Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-04-14
JESUS sANDoBAL, THE GUIDE.
Strange Story of the Career ofa Mexi
can Frontier Character.

he laid formidable looking weapon on
The desk. 1t was an old Colts 4j-csli-
bre revolver. and on the butt were nu-
merous notcheS, which had evidently
been cut with sharp knife. That
six-shooter belonged TO man with a
history,n continued the visitor. "He
was an old friend of mine, and he al
ways said | should have that pistol
when he died. 1t was received by me
recently, and with it came letter tel
ing me of my friends death recently
near Laredo, Texas. His name was
Jesus Sandobal, and lie was perhaps the
most noted Mexican guide ever on the
southern Texas frontier. After many
years of strange adventures and hair
breadth escapes he passed away at last
quietly enough.
s'Sandobal was full-blOoded Mexi'
can, and until he was about 40 years
old lived quietly on his little ranch near
Ringgold Barracks on this side of the
Rio Grande. He had wife and daugh-
ter, the latter a pretty girl of about Is
Years, and he spent most of his time
with them On the ranch, only going off
every now and then, TO sell some cattle
or trade horses. He was always con-
sidered quiet sort Of fellow at that
time.
lone day he went off on horse ira
ding expedition, and when he came
back he found his house in ruins, his
horses and cattle driven off, and his
wife and daughter Shamefully treated
by party of marauding MeXicans. He
tracked these men TO the Rio Grande
and some distance into Mexico, but
could not catch them. Then he rode
back again, sold what was left Of mis-
property, and started cut, determined
to be revenged. He went into North
ern Mexico and poisoned the wells and
springs where the horses and cattle
drank. lie burned ranches and barns,
and destroyed everything lie could.
Every now and then Mexican would
be found dead on the road, with bull
let ID his brain or his heart. Parties
were organized TO hunt him down, traps
were laid for hlm, and every endeavOr
was made TO either kill or capture him;
but with no success. lie never tired of
his work. and for months lie terrorized
the country.
al last II AAIh AbN AAOL AbA AAAAAA aAAANA
he was forced TO spefd much of his
time in Texas. In 1874. when Capt. l..
ii. McNelly went down to the Rio
Grande with his company of Texas
Rangers to try to stop the cattle steal
ing, SandObal was chosen as guide, and
a better one could not Lave been select
ed. The rangers were mostly young
fellows about Is or 10 years of age, and
the Mexican cattle thieves and white
deSperadOes who had successfully eluded
the United States cavalry for years
laughed at the company OF beardleSs
boys, and said they would be sent home
to their mothers within a month. Nc
Nelly went into camp about three miles
above Brownsville and waited for 4
chance TO show what he could do.
Zone day word was brought down
the river from a place called Los Cue
vas, about sixty miles above. that
large number of MeXicans were taking
a big herd of stolen cattle from Texas
into Mexico. The news reached the
ranger camp at noon, and thirty of the
men started for the place Immediately,
guided by Sandobal. They made tie
sixty miles in a little more than six
hours, and over a bad road at that-a
wonderful feat even for those reckless
frontier riders. Seven of the horses |
died afterward from Over-eXertiOn. In |
spite Of the splendid time, however, the |
rangers arrived at Los Cuevas Just as
the last of the cattle had been taken |
across in large fiat-boat and the boat |
turned adrift. After a long search a |
little row-boat was found, and as soon |
as it was dark McNelley, SandObal and |
Sergt. Hall of the rangers crossed over
in It. The captain gave orders when he
went for the boys to fire at the fash if |
there should be any shooting when lie |
reached the other side.
"The boat disappeared in the gloom |
and the men knel on the river bank and |
waited. In about ten minutes the sharp !
report of a caTbiae came from the Oppo-
site bank. Immediately yOlley flashed |
from the rangers WInchester's. The |
captain shouted across to stop firing,
and when Sandobal returned with the |
boat for more men 1t was learned that |
McNelley had accidentally discharged
his carbine as he was jumping from the
boat.
By midnight all the men had crossed.
They waited until Just before dawn, /
when, under Sandobal'S guidance they
marched five miles INTO the interior,
and at sunrise were within sight of a
large ranch. at this ranch were the |
cattle thieves ard large force OF MeXi-
cans who had come from the surround
ing county during the night. They |
were evidently expecting an attack.
When McNelIey saw how measures
stood he turned to his men and looked |
them quietly over. He had an unlighted
cigar between his teeth, and although /
he was pale he was as cool as an icicle.
"'Boys, told you might take you
into hell when we started, he said, but
/ also promised l would get you out
again. We came over here to get those
cattle, and we're not going back with
out them. Now get about ten feet
apart and give those greasers yOlley.'
1.-THE order was instantly obeyed, and
from the yells and choice Mexican oaths
which came from the corrals some of
the shots must have done good work.
There was little firing from the cor
rails at the rangers, but before any one
was hurt, the order was given to circle
around to the other side of the ranch
and give the thieves another volley.
These tactics were kept up about an
hour and might have lasted all day had
not SandObal, who had gone off on an ex-
petition of his own, suddenly turned up
with the cheering information that 200
Of the rural police of Mexico were on
their way to help tie cattle thieves.
The captain Immediately gave orders to
retreat toward the Rio Grande and the
rangers started in that direction with
alacrity.
''They had only gone mile, how
ever, when they discovered that the
Mexicans were after them. The noise
Of many horses feet pounding the road
Is they came ON a run could be plainly
heard. McNelley spread his rangers a
little distance apart and told them not
10 fire until they were sure of killing
heir men.
''The pursuers got closer and closer,
but nobody fired until the captains car