Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-02-07
DIED WITH HER BOOTS ON.
A Horse Thief That Proved to Be a Hand
some Young Girl.


In the first days of Leadville wagons
formed the only means of transportation
for the immense quantity of merchan-
disc needed there and for the shipment
of the large output of ore and bullion.
AS a consequence horses and mules were
used in large numbers. Trains of freight
wagons lined the roads leading to the
great carbonate camp, and IL frequently
became necessary to turn the stock out
after hard days journey to Craze on
the adjoining hill sides. Leadville of
fered a good market for work stock of
all kinds, as animals brought from the
east frequently succumbed to the eli
matte effect of high altitude and heavy
work. Many a freighter reached the
top of hard pull only to see his best
work mule lie down and die in the har-
ness. Such inducements and easy sale
brought profei isional horse thieves in
abundance. The immunity from pun
ishment that they seemed to enjoy and
high prices paid for their plunder stimu-
lated them to constant activity and
made them bold in their profession. Sa-
guache county, Colo, was a favorite
section for the operations of this frater-
nity these gentlemen making their trips
with almost the regularity of stage
coaches.
After an unusually bold raid party
was organized, determined to follow the
trail and overtake the thieves, and if the
depredators were caught to save all
county expenses in the way of sheriff
fees and trials. The party started early
in the morning, and as the trail was
large and hot they were able TO follow it
almost at gallop Following along the
west side of the San Luis valley and then
through defile of the Sangre de Christie
mountains, the course of the pursuers
and pursued emerged into the Arkansas
valley close to where the South Arkan-
sas flows into the main stream. Here it
was evident that the two parties could
only be short distance apart. The rob
bers had taken more stock than they
could easily handle, and did not seem to
be aware that they were being followed.
| Two of the stockmen from the ranches
on the route joined the vigilantes and
| furnished fresh horses. About noon on
| the follow ing day the thieves with the
stolen stock were discovered camped at
the north of Cottonwood creek. There
were but two. One appeared to be q
| young boy not over 16; the other was a
fine looking young man of perhaps 90 or
% years of age. On being called on to
surrender the boy pulled a six shooter
and fired on the vigilantes. At the same
time he and his companion jumped down
behind the bank of the river, from which
place it was found impossible to dislodge
them without the loss of at least three or
four men.
After hurried council of war, it was
decided for two men TO go down the
river. cross over and come up on the other
side TO a point where the fugitives could
be easily covered. and the balance to pre-.
vent their escape from the position they
were III. This was done, and when t.
thieves were again summoned to surren.
der, they simply turned and commenced
firing at their two pmsuers on the oppo
site siloof the river. The fire was re-
| turned. and resulted in the boy dropping
d,9d with broken neck, and his com
panim falling with a bullet through the
lungs Whentle yigilautcs went towherS
they lay the elder was stiil alive, and the
boy was. ofcourac, dead, and proved to be
lovely young girl, with delicate and re
fined features. The one who could still
talk refused TO tell who they were o.
from whence they came. only that theil
people were respectable, and that he de
sired them to remove his boots. as he die
not wish to die with his boots ON. liz
was evidently a man Of good education
but positively refused to give any infor
nation. In Il few hours he also wa
dead, and the two were buried beneath
the cottonwoods near the river bank
Their identily was never discovered
Helena Journal.