Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-06-27
1.-The TaSQUEZE'S NERVE.
r. lat HAIRS of "a Dreaded
MrxfraE Ontfns-

N n fzarrv &c rsanchmeu and miners ~
the hotel in this place. the other even
ins. EVERY one in the party had had
hong and varied experiences IN tsn-
forms. New Mexico and Arizona since
he came across the plains with an OK
,eam or across the isthmus in the oos
OF early cos. AMI naturally, al had
interesting recollections to tell OF wnat
they had seen Of Wild. lawiess and n
rAsropsIble characters on the plains
ard among tie mountains
Col Dan Fillmore. who IS one OF the
rrincirsai catrlemen in Ventura county,
and came To California in the ~
DAYS. told the most interesting remin-
fScenee Of the evening
4 reached Sacramento said he, IN
the DAYS OF the widest and most bon
suza-llks DAYS OF gold-washins among
the creeks and through the canyons OF
Central California. and in the forty
SIX wears since then | have. as min
ing prospector. and later. as caI1ie-
man. seen a good Bit Of the genuine
frontier life. and have had some deal
inss with deSpeFadoes and outlaws
First and last. | have been a witness
% the hanging of twenty-seven men
and the shooting of several more
think have myself acted as an orficer
Of the peace in the lynchins OF eleven
or fN Give OF the most cruel. deliberate
aud Ss.heIning bandits that ever figured
IL fash literature But. gentlemen.
the ..slInesr. coolest and most collected
man ] eyer saw in the presence OF an
APPOINTED and iDexOrable death. and
one which seemed most Indifferent 10
his lsa5Ia, was that famous little enem-
mate lasking outlaw. Tiburcio Vas
uuez. who was hanged in San Jose
fourteen u ars ago- | lave seen many
men 20 uIsou a scaffold and under the
hansnian.s nOsSe with an apparent
C-lreIassnesS of their fate. and have
heard men cali that nerve :bur II was
all Summoned and exhibited for the
last few moments only Now. NasslEtez
lad tile genuine article. and while he
appreefat ted fully that he. had but 4
day longer 10 live. his constant effort
was 70 make those about him as cheer
fuI as possible.
-sTIbuFcio Yasquek was. as ron re-
nfemper, the son Of a prominent family
ia chihuahua. Mex. His grandfather
was an intimate -erilIs with Generals
Ituft.ide and Santa Anna and was rich
seventy years ago. Young yasquez
wa. EEYaE 4 good education until be
vas SsSfeen years old and he was 10
Re self 10 Barcelona Spain. for a coll
ls.gs. rfiT-esaIicn But he was born with
TO y.'tf desperate. lawiess and cruel
IisIE s1tiaa When he was scarcely
inoFe than d youth he broke through
all FeS1raint AT home and AT school and
became an outlaw When but twenty
fwc Sof tIYenty-three years of age lie
had developed into the boldest and
Eigstz ruthless brigand we cattIemen
and MINERS along the Rio firande re-
gI,l yer knew. In the summer OF 73
j an sufe that tile yasquez gang OF
Mexican e1t-throats killed from eight
70 twelve men, and got. by robbing
mixing camps and United States
army payniaster. something over So
GIL A. be grew older he became bold
e.. SDgi his field Of operations for ten
or shteen veais was all the way from
Tucson. a TiZ. up to stockton. Cal. The
Nas.8uez band was known all over the
cOfst IN 1876 and 1878. Part of the
gang was lynched al Maricopah. Ariz..
II dS57. and two of the bandits then
confessed that they had taken the lives
Of over eight men and boys on the
coast and along the Rio Grande in the
course Of five or six years. They did
not know how many other men had
betsH slaughtered by Yasquez and his
followers before they came to know
the chief bandit.
At last Tasquez was caught and
held 80 securely that he could not es-
cape trial and sentence OF death. None
OF his friends could save him. notwitlI-
standing the money that was spent on
the lawyers who worked day and night
IN his behalf. That was in 1881. He
was confined in the jail at San Jose.
and, a. knew Sheriff Adams we'll.
went 10 see Fasquez. Of whom / had
many times been in terror. and whom
| had great curiosity 10 meet As l.
ia company with several raHchnien
went INTO the jail corridor the after
noon before the day Of the execution.
yasquez was let out Of his cell to chat
with rs. He was a little, dapper fell
low. with bright. laughing eyes. a
pleasant mouth and thin. cIean-shayeu
face. He did not weigh over 12G
pounds, and his dress was scrupulous-
Is neat II was hard for many of us
ranchinen in the Jail corridor to be-
iieyr that he was really the yasquez or
whose wholesale robberies. dreadful
slayings Of human life and unprece
dsnteS recklessness we had heard al
lt,ssf daily for over a decade. We had
had GswbOys who seemed able to swaI
low that little fellow. but who had held
even tie naine of Fasquez in constant
dread
The little Mexican was writing
farewell letters to his friends as we
came into the corridor. and as he came
out OF his cell he tucked his penhoIdel
behind his ear and smilingly extended
his hand 10 each in our party. I'm
pleased to see you said he. but If
have not my wits at command pleas,
remember that for several hours
have bpeB prtting my brain to sever,
letter writing. When one comes I,
write the very last letters of all to hi
dear ones, You know. 1t is quite brail
taxing
I'VE offered him handful Of cigars
and be said: 'tMany thanks to you
gentlemen. ] love TO smoke. but
dom. think shall have time to smok
all tEeses So I'll leave some for tn
guards Fasquez was put out tina
there were not enough seats for all o
us. and in whispers begged the guard
to 20 and get chair I'm another par
of tho fail and Iia rpfnaiuod afa ndfn