Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-19

which gives priority over all other workings
in this country, except those of Cabarrus
county, n. c., which were discovered gen.
Grafton earlier. The history of the brave
little town has been made tragic by its con-
nection with an American perversion of a
Spanish land grant. People of the East look
upon the Southwestern land grant as a col
lective swindle and a monstrosity, forgetful
that these grants were made by the Spanish
Crown in the same way and for the same
reasons, and conveying Just as valid title as
the land grants of England or France
upon which the skeptics themselves live.
The New Mexican land grant is perfectly
normal and proper Institution in itself, and
the only trouble about it arises from the
frauds practiced by some American land
pirates The grant which laps over Golden
Is a sample of their operations. The original
Spanish grant was miles away-a small tri-
angle of few hundred acres, with its apex
pointing west Under the manipulatlons OF
q syndicate successive surveys turned the
grant over like the leaf of book, so that its
apex pointed east and swelled it to 81, 600
acres, taking in very rich mineral country.
The syndicate then endeavored to oust the
sturdy miners whose claims they had thus
suddenly blanketed; but that was another
thing, and after years of litigation and occa-
sional resorts to arms the miners still hold
their own. Most of the land grants in New
Mexico are not frauds, and but for our
Governments shameful disregard of the
treaty promises under which it acquired
this Territory the matter would have been
adjusted long ago
The Virtue of Gunny Sacks.
With the snow more than two feet deep
on a level, and a walk Of 80 lonely miles to
the railroad ahead, the getting away from
Golden did not look inviting. But was
getting hungry for mail; and as the snow
showed no signs of disappearing, there was
nothing to do but wade it, The faithful low
shoes-now nearly through their third pair
of soles-were not to be given up; but they
and the long stockings made slender pro-
lection against the drifts, and so L bound up
my feet and legs in gunny-sacks, which
were lighter and warmer than boots. Had
1t not been for those ungainly leggins, I
never should have got through that awful
day; for with boots, even the best, my feet
would have frozen.
1t vas $50 Of q pleasant December morn
ing when we bade hearty farewell to our
new-tound friends in Golden, and started
trudging up the long, gentle slope toward
the Tjeras ("Scissors') canon. through the
deep snow and with a heavy burden on my
shoulders-for had shipped only the cop
per and silver specimens to the railroad by
stage, and was carrying the gold specimens
to pack and ship at Albuquerque. My en-
tire load weighed nearly 40 pounds, which
is altogether too much, even in the best of
walking. After a couple Of miles we left
the well-broken road to San Pedro and
struck off through the scattered pinons
enthusiastically. We had now no path
save the tracks of a single horse, which had
been ridden to Carnoe the day before, SO we
had to break our own way. 1t was the
hardest long way l ever attempted, and
poor Shadow Jared no better. The snow
came above his belly, so that 1t was impOssi-
bic for him to pillow any distance; and the
only gait by which he could get along was
a series of wearisome bounds
A Famous and SkIIiful Desperate.
After some five hours of fearful toll, we
reached the little creek at the foot of the
noble Sandals, and crossed it at spot
which has bloody memories. While in
Golden l had become acquainted with the
famous desperate, Marino Lebya, hercu-
lean Mexican of astonishing agility and al
most matchless skill with the revolver-one
OF his favorite pastimes being to spur his
fleet horse through a village, shooting off
the heads af chickens as he galloped pasti
He was known murderer, having slain
many men in quarrels or for purposes of
robbery, and perennial horse thief; but he
walked the streets Of Golden as freely as
anyone. There were many warrants out
against him, but the numerous officers who
came down periodically from Santa Fe to
arrest him always took very good care not
TO find him, nor to let him find them. for
whenever he heard of such an official visit |
be always buckled on his unerring six