The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-26
An Americans Il Experience with
Bandits on the Plains of 0axaca.

an aneEtcans oG0 ExpcrlcnCc VIZ.
bandits on the Plains of oaxaca
New York sun.
Il have been in Mexico for thirteen years,
travelling at least half the time, and yet I
was never held up by bandits but once"
said Mr.. Butler Talbert. OF Oaxaca. Il had
back in the stage. which at that time started
IN the afternoon and did not reach the plaza
here until after dark. AS 1 was getting up
beside the driver an old woman came IN
and begged to be taken on board. There
was plenty. of room for her inside, but she
lacked a dollar of having enough money
and the driver refused TO take her.
SHE turned away without a word. but
there was such q look OF distress In her
fsGe b snat' g aeStnf her on the an d l%fPqiS and h Sared
her on board. Now, that dollar was In
vested better than any dollar / ever had.
for the woman. 1t was not even real char
ity In me, for / gave IL more 10 save my
own feelings than to relieve her. but so IL
I'VE bowled along at a fair pace behind
the mules. IL was a lovely road, save for
entirely when, as We approached the salt
works that lie In the marsh some miles this
side of Tlacalula, 1 heard some one say.
Senior Americana. Come down here
'"The old woman / had assisted had her
head out the side of the stage and wanted
me to come and sit beside her. / tried to
beg of, for / expected her to make me
miserable by an overwhelming torrent OF
thanks, but there was something In her
voice this time that made me once more
give attention TO her. There was not ample
room for another inside. but a Mexican.
who had wanted the seat beside the driver,
was very glad to exchange with me.
1t is WELL said the old woman in a low
voice. as he climbed to my place. He is OF
no account, but you are my friend
II was astonished at what she said, but
she began grooming over her beads before I
could say a word, and the stage swayed
along until we had passed the first row OF
salt pans where the willows are so thick.
Then 1t seemed to me as If the whole thick
ct was turning to fire and smoke on one
side OF the road, while the splinters few
1 felt a tug at my coat across the Shout
ders, and everybody but me and the old
woman tumbled down on the coach floor.
Highwaymen had attacked us by firing be-
fore they spoke. The driver and his seat
mate were both killed. and the top OF the
coach was shot TO pieces, but the only mis-
sile that flew low enough inside to hit
anyone there was the one that cut my coat
on the shoulder.
OF course. the ~rascals swarmed into the
road as soon as they had fired and ordered
us down. j turned to help the old woman,
and she said: Good, you do WELL They
stood us beside the road I'm a row and
As they came along with the rags to tie
over our eyes she put her hand on my arm.
US. Then every soul but US two was robbed
clean, while the two dead men from the
drivers box were stripped naked.
Then a nan who had unconcernedly
dipped brine from a hole in the marsh and
carried it to the pans during the melee was
called and ordered to drive the rig through
TO town. He did as he was ordered with
out a word, and after a delay OF say ten
minutes we were on our way again.
$50 far as / could see none or the pas
.sengers had observed that i and the old
woman had escaped robbery, and you may
be sure / was not saying anything about it
Nor did 1 mention my escape in town here
for years after. l could have put the sol
diers on the right trail for the robbers, I
doubt not, by telling what / knew about
the old woman, but / took pains to make
her comfortable instead, because she had
saved my life. But why she should have
been so anxious to take the coach that was
to be robbed, and how she knew that I
was in danger, and why or how she was
able to protect me, 1 did not learn nor even
try TO. 1t is a good man that knows when
not TO be inquisitive, especially in this coun.
try"