The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-07-17
TERROR 70 s.ALEDTTS.
Ifi TsiE CAREER or CAP
TAIN JONATHAN FITz8ATERs.

He Murdered Man I'm PennsylyMnIa and
Fled to Mexico. Where Ne Became
Stage Driver Achieved Fame as d slayer
Of Bandits.
Captain John Ferris, the veteran
stage driver, who hauled passengers and
mail on the overland route In the early
fifties, was in another reminiscent mood
the other day and related some of the
interesting incidents connected with the
life of Captain Jonathan Fitzwaters,
who was o noted character In New
Mexico and Arizona in the early days.
After leaving the overland route Cap.
tain Ferris drove the stage between SAM
Ia Fe and Albuquerque and Ell Paso and
was intimately associated with Captain
Fitzwaters for several years
Although Captain Fitzwaters was
one of the roughest and hrayest men ON
the frontier, " said Captain Ferris. he
was brought mp in refinement and had
fessor. He came of one OF the best fam
lilies in the state of Pennsylvania, but
after reaching manhood became reckless,
and in the year 1910 he murdered a
man. He left the States before the OIL
GERS could capture him and made his
way to old Mexico. where he fell in
with q tough lot Of men. He soon ac-
n,,;,5 Z, ~, T.. 81, Me- ~ Maxr
leo as man of nerve. His bravery and
fine bearing attracted the attention of
government officials, and he was APP
pointed to drive the stage between the
City of Mexico and Vera Cruz. That
route was ut that time one of the most
dangerous in all of Mexico. In fact,
there were but very few safe sections in
Mexico in those days. Every mountain
pass was infested with bandits, who
did not hesitate TO murder and rob every
wayfarer that fell into their hands.
'tOn 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 des-
perate battle in driving them off, kill
| ing three of the bandits. On the sue
ceeding trip another band of the BAN
ditti attacked the stage and were again
unsuccessful in committing 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 of
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 noun
tains, and in o 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 in the state of
Puebla were reached, when he was am
bushed by a party of brigands and shot
off the coach. The outlaws thought
they had completed their bloody work
by shooting ont the captains right eyeg
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 q 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.
The wounded man was given every
care and attention. and, strange to say,
he eventually recovered, although he
was badly disfgured. He remained in
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 Cen
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, In recogni-
tion Of his valuable services, he was
pardoned on promised immunity from
any punishment for the murder he had
committed in Pennsylvania In case he
returned to the United States. This was
done upon the recommendation of Gem
eral Scott. He was appointed by the
United States government to the posi-
| tion of wagon and forage master at Al
Il ~. ,.<...e..<..... NJ n Tya orosSs,;a1 that