The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-06
CAPTURED BY RURALES.
An Incident of Travel in Mexico.

w. h' Surbls III OnlChRO RECORD.
We heard wailing aud sobbing from
women as the train left Taponna tn
other day, and poking our heads out OF
tho window We saw half dozen poems
weeping as il their hearts were broken.
The conductor told us that they were the
wives and daughters of desperate band
who had just been captured and had been
placed on the train In charge of rurales,
to be taken to the adjoining state of
Chihuahua, and impressed into the army,
whore excessive interest in other
folks affairs could be usefully applied
to Indian fighting. just az like az, not.
he said, the prisoner would never reach
chihuahua. The rurales who had him
charge would give him chance to escape
AMI then shoot him as he ran. Such ill.,
oidents were continually occurring, al
though they were less freQuent.sof late
than formerly because of the energy of
Alberto Velenzuela, chief of the ruKales
in the state of Durango, who became
our fellow-passenger at the next station,
and proved very entertaining one, for,
like other famous men, Captain Velen-
zuela has his social nature well de-
veloped.
The rurales of Mexico are sort of
militia police, like the famous Texas
rangers, who work entirely in the ooun-
try. and were originally organized to
protect ranchmen, miners, stage COM
panies ana the travelling public general
ly against the highwaymsn, cattle thieves
and Ruerillas that terrified Mexico for
many years. They are rough riders
these rurales, and do their work thor
oughly, and their captain, like Judge
Lynch, tries, condemns and executes his
prisoners and saves the regular courts a
great deal of trouble and expense. In
the mountains of Mexico, where prisons
and courts are few, the captain of the
rurales 10 prosecuting attorney, Judge
and jury all in one, and he tries every
case as soon as it reaches him, according
to code OF his own. These extraordi-
nary people have done extraordinary
work, and today Mexico ID much the
| more safe and peaceful for their interior
enoe.
Our friend, Captain Velenzuela. il said
younger days, and a very successful one,
but, becoming tired of the business, sur
| rendered himself to the authorities, OBJ
tanned q pardon and enlisted in the ru-
rales of Durango, where his nerve, ensr-
gy and shrewdnesa soon brought him to
the front, and ultimately put him at the
head OF the force. He isn't a handsome
with good deal Of care, and, unlike
most Mexicans, is neat about his person.
Els jacket was of the finest linen lawn,
spotless from the laundry, over a white
satin voat, and handsome watch chain
dangled from his pocket. He wore big
revolver and a belt of cartridges careless
ly, his trousers and his shoes were very
tight according to the fashion of well
dressed men down here, and he posed
patiently for his portrait. which did not
quite satisfy him, and was pronounced
mo bueuO." which means "no good"
The prisoner was q picturesque person,
with an abundance of brig ht-colored
flags, and looked for all the world as if
he had just made up for comic opera.
His nonchalence was impressive. He
sat in the third-class car. opposite ru-
rale, with big rifle over his arm, and
smoked cigarettes calmly, as curious
paople stood around and stared at him.
There was padre on the train, who
drew up CLOSE to his side and whisper ed
y lew Worns IN MS ears, Dut ne received
them with Indifference, and didn't seem
concerned for the welfare of his soul.
AT other stations farther on more pris-
ouers were placed on the train, no that
our bandit had company. and they were
as desperate a lot of villains as one
would wish to meet in the mountains
with full pocket. Some of them had
robbed ranches, some had stolen cattle
and sheep and horses, while the rest
had com mitted similar crImes and as a
penalty they were banished to the
Sierra Madre mountains to tight Indians
for four years, which il a good deal bet
ter taan shooting the robbers