Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-18
PLUCKY TOM TOBIN.
TOUGH OLD PIONEER SCOUT WHO
WAS DANGER PROOF.

WAS DANGER PROOF.
His Countless Scars Left by Indians, Griz.
lilies, Mountain Lions and Snakes-His
Famous Feat of Killing the Two Espi-
nosa Outlaws at One Shot.
"Tom Tobin was 80 years old and
over when he died not long ago, but he
was game to the last, said an ex-army
officer. "He was a brother in-law of
Kit Carson, and the last of that pioneer
band of scouts, Indian fighters, hunters
and trappers that ventured upon the un-
known frontier way back in the thir-
ties. When he died, he was the worst
chawed and clawed up man, guess,
that overlook life course in the Rocky
mountain school of experience. He bore
the marks of grizzly bears, mountain
lions, Indians, bad men and other wild
animals from the crown Of his head to
the sole of his feet. He had been shot
10 times Indians took his scalp once
and left him for dead. -Four times he
had been stripped pretty much bare Of
flesh by grizzlies, and three times
chewed out of shape by mountain lions.
Rattlesnakes had sunk fangs into him
three different times without putting
him to any great inconvenience. The
last time I saw old Tom, which was
only little while before he died, he
said, with a shake of his head:
"'I hain't 70 room for any more
scars OF think I'd wabble out and give
somethin else a chance at me. I'd like
to have Geely monster try me once
jest to see what he could do
'Tom was a tough piece Of bone and
sinew and no mistake. His fame was
great in the early days. Indians feared
him. Horse thieves and other outlaws
gave locality wide berth if Tom Tobin
was known to be hanging around it.
Colorado ought to put up monument
to him, for he risked his life once to do
an act that with one crack of his rifle
set that territory ahead ten years at
least. That exploit was the ending of
the career of the two Espinosas, Next
can brothers, were the boldest,
bloodthirstiest, most dreaded despera-
does of all the murderous outlaws that
terrorized that part of the country in
the pioneer days. I've heard old timers
say that the very mention Of the name
Of the Espinosas was enough to make
the settlers shudder. These cutthroats
committed murder for the sake of muir
der. The most brutal Sioux Of those
days would have hesitated before COM
hitting some of the crimes that these
two Mexicans were guilty of.
"Fort Garland was the military post
that guarded the interests of the Colo
RADIO settlers The troops there were I'M
der command Of Colonel Tappan. In
1862 the Espinosas had brought one por
ton of the territory under such reign
of terror that the inhabitants sought
the aid Of Colonel Tappan in Kidding the
region of the Mexican cutthrOats and
robbers. In their appeal to the colonel
they declared that ranchmen, stockmen,
miners and all classes in the San Juan
country simply took their lives in their
hands when they went about their af-
fairs. Colonel Tappan detailed COM
pany of men to seek the trail of the
Mexican outlaws and hunt them to
the death. Rewards to the amount OF
$4,000 had been offered by the terri
torial legislature for the taking of the
Espinosas dead or alive. Tom Tobin
was at Fort Garland when the company
of troops was ordered out to hunt the
desperadoes down, and volunteered to
go along.
1.-TWO days after the start Tobin dis
covered the trail Of the Mexicans. 1t led
to the heart of the Sangro de Cristo
mountains. The desperate character Of
tho Mexicans was shown by their hold
ing up the Placerville stage, killing the
driver and two Of the passengers, and
robbing the mails and express boxes the
very day Tobin discovered their camp,
in Il deep and lonely gulch in the noun
tains. This was five days after the dis
covery of their trail. Tobin had told the
lieutenant of the company that he
needn't attempt to take the Mexicans
alive. because they wouldn't be taken,
and any attempt to do it would result
only i'll the death of all that made it.
"'There amt any use of that, said
Tom. I'll follow these greasers to their
hole. If como back, I'll have 'em both.
If don't come back, they'll have me-
"Tom followed the trail into this
gulch until he came to the isolated and
almost inaccessible spot where the Es-
pinosas had made their camp. Like a
shadow ho crept on until he could see
the two desperadoes. They were absorb
ed i'll taking an inventory of plumber,
which proved to be the proceeds of the
Placerville stage robbery. Tobin worked
himself around until he had the outlaws
in range. He knew his rife; he knew
himself. When his rife cracked. there
were no more Espinosas-not on earth.
Tom had killed them both at one shot.
Then he deliberately, and, he always
said, joyfully, cut off their heads. He
carried those CHASTITY trophies to Fort
Garland, and when the news spread
about the country the people went wild.
They hailed Tom Tobin as their deliver
er and went about their affairs no lon
ger with fear and trembling. But that
was all they did. They soon forgot the
great thing Tobin had done for them,
and even the legislature ignored him for
ten years, when. under pressure, it paid
the old scout $500 on account.
1.-THE last time saw old Tom asked
him if Colorado had settled with him
yet.
"'Not yet,' he said, But hear
they re thinkin somethin O. talkin about
If '0-Naxv York SIM
Taxing the Risks.
The question which appears to have
been most frequently asked while the
shock Of the massacres lasted was
whether it was right to imperil the
Lives and honor of men and women in
such dangerous enterprises. 1t is this
question which I propose to deal with.
in doing so let me dismiss for a mo-
ment all rhetorical methods and even