The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
HARD WORKING BRIGANDS.
THEY nom UP AND ROE AND rTSHT
1LMOsT VITHOU \ PAUNE

nival In New Mexico and Arizona. defy ng the
authorities, committing murder. robbinv trains.
stage coaches. Post Offices, and the stores Of
country merchants. Although often surrounded
and closely pursued the band mas cluded nil
pursuers. Ono of the band, supposed to have
been the leader, is dead, but his loss has not
stopped the depredations OF the rest. So little
Is Known of these robbers that not even II mama
has been applied to them. They appear to be as
fearless and as clever In their exploits "a tho
Jesse James gang or the McCarty bank rubbsrs.
When Cole Young. alias Estes, was shot by
United States Deputy Marshal Loumts on the
night of Oct. 9, while the robbers were attempt
Ing to hold up the eastbound passenger train on
the atlantic and Pacific Railroad, near Rio
Puerco station. the officers thought that the
party consisted of Black Jack, Jesse Williams,
Bob Hays, and Tom Anderson. desperate fell
lows who had been cowboys OIL several of he
great cattle ranges of southeastern New Mexi-
co. AS Black Jack and his companions have
not been seen IN their accustomed haunts for
several months the suspicion that they are the
robbers is probably we'll founded. Whoever
the robbers may be. however. they have been
leading civil and Federal officers and troops OF
United States cavalry u chase of hundreds OF
miles over the most desOlRte regions In tho
Southwest, and not a week goes by without re-
ports of new robberies coming into railway
headquarters and to the Post Onice lnspector's
department in this city.
on on the desert country OF eastern Now
Mexico are scattered herds of sheen tended Inv
n nomadic class of poor Mexicans. The sparse
ly waterei valleys have long been occupied by
tho big cattle companies. which. through the
rarages of cattle rustiers and the recent years
OF depression, are now about wiped out. IL was
off in this dreary country that Col. Fountain of
Las Cruces. accompanied BY his little son, was
waylaid by a band of castle %rustlprs as he wns
returning from the trial of two members OF
their gang for cattle stealing. and though six
months have passed no trace Of the missing
lawyer or his son has been discovered. Both
probably were murdered and their bodies buried
In the White Sands.
On the evening of June 9twom men entered the
storehouse on the Bell ranch and stole q large
quantity Of provisions. On the previous day
they had killed n steer out on the range, and had
cooked some choice cuts OF fresh meat over an
open camp fire. Two days later they entered
the general store of NJ. HerZstein, ut Liberty, n
desolate settlement where the few wants of the
Mexican sheep herders are supplied. They dis
played their guns, and holding up the proprietor |
and his son. Levi, they pi!laged the place. There
was u Post Office in this store. and. because of it
the knowledge OF the hold-u reached the Office
OF the Post Office Inspector In this city. and an !
inspector was despatched to investigate the case.
The inspector had TO travel in a buck toard ll2 |
miles over the desert from Lss Vegas station to
reach the place, and arrived one day too late 10
be held up on one of the San Antonio stages by
the same gang.
Meanwhile the storekeeper had gathered q
posse OF neiVbors and was off in pursuit of the
band. The party overlook the robbers in camp
about thirty miles southwest Of Liberty. and a
spirited attack was made upon them. The rob
bers stood their ground, ana in the fcht Levi
Herzstein. the Postmaster. and a Mexican were
killed. Three horses were shot. This loss
stopped the pursuing party and the robbers
Killed, and in order to hide their identity they
cut out the brand with a hunting Eulfe before
making of further into tie hills.
Occasionally during the next three week tho
local newspapers OF New Mexico contained brief
stores pillared. but no trace OF the robbers
seemed to be found. On July 20 three men
Separ. q small station on the southern Pacific
thirty miles west OF Deming. held up the Post
a ma.ter, 1n ,ba ri ,5s. t IL m mail for rsSis,sreh pack;
l nited states cavalry were in the field along
the border of Mexico chasing a band OF rene.
gade Indians who han been committing deprs-
dations among the settlers. The United states
Marshal secured permission from army head.
quarters To GUIDE the cavalry against, these
Post Office robbers who had escaped Into
the mountains to the north OF Demiug.
Deputy Loomis. accompanied by Lieut.. Clark
with Troop d.. seventh Cavalry. trailcd thp
toa point about fifty miles southwest
OF LordsburH, where they were surrounded
near skeleton Canon; The robbers had in
trenched themselves behind natural f~ortiiicn-
tions ana detied capture. While the cavalry
were closing in upon the men. carefully study
the ground. the robbers eluded them. and
no miles AT a rapid pace. stopping
over night ut a ranch near Demihg. and Oh the
following morning boldly entering tie town,
riding out OF the settlement uuInOieeted. Moro
, t pm men nov Joined IL the cnn,e and a
me robbers could not escape, but they did, and
the chase was given up.
A Dpnutv Marshal IDo,njs opd Sr,,ioI A,n,.
express ON the Atlantic and Pacific Railway on
que after their unsuccessful pursuiI. the train
held up by a party OF masked men at iho
water at tho tank. the engineer WAS Tightening
, crank pin on one OF the driving whcel,. and
him. The roboers suddenly ap,earei ont OF the
darkness and commanded the trainmen Ia hold
10 uncouple the express car from the tram and
move of up the track. While this WAS hrlng
lone the robbers began a fusllade in the dirrc-
press messenger and the passengers Loom,
. md t sslsy ,N we're sitting N the I'm King car At
rushed out and stArt@i forward to lea u what
Ta su so;ng on. Taking IN ne situation
At one OF the robbers he fired. bringing down
as man at the first shot, He irod at the others,
but when they saw their companion Inii they
followed into the wood by Lnouis,
The brush was rather too dangerous II sp,tfur
sven an intrepid officer ike Looms, and he re.
.urned TO the train. The robber thar lad been
brought down proved to De cole Young. alias
Estes. but nothing was found upon h. prison to
assist the officers In their pursuit nf tne other
OF the band. LOOMS remained Mt the
water tank. while the train went on to Alhuo
lueruue, hoping TO get another shot AT the rob
when they returned Tor the body of their
but they did not come back. Mean. .
"hlle. IA special train was made up Mt Albu- :
luerque. and IA posse tried to oNrrtakr the rob !
before they cnuld get into MrEIcn, but no
trace of them could be found. !
a week later two stages Running between San !
Antonio and Will" Oaks were held up by four I
men in daylight. The first stage left J
san Antonio nj 7 O'Clock in the morning, and !
eight miles out was stopped by an ambus-
'ads and the mail sacks were cut and mum l
Tered. The rOhbrrs took the drivers hat and =
BOOTS, took the four fresh stsge horses, turned :
heir own horses free. and tod the driver to y
walk back toward san AutOnio. Mounting tho !
resh horses tl"y dashed along the stage route b
intil they met the other stage coming toward !
san Antonio. This they also ncld W, and after !
'oNblng the passengers and the mail sack thew !
ut the harness Oi the stage team and c,CnIrd !
cross the Malpais country. Before leaN ing the !
tage party they admitted that they were tho =,
men VIVA had Attempted to hold ~ the passrn. l
,er train AT RIO PuerCo, and Ihey swOr. van ]