Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-23
ARIZONA BANDITS.
SOME oLo-Tlme HoLo-UPS" OF
THE BULLION BUSINESS.
Three Guards Murdered from AMBUSH
and PIuadsr Secured by msx'csn
Hahwaymsn in 1888
fc,nc,nn,,i commersial.Guzette.l

From 1860 until recently Arizona has
been the favorite resort Of bandits ana
biehwaymen. Both Mexicans and Ameri'
cans INDUCED in the practice. and II IL
so,d that many snug fortune now
belonging TO respected citizens was
founded in that way. But. De trae
"a IL NAV. many bar OF bullion
started from the mines to the railroad and
failed 10 reach its destination. Years az
forward the bones of ITS custodian would
be found bleaching IN the SAND, Dut tncy
could tell no tales, ana the roDoers VIII
unLnown. unless the sudden rise OF some
STRUGGLING citizen fiom poverty to afliu-
ence directed suspicion, In which case tne
matter was allowed TO drop,
One of the latest and boldest of these
rohberies occurred in 1883 little way out
from Pbenix. and its result has deferred
the Mexicans from auy attempt at IT'S rope
tltion.
The Vulture mine. the property of Sena-
tor Tabor, was at that time worked by an
English syndicate, with a man named
Gribble rs superintendent. In taking
away the bullion an armed guard
OF FIVE to ten men usually accom-
% MED II, riding far enough ahead and
behind 10 prevent them all being KILLED by
a single fire from ambush. One morning
IN August. of 1888. Ciribble, with one con-
pan. on IN buggy. started toPn@DIX with
torty-two pounds OF old bullion. HIS
guard consisted of two men on horseback.
who were supposed 10 ride one 200 yards
in advance and the other 200 yards 20 the
rear. but 1t afterward developed that they
were riding together.
When the eavalcade reached a lonely
place On the desert near Negro Wells the
read made an abrupt turn TO the right and
directly facing the turn, about ten rodS
distant. was a clump OF crossword.
From behind these bushes deadly IRE
was poured in on them by three Next
cans. They had selected their targets,
and Grlbble and TWO others were Killed
at the first fire. The other man. who
was mounted on Thoroughbred horse. at
tempted 10 make his escape. but the bull
lets from the MincheSters overlook HIM
and he fell dead aUout three hundred
yards distant. One Of tho Mexlcans took
his horse, and, strapplng the bullion De-
fore him on the saddle. the three made
across the desert toward Mexico.
Late IN the day the stage from Prescott
came by and tho driver. discovering the
bodies, brought the news into Phoenix.
BY daylight next morning posse or white
men, with Indian trailers, were on the
ground aud began the pursuit. Late III
the day four OF them came upon the rob
bers while thoy were trying TO cut the
piece of bullion TO divide It, they evident
ly wishing TO separate. They showed fight,
and the whites returned TO Nulture for re-
Inducements. and going back as rapidly
rs posi- Die found that the robbers had
separated and two of the trails were
lost in the mail pass OF the Eagle Tail
mountains. Pressing on the tran OF the
other. they reached the ella on the eve
nlng of the neXt day. Here they found
the fugitiye's horse mired III the quick
sand. with q leg broken. his rider having
taken his blankets and the bullion, which
he still had IN his possession, and started
down the river on foot. lie had ridden
the horse moro than one hundred miles
without food or water. and in trying TO
rush him across the river, winch was
swollen, he had become mlred, and IN
frantic effort to free himself had broken
his leg.
The pursuers shot HIM and followed the
| bank of the river TO ferry few miles be-
| low, where Governor Powers bad some
Mexicans at work on boat. Riding up to
the fence, they asked him it he had seen
such q man. describing the one they
wanted. Before Powers could reply the
| Mexican, who was sitting on his blanket
in the shade of the house, and
within hearing of the conversation. start
ed to run up the hill and toward the
brush. The white men began shooting,
and he fell dead. He had come to the
house On foot few hours before, and had
obtained permission to rest there until
they had repaired the boat so they could
| put him across the river. In his roll OF
blankets they found the piece of bullion
with Grlbbles blood dried upon It. The
! thieves had tried to cut 1t in two. but had
| failed. and they had separated, the leader.
doubtless having gwen tho other two the
| slip.
The dead robber was found 10 he Yno-
| cinte Valenzuela. q trusted Mexican en-
| ployed at the mine. The other two rob
| bers were never discovered, nor were the
citizens ever able to even fasten suspicion
on any one.