The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-18
FAMOUS OUTLAWS of CALIFORNIA.
The Notorious Jack Powers and His
Daring Deeds.
From the San Francisco Post.

From the San Francisco Post.
Soon after the rush of treasure-seekers
to California began in the old days it be-
came apparent to the settlers and rancho
ros that an era of crime as we'll as of
gold had been inaugurated.
Organized bands of outlaws, led by the
most desperate men, soon began to ter
rorize the young state, and the southern
districts in particular were. fairly over
run.
Cattle buyers passing through Southern
California carrying with them large sums
of money-$5O,Oo0 at time-dropped out of
sight and were never more seen. Some
times their skeletons were discovered
months afterward sometimes not But
their money found its way into circula-
tion again through other and guilty
hands.
One of the first bands of outlaws known
in Santa Barbara county was that of SOL
onion Pico, which, in its palmy days.
numbered forty men, all, or nearly ALL
native Californians. The leader was a
cousin of Andreas and Pho POGO, and had,
therefore, the distinction of being of aris-
tocratic blood. The band for long time
made its headquarters at the Los Alamos
and Purisima ranches
Trading in stock was the ostensible bus
mess Of the organization, but it soon
became apparent that the robbery of men
who came to the southern part of the
state to purchase cattle was the chief
business of those who composed it,
Many parties of two or three cattl1
buyers known to have their saddlebags
well filled with gold, disappeared com
pletely after passing San Luis Obispo,
going south. In after years, as has been
already intimated, human skeletons were
from time TO time found in out-of-t the
way places, the inevitable bullet hole in
the head telling the tale of murder
The victims were usually Americans,
whom many of the native Californians
chose to regard as their natural enemies
As result, those who had knowledge
of the murders, even though innocent
themselves of actual participation in them,
would not betray the assassins, who were
very rarely brought TO trial, and never
convicted.
Finally. however, through the influence
of Andreas and Pho Pico, Solomon Pico
was induced to leave the country and
abandon his career of crime.
Some of the remnants of the gang were
gathered together afterward by Jacob
Powers, who soon became one of the most
successful and noted bandits OF the time.
Powers originally came to California
With Stevenson's regiment, and was said
to have been man of high character and
standing when he enlisted.
Shortly after he was mustered out,
however, he became a gambler, and as
such proved a decided success
X is reported that at one time he was
| in possession of nearly $250,000 in coin, and
1t is certain that he was hand in glove
| with all the most noted sporting men and
politicians of San Francisco.
But Powers finally concluded that a
gamblers life was "too slow" for his
adventurous spirit, and. locating in Santa
Barbara, he entered upon a career of
more fragrant offense against the law
Robbery and murder became dreadfully
frequent, but no punishment rarely, If
ever, followed, so completely did Powers
and his henchmen overawe the entire
community.
If case was ever brought to trial in
convenient witnesses were hurried out of
! the country, or consented to remain mute
because of the certainty of a desperate
quarrel being forced upon them If they
dared testify TO the facts
Lawyers, and able ones at that, were
| found who would shut their eyes to per-
jury and make an effective defense on tes-
| timony they knew to be false.
| Powers was considered the best horse
man in the state. In a match at San Jose
he once accomplished the feat of riding
$50 miles in six hours, changing horses as
often as he saw At. He owned a gray
mule which could carry him 100 miles in
| twelve hours, and on one occasion he
! showed himself in Santa Barbara within
ten hours after a robbery committed in
San Luis Obspo. and in which he had per-
sonally participated. The number OF out
RACES committed by his gang was simply
! innumerable.
! Powers continued his lawless career for
no orlrr f,tt- ~ fszv,as
ing from San Diego to San Jose. Like the
banditt of Italy or Greece he robbed only
those who were strangers in the country,
| spent his money freely and so kept in the
good graces of the resident population.
His operations were always so shrewdly
conducted that for years many people be-
lieved him a slandered and prosecuted
man.
One Of the many crimes OF his gang was
the murder Of two French brothers named
Basque. who had bought drove Of cattle
in Ventura county. While passing through
Santa Barbara on their way to the north
they unfortunately attracted the attea-
tion of Powers band and were attacked
the famous robber chief himself directing
the assault.
The Frenchmen were brave men, and a
desperate hand-to-hand conflict ensued. In
1t a shot from one Of the Basques revolt
vers passed through Powers leg, killing
the morse he was riding, fne black char
ger which had been stolen from Miguel de
la Guerra of the San Julien ranch.
The unfortunate Frenchmen, however
were finally killed and their cattle driven
in to the San Joaquin valley where they
were subsequently sold.
Notwithstanding the dangerous nature
Of Powers wound, he was In San Fran
cisco the next night, and certain circus
proprietor, who was great admirer Of
ntrHn a gnhnnnpF mt I'm ,Fak s,s. \
and sent him to Cape ST. Lucas, where lie
remained until his leg was entirely well.
Many curious anecdotes are told OF Pow
ers by the cid settlers. One relates to the