Los Angeles herald., 1890-11-03
The Murder of Two Ameri-
can PrOspectOrs.
Travelling While Robbers and
Apaches Are Lurking.
A Pleasant Episode With Pretty
SenOrita.
The Robbers Are Encountered But Are
Bluffed Of, Very Much to Their
Disgust.
Written for the HERALD.

not recollect, were travelling in Sonora
for the purpose of locating a mine or
buying one. At that time there was a
small band OF murderous Mexicans and
half breeds plying their robbery trade
ON the Rio Chico, tributary OF the
Yaqui river. They were in the habit of
having one of their number seek en-
ployment with prospectors or travellers
~ peon or guide. The unfortunates
would be guided by the robber into am
bush in some caf1on, far away from
any little village, where the unsuspect-
ing men were killed and robbed at leis-
ure by the remainder of the band. This
is just what happened to the two broth
ers. They were led to an abandoned
shaft, half full OF water, in the neigh
borhood of place called Tepoca, at the
foot of the Sierra Madre, shot from be-
hind, relieved of 5000 in greenbacks and
thrown in the shaft, huge pieces of tim
Der being rolled on the top of them to
conceal their bodies.
When the murder was discovered,
chase was given and the actual murder
er, q half-breed, was caught and landed
in Jail at Onavas, on the Yaqui river.
But it was not to be expected that the
"alcaide," or jailor, intended to keep
under his care man who had so much
good American money with him. An
exchange took place, the half-breed gain
ing his liberty, while the "carcelero"
obtained a goodly share of the stolen
greenbacks.
In 1882 l was coming from the Trim
idad mines with one American COM
panion and Mexican guide named
Castro. We had nothing to fear from
him because we were acquainted with
his people at Cumuripa, where we had
left an American named Dodd in charge
of our carriage and valuables. The
guide was not to be paid until our re-
turn, and we had made such arrange
ments that it was all to his advantage
that we should return alive. Another
thing-he was of so timid nature that
he looked to us as his protectors and
never kept far away from where we
were.
Geronimo and his band of Chiricahuas
were out and raiding in the vicinity OF
Mulatos, which was the route we had
originally chosen for our return. In
order to avoid the Apaches we concluded
to follow the Trinidad river; which nee
essarily must lead us to Tepoca, the
stamping ground of the band of Mexican
robbers. Castro said that he knew a
caiion through which we could travel,
in which there was no danger of meet
ing the robbers, because nobody ever
went through it. We reached Tepoca one
day about noon. At this place there
are four big trees, sequoias, that are
the peers of anv in the groves of Cali
fornia. The people of this little village
were in state of great excitement, be-
cause news of another Apache raid had
Just come in, and they were expecting
an attack at any time. We were tired,
but concluded that the best thing we
could do was to travel onward as fast as
possible. Having fed and watered our
horses and eaten lunch ourselves, we
pushed on with all our might, and hav-
ing travelled nearly all night, with three
hours sleep only in a secluded little
place. we arrived at La Blanca, also
called Santa Margarita, about 10 O'Clock
in the morning. We went to the house
of an Italian, who was we'll to do, and
he extended us the most unbounded
hospitality. My companion and I had
agreed to leave at O'Clock in the after
noon for La Dura, on the Yaqui river,
where, once ferried across, there was no
further danger to be anticipated, either
from robbers or Apaches. Being tired
/ went to sleep. When / woke up 1
found the American stupid drunk and
Castro fighting drunk. They could not
proceed. was SO mad that l made up
my mind to go all alone to La Dura, six
teen miles away, where there was an
American blacksmith whom knew. The
Italian begged me to stay, saying that he
and his three stalwart sons would go
along with me ard the two other men
the following morning, as he had busi-
ness at La Dura himself. l would not
consent, and rode away in high dudgeon.
had galloped about seven or eight miles
on we'll defined road through forest,
in which green parrots and ''guacama-
yas," or macaws, made the air discord-
ant with theirnoise, when saw strange
procession approaching. First came a
white mule, upon which was bedstead,
mattresses and other household goods,
and behind, on pony, followed a
young Mexican and his wife. They
appeared badly scared. He asked
me where / was going. told them
to La Dura. "Hombre! Cuidate de
los Apaches !" exclaimed the man,
''they have killed several people on the
Rio Chico last night and today. They
are not far from La Dura, and am even
now taking my wife and my property to
La Blanca because am afraid they will
find my house and burn it," Not hav-
ing yet recovered from my anger, re-
fused to listen and rode on. AS the
sun was sinking behind the mountains
and stiffness fell upon the woods, / be-
came very lonesome. likewise afraid
that might fall in the hands of the In
dians. After hesitatIng a few minutes,
1 turned my horses head and rode back
in the direction had come from. 1t
took me but little time to overtake the
procession, and the Mexican begged me
to stay with him and his wife. l told
him could do no good, and as he was
travelling at snails pace, it
was out of the question that l
should remain with him. offered
to take his wife along, but
he would not hear of such thing.
<'Then," said "Adios, amigo, vaya con
Dios," and away l went. l had not
ridden hundred yards when he hailed
me. rode back "What woman
wants must be, caballero," he sighed.
'sShe is scared, she wants to leave me
and 60 with you. Cuidame la bien
(take good care of her for me)." She
was up behind me in jiffy and we gal
loped away as fast as we could leaving