The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-03-21
SEEKING FIFTY VICTIMS.
THE TERRI BILE CRIMES OF THE EsPI-
NosAs Nv CoLoRAD
Tic Mysterious HgHrdcrs which
Caused n Reign OF Terror in the
Mining Camps

/
excitement had brought into the Terri
tory, however, large hardy, and pecu-
| liar population. Denver (Auraria as it
was originally called from the discovery
Of aurlferous deposits in that neighbor-
hood was but a small cluster of shanties
and tents set up for Temporary occu-
pancy Aside from this there were but
few towns, save in Southern Colorado
where the Mexican element had driftcd
and established insignificant settlements
which could boast of little beside a
| name. Fresh discoveries of gold were
being made, however, and Russell Gulch
was fast developing what subsequently
became an important mining center at
Central, Black Hawk, and adjacent
points. A few hardy pioneers had pushed
out beyond and settled breckenridge,
Fairplay, Orc City, while down by the
foot hills, like sentincls to the Businesses
above. were Colorado City, once the
capital, before it was removed TO Golden;
Canon City, Badito, and other mere
spccks upon the then almost unbrokcn
region. These were all, at best, mere
handfuls of people, but all were earnest
determined, hopeful men. The search
for gold had led them out from the over
crowded East, and they came to found a
future great State.
During these troublous days in 1868 an
unknown danger came. So mysteriously
lid it work that for the time it fairly
paralyzcd the mountain communities. IN
March nine men had been found dead
along the trails near Canon City. Each
man had a bullet in his head. So nearly
similar were the death wounds that these
mysterious assassinations naturally gave
rise to much speculation. And this was
increased when it was learned that three
weeks before two men had been similarly
killed in Santa Fe, and also soldier in
Coneios Thus as far as could be dis
covered bloody trail had its origin in
The City of the Saints, in New Mexico,
and reached now as far as Canon City.
The news of the terrible crime, of course,
spread rapidly, but it could scarcely keep
up with their commission. Along the
mountain roads dead bodies were found,
each with the fatal bullet in its skull. No
victim attacked ever told the tale.
The rife that sighted him carried
certain death with its missile.
Miners trudging their weary way up the
mountain trails, tcamstcrs with horses
and vehicles, met their fate alike. One
singular fact appeared to be this. that all
were killed in the wagon roads or on the
trails; none were ever found off the
beaten paths. OF course, the people be-
came appalled,, and hardly dared to ven
turc beyond the reach of immediate aid.
40 one could tell from what conceal
mcnt the messenger of dcath-that had
never missed its marl-might in its turn
reach him. Dread despair prevailed; the
| fear Of ali unknown foe pervaded the
hearts of those pioneers who dared face
any danger openly. In fact, reign of
terror prevailed. The assassinations be-
came more frequent. Men would leave
| their cabins, camps or the mountain cities
! for remote sections only to be found,
perhaps, a few days later by more fortu-
nate travellers dead, and in their skull
| the small hole through which their lives
went out.
| Finally, a company of twenty vOlun-
| teers was raised in Park county Their
,cadcr was II man of great bravery, and
every man in the party was ready to lay
| Town his life to solve the mystery. The
rst work this company did was to punish
4 band Of notorious thieves that had been
engaged robbing miners cabins and
fumes, and who were we'll known. But
this did not stop the dread work of mys-
telious murders At Red Rock Ridge
right there, by the way. where | write
this lcttcr-and all along the trail, muir
Tered mon were found singly and in
lairs And always the same wound, the
same sized ballet, the same trained hand,
evidently had fired the fatal shot.
A few days later the band of volun-
teers, in securing the neighborhood,
found trail in the lower part of the
South park that led toward Canon
City. 1t was early in the forenoon when
he trail WAS struck, They at once took
it up, and after having travelled some
distance in the mountains came about
noon upon two horses feeding. This was
to them IA strange discovery. as this was
not a region where prospecting was then
carried on. 1t was the work of mo-
mcnt to conceal themselves. Shortly
after two men appeared. They had evil
IDENTIFY made their camp here for the day,
for Just beyond the horses a small fire
was burning, and beyond doubt they
ere partaking of their meal. Willy as
these men were they had been taken
unawares. The scouting party had drawn
upon them before they were aware OF
their presence. Certain that these were
the men they sought, and with the mem
orv Of their fiendish deeds before them,
rifles were at once brought to bear and
bullets sent speeding on their deathly err
rands. The larger Of the two men fell,
but was not killed Raising himself upon
one arm, he fought like a wounded
tiger. His unerring aim brought dowr
two Of his adversaries before second
bullet struck him and laid him dead
The other man, the younger one, was
evidently unframed by the first volley
for with the agility of a goat he sprang
into the rocks, scrambled away, anC
made his escape.
, These two men were the notorious Es
pinosas, outlaws from Mexico, two
| cousins. This was discovered when thu
} body of the dead assassin was examined
as we'll IS the saddle-bags, which wer,
a found near the fire. In buckskin bae