The herald., 1893-06-18
A CALIFORNIA RANGERS TALE,
He Describes the Capture of
Bandit Joaquin Murietta.
Good Work Done by Governor Big.
ler's Little Company.
Robbers OF the EARLY FIfties-Ths Cali
fornia Rangers-The BattIe-Death
of Joaquin = Record OF
tho Rangers.

am not prepared to commit murder
yet. The only way those men can be
captured is to waylay them and shoot
them down.
This was the reply of William ]. How
ard to the authorities when requested
to undertake the capture of Evans and
Sontag, says the Stockton Mail.
Captain Howard is an expert in such
matters, having had, in Texas, Mexico
and California, many personal encoun-
terH with the bad man OF the late
forties and early fifties, the age Of des-
peradoes. He was also one OF the posse
that slew Joaquin Murietts.
Captain Howard was born in Virginia,
and in early manhood emigrated to the
republic of Texas. There, for time
he served in the famous Texas Rangers.
When war was declared between the
United State and Mexico he raised a
company of volunteers for the service of
his native country.
This company when mustered in he
turned over to his brother, Capt. 7. T.
Howard, accepting for himself the posi-
tion of assistant quartermaster st Gal
weston. Later he served with the army
of conquest in Mexico, under Qurter-
master Major Simpson. III
When peace was made and General
Scott's army ceased to "revel in the
halls of the Montezumas," the brothers
turned their eyes toward the setting
sun and emigrated to California, arriv-
ing in this state in September, 1649.
They located in what is now Mariposs
county, where, on the Buena Vista
ranch at Bridgeport, few miles from
MariposR city, William ]. Howard has
resided for A years.
BANDITS OF THE EARLY FIFTTEs.
In the early days OF California there
were bandits of every kind and quality.
The native Cslifornians regarded the
Americans as interlopers, and at every
opportunity would assaasinate and rob
them. II detection seemed imminent
they would fly south over the border to
+ their cousins in Mexico, or else in bands
of from half dozen to 100 or more, take
to the hills and maintain 8 guerrilla
warfare of murder and robbery.
The great San Joaquin valley was the
favorite ground for these bandits. The
country being thinly settled, the lonely
ranches were an easy prey. and when
the ranchers' homes were not attacked
their hoeks and herds were driven to the
bandits homes among the hills and their
growing crops destroyed.
Five of these guerrilla chiefs gloried
in the name of Joaquin, and one of
these, Joaquin Murietts, became as ia
nous from one end of the state to the
other as was the king of Sherwood for
est in the merry daps of old England.
Joaquin Murietta completely terror
lied the dwellera in the valley. So
great was his fame that eventually all
crimes committed between Los Angeles
and Sacramento, the Sierra Nevadas
and the Coast range, were charged to
his account, and he seemed to be
ubiquitous Mexican demon sent to tor
ment the hated intruders- los gringos.
THE CALIFORNIA RANGERS.
The governor of the state, John Big
ler, being duly authorized by the legisla-
ture, offered a reward OF $4,000 for the
capture of Joaquin Murietts, and by the
same authority commissioned Harry
Love-formerly Texas Ranger and q
veteran of the Mexican war-to organize
a corps OF 20 mounted men, to be known
as the California Rangers. These men
were to receive $3.50 month as pay,
and their duty was to exterminate the
banditti whose haunts we're in the San
Joaquin valley.
The company was organized in May,
1883, and consisted of the following men
Captain, Harry Love; rangers, P. Ed
ward Connor, William J. Howard, T. T.
Howard, William Burns, Charles Blood
worth, William 7. Henderson, John
White. William Campbell, Edward
Ill TOal, M
Masters, George Evans, John Nuttall,
James Norton, Edward Van Buren,,
George Chase, and the surgeon, DIR.
Holliater.
These men, armed with rifles, shot
guns, revolvere and bowie knives, pa
trolled the valley as body or in small
squads. and, while they made few ar
rests, were, for go small 9 force, wonder
fully effective. Joaquin Murietta, whom
they were so anxious to capture, seemed,
like will-o'-the-w -wisp, to be ever just
beyond their reach.
HUNTING THE BANDIT CHIEF.
The Rangers made the Howards'
Buena Vista ranch, in Mariposa county,
their rendezvous and headquarters.
They were assembled there the first
week in July, 1858, when Captain Love
received a missive from Pho Pico of Los
Angeles.
This contained the information that
Joaquin Murietta, accompanied by
Three-Fingered Jack, his lieutenant, and
large band of followers, had been seen
in the vicinity OF Quartzburg, and that
he had passed by the Saint Louis ranch
bound south, stealing horses as he
travelled.
At once all was in commotion. The
Rangers saddled their horses and were
quickly ready to begin the long march
that was destined to end with the death
OF Joaquin and his lieutenant and the
dispersion of his band
The rangers crossed the San Joaquin
river and travelled down the west side.
Captain Love divided his men, one
party searching every known place of
concealment ain the Coast range, the
other securing the plain between the
foothills and the river. The design was
to either round up Joaquin and his party
or else be satisfied that ne was between
the rangers and the Mexican frontier.
The two divisions of Captain Loves
force were united at Santa Barbara.
Neither party had come upon the trail
OF the bandits. The rangers thence
marched to Los Angeles, where they
were informed that Joaquin and his
band had left there but two days before,
riding Off in the direction Of Tejon pass.