The Press., 1894-08-30
TERROR TO BANDITS,
INCIDENTS IN THE CAREER OF CAB
 TAIN JONATHAN FITZWATERS.
D6UIDIOIl Record.

INCIDENTS IN THE CAREER OF CAB
 TAIN JONATHAN FlTZWATERS.
 He Murdered a Man In Pennsylvania and
 Fled to Mexico, Where He Became a
 Stage Driver-Achieved Fame as a Slayer
 of Bandits.
 Captain John Ferris, the veteran stage driver, who hauled passengers and nail on the overland route ill the early the other day and related some of the interesting incidents connected with the life of Captain Jonathan Fitzwaters, who was noted character ill New Mexico and Arizona ill the early days. After leaving the overland route Cap tain Ferris drove the stage between San ta Fe and Albuquerque and Fl Paso and was intimately associated with Captain Fitzwaters for several years.
 Although Captain Fitzwaters was one of the toughest and bravest men on the frontier" said Captain Ferris, "he was brought up ill refinement and had an education as good as a college pro- lessor. He came of one of the best fam flies ill the state of Pennsylvania, but after reaching manhood became reckless, and ill the year 1840 he murdered a man. He left the States before the off, cers could capture him and made his way to old Mexico, where he fell in with tough lot of men. He soon &C., quired a reputation ill the City of Mex ico as a man of nerve. His bravery and fine bearing attracted the attention of government officials, and he was ap- pointed to drive the stage between the City of Mexico and Vera Cruz That route was at that time one of the most dangerous ill all of Mexico. In fact, there were but very few safe sections in Mexico ill those days. Every mountain pass was infested with bandits, who did not hesitate to murder and rob every wayfarer that fell into their hands.
 "On.the first trip which Captain Fitz- waters made to Vera Cruz his stage was held up by band of brigands. The out laws met with warm reception from the captain, who succeeded after 8 des- perate battle ill driving them off, kill ing three of the bandits. On the suc- ceeding trip another band of the ban ditti attacked the stage and were again unsuccessful ill committing a robbery, Captain Fitzwaters killed five members of the desperate gang, and as there had been some doubt expressed among the government officials as to the truth of his story of the killing of three bandits on his former trip he decided to take along evidence of his bloody work, so that his story could not be disputed. He thereupon proceeded to cut the ears off of each of the bandits whom he had killed, and he took the horrible trophies with him to Vera Cruz and thence back to the City of Mexico.
 ''This daring deed made the captain famous throughout that part of Mexico. He was the lion of the hour, and the stage company who operated the line for the government had built expressly for him an elegant stage and provided him with eight horses, which were driven to the stage four abreast The fame of the captain was quick to reach the moun- tains, and ill a very short time the bands of brigands throughout that sec tion knew the name and quality of the man with whom they had to deal, and they made their arrangements to get rid of him accordingly.
 "Soon after being provided with his new stage Captain Fitzwaters started on one of his long trips to Vera Cruz. The journey was without unusual incl dent until the mountains ill the state of Puebla were reached, when he was am pushed by party of brigands and shot off the coach. The outlaws thought they had completed their bloody work by shooting out the captains right eye, breaking his left arm and shooting him again through the leg. They then rob- bed the coach and left, supposing that their enemy was completely done for. In this the bandits were mistaken. Cap tain Fitzwaters had faithful friend named Pedro Salazar, who was riding in the coach and was not injured. He picked up the apparently lifeless body of the captain and removed it to place of safety.
 1.-The wounded man was given every care and attention, and, strange to say, he eventually recovered, although he was badly disfgured. He remained ill Mexico until the close of the Mexican war. When General Scott landed at Vera Cruz, almost the first man he met was Captain Fitzwaters, who rendered the United States army his services as guide He accompanied the army on its march into the interior and gave Gen. eral Scott much valuable information as to the topography of the country and the class of people to be met at the diff ferent points along the line of march. He remained with the general until the close of the war, and then, ill recogni- tion of his valuable services, he was pardoned or promised immunity from any punishment for the murder he had committed ill Pennsylvania ill case he returned to the United States This was done upon the recommendation of Gen. eral Scott. He was appointed by the United States government to the posi- tion of wagon and forage master at AL buquerque, N. M. He occupied that position few years and became noted on the frontier for his bravery. He final ly took sick and died after few days illness. The government employees and the many friends of the captain at AL buquerque turned out in force and gave his body decent burial, the grave be- ing located on the slope about two miles from the town. '-St. Louis Globe Democrat.