Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-07-06
JOAQUIN MURIETA, THE
BANDIT,

BANDlz.
HIS Life aud Thrilling Ahcentares To,e
By Bdacrotx, the Historian.
From the San Francisco Altal
Until quite recently California ha:
been cursed at times by the pres
ence of regularly organized banditti
They we're made up of desperate Mex.
leans or their California cousins. who
pursued their career of robbery and
bloodshed till exterminated by the out.
ragged community. By far the most
renowned leader of these was Joaquin
Murieta, whose audacity and daring
exploits have given rise to many TO
mantle stories, without color of truth
but the facts, as recorded by the Pacific
coast historian, Hubert Howe Ban
croft, are startling enough Joaquin,
having passed his majority by only a
few years, was active and athletic, and
very graceful in movement, A high
forehead gave his face an Intellectual
cast.
Long, flowing hair of glossy black
fell on his shoulders, and on his upper
lip thin, silky mustache appeared, as
though untouched by zazor. His
manner was frank and cordial his
voice silvery, and, though so youthful
in appearance, there was that about
him which made him both loved and
feared, and which impressed both
friend and stranger alike with profound
respect.
Joaquin was always splendidly mount
ed; in fact, much of his success de-
pended on his horses. It was the spe
clal 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 iv-
ing in towns among peaceful inhabit-
ants and pursuing honest vocations
who We're spies, and kept the officers Of
the band advised Oh matters which were
10 UllelT Interest,".
One evening Joaquin was sitting at q
monte table in small tow, when an
American boastfully offered 10 bet that
he would kill the scoundrel joaquin
the first time they met joaquin, car
ried away by one of his daredevil i'm
pulses, sprang upon the table, and
thrusting 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 shoulder, he
jumped down, strobe out of the room,
mounted his horse, and rode sway, with
some of his henchmen at his heels.
Riding along one day the chief met
young Joe Lake, a playmate of his boy
hood. In the course Of their converse
ton Joaquin revealed his present mode
of living, and said: "Joe, you are the
only American whose good opinion 1
crave. Believe me, my friend, I was
driven to it by hellish wrongs" "Why
don't you leave the country and
abandon your criminal life?" answered
Joe. Too late, Joe; I must die as I
live, pistols in hand Do not betray
me; do not divulge having met me
here. If you do shall be very sorry. :"
significantly tapping the stock of his
revolver. Lake deemed it his duty to
apprise the authorities of Murieta's
presence, and the usual precautions be-
gan. The next morning q portly
ranchero came up to Lake and saying
"You betrayed me, Joe," plunged a
knife into his breast and rode away un-
harmed.
In the early part of March, 1853
Joaquin, unattended, visited a large
Mexican camp, presenting the appear
ance of dashing cavalier, with plumed
sombrero, gold-laced cloak and gayly
caparisoned steed, as he slowly rode
down the principal thoroughfare of the
camp, tinkling his spurs to the meas
ures OF some lively fandango. and was
the cynosure of many aamiring glances
from the eyes OF the senoritas. Paus-
ing in front of saloon, he called for q
drink, and was just lifting it to his lips
when an American, one of two who We're
standing together and recognized him,
drew a revolver and fired shot that
cut the plume of the brigand's hat.
joaquin wounded one of the Ameri-
cans in the arm, and the other in the
abdomen and galloped away without a
scratch.
VOESE THAN NEW JERSEY.
4 One of the pests of life in South
! Amarico ic tho ,,11n,,;%o,,c ,,,,c.,,:A>