Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-01-07
MExIco's RvaALEs.
APoIIes Force Somewhat Similar to the
Texas Rangers.

TEXAS Rangers.
We heard wailing and sobblng from
women as the train left Taponna the
other day, and poking our head out OF
the window we saw half dozen poems
weeping as IL rhelr hearts wouiu
break. The conductor told us they
were the wives and daughters Of
desperate bandit who had just been
captured and had been placed on the
train In charge Of r,irnies, to be taken
to the adjoining state of chihuahua
and impressed into the army, where
his excessive interest in other folks
Affairs could be usefully applied TO In
dian fighting. Just as like as not, he
said, the prisoner would never reach
Chihuahua. The rurales, says the OH
cago Record, who had him in charge,
would give hsm chance to escape,
and then shoot him as he ran. Such
Incidents were constantly occurring,
although they were less frequent OF
late than formerly because OF the en-
ergy of Alberto Velenzuela, chief or
rurales In the state of Durango, who
became our fellow passenger at the
next station and became a very enter
tanning one, for nike other famous men
Capt yelenzue,a has his social nature
weAl developed.
The rurales CT Mexico are sort or
military police, like the famous Texas
rangers, who work entirely in the couu-
try, and were originally organized to
protect ranchmen, miners, stage com
panies, and the travelling public gen.
orally against the hlghwaymen, cattle
thieves and guerriIlas that terrified
Mexico for many years. They arc
rough riders, these rurales, and do
their work thoroughly, and their cap
tain, like Judge Lynch, tries, con-
dennis and executes his prisoners and
saves the regular courts a great deal
OF trouble and expense. In the noun
talns Of Mexico, where prisons and
courts are few, the captain of the ru-
rales is Prosecuting Attorney, Judge
and Jury all in one, and he tries every
case as soon as III reaches him, accord
ing TO a code of his own. These ex-
traordinary people have done extraor-
binary work, and to-day Mexico is
much more safe and peaceful for their
interference.
Our friend, Captain yelenzuela, is
said to have been n bandit in his
younger days, and n very successful
one, but becoming tired of the bust
ness surrendered himself 10 the au-
thorities, obtaining a pardon and en-
listed In the rurales Of Durango. where
his nerve, energy and shrewdness soon
brought him to the front and ultimate
ly put him at the mead OF the force. he
isn't a handsome man, this ex-high-
wayman, but he dresses with a good
deal Of care, and, unlike most Next
cans, is neat about his person. His
jacket was of the finest linen lawn,
spotless from the laundry, over white
satin vest, and handsome watch
chain dangled from his pocket. He
wore big revolver and q belt OF cart
ridges carelessly, 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 bueno,"
which means mo good"
The prisoner was picturesque per-
son, with an abundance of bright-col-
ored flags and looked for adj the world
as IL he had just made up for comic
opera. His nonchalance was impress
sive. He sat in third-class car, OPP
posite rurale with a big rifle over his.
arm, and smoked cigarettes calmly,
as curious people stood around and
stared MT him. There was padre on
the train, who drew up close TO his
side and whispered few words in his
ear, but he received them with indif
ference and didn't seem concerned for
the welfare Of his soul.
At other stations further on more
prisoners were placed on THE train. so
that our bandit had company, and they
were as desperate a lot of villains as
one would wish to meet in the noun.
tains with fun pocket. Some of them
had robbed ranches, while the rest had
committed similar crimes, and as "a
penalty they were banished to the
Sierra Madre Mountains to fight In
dians for four years, which is a good
dead better than shooting the robbers.