Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1888-06-23
4 CALIFORNIA DRIGA\D
THE REMARKABLE CAREER OF
MEXICAN OUTLAW
joaquin Murieta. Youthful Leader
of II brotherhood OF Bandits
somanIit. LII. and Ira L.. D1afh

joaquin Muriet Youthful Leader
of brotherhood OF Bandits 4
Romantic Life and Tragic Death
! Until quite recently California ha,
been cursed at times hy the presence o
regularly organized handi,ti They wore
! made NJ OF desperate MeNicans or their
/ California cousins, who pursued THEN
career of robbery and bloodshei till eA
! terminated by the outraged community
BY far the most renowned leader of tn. se
was Joaquin Mu1leta. whose audacity
and daring exploits have given rise tc
many romantic stories, without color OF
truth; but the facts as recorded by the
4 Pacific Coast historian. Hubert Howe
Bancroft, are startling enough Ioa
quinn, having passed his majority by
only few yeas was active apd athletic,
and very graceful IN movement. 4 high
forehead gave his face an intellectual
cast
Long flowing hair Of glossy ba, k fcr
ON hl> shoulders, and on his upper lip
thin, silky moustache appeared as
though untouched by a razor His man
ner was frank and ,o1dial his voitc sll
very, and though 50 youthful in appear
ancr. there was about him that which
Iiitt HlfH itftit lbhtN anu ltdItu, anu
which impressed friend and stranger
alike with profound respect
joaquin was ALWAYS splendidlY
mounted in fact. much Of his success
depended on his horses 1t was the spe
cal business Of a certain portion Of the
brotherhood to Keep the company we'll
supplied with the best horses in the
country. There were also members liv
ing in towns among peaceful inhabitants
and pursuing honest vocations who were
sple, and kept the officers of the band
advised on matters which were to their
interest.
onc evening joaquin was sitting at q
monte table IL a small town when an
American hoastfuly offered to bet that
he would Kill the scoundrel Joaquin the
first time they met Joaquin, carried
away by one Of his dare-d devil impulses,
sprang upon the table, and thrustlhg his
pistol in the mans face he cried. II take
the bet; Joaquin is before YOU Then
, tossing the corner Of his serape over his
shoul1er, he jumped down, strobe out Of
the room, mounted his horse, and rode
away with some of his hcnchmcn at his
!. heels.
In the early part of March, 1853,
JOAQUIN, unattended, visited a large
Mexican camp. presenting the appear
. ance of daehlng cavalier, with plumed
, sombrcro, gold laced cloak and gayl,
| caparisoned steed, as he slowly rode
, down the principal thoroughfare of ths
camp. tinklIng his spurs to the measure
! Of some lively fandango, and was th'
, cynosurc OF many almlring glanccs from
. the eyes of the ,cnoritas l'ausing il
1 Il i~,,,
and was u,t lifting it to his lips whcr
ans American, one of two who wcr'
standing together and recognized him
a drew revolver and fired shot that GU
, the plume of the bicand's hat. Joaquin
:. wounded one Of the Americans in tn
. arm and the other in the abdomen anc
y galloped away without = sclatt h,
= Among the many parties organized t
;, hunt Joaquin and his band was on
; headed by Harry | oyc. who with clgh
i of his rangers came one day upon part
! of Ncxicans eucamped IN the hills. Nl,
Of them were seated round a small fire
= whore preparations for break fast We
gong forward, the seventh, richly
u stressed man With slcnde,, graceful figure
: and blooming IN the pride Of mani,
Il beauty, was washing down superb ha
horse 1t 4 littlc distance from the ire
,loaquin was unk uoWn 10 the rangers
who dashed into camp before they wcr
! DISCOVERED and succeeded in cutting of
= the robbers from their horses Gaptai
Love rode UP to-the on" ~tanding b
y hi> horse and inquired where hey wer
! going.
5. 80 | o7 Angeles Tho hief replied.
Turning t. one Of the others the Al