Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-10-28
FRONTIER LIFE.
Some of the Experiences of
Detective Will Smith.
new CONSUELO WAS KILLED.
The Rest of the Gang to be Tried at
Ph9nix This Week-Indian
Trailers.

Phoenix This Week-Indian
Trailers.
"You-'s must be an exciting ex-
istence," said a HERALD scribe to
Detective Will. Smith, during the course
Of conversation yesterday afternoon.
Everybody connected in any way with
criminal matters knows Will Smith, and
those who do not, may be able to recall
to mind wiry- looking individual of
about 80 years of age with dark
moustache, and a pair of keen brown
eyes that seem to be taking in all the
points Of the compass at once. One day
he may be seen strolling up Main street
and in the evening njoying the play at
the Opera House, and few days later,
if the observer happens to be called on
any business to the wilds ofArizona, he
may find the same individual mounted on
broncho and careering across the plains
in charge of body of Indian trailers.
Will Smith used to be United States
Deputy Marshal at Arizona, but the
Southern Pacific, who are always on the
look out for the best talent in any line.
made good offer to him and he entered
their service permanently month ago.
"Well, do have some dime-novel ex.
periences," said Will in response to the
scribe's query, 'though life has been a
little quieter since l have been stationed
here. That ride into Mexico after the
train-robbers, that you wrote up in the
HERALD some time ago, was one of the
most disagreeable of my experiences. /
was one of the party arrested by
the Mexican Government in Chihua-
hua through the connivauce of Larry
Sheehan, and it was rather exasperating
to be thrown under arrest Just as we
were on the eve of catching our men, for
we we're only fifty miles behind them.
The Mexicans took away our horses.
guns and all our property, and we would
probably have had very unpleasant
time but for the fact that l managed to
smuggle letter to a cowboy, who took
it to the American Consul at Ell Paso.
who ultimately secured our release.
While we were held as prisoners q revo-
luton broke out in the southwest part of
Chihuahua, and offered to 20 and help
them quell it, if they would let me out
on parole. They accepted nv PROPOSE.
ton, but when we got to the scene Of ac-
ton the rebels scattered, and we didn't
get as much as one shot at them, so they
took me back to prison.
THE GRIBBLE MURDER.
"By the way" continued the speaker,
81 received letter to-day from the Dis
trict Attorney at Phoenix relating to an
affair in which the public are doubtless
interested as the first particulars of it
were sent by the Associated Press all
over the country. Do you remember the
murder of Gribble, the Superintendent of
the Vulture mine, above Phoenix last
March. He in company with two guards
named johnson and Doolittle left the
mines with $4,000 in gold bullion for
shipment. 1t is about 70 miles from the
camp to Phoenix, and when they were
about thirty miles out they we're
shot down from ambush and killed. The
citizens OF Phoenix, as soon as the news
OF the tragedy reached the town were
highly incensed, and in addition to the
force OF United States officers that
went out after the assassians, decided
to organize citizens posse. They col.
lected 81 900 for this purpose, and as
happened to be in Phoenix at the time.
they turned the money over to me and
asked me to conduct the pursuit. I
picked out five trusty Americans and
then sent for two Indian trailers and left
at once. We were two days late in start
ing out, but the Indians picked up the
trail, and as the moon was at its full, we
followed the scent day and night, chang
ing our horses at every opportunity aud
snatching few hours sleep only when
We were completely broken down.
The trail made circle around
the Vulture camp and then it
scattered, 30 we took up one
which headed south and followed it al
most without break. On the fifth day
we found ourselves at the Gila river and
here We overlook the Deputy Sheriff and
the other officers who had left Phoenix
two days ahead of US. They were of the
opinion that the fugitive had crossed the
Gila and gone into Sonora, but kept
along the banks of the river. The day
was drawing to close when one of nv
Indians came up and told me that
HE HAD FOUND HORSE
With its foreleg broken, in the brush.
and saddle and blankets near by. We
went at once to the scene and
there found the trail of man
on foot, which we followed to
ditch camp. l had only two men with
me, the others being up on the Gila, and
we were getting pretty tired, as we had
covered over 500 miles in the five days.
so you may be sure we were jubilant at
the prospect of catching our man. AS
we rode up on the lope, the Mexicans of
the camp saw US and ran into the brush.
rode at gallop into their clearing and
looked over the top of a wagon that was
drawn up in front of large tent. l could
not see any one inside the tent, so l kept
on toward the fleeing Mexicans, and
when l had gone about sixty yards |
heard a shout of "There be goes" from
one of my men, both of whom
had directed to follow I'D
the canal. l looked back and
saw man running toward the mountains
near by, and by the time could get any.
where near him he was good way up
the hillside. My two aides-de-camp |
we're soon by my side and we all three
fired at the fugitive, but as he was run
ming in thick brush we missed him. It
Is rather strange thing, but all our guns
were rendered useless by these shots, for |
the shells got above the extractors and |
We could not readily remove them. I |
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