Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-17
BRONCHO Lou.
Some Episodes in the Career of West
ern Female Desperate.

DeRUer Meas.
BrOncho Lou was a well-knoWn frontiar
character in the recent history of CoIora-
do. woman of perhaps 25, with con-
siderable pretentions to beauty, she could
yet be fierce as a fiend in her ferocitv or
as gentle as lamb, or as soft as an anoel
in her devotion to those she liked. With
her is somehow linked the history of MANY
oil the desperadoes of Southern Colorado.
In the years 1881 and 1892 cattle and
stock stealing was carried on To a large
extent, besides numerous highway rob
Derles, which did not stop at murder.
were OF almost daily occurrence. At last
one OF the communities most cursed bv
these outlaws determined upon an oroan-
lzed ehort to wipe them out" A posse
OF cltlzens was raised, who. armed TO the
teeth, started out in quest of the desnera-
does. After proceeding about six miles
from town they were found encamped. to
the number of six, as hard-looking rlfi-
ans as could be found anywhere. No
attempt at hiding had been made, and the
citizens rode in the centre of the camn
with pistols drawn, and demanded the
surrender of the outlaws. The re0uest
was answered by volley, in which one
OF the leaders of the citizens fell mortalIv
wounded. Then followed short but de-
cisiye battle, which resulted in the death
of two of the offenders, and the capture.
others
the sixth man somehow having made his
escape. The fight occurred on the SIGHT
OF an abandoned railroad cam, and was
known as the battle of the grade
The three wounded prisoners were
taken to town and put under a
heavy guard, as threats of lynching were
freely made. So indignant were the peo.
PIE, however, that the wounded men
would have died for want of attention had
RFOnnhn I
her these men would have been left to a
Well-deseryed but somewhat inhuman
fate. She, however, assumed their whole
care, and, deyoting herself to them
with humanity and tenderness
worthy OF better objects, they all re-
covered, and were placed in what was
supposed to be more secure quarters 10
await their trial. One morning their
Jail door was found open and the birds
hoWn, with the aid, as was ascertained.
OF Broncho Lou, who had furnished them
tools to escape, and also horses. which
she obtained from some of their friends
simultaneously with their escape Lon
disappeared, and it was rightly supposed
that she had fled with them.
A hue and cry was raised, stimulated
by the offer of heavy rewards by the town
authorities, and it was not long before the
trail of the fugitives was discovered
marked as it was by a number of fresh
outrages. Not ranch or small settle
ment near which they had passed but had
suHereu at thelr hands, and the pursuing
party constantly received large access
sions until it formed quite a respectable
company Riding night and day
for several days they finally came
upon fresh tracks made by their
game. Profting, however, by past ex-
perlence, the approach was made eau.
tlously. and soon the scouts reported that
hnf
deserted cabin standing in dense grove
OF aspen trees. Cautiously surrounding
the cabin and covering every point with
their reyolvers and Winchesters. the in
mates were ordered to come out and
throw up their hands, which they quickly
dld, and were soon mounted on extra
horses and securely bound. with the ex-
ception of Lou, who was allowed the
freedom of her hands and feet, After
a short consultation it was decided TO
settle the desperadoes' fate then and there.
An open space was sought and prepar-
ations made tor lynching them Just as
rope was being adjusted around their
necks, Lou, with a sudden move, took
from place of concealment in her dress
Keen knife, and before the astonished
gathering could recover from their sur.
prise, the three men and woman were
galloplng OIL into the timber at rapid
rate. They were never caught, so far as
known, although, their course being south,
there is no doubt but that they formed
a considerable accession to the already
criminal population of New Mexico,
Broncho Lou was never after heard
from. Certainly she was one of the queer.
est specimens of womanhOOd that ever
graced or disgraced a community. An
expert horsewoman, she always rode as a
man; an excellent shot, she was credited
with the death Of two husbands in this
manner; an experienced gambler, she
was well known as dealer in poker who
always drew largely and made big Win
nlngs for her employer. With her asso-
Citations and emplOyments, there can be
no doubt but that her end will be a vio-
lent one.