Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-09-17

would perform the work of holding up
ana r0bbiug the traveller. In those days
an men Of wealth and all wagon trains
loaded with goods were projected On the
road by an armed escort of men. The
Terrazas band had no hes,tancy in maxi
ing their attacks upon these armed
forces, and they were so bold and swift
n their desperate work that they were
always successful TerraZas's cOnnec-
ton with the band became known in
few months, and he abandoned his store,
lied 10 the mountains and took an active
position as chief Of his men. The opera
tons Of the bandits then became more
bold and desperate than they ever had
been before When they had no travel
ers to prey upon they would make in
CursiOns .ntO the surrounding valleys
and rob the settlers of all the money
and valuables they possessed. They
made IL a rule never to attack or rob a
man OF small means and when they die
so Inadvertently, as was occasionally the
case. they would listen TO the man
story. and il. after an investigation,
they found il true, they would restore
the amount taken from him and add 20
B. comfortable sum OF their own accu-
nula-ed wealth.
To was of frequent occurrence for
them TO capture the rich rancher or
traveller and hold him az their rendez-
vous in the mountains for ransom.
Their method of operation in such cases
was 70 bhndf0ld the victim upon his
capture and convey him to their rem
devious which was q large cave, hand
sOmely fitted up. Upon their arrival
at the cave the man would be released
from the bands with which he was
bound and the bandage taken from his
eyes He would be royalty treated. The
best books Of the times were at his dis
posal and he would be RECALLED with the
finest wines and most inviting repasts.
The members of the band were all men
OF Intelligence. and some OF them were
well educated. They would entertain
their victim with conversation on sub
jects of a high character, and in every
possible way strive to make him feel
comfortable and at home. They would
make no hint at the object of his de-
tentiOu. This was not necessary. The
methods OF the band were too well
known az that time to need any such
explanation. The prisoner would usu-
ally ask in the course OF a day or two
what sum was expected Of him or his
family TO secure his release. The
amount desired would then be cOurte-
ouSly named and the negotiations for
the sum agreed upon to be paid over to
Terrazas or his representative would
be conducted and carried out. The vic
tim would be held at the cave until the
money had been placed in the hands of
the brigands. He would then be given
a cordial "adios' and escorted blind
folded to q place near his home, and
then released.
This band continued their operations
for a period of twenty years, and in
that time accumulated a fortune that
Is estimated at several millions of dol
lars. They grew so bold and became
such q terror to the people of this sec,
ton that the government finally de-
termined 10 eXterminate them. A
large armed force was sent in pursuit
of them. and they were trailed TO their
mountain rendezvous. In the tight
that took place thirty Of the soldiers
were killed and all Of the bandits, with
the exception OF TerraZas, met death in
the cave Terrazas wos taken TO Ate
cuare and shot on the plaza of the town
in the presence OF several thousand peO-
pie To the surprise Of every one. the
cave contained none of the treasure
which the bandits were known 10 have
accumulated. Ii was thoroughly
searched. and although it was luxuri-
antly fitted up with the finest furniture