begged earnestly for his life, one per-
son assured me he offered to iquidate the
American debt if released. But it was of
no use; his death was inevitable, and while
protesting that his actions had been for
the good of the Indians, whose chief he
was, the drums were rolled, 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 finishing the work were, of
cho$ hat ~Al L
There is at Santiago an old man who tells
that he, in company with another Anterio,
came to Topic in the night time, escorting
Lerada and six mules heavily laden with
gold and silver bars, brought from the
mountains in the vicinity of Santiago, and
which were deposited IN Lerada's house;
that after their arrival he was sent out to
buy mescal. and as he had weakness for
the vine celestial" he drank too much, got
drunk and did not return to the house. In
the morning the mules were found astray,
Lerada was on his way to Guadalajara, and
the other man, his companion, never was
heard of again. His ideas of discipline
were as severe as his ideas on many { ther
things. It was his custom to review his
"a, 900 Indians on the first Sunday of every
month at o'clock a. m, and it was ex-
pected that every man would be present or
with sufficient excuse. As they had to
come from many leagues away it would not
seem strange if there were many delin-
quents. On one occasion, at one of these
reviews, when those present were in line,
one unfortunate arrived ten minutes late.
He was called before the chief, and, after
being reprimanded before The whole army,
was led to tree and shot.
The family of Lerada, his wife and two
daughters, reside at San Luis. She is in
very comfortable circumstances and is rep.
resented as q very lady-ike and amiable
person.