Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-12-30
OUTWlTTED THE BANDITS.
In Mountain Pass Back of
Acapulco.


eff you are going to travel alone in
this country you must carry two revolv-
ers, but one of them may be worthless;
in fact it may be better to have one of
them of somewhat old-fashioned make"
said Mr.. J. V. Hawkins, of Pueblo,
Mexico. "Mexico has improved mar
vellously in the past ten years, but ban
dts are still too numerous, and | can
tell you how to protect yourself by relat-
ing the experience of a friend of mine.
His name was Mccoy Shepard, and he
was on his way alone from Acapulco to
the capital. 1t is an easily followed
trail he had been over it once, and he
spoke the language very well. He had
little thought of danger, although hold
ups are common enough on that route,
but he went prepared for business. He
put in the holster of his saddle IA
calibre revolver loaded with cartridges
that barely had enough powder in them
to blow the bullets out of the muzzle,
and then in the small of his back he
hung the handiest 30-calibre he
could find when in Frisco. He was
making a trap, and it worked.
1T happened that as he was coming
down out of the main range three road
agents stepped from the rocks beside the
road and had him cornered before he
could whistle. They were armed with
some reason did not shoot before they
spoke, as not infrequently happens.
They invited Mac to get down, and he
did perforce. Then one of them took
the big revolver from the holster.
Good 1t is big, said he.
Yes, said Mac, but it's a worth
less thing after all. never want to kill
any one. only carry it because | must
make people think | am armed
"The bandits laughed at that 1t was
incredible that such 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 go
through the hat.
SAT that he took off his hat, gor-
geous Mexican affair that cost $50 in
Acapulco, and put it on rock, not ten
feet away, and stepped back toward but
about five feet at one side of the bandits.
They were interested at ouce. The idea
was novel to them. The man with the
pistol aimed deliberately and fired at the
hat. Then the three ran to look at the
effect of the shot. Macs turn to shoot
had come. Whipping out the unnoticed
revolver he. shot two of them down before
they could turn on him. The third did no
more than turn round before he caught
his dose rs well.
Leaving everything as 1t ay-bodes,
guns, hat, and all, Mac sat down in the
shade of rock and waited for some one
TO come along. He din not even reload
his revolver He had TO make out a
good case before the Government off
cias, and he knew Just how to do it.
after an hour or so native planter
With his servant came riding along
Have the goodness to inform the
Alcalde that an American gentleman. has
had trouble here with bandits, said he
TO the native, aud the native did us re-
quested, of course. Three or four hours
later came the Alcaldc Of the next place
with a half dozen soldiers. Mac told his
story briefly, and the Alcalde noted each
point Of il with the eorrohorating eyi.
deute ON The ground.
"'Aou have done we'll, be said I
know che m,cus we'll You have saved
cartridges Zoe my soldiers by shilling
them
"lhen be- stopped. lIo could NOT uu.
deraiaud bow emo big revolver bad failed
Va shoot Through tfo hat lle thaaghg
NE.rn ..aa ...... at.H .H ...... .... L.. .. q.