The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-08-04
IN THE ouICKSANDS.

another man and horse had been lost in
their treacherous depths.
At the time of which ! write l was con-
nected with a railroad survey along the
thirty-fifth parallel, and we had our head
quarters at the town of Albuquerque, N.
NJ, then a place of small importance.
Even its most sanguine inhabitant did not
dream at that time Of the prosperity the
railroad would bring to it.
OF the population of 500 do not think
80 were Americans, or whites" as they
preferred to call themselves, though some
of the New Mexicans were as fair as any Of
our party. The majority, however, showed
a strong Indian and sometimes a negro
strain.
The advent of strangers in those days was
always celebrated by a fandango, and as
the New Mexican, like the old Mexican,
women are exceedingly fond of dancing
this form of entertainment was kept up
nightly so long as los gringoes-the stran-
gers-were willing to pay the fiddlers
Not being a dancer, did not care for fan
dangoes but one of my friends prevailed
on me one night to go with him and see
what he called the fun"
The fandango that night was held at the
fonda, or hotel, kept, think, by a man
named Murphy. The hotel, like every
other house in the place, the church on the
plaza included, was adobe The dining
room, long, gloomy apartment, made
passable at night by many candles, was
used for dancing.
Near the entrance there was the inevita-
BILE bar, and at the farther end platform
raised about foot above the floor, on which
Of fxarn
fiddles and guitar.
/ thought the women by no means as
good looking as the men, but made an ex-
ception in the case of one who was some
what famed in that region under the name
of Donna G. Anna. This girl was petite,
graceful as an antelope, and her pale, olive
features were as pure and perfect as one OF
Raphaels madonnas.
As may be supposed, Donna c. Anna was
the belle of the ball, and was not long in
discovering that young Mexican with a
dangerous looking knife in his red sash aid
a dangerous glitter in his black, Indian
like eyes was inclined to monopolize all the
girls time, and evidently to her own annoy
ance as well as that of others.
There were soldiers, teamsters and officers
in the room, all affiliating among them
selves and with the natives in the most
democratic fashion.
One of the finest looking fellows present
was Sergeant Carey Of the Fifth United
States cavalry, who was attached to our
escort. He had already distinguished him
self in a number of Indian fights and had
been RECOMMENDED by the officers of his
regiment for promotion.
This young man seemed to be captivated
by the Mexican girl, and on her part she
was without doubt pleased with his atten
tious.
Carey danced with the girl many times,
treating her at the bar to native wine, as
was the custom, and when the fandango
broke up at in the morning he helped her
on with her becoming rebosa and prepared
to escort her home.
The two had just left when Captain Ho-
bart drew me out and asked quickly;
'Have you pistol about you"
We all carried arms when not asleep, so
answered, Yes; haven't you oner"
~ have but want two"
what for?"
Sergeant Carey is going to have trou-
BILE have been watching that dog Of a
Mexican, Pedro, and if Pm not mistaken
he is lying in wait for the sergeant now on
account of that girl"
proposed to go with Hobart, but as he
would not hear to it ! handed him my re-
volver and stood outside the fonda door to
await his return, for we tented together.
The captain flew in the direction taken
by the sergeant, though they had preceded
him only few minutes. He had not been
gone while one could deliberately count 40
when heard a shout, then awoman's shrill
scream, quickly followed by the repeated
banging of revolver and the sound Of hur
rying feet.
A number of our people rushed out Of
the hotel, and with these hurried in the
direction of the noise.
We found the sergeant bleeding on the
ground and Donna c. Anna In a faint be
side him. Both were taken back to the no
tel, by which time the girl had revived
Our doctor CHANGED to be present. He made
a hurried examination of the sergeant s
wound, shook his head sadly and muttered;
Poor fellowl He is calledP'
The dagger had just escaped the heart.
The blade was driven entirely through the
left lung, and the point entered the spine.
bent over the dying mamie had been
a favorite with me-and asked;
who stabbed you, sergeant~
II do not know" he gasped.
But / do" said the girl, now kneeling
beside the bed and holding his hand.
"Who was it?"
"That black dog. Pedror'
"You are sure?"
"As that Christ diedp' she exclaimed.
At this juncture Captain Hobart came
in, painting like man after hard run.
Pedro did this" he said, with an oath.
~ fired at the murderer, but as he was
running and it was dark am afraid did
not even touch him."
Just as The day was dawning the ser
geant died, and that afternoon we buried
him with military honors on the banks Of
the swollen Rio Grande.
A search was made for the assassin, but
of course he had fled. We afterward learn
ed that he had taken a younger brother
with him in his fight. A reward was Of
fered for his capture, but there was little
hope that any Cne would claim it, certainly
not Mexican.
Two weeks after this, with Captain Ho-
bart and half dozen troopers, was out
examining coal indications along the banks
of the Puerco when we suddenly came upon
two men in the tangle of hills through
which the river winds. 1t needed no second
glance to tell us that they were Pedro and
his brother.
The two leaped on their ready horses,
wheeled and fired, then were away like the
wind, with eight well mounted men in