Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-28
WORTH 5000 IN COLD.

went NV bnp mexican CORst, W EebuFh 'h
a5ont three weeks. The accommodations
we're miserable for q man with his health
knocked to pieces, but, through the cour-
esy Of an American named Barlow, who
was in business in the God-forsaken place,
finally secured pretty fair quarters with
native widow. l had q good room,
good bed, and the dusky woman put her
self out to tempt my poor appetite with
her cookery. l had $500 in gold with me,
and of this sum placed sA50 in Barlows
hands for safe keeping. l had been told
that the natives had no scruples against
thieving and robbery, and | soon had
proofs OF the fact had not been in the
place four days when my room was raided
and lot OF clothing carried of. | had
trunk with patent lock, and as the thief
could not get into it he would have carried
it of on his back had he not been inter
rupted.
After about a week my health began to
mend, and Barlow recommended to me
native whom | could trust. wanted TO
ramble around, and felt that it would not
be safe without some one with me, not
only on account Of being seized at inter
walls with palpitauion and fainting spells,
but il was stated that the neighborhood
was infested by u very rough class had
an American shotgun and revolver with
me, and, after getting little strength in
my legs, l began rambling around The
name of my man was Yu, and he could
speak only few words OF English. We
went up and down the shore, at first, and
had pretty good luck shooting small
birds. On the third or fourth day we went
toward the hills. Yu carrying my gun
and a basket containing luncheon. Bar
low had told me that there were some old
ruins worth seeing about four Lilies from
the suburbs, and meant to take things
easy, and be gone all day. We pursued
rough highway toward the hills, and
stopped about every half mile 10
rest 1t must have been fully noon
when We arrived at place in the hills
where temple hal once stood. A good
deal of the material had been carried off,
but there were many broken col
umns and blocks of stone lying around,
and a considerable amount of masonry
was yet standing.
! was seated on a great block Of stone
eating luncheon, while Tu was 100 feet
away trying to uncover small animal
which had dogged into pile Of rubbish,
when was suddenly confronted by five
As hard-lOOking cutthrOats as any traveller
ever saw. They were armed with mus
kets, single barrslled pistols, and murder
Ous-looking knives. Owing to my posi-
ton they had TO approach me in front,
and had no sooner caught sight Of them
than spraug up, revolver in hand, and
in one breath called to Yu and in the
next demanded their business The
leader. as was soon made aware, could
speak English. At sign from him five
muskets covered me at short range, and
he called upon me to surrender. fu was
standing on block with my gym IN tiis
hands. They had given MIN no attention.
ana if he had had the nerve to open fire
at their backs l believe could have
driven them off. However, when he saw
my fix he laid down the gun and took a
run for it, and was out of sight In a mo-
ment- When l saw this l laid down my
revolver, and the men approached and
took possession of it | knew them to be
robbers OF worse, but was not bit rat
tied. Indeed. everything had happened
so swiftly that had not had time to get
off my nerve The leader spoke in a mon
grel dialect, half Spanish and half Eng
lisb, which | will render all English for
the benefit of the reader.
Does the gentleman surrendertr he
asked as they came forward.
Yes. You intend to rob me, pre-
sumes"
The gentleman will not be treated
harshly unless he resists u.s. You are An
Yes"
You were put ashore a week agoi"
Yes
MIR Barlow is your friendt"
Yes"
That is all You will come with u.s.
Il refuse TO go. You have my weapons,
and l have watch and small sum Of
money which you may take, If robbery is
your object"
Unless the gentleman goes with US we
shall leave him dead behind u.s.
Three of the men presented their cooked
at my breast, with the muzzles
only two feet away, and waited for the
signal to shoot | stepped down beside the
leader, and he took my arm and we
started of into the hills without a word.
When l turned around, after going about
half q mile, | saw that two of the five
mile, when they joined us, and they had Yu
with them. 1t seemed he had hidden him
self TO see how affairs would turn and they
had discovered him. The man was dread
FULLY frightened, crying and wringlng his
hands, but instead OF offering him any vio-
ence they rather sought to cheer him up.
At the end of two miles, which now made |
Is about six from the town, we turned |
tside into rocky path which twisted and |
urned up rough hill, and after a climb |
which badly used me up We reached a |
ave. / had my eyes open to note every |
hing, and / made up my mind that this |
ave could only be reached from this |
path, and three or four men could defend |
ne path against hundred. The entrance |
o the cave was high enough and wide |
nough to admit two men abreast The |
Interior was one large, dry room, about |
orty feet square, with plenty of evidences
hat II had been occupied for months or
ears. There was guard at the cave
vhen We arrived, making the sixth man
4 the band This fellow was the tough
st man Of the lot, but had a wooden leg
nd was forced to remain at home while
he others made their forays. He seemed
realty excited over my capture, and
would have laid violent hands upon me
ut for the commands of the leader.
l was conducted TO the back end of the
ave, and mOtioned to a seat on a pile of
kins, and Yu was permitted to sit near
ne. As soon as the robbers had with
rawn to the entrance for consultation,
he man drew his finger across his throat
$ a sign to me that we were to be muir
cred, and he then covered his face with
is hands and rocked his body to and fro
S if he had surrendered his last hope.
id not believe the situation SO very des-
crate. That they were brigsnds who
ad captured NE in the hope Of a ransom.
had no doubt; but my mind was made
p that they should not get cent except
5 the final resort After about half an
our the leader came to me and said
lust pay them S2 900 in gold as the price
my liberty. had determined on line
conduct. and ] LAUGHED N bis faoe.
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