Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-28
eAest a 10 lesvenag Powef-Latest Govt Report
B Bs%5sg'!
ABSOLUTELY Pure
oUTwlTTeo THE BANDITS.
Mccoy shepara's Adventure In Moansaia
1'ass IBark 0f Acspuleo.


HsCoy shepara's Adventure In Noo0ntalo
Pass Hack oG Ac.paIes.
''lf you are going to travel alone in
this country, you must carry two revolv-
ers, but one Of them may be worthless.
In fact, 1t may be better to have one Of
them IL somewhat old fashioned make"
said Mr.. j. V. Hawkins Of Pueblo, Mex
leo. Mexico has improved marvellous
iy In the past 10 years, hut bandits are
still too numerous. and can tell you
how to protect yourself Ivy relating the
experience If friend Of mine. His name
was Mccoy Shepard. and he was on his
way alone from Acapulco 70 the capital.
IL Is m easily followed trail. He had
lseen over IL once, and he spoke the Ian
guaec very well. He had little thought
Of danger. although hollurs are COM
mon enough on that route. but he went
prepared for business. He put in the
holster II his saddle Al caliber revolver
loaded with cartridges that barely had
enough powder in them to blow the bull
lets out Of the muzzlc. and then in the
small 81 his back he hung the handiest
Is calibcr he could find when in Frisco.
He was making n trap, and IL worked.
1T happened that ms he was coming
down out Of the main range three road
agents stepped from the rocks beside the
road anil had him cornered before he
could whistle. They were armed with
shotguns as well rs nachetes, but for
some reason did not shoot before they
spoke, n not infrequcntly happens. They
sv,s- a. 4
force. Their one Of them took the big re-
volver from the holster.
"'Good. 1t Is big said he.
EYES said Mac, but it's worthless
thing after all. never want to kill any
one. only carry It because I must
make people think am armed
1.-THE bandits laughed Mt that. II was
incredible that such n pistol should be
worthless. and they said SO.
but. gentlemen, will put my hat in
the road. and You may shoot at it with
the pistol. The bullet will not 60 through
the hat
AT that he took Of his hat, q COR
geous Mexican affair that cost $50 in
Acapulco, and put it on q rock not 10
feet away, and stepped back toward, but
about five feet Mt one side Of, the bandits.
They were interested ut once. The idea
was novel TO them. The man with the
pistol aimed deliberately and fred ut the
hat. Then the three ran TO look Mt the
effect of the shot. Macs turn to shoot
had come. Whipping out the unnoticed
| revolver, he shot two Of them down be
fore they could turn on him. The third
did no more than turn round before he
caught his dose as well.
Leaving everything rs II lay-bodies,
guns, hat and all-Mac sat down in the
shade Of rock and waited for some one
to come along. He did not even reload
his revolver. He had to make out good
case before the government officials, and
he knew just how TO do it.
"After an hour or SO native planter
with his servant came riding along.
| "'Havc the goodness to inform the al
calde shat an American gentleman has
had trouble here with bandits said he
TO the native, and the native did as re-
| quested Of course. Three Or four hours
later came the alcaldc Of the next place
with half . dozen soldiers. Mac told
Il MS btofy DISeuy, uuu tue olcaIue nOteu
each point Of IL with the corroborating
evidence on the ground.
"'You have done WELL he said. I
know the rascals well. You have saved
cartridges Tor my soldiers by killing
thcm.'
Then he stopped. He could not un.
dcrstand how the big revolver had failed
to shoot through the hat. He thought
there was some kind of necromancy
about II. So Mac cut bullet from q
cartridge and showed that the usual
powder space was for the most part filed
with cork. The alcalde turned the cork
over tn his hand and then said:
"'Thosc wise Yankees! Hut they do
by subtlety what we would do by valor!
"Then Mac gathered mp his hat and
revolver. mounted his mule and rode on
with the alcaldc, leaving the soldiers to
look after the dead bandits. Take my
word for II, and carry good gun out VI
sight when travelling In Mexico. and an
other ono where all can see it."-New
York Sun.