The sun., 1896-03-01
MURDERED BY RUSTLERS,
THE FATE OF cor. FOUNTAIN dNp
ms SON IN NEW MENICO.
Two Counties In n state OF Terror Owing
to Outrngcs by Cattle Thieves Ven,
Eennce Upon Prosccutor-A Cail fos
thc>sSinycr OF Biiiy the Ikid.

| Eennce Upon Prosccutor-A Call fos
| thcNSinycr of Biiiy the 1kid.
SANTA FE, n. NJ, Feb. 90. state of terror
| exists in Donna Ann and Lincoln counties in
| consequence of recent outrnGcs by rustlers. and
| many citizens arc sacrificing their property
| sending their families from the country or tenn
| porarily going away themselves to Mexico, Col
| orado, or California. The murder OF Col A. J,
! Fountain and his eght-year.old son by tho
rustlers Of Lincoln county, and the mystery
surrounding their disappearance have had much
to do with the present alarm. Other men have
been doomed by the rustlcrs and though some
OF them fcnrlcssly defy their enemies and re.
main Mt home, they do understanding that
their lives are not secure and that they may
disappear some day just as did Col. Fountain.
All that portion OF the Territory lying east Of
the Rio Grande River to tho Texas limo han
always been grazing country for great herds
OF cattle owned principally by large and wells
equipped cattle companies. into that country
driitcd from time to time some most unwclcomo
settlers from western Texas men who
were driven out of the State by the
Texas Rangers. They were. AS n general thing,
lnwless. thicving fellows, who thought nothing
of murder and who mainly subsisted upon tha
profits OF their raids upon tho welI-stocked
ranges. So heavy have the losses OF the great
cattle companies been Of late years and 30 diff
fcult has 1t been to prosecute the thieves that
many OF the firms have sold out at great loss
and havo withdrawn from the country. Ono
set of men effected final settlement by each
one paying $4,000 in cash to meet the obliga-
tions of great cattle company. which. fev
years ago. coming money and had thou-
sands Of head OF stock grazing In that section OF
the Territory. Efforts drive out the thieves
by organized force failed. During tho Hayes
Administration Lincoln county had to be placed
under military law for time, so bad were the
conditions existing there between the rustlers
and the cattle companies.
Those who remained in business organized
what is known tho Southern New Mexico
Stock Association. aud Col. a. j. Fountain OF
Las Cruces was retained to prosecute cases
against the rustlcrs. so successful was he that
now sixteen cattle thieves are serving sentences
in tho penitcntiary at Santa FG, and 1t wan
while he was returning from the county seat
of Lincoln. where he had secured tho indict-
ment of several more. that he waylaid,
taken off into tho hills. and probably murdered.
Col. Fountain was one of tho bravcst men in
the Territory. Born on Staten Island, n. ", he
went 10 California in the early days. and during
the civil war led the California column into
New Mexico aud drove back Sibley's men, saw
ing the Territory for the Federal side. He
sided in Las Cruces. where he pra ctised laws
and his record was of tho very best. When the
cattlemen decided to make in the courts
against tho rustlers, they selected Col. Fountain
to prosecute their because of his fearless
ness. In previous troubles he had led the Ter
ritorlal militia under orders OF Gov. Shelton
against the rufIians OF Lincoln county. and ne
was greatly feared by the outlaws. Threats
were repeatedly made against his life. but he
paid no regard to them.
On Feb. l. Col. Fountain and his little son
were travelling in buck board from Lincoln to
Las Cruces by way of Tularosa. and in the after
noon were last seen by the blackboard driver
who carried the mails between Las Cruces and
Tuarosa. AT the time they were making their
way lclsurcly along the road that skirts for
MANY miles the White Sands which lie between
tho san Augustine and tho Sacramento noun
tans. Col. Fountain had two rifles and was
prepared to defend himself against the outlaws
who he knew were only too ready to kill him If
they could get the drop on him. When tho
na carrier met Col. Fountain the latter haltca--
"Who are the three men on horseback whom
you met some distance back on tho road ~ in
Qured the Colonel.
strangers to me-" replied the mail carrier.
"They have been acting very suspicIously,~
replied Col. Fountain. They were behind mo
for long time. and they passed on ahead by
another road If was being surrounded. I
do not like the look of things bit"
The mail carrier urged the attorney to turn
back and not attempt to reach his destination
u time, col. Fountain decided to push on and
take his chances.
Las Or Cruces he mmedintey inquired II Col.
Fountain had reached his home, and this was
had had " OF his i' ] dsnppearancc. rescuins party
was !nmcli lately organized. Just where the
Is cnt in the Hillside. worn by travel which is
about the height OF man on horseback. lhe
cnt is found. It is supposed that as the attor-.
ney's conveyance emerged from this cut upon
ans hS c he Ep % an M wa
the poMsr Of 81; en%lnirS The ira track kodts OF ths
fc"r from tho road, where bloody marks wore
discovered. and tho tracks Of probably eight
horscmcn Indicated how many had assisted in
the trail divided, three parties going in different
dreGii9ns ama The r%.rntEs Hary finally had to
The rustlers who are believed to he concerned
in the affair evidently hoped Ia make The disap;
10 that end they pruD'lly, hurled n" body, In
some secluded spot. H"th!nt could hr easicry
aad tie body inferred! and Il fry hours Later az
traces would be obl!t"rat"d lhr v hite sand.
CONS st of dsint"grn,cd gypsum rock nS tine as
tns low mpuutnins on II tract "f land tAirty-hve
stantly shifting under the violent winds.
Though rains and dust storms of:en rage tho
one !.a- ever dared To vcntur" wiz a"nnvcynrce
Mpnn that whltrucd desert, aud the main roadt I"
luinrosa misses along it- "'iGc
III" leader in the rs,cuinE party now out a
Sc 'ruI lime is Major Llcwelyn. n famous man
OF llr West who shot 40, Middl"t"n, "A Mon
tnna csprrudo OF the early Ga,F. Li"welyn iins
been marked Rs the next victim Of the outlnwS-
nud las murder may hr reported at any time.
Men OF position aud in!Ir,mc" in the district
fear 20 take sides hcCau'r Of their families, and.
owing 10 the POLITICAL influence possessed by tho
ru,t!crs IL is not easy to got the civil authors
ties To- act. Cul. Fountain WAS ihc fourth VIC
tim Of the drs2orador,. and white II i wc!l un-
doistooa who til" lcad"rs Of IL" outlaws are. 1t
is not snf" to dcuouHcc hem ruL.cly.
An r!lurt H. hriug mado {" prevail upon Ia1
"A fulD'l- Texas lIupErr.
Billy the Kid. to come 10 las rucch an. head
tho movement to Grirc out Of the country Lhis
gang OF mur.,rrcgs HuI thi"yrs. COY. Morton IS
now in La, Cruces doing wIni hc can 10 ASST
in tie di.coycry OF co., fuuu tIin'E body, aud
that Of his son but IN the present EtGtc o. terror
IL is difficult to make much progress.
Col. Wnring md the Dogs.
To rllE LLlLMM nE lML S-N hir. u Mnull DO dlNk