The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-06-28
The Dare-Deyils Of the Mexican Army.

A very important subdivision of the
army is the gendarmcria, a force
charged with certain classes of police
duties, of which the most responsible
is that of keeping the highways clear
of robbers.
The section especially employed as a
road guard is known as the Rurales,
and is by all odds the most pictur-
esque, and in some respects the most
mertorious, body of troops in the
Mexican service.
The beginning of this famous corps
was in the time of Santa Anna, when
General Lagarde organized troop of
ranchmen that was known popularly-
because of the ranchero dress of leather
that its members wore-as the Guerra
dos. On the fall of Santa Anna the
Cuerado, took to the road aud were
such successful highwavmen that they
presently We're given, because of the
lavish ornamentation of silver upon
their leather garments, the new nick
name Of the Plateados.
The headquarters of the organiza
ton We're in the mountains of the
Malinche, near Pucbla, and its mem
bers very diligently worked the high
way between the capital and Vera
Cruz. Nor must these highwaymen be
classed with ordinary vulgar robbers.
l he conditions of the country at this
period were such that hundreds of men
had no choice between starving and
stealing and the Platcados conducted
their irregular business in a chivalrous
90 h To- 81
generosity in their treatment of the
travellers who fell into their hands
quite worthy of the gallant traditions
Of Sherwood Forest and of the colrte
Gus customs of Robert Hood.
In Comonfort's time the good thought
was acted upon of turning the PA eados
from road robbers into road guards,
and the rather startling proposal was
found to work out admirably in prac
tice. The corps was organized aud
still is maintained being now about
1,CO) strong upon a footing unlike
that Of any other section of the army.
Each man provides his own horse and
equipment excepting his arms, and is
paid ten reales a dav, out of which he
provides rations for himself and forage
lOf MS lioGSc.
The men are armed with saber, car
bine and revolver, and have service
uniform of brown liuen blouse and
trousers, though this is worn less often
than the regular ranchero dress of
Jacket and trousers of soft dressed
brown leather The dress uniform is
the ranchero costume glorltied the
leather Jacket and trousers loaded down
with silver buttons and silver en-
| broiderv, and the wide felt hat richly
trimmed with silver or even with gold.
! The mountingS of the saddles and
brides are of silver, and frequently
silver stirrups match the riders heavy
silver spurs.
On dress parade the horses wear
housings of fooled and embroidered
leather, and each man carries at the
pommel of his saddle light horse hair
lariat, and strapped fast to the cantle
a crimson blanket. The horses are by
/ far the finest, excepting officers
I mounts. i'll the service, and are greatly
| beloved and SO affectienatelv cared for
| that they seldom get out of condition ;
while on review they positively shine.
! The men are magnificent fellows, fully
| looking the dare devils that they ac-
| tuallv are Thomas 4. Jdtrtef, IL
| WuTpcr'S Magazine.