The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-04-30

Your hands were never made to dig in
the mines; they are better made to hold
II weapon and guide a horse. Society
pursues you for a crime of which you
were not willfully guilty; a price is set
upon your head; you are hunted like a
wild beast; you have n o family but ours;
be then our brother, our chief; to-mor-
row We will bring you arms and the
horse that brought you into the noun
tains. Be u chief, and when we need
you we shall count on your strong arm
and courage, as you may count on our
blind devotion and obedience"
could refuse? accepted. lac
cepted even with pride and gratitude
this way of acquitting myself toward
these kind-hearted fellows. From that
moment l was treated like a lord, and
provided luxuriousiy and abundantly
with all that could augment the pleas
ure of life and hatter s~elf-love.
"'Not long afterward the same COM
panion who had offered me the COM
mand, and who was to be my lieuten-
ant, told me that the time had come to
put myself at the head of my men, and
make a strike, on which depended the
future Of the band. 1t was to assist the
landing of a ship loaded with snug
glcd goods which had arrived Off the
coast of Marabcllo the night before.
The royal troops had been warned, and
were to oppose the landing of the goods
by force. Our plan was to surprise the
latter by a sudden and bold attack,
while a certain number of us got the
goods ashore and hurried them into the
| ,,nIintni,, ~ >unp np n,rl,,tr,,E
scheme, the resistance was likely to be
terrible, but we numbered nearly one
hundred men. and the custom house
officers could not be more numerous,
and we wele cerlain of the neutrality of
the people on the shore.
"On the day appointed we employed
the time in fixing Il weapons, dis
%tributing ammunition, aud instructing
each mar in his duty. At dusk | took
the head of my troops, and we soon ar
rived at a short distance from the land
ing. where, thanks to the formation OF
the ggound, we could easily hide our
selves and scatter in little groups so as
not to raise an alarm. AT midnight a
cannon fired from the brig announced
that the boats had quit the slip, and
soon, indeed, black masses which adj
vanced in the shadow could be seen on
the horizon. AT the same time we APP
preached the shore. and then, all at
once. when the soldiers in ambush were
on the point of throwing themselves
upon the boats. which had almost gain
ed the shore, we rushed upon them with
a formidable war-cry, and after a short
but desperate battle we were masters
OF the field, In Il ~twinkling the goods
were landed and loaded on mules and
men. and the boats rcgained the ship,
which ut once raised anchor and disap-
Feared in the night.
Only Il few men failed TO respond
to the morning roll-call; we had
brought on our wounded. and the affair,
c~levcrly directed and brayely executed.
brought us nearly 800. 600 francs.
" For my companions from that time
! was Capt. Samarilla, the chief, whom
they loved and would have followed to
the ends of the world, the famous bandit
on whose head is a price, but who, il
heaven plcases, will never fall alive into
the hands of the law. for he will never
be sold by his companions.
such was the history of Samarilla
as related by himself, which l hold to
he absolutely true for it has been given
to me TO verify it. Samarilla is indeed
adored by his soldiers, who would risk
their lives Il hundred times 10 save his.
as he himself would never rest while
any of his men are in trouble. Like
his predecessor, Jose Maria. the captain
cnIcavors to repair the injnStices OF
fate and society. He plumbers and pun
jshcs the wicked rich to give to the
poor; he s~catters gold everywhere along
his route: in consideration of Il small
rent he protect, estates against irregu.
lar robbers, and even employs his IN.
tlucnce 10 secure the election of worthy
and patriotic mel to Office, ven though
they be his personal enemies. In short,
never breaks il even at the peril of his
life"
Thus spoke my countryman. and
have retained, if not the sclf-samt
words. at least the smallest details o
this interview. In quitting NJ. c. | fcl
a present!mcnt that some day l woult
encounter Samarilla. for whom l ex
perienccd a real sympathy and a cul
pable admiration.
The same year King Alfonso made
journey to Andalusia and passed som
days at Malaga, where. in his honor
there We're magnificent fetes. races
bull-iights. festivals. and an enthusiasm
SO real and 50 general that all the la
dies of the city showered the youn.
monarch with flowers and all sorts @
loving cmblcms. l myself had tn,
honor to be presented to his majesty
and | was SO charmed with my recep
ton and with all | saw that when. som,
days later, | learned that the king wa
goingto Granada. l determined to agail
see the wonders of the Alhambra unde
the Examinations of a fetc.
The mountains had been infested witt
brigands, but at this moment it was re
ported that Samarilla with all his ban,
had departed for a distant province
Nevertheless, / went to see my ney
friend, NJ. c., informed him of my pre-
ject, and admitted that ! thought o
asking the government for an escort.
'Do nothing SO foolish" he said n
once. Besides being swindled out
%ragcously at all the inns. you would at
tract attention and infallibly be robbie
and abductcd-you and your unhapp
companions. Since you arc bound t
90. | will get four good, %strapping fcl
lows, with whom you will have noihin;
to fear, to 60 with you. Tell me tn
day of your departure, and you will fin
them at the gate of the city or the roa
to Velcz-Malaga."
l gave him the day and hour, an
one morning, after slipping a pair q
rcvolvcrs into the holsters OF my saddl
and placing an excellent doublc-bar
relied carbine in front, | set out. fol
lowed by my ervant. toward Vclcz
Malaga, and Don came upon my fou
attendants. who were prompt at tn
..l.. ..l4 -. 49, :f L l..