Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-28

though the Governors of Durango and
Sinaloa had each offered reward of
$4,000 for Bernal, alive or dead, and the
many months he escaped capture while
penetrating atrocities under their very
noses.
His crimes and adventures are romantic
| and numerous enough to furnish dozen
novels of the blood and thunder order. He
was not yet thirty years old, and had been
bandit about nine years. Those who
have seen him say that he was exception
ally handsome, powerfully built, and white
as an American. He was highly connected
and well educated, and for years his one
ambition was to become Governor of the
| State of Sinaloa. To this end he robbed
and murdered all who resisted-calling
upon the rich mining companies for funds
and weapons to to carry on the war" en-
forcing his demands at any cost.
He was born Of good family, in San Die
mas, State of Durango, near the Sinaloa
border. His bandit career began when he
was employed in one OF the large gold
mills of San Diemas brought about by his
overweening ambition, which had become
craze. For long time he regularly stole
small quantities of ore, and when the
owners finally called him to account. he
convinced them in such gentlemanly way
( that he needed all he had appropriated,
they dropped the matter and let him con-
tinue on as usual. But this did not long
satisfy him, and soon he started out with a
| crowd of followers to levy assessments"
as he called it, on mine-owners.
lie must have been of unusual force Of
character, born leader of men, who in
Mexico's earlier days. would have been
called a hero since his methods were much
| like those of the great military chieftains
whose names are now enrolled in the tenn
pie of fame-and certainly his courage has
never been surpassed His men rendered
| him the homage and obedience due to one
born TO command but, unfortunately, they
were all desperate characters, gathered
from the worst elements of the republic,
who care no more for shedding human
| blood than hunter does that of his ordi-
nary game. Their way was to first ter
rorize the people, and then they had them
virtually in their power
Bernal thought nothing of attacking
town in which he was likely to meet re-
| sistance by ten times the number of men
he commanded, and the result was always
the same-pillage, rapine and murder. In
1879 he sacked the City of Mazatlan,
which he held for number of hours with
band numbering not one-twentieth of
the city's population.
Senior Hilerio Maximus, 4 Sonora mine
owner, says of the dead bandit: In June
last was employed by the Las Palmos
Mining Company at Giviolanius Du-
range At 4 o'clock one morning was
awakened in my room by the sound of
voices and loud beating against the door.
Immediately after half a dozen guns were
brought to bear on me, and the leader. who
was Bernal, stepped forward and asked me
to deliver up the keys to the safe below,
saying he wanted $4,000. | told him !
was not the manager, and had no
power to grant his request, the manager
being in another room. Then they made
me point out the room and go in advance of
them and get Don Juan Maria, the man
ager out.
Eraclio touched his hat politely to Don
Juan and repeated his request. The mana
ger demurred, saying he didn't have but
$4,000 anyhow. He and and all the rest
were duly marched down, and when we
were ranged, disarmed, along in front of
the buildings we found there were lust
twenty-five in all of Bernal's men. They
were ranged opposite us, and each one of
them was well armed
g." Business was proceeded with very leis-
urly, Bernal having meantime given an
order that not drop of liquor should be
sold to any of his men while in town. He
also commanded his band to disturb no.
body. Don Juan opened the safe, and,
sure enough, there wasn't but So 200 in it.
Bernal, however, looked carefully over the
| books to see if the cash was all right, and
finding that the entries in the books and
the money in hand tailed exactly, he let
the manager OFF. Then, with great DELHI
Grafton, he wrote his note for the amount.
1t ran:
81, Eraclio Bernal, when Governor of sina.
loa, viii pay To Los Palamos Mining Company,
Don Juan Maria of GyioaniIs manager So aO)
God help us Amen ERAciIo BERNAI'
Before the band dispersed the little chill
dren of the town had gathered around.
Give me dime one would say, Let me
have some money, too said another, and
Eraclio would dip into his bag of silver
and give some to each. He didn't miss
one"
Senior Maximus does not believe that
Bernal is really dead-he has been falsely
reported killed so many times-and that
he will yet become Governor of Sinaloa.
He says that thousands in that State be-
lieye so, and have no doubt that the rob-
Der will then return all the money he has
borrowed
Among the many stories of his Robin
Hood exploits is one of how he avenged
an American. Up in deep gorge beyond
San Dlemas an old man-an American
was stopped one day by lone horseman
and ordered to give up his watch and
money. "Who are you ~ asked the tray
eler. Eraclio Bernal," was the response.
Then the old man didn't say another word.
but handed over all he had, the robber also
taking his horse.
a little further down the canyon the
traveller, plodding along on foot, met four
horsemen going up. How does it come"
asked the leader, that an old man like
you is walking in these mountains?" The
pedestrian replied that Bernal had Just
taken his horse, watch and money. odd
he say his name was BernalY You wait
here" said the man, and he quickly dis
appeared up the canyon
Presently he returned, bringing every
thing that had been stolen. "Here is
your horse, watch and money" he said.
The man who took them lies up yonder
dead. He was not Bernal. | am Beral."
The old man had but eight dollars, and
Bernal remarked that he would need more
money to carry him through, and gave
him eight dollars additional. Thus cava-
lier Bernal frequently proved the truth of
the old saw, that "there is honor among
thieves. FANNIE b. WADR.