The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-07-11
PLUCKY tom TOBlN.
A TOUGH OLD PIONEER SCOUT WHO
WAS DANGER PROOF

officer. "He was a brother-in Ia" VI
Kit Carson, and the last Of that pioneer
hand of scouts, Indian fighters hunters
and trappers that ventured upon 'ne un'
known frontier way back in the 'n'r
ties When be died, he was the "ols'
chawed and clawed up man, guesa,
that ever took life course IN the hocAy
mountain school Of experience. lie nore
the marks Of grizzly bears, mountain mountain
lions. Indians, bad men and other wiz
animals from the crown Of his heao 10
the sole of his feet. He had boen snot
10 times. Indians took bis scalp once
and left him for dead. -Four times ne
had been stripped pretty much pare u
flesh by grizzlies, and three tiineS
chewed out Of shape by mountain nons'
Rattlesnakes had sunk fangs into MN
three different times without putting
him to any great inconvenience. Inc
last time saw old Tom, which was
only little while before he died. ne
said, with a shake of his head
81 hain't no room for any more
scars or think I'd wabble out and give
somethin else a chance at me. Ia ike
TO have Geely monster try me once
Jest to see what he could do.
"Tom was a tough piece Of bone ana
sinew and no mistake. His fame was
great in the early days Indians feared
him. Horse thieves and other outlaws
gave locality wide berth if Tom Iobin
was known to be hanging around 1t.
Colorado ought to put up monument
to him, for he risked his life once to do
an act that with one crack Of his rifle
set that territory ahead ten years at
least. That exploit was the ending OF
the career Of the two Espinosas, Mexl-
can brothers, who were tee boldest,
bloodthirstiest, most dreaded despera-
does of all the murderous outlaws that
terrorized that part Of the country III
the pioneer days. I've heard old timers
say that the very mention Of the name
Of the Espinosas was enough to make
the settlers shudder. These cutthroats
committed murder for the sake Of muir
der. The most brutal Sioux Of those
days would have hesitated before com
uniting some Of the crimes that these
two Mexicans were guilty Of
Fort Garland was the military post
that guarded the interests Of the Colo
RADIO settlers The troops there were un
der command of Colonel Tappan. In
1862 the Espinosas had brought one por-
tion Of the territory under such a reign
Of terror that the inhabitants sought
the aid of Colonel Tappan in Kidding the
region of the Mexican cutthroats and
robbers. In their appeal to the colonel
they declared that ranchmen, stockmen,
miners and all classes in the San Juan
country simply took their lives in their
hands when they went about their af-
fairs Colonel Tappan detailed COM
pany of men to seek the trail Of the
Mexican outlaws and hunt them 10
the death. Rewards to the amount Of
$4,000 had been offered by the terri
torial legislature for tho taking of the
Espinosas dead or alive. Tom Tobin
was at Fort Garland when the company
Of troops was ordered out to hunt the
desperadoes down, and volunteered to
60 along.
1.-TWO days after the start Tobin dis.
covered the trail of the Mexicans. It led
to the heart of the Sangro de Cristc
mountains. The desperate character Of
the Mexicans was shown by their hold
ing up the Placerville stage, killing the
driver and two of the passengers, ant
robbing the mails and express boxes tn,
very day Tobin discovered their camp
in deep and lonely gnlcb in the noun
tains. This was five days after thediis
covery of their trail. Tobin had told III,
lieutenant of the company that h,
needn't attempt to take the Mexican,
alive, because they wouldn't be taken
and any attempt to do it would resul
only in the death Of all that made it.
There amt any use Of that. sal,
Tom. IN follow these greasers to thei
hole. II l come back, I'll have 'em both
II don't come back. they'll have me. ,
Tom followed the trail into thi
gulch until he came to the isolated an,
almost inaccessible spot where the IS
pinosas had made their camp. Like
shadow he crept ON until he could Sc
the two desperadoes. They were absorb
ed IN taking an inventory Of plunder
which proved to be the proceeds of IN
Placerville stage robbery. Tobin worke,
himself around until he had the outlaw
IN range. He knew his rife: he tna,
himself. When his rifle cracked ther
were no more Espinosas-not ON earth
Tom had killed them both at one sho,
Then he deliberately, and, he alwav
said, joyfully, cut off their heads r
carried those CHASTITY trophies to For
Garland. and when the news snrea
about the country the people went wild
They hailed Tom Tobin as their delive-
er and went about their affairs no Low
ger with fear and trembling. Bpt ,ha
was all they did. They soon FORGOT u,
great thing Tobin had done for them
and even the legislature ignored him n
ten years, when, under pressure. il mai
the old scout $500 on account.
The last time saw old Tom I aste
him If Colorado had settled with hi,
yet. - III
Not yet, he said, But l heo
they re thinkin somethin o. talkin mr.
1t. New York Sun. ''
Meant Wen.
Willie thanding his uncle bottla ,
glue)-l hope you will have w.