The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-03-17
HOW ESPIN0SA DIED.
He Was Americas Greatest Bandit and
had Eighty Murders Charged TO Him.
Atlanta Journal.

dttHHtU OOHiHUt'
1t was while out on deer hunt in
the mountains of Southern California
that I heard for the first time, the
true facts regarding the killing Of
Americas greatest bandit, Jcsu Espi-
nosia. Our guide, Capt jerks,
was survivor Of a type which the
encroachments of civilization have
almost exterminated. For over fifty
years he had been alternately hunter,
scout, guide, Indian fighter, trader and
pioneer. Like Othello, his occupation
was now gone, and he lived hermit S
life in a little cabin nestled among
the crags and peaks of the San Ber-
nardino range. BY dint Of much per-
suasion we had succeeded in gaining
his consent to join us as guide, for,
while the old fellow enjoyed hunting
above all else, he did not want his
sport ruined by "dcrned tender-feet, y
as he disparagingly termed us. One
evening, after an especially good day S
hunt, we were buried in our blankets
around huge camp fire, enjoying a
post prandial pipe, when some one
called on jerks for the most exciting
experience of his career. Fortunate
ly, he was in a reminiscent mood, and
after few moments silence he puffed
his pipe vigorously, and without pre-
face began:
"In the fall of 1866 or '67, I don t
remember which, now, fhe government
sent regiment Of regulars to Colorado
to put stop to making moonshine
whiskey and selling it to the Injuns:
It warn't long before they had well
nigh broken up the whole business,
but they took mighty stiff ways of
doing it. Among others that was
making a fortune out of whiskey was
Espinosa. He was a quiet, sober old
greaser, but man who it warn,t best
to rile, as he was the best shot in
Colorado. When the regulars got onto
him they confscated his whiskey,
horses and wagons, and everything
else he owned. In the fight that fol-
lowed Espinosa was the only one of
his family that escaped. The old man
wasn't eddicated, 'cept in Mexican,
and it was impossible to make him
understand that he was breaking the
law. He swore that he would have
revenge, and, Santa Madrc, he got it.
For the next three years mans life
warn't safe outside Of Denver. He
never killed woman nor robbed the
men he murdered. He would take
the money out Of their pockets and
pile it on their breast and leave EN-
dead in the road. This thing went on
until over eighty murders were charg-
ed to Espinosa, and a reward Of So, ,0On
offered for his head. There were
good many brave men scattered about
Denver to whom that pile looked
mighty big, but, somehow, we weren't
fascinated by the prospect. How
somever, I turned the matter over in
my head, and came to the conclusion
that J. was going to corral that cash or
eat hot lead a-trying it. There was
only one man I could depend on to go
with me, and I Immediately went to
see him. While on my way to his
house word was brought in that
wealthy rancher had been killed ten
miles out of Denver, and eight thou
sand dollars in gold and notes found
piled on his breast. His wife was tied
between four trees, a hand or leg
bound to each tree, and almost dead
from pain and exposure. That set
tied it. I reached Tubb's place that
night, and talked it over with him.
''That is to say, / did the talking,
for Tubbs was known as silent man.
He never spoke more than one sem
tence at a time, and seldom that.
When [ had spun my yarn, he turned
to me and said:
"'Who's going to git killed 2
"Knowing his drift, l answered
'The man who's seen first
"'Correct, he says. Then, after a
long time, he looks at me and says:
I'll let you know in thcr morning
He must have made up his mind dur
ing the night, for he went to the JUS
tice of the peace and the priest after
breakfast, made his will and took the
sacrament, I believe they call it, and
then told me he was ready. That
afternoon we started for the scene of
the last murder. After an hour
search we found trail through the
woods, and here let me state Espinosa
warn't alone. He had nephew,
young fellow about 25 years old, who
he had taken with him. Well, we
followed their trail till night, and
then lost it. Off and on during the
next three days we would fud signs Of
the greasers, but always day or more
cold. Finally, our trail led us to the
foothills, and we knew for sartin Es-
| pinosa had gone to some rendezvous
| in the mountains. There was one
peak directly ahead of US which was
separated from the rest Of the range,
and we made up our minds our birds
were on it. After consultation we
decided | was to return and bring re-
inforcemcnts from the military post
at Denver. I reached the town next
day and was given squad of ten men,
including a sergeant and lieutenant.
On our arrival at the foot of the
mountain Tubbs was gone, so We con-
cluded to camp there that night and
await his return. Just before sun up he
came back, with news of fresh trail.
We broke camp at once and, leaving
our horses picketcd on the cicnaga,
began the ascent Of the mountain,
single file. After wasting half the
day with no result, we decided to
separate, I taking the back trail, while
the lieutenant and six men should
round the mountain on one side,
Tubbs, the sergeant and one soldier
90 the other, both squads to meet and
report at the same place. [ left them
and worked my way down the side of
the mountain until | reached creek
that wound round to the valley on the
opposite side from which we eascended.
1t was about 5 0 clock in the evening,
and | had almost reached the foothills,
when / was brought to halt by the
sound of voices coming from cicnaga
on the other side Of the stream. The
banks was lined with a thickct of
brushes, and | could not sec my man,
but was morally sartain it was Espi
noza voice Now or never, |