The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-08-13
IrcnTN T.V-G1HAn,ESAiA-N--
A MODERN FRA DIAVAL0.
A FALSE LOVE DRIVES HIM TO THE
LIFE OF A BANDIT.
His Mysterious Movements Amid The
Fastenesses Of the Mexican Noun
tains. A Special Hatred for
Army officers.

DOlu TODDoT WHICH, IcCttllo Ullc uOlllSS
of Fra Diavalo. This and neighbor-
ing states have for the past ten years
paid tribute to bandit who is idol
lied by the poems and lower classes as
much as he is feared by the rich and
hated by the officers of the law. Juan
Alcantra is his name and his begin
ming in crime was brought about by
an episode which was fully as TO-
mantle as has been his subsequent
life.
On the first of this month young
officer of the regular army was sent
with dispatches from Chihuahua to
this city. The road led over the
mountains in which Alcantra is sup
posed to have his home. Through
these mountains is a pass known as
Sand gulch, which is the dread of all
who are compelled to pass that way.
This pass is but twelve miles long,
but it is a hard days journey from
one end to the other. The officer stop
ped for the night at Ell Rito, a little vii
lage at the foot of the pass, intending
to start early in the morning
through the gulch. A Incorporating
Mexican came to the inn about sup
per time, and during that meal en-
gagged the officer in conversation. He
was finely educated, and was APP
parently well versed in the polite
ways of the capital of the republic.
During the evening the young officer
was bewailing the tedious journey
through the pass which he was to
take next day. He said he had been
through it before and dreaded it very
much. The stranger said that he,
too, was going to the other side, but
he would not go through the sand
gulch, for he knew of trail which
led over the mountains, and by which
sure-footed horse could make the
trip in three hours and suffer no in
convenience from the sand. If the
officer would accept Of his guidance
he would be pleased to place his
services at his disposal. The offer
was gladly accepted, and next morn
ing the start was long delayed, as the
courteous stranger said there was no
need of hurrying.
After riding about half mile in
the gulch the stranger turned into a
little arroyo along a narrow trail lead
ing directly up the side of the noun
tain. The trip was a hard climb for
the horses, but within three hours his
promise was fulfilled and they were
on the road leading to this city. At
the foot of the mountain the stranger
halted and told the officer that he
would have to attend to some bust
ness before he could go to the city,
and asked as favor that the young
man deliver a message informing the
, chief of police that he would be there
that evening. The young officer asked
who he should say would visit Du-
range. Throwing back his long cloak
which had concealed his person up to
this time the stranger displayed a
beautiful velvet suit trimmed in gold
and silver braid, in the sash of which
were two elegantly mounted revol-
vers, he said:
'Tell them that Juan Alcantra will
be there to levy tribute from some
that have too much money"
The young officer rode on into the
city, and after delivering his dis
patches told his story of his ride with
the bandit, and then delivered his
message to the chief of police.
The gambling houses of Durango
are feature of the city, and each
night they are thronged with people
who in some instances play for very
high stakes. One of these houses is
frequented by the better class of citi-
zens, and in many instances the
monte table has as high as $4,000 on
it at one time. On the evening in
question the chief Of police gave spe-
cial instructions to his men to look
out for Alcantra and to arrest him at
all hazards. About II o'clock, when
the play was at the highest, a tall
gentleman, wearing long cloak, who
had been playing at one OF the
tables, rose and sauntered leisurely
through the rooms. He stopped for a
short time at each of the tables
watching the play. On reaching the
monte table he became deeply inter-
ested and crowded close to the board.
Suddenly the man gave a bound
from the floor and stood upon the
able with cooked revolver in each
hand. The startled players drew
hastily back, and the bandit cody
took the money on the board and put
it in his pocket. Still pointing his re-
volver at those near him, he leaped
lightly to neighboring window sill
and dropped to the ground on the out
side. Ali this was done so quickly
that he was gone with the money be-
fore voice was raised in alarm. He
escaped in the darkness, and not a
trace could be found of him, notwith-
standing the fact that ten policemen
were around the building. The
amount on the table which the bandit
secured was something over $1,000.
From one of the state officials the
! history of 4 lcantra is learned. 1t is a