Connecticut western news., 1883-12-05
ROMANCE OF LOS ANGELES

s'Of all Don Antonio's graphic nsrra lives of the olden times, none is more in- teresting than those which describe his adventures during the days of this con- test. On one of the first approaches made by the Americans to Los Angeles, he went out with his little haphazard company of men and boys to meet them. He had but one cannon; small one, tied by ropes on cart axle. He had but one small keg of powder which was good for anything; all the rest was bad would merely go of 'pouf, pouf, the senora said, and the ball would pop down near the mouth of the cannon. With this bad powder he fired his first shots. The Americans laughed; this is ehild's play, they said, and pushed on closer. Then came a good shot, with the good powder, tearing into their ranks and knocking them right and left an- other, and another. sThen the Ameri- cans began to think, these are no rouf balls and when few more were killed, they ran away and left their flag behind them. And if they had only known it, the Californians had only one more charge left of the good powder, and the next minute it would have been the Cali fornians that would have had to run away themselves, merrily laughed the sonora as she told the tale.
 ssThis captured flag, with important papers, were intrusted to Don Antonio 7 to carry to the Mexican head } quarters at Sonora. He set off with an escort of soldiers, his horso decked with silver trappings, his sword, pistols-all of the finest; proud beginning of a journey destined to end in different fashion. It was in winter time; cold rains were falling; by night he was drenched to the skin, and stopped at Q friendly Indians tent to change his clothes. Hardly had he got them of when the sound of horses hoofs was heard. The Indian flung himself down, put his ear to the ground and exclaimed .Americanos Americanos ? Almost in the same second they were at the tents door. As they halted, Don Antonio, clad only in his drawers and stockings. crawled out at the back of the tent, and creeping on all fours reached tree. up which he climbed, and sat safe hidden in the darkness among its branches lis. tening, while his pursuers cross-ques- tioned the Indian, and at last rode away with his horse. Luckily, he had carried into the tent the precious papers and the captured flag these he intrusted to ar Indian to take 10 Sonora, it being evi. dently of no use for him to try to cross the country thus closely pursued by his enemies.
 "All night he lay hidden; the nex day he walked twelve miles across the mountains to an Indian village where he hoped to get horse. It was dark wher he reached 1t. Cautiously he opened the door of the hut of one whom he knew we'll. The Indian was preparing poisoned arrows; fixing one oa the string and aiming at the door, he called out, angrily, Who is therep
 Tt is l. Antonio
 ooA mdhe sound, WllSpere0 the. Indian, throwing down his arrow springing to the door, coming out ano closing it softly. He then proceeded to tell him that the Americans had offered reward for his head, and that some O the Indians i'll the rancheria were read, to betray or kill him. While they wer, yet talking, again came the sound o the Americans horses hoofs gallopine in the distance. This time ther, seemed no escape. Suddenly Don Anto nio, throwing himself on his stomach wriggled into cactus patch near by Only one who has seen California cactu thickets can realize the desperatenes of this act. But it succeeded. Tn Indian threw over inc old cactus plant an old blanket and some refuse stalk and reeds; and there once more, withi
 hearing of all his baffled pursuers said the hunted man lay, safe, thanks t
 Indian friendship. The crafty Ind a
 assented to all the Americans proposed
 said that Don Antonio would be sure t
 be caught in few days, advised thel