The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-04
SOME EMINENT BAD MEN.
Ortiz and Grijelva of Arizona and Bill
LonRley of Texas.

Longley of Texas.
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
The history of Arizona is replete with
stories OF highway robberies, murders aud
buried treasure In the same category may
be classed the legends of lost mines-fabled
bonanzas, horrible deaths by thirst on the
almost limitless desert and bloody mas
sacres by the Indians. AS much truth may
be attached to these as is usually found in
the construction of border stories, which
are more OF less built on the well-developed
imaRinations of the frontiersmen, who mar
rate them about the camp fire until they
finally come to believe them themselves.
From 1875 to 1888 were among the most
adventurous days of the territory. At that
time 1t was infested by bands of lawless
bordermen, bent on robbery and general
crime, and the small matter Of a life would
not In the least deter them from their uu-
lawful designs. They inhabited the cam
yons and gorges Of the mountains had their
| sentinels and lookouts on the peaks, 80 that
it was impossible for purSuers to come
within miles of them without being seen,
and when they we're detected they were
| ambushed, and few, il any, ever returned
to the settlements to tell the tale of their
disasters. Frequently the banditti would
locate their strongholds just across the line
In Mexico, whence they would make their
| nightly raids, pounce down upon some un-
wary traveller or unguarded stage, rob and
kill, and by sunrise be strong in the strong
holds beyond the possibility of pursuit. So
| much fatality attended the pursuing parties
| that finally they left off altogether and for
a time these border ruffians held high carni-
val, and unless the attacked parties were
strong enough 20 resist them, nothing was
| ever done with the marauders.
"a ha
mines of Arizona were most productive,
and thousands of pounds of gold and silver
| bullion were taken out annually, though
| these freebooters seemed to have deter
| mined that the mines should pay no divi-
| dends 20 their eastern owners, and as it was
| easier to relieve Wells-Fargo of its precious
| trusts than dig it out of the mountain sides,
stages were held up regularly. fights were
OF daily occurrence, and many brick Of
! the yellow metal is yet supposed to be hid
| den in the rocks and in the soil, where it
was placed by the purloinerS, who were
| frequently killed soon after.
Scarcely a stage left the Silver King, the
| Vulture. or the Tiger mine containing any
bullion, but the thieves were at once in
| formed Of it by some of their many spies
| stationed throughout the camps, and it sell
dom reached the Southern Pacific, or what
| ever point it was destined for without being
| held up"
Two of the most ingenious and daring of
these robbers we're Ramon Ortiz and Man
uel Grijalva, and for years they stood at the
head OF the profession" killing and rob-
bling until they became 30 accustomed to the
shedding Of blood that they committed few
crimes without Incorporating murder there
with.
Ortiz was a Spaniard about whom much
mystery chung. He was reticent, even when
drinking, though he once said that he was
born in Seville, afterward came to Mexico,
and took part in the Macmillan war on the
side Of that Inflated monarch, under whom
he held a captains commission. Upon the
disbanding Of the army he fed TO Arizona.
accompanied by the Mexican, Grijalva, who
was a soldier under him. From that time
on their hands we're against everybody and
everybody's hand against them.
Despite all their deviltry they still had a
certain sense Of honor, and were never
known TO modest and insult women
and children, and if at any time a
captive had the pluck to ask Ortiz to let
him settle his fate by single combat, be
was not denied the chance for his life,
though the Spaniard was dead shot and
always came out unframed. Though brave
TO foolhardiness he would avoid conflict
with his opponents when 1t was possible,
and was very shrewd In turning circum-
stances to his advantage. Though he was a
number Of times arrested In the early part
against him and he and his companion went
scot free. On one OF these occasions the
negatives from which the Illustrations were
made were taken.
In 1879 nearly $4,000 in bullion was
started from the Tiger mine by private oon-
veyance to the Southern Pacific station of
Maricopa. 1t was hoped by this means to
throw road agents of the track, as
bullion was usually sent by express.
To better avoid suspicion, no guard was
sent with it and the driver went alone
The wagon passed Phoenix without being
troubled, hut about thirty miles south three
men held up the conveyance, killed the
driver and took the bullion, besides several
hundred dollars in greenbacks which were
being sent out to purchase supplies. The
robbers were Ortiz. Grijalva and another
Mexican, whom they had taken in with
them, thinking probably, that there would
be fight.
After the wagon passed Phoenix two
Americans followed It, and to their surprise
they came upon the murdered driver and
the riaed vehicle, and at once started in