The herald., 1893-06-18

email straam that empbiee into Kern
lake, they came upon recently deserted
camp and then knew that joaquin and
his band were put short distance be-
fore them.
Soon afterwards they were forced 10
divide into small parties, as Joaquin's
band had also divided, and each sepa-
rate trail had to be followed.
One of these parties, consisting of
John White and Bill Burns, rode to a
Mexican ranch near the Coast range.
The rAnchero vowed that no one had
passed. but'both Burns and White dis
tinguished signs that numerous party
had not only been there but had stopped
for food. Burns and White, to allay sus-
picion, declared that they were prospect
ing for silver mines.
Captain Love, who had been near by
with the rest of his party at an ap-
| pointed rendezvous, when Joined by his
scouts, Burns and White, soon struck
Joaquin's trail again and followed it to
the Arroyo Csntua, on the west side of
the San Joaquin river, where from the
top Of small mountain valley was in
plain view.
THE BATTLE.
In the center of this valley the ban
dts were encamped. Some were gath
ering wood, others hunting for small
| game and others unsaddling their
horses. Joaquin was engaged about his
horse, and Three-F Fingered Jack was sit
ting by the fire.
Captain Love surrounded the band
and then closed in upon them. The
bandits were taken completely by sur
| prise. Captain Love ordered Chase to
cover Three-Fingered Jack and shoot
him il he made motion.
Burns, who had formerly been part
ner with Joaquin Murietta in a monte
bank, said, pointing him out, THAT is
Joaquin"
Love walked toward Joaquin. The
latter was unarmed, having removed his
belts and pistols while embarrassing his
horse.
At this moment Three Fingered Jack
drew revolver and fred three shots at
Love, one passing through his hair,
which he wore long and curling on his
shoulders.
Bloodworth. Tom Howard, Henderson
and White at once discharged their
weapons at Jack, and he FELL but not
before he had fred another shot at Love,
though without effect. Jacks death was
The excitement of this event was
Joaquin's opportunity. Springing upon
his unsaddled Hteed he made off at gal
lop. White at once mounted race
horse belonging to William Howard and
was first in pursuit of the fugitive.
The remainder of the bandits sprang
to their feet and opened fire to cover
Joaquin's escape. A short fight followed,
in which three of the Mexicans were
killed and two wounded. The balance
escaped among the timber. The wounded
were made prisoners, and the rangers
started in pursuit of joaquin.
DEATH OF JOAQUIN.
White soon gained upon the bandit
chieftain, and after chasing him for half
mile came within range. He fred
upon him with Mississippi rifle, but
Joaquin fell along his horee's neck and
was not injured.
Singing his rifle in it's scabbard at the
saddle bow, White drew a heavy revol-
yer from his holster and opened fire on
the fugitive.
The fret shot was lodged by Joaquin.
The second struck him in the wrist.
With scream of pain and terror
Joaquin threw himself from his horse,
and, facing his pursuer, exclaimed:
"Mtroi Mirdp (Look Look y
He held up his hands in token of sur
render. At this moment the rangers
arrived, and, thinking that Joaquin was
still resisting arrest, they all fred at
once, and the famous bandit fell dead in
his tracks.
1t was then the hottest part of the
summer season, and after consultation
it Yves decided to decapitate Murietta
and preserve his head in alcohol at the
fret opportunity.
William Burns cut off Joaquin's head
with q knife, and also the mutilated
hand from which his lieutenant derived
the name OF Three-Fingered Jack.
he had but just finished his ghastly
task, when he suddenly turned, and
grasping one of the prisoners by the
hair, exclaimed in Spanish:
""Tell me where the rest of your band
have fed to or I'll cut off your head
too"
The Mexican smiled grimly and,
throwing back his head offered his
throat to the knife. He was loyal to
his chief. The next day when crossing
o slough this prisoner committed sui-
eide by throwing himself from his horse.
Being bound ne sank at once, and could
not be rescued.
THE BANDITS HEAD.
Joaquin's head and his lieutensnt's
hand were rolled up in sack and taken
to Millertown, where they were placed
in a keg of brandy by DR.. Leach, now
resident OF Fresno and president of the
Fresno county agricultural society.
Black and Henderson took the head to
Msriposa and Quartzburg, where it was
fully identified as that of Joaquin Muri-
eta, the Mexican prest at the latter
place signing certificate of identified
tion.
The head and hand were then taken
to Benecis, at that time the state cspi-
tai, and exhibited to the state authori-
ties. The reward was paid, and the
rangers disbanded, each receiving $3.50
as salary for his three months in the
eaddle, in addition to share of the re-
ward.
The remaining prisoner was kept at
Buena Vista ranch, Mariposa, until the
rangers disbanded. He declared that
he was not an associate of Joaquin's but
had been overtaken by him and made
prisoner, and forced to enlist while trav-
cling from Mexico to California.
When the rangers disbanded the pris
oner was delivered to the state authori-
ties. By them he was imprisoned in
the county jail at Martinez The night
OF his arrival there he was taken from
the jail by a mob OF Mexicans and