The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-26
SHOT IN THE NICK OF TINE.
THE KILLING OF CAPE CAsENoTE,
AN ARIZONA TERROR.
ne was an RH.Conredernto Omcer who Haa
Turned MIEhMnS Robber ana Murderer

before | hCnru n great uehl OF the dOinRS of
Capt. CNsenove,' said Luther d. Ammon of
Los Angeles. 1T was revealed ut the end that
his name was nm assumed one, but simmerinR
down and sitting all that was told Of him, II is
pretty certain that he was n Confederate army
officer in the civil war who conducted n Ruer-
rilla warfare with such savagery that at the
ending he had no hope of amnesty and went to
Mexico, MS so many eX-Confederates did ut that
period. In a few months he rcappoared north
q, the border. in Arizona, and at about the
same time there began a series OF robberios of
stages and emigrant trains that made the epoch
n memorable one in the young 1erritory's his
tory. Northcrners and Southerners alike were
numbered. but in case OF the former, outraRes
and uuprovoked, cold-blooded murder often nc.
companicd the robbery. Gradually suspicion
ripcned into certainty that Capt. Casenove had
n hand in these robberies. and with the inquiry
raised by this discovery the Captain kept away
from tho settlements and stayed pretty much
in the mountains, except when business called
hin down to the stage and wagon trails. The
rohhcrics went on and, Of course, every one
now was laid to him.
There were warrants in plenty out against
him soon. and then came rewards for his cap
ture by the Territory, by the counties In which
crimes had been that were laid to
him. and by the express and stage companies.
But tncTe "eEt " 81 many H1cn trying 10 Ret
those rewards rs one might expect, for there
was a good deal OF risk in the undertaking..
The Captain had the name of being absolutely
desperate, cool, and ready with weapons. and
determined never to be taken alive. In his
gang Of follow ers, which never exceeded four
or five in number. there was said to DO one or
two OF tho guerrillas who had served In his
command during the war. and had the same
reasons for never suffering themselves to be
taken alive that he had.
His robbery of the Mexican diligencia be-
tween Tucson and Hermosillo in Sonora will
give an idea of the worthy Captains methods.
With two followers he stopped tho diligencia,
and sanding the passengers. three Americans
and two Mexicans, up by the roadside, disarmed
AMI robbed them. Then as the robbers started
away one of the Mexicans, who had secreted q
pistol in some way, fired after them. At once
they returned and shot tho FIVE passengers down
IN the roadway. leaving them for dead. But
one Of the five, an American, survived his
wounds to tell the story.
at was on an October day that I started on
horseback alone to ride to the Deloro mine In
the Juarica mountains. 1t was q long days
ride, and in trying to make a short cut to the
camp l lost my way. Night came on and found
me following a bride path along 4 canon on q
very tired horse. The night was cold and
frosty. as the October nights always arc in the
Arizona mountains, and I had no grub or
Blankets: but I made up my mind to camp
down, build q fire, and pass the night tho best
/ could. as soon as I should como to a place
where there was grass enough for my horse to
pick up a feed 1t was 2 o'clock and tho stars
were bright In the sky when l came to where
the canon opened into q little grassy valley
and, near the centre Of this valley. stood a
5acal. as the Mexicans call tho one-room huts
-ht,k fhau hrf1A prhnrn tjr,har ia plont{R,l ~
upright posts chinked with mud. Near the
hut three horses were feeding about their picket
pins.
Through the one unglazed window and the
door. partly open, streamed Q light, and ! knew
I had struck Q place where white people OF
some sort were staying. Without hesitation I
rode up near the jacal and gave Q call In.
stantly the sound of voices ceased within the
light was extinguished. and there was Q click.
came the words sharp and stern: ''
Tin ne s4Perintendent q The Deloro mine.
] answered. I saw your light and rode up 10
h door Was dung wide open and I saw a
mann Rand. ''fbR shinsa p him. me- I soula 50. g 'f inaissin ne ~.
were others, and I was sure that all Of them
with theit Sresrms on me. I began to wish
that I had not been In such q hurry to let my
e69saltssio ee IN En9 the Doorway o = ~ snS then { He ehsp @sH
IN . ,'sT ? siFss. e Rs ne; the saddle of your horse
They watched me from the doorway as I IN
saddled my horse and picketed him out to Craze:
approached tho cabin and the man in the door
made way for me to enter. The light. q pine
been reishted, and showed me the bare interior
Of The hut and the faces Of three as vtllainous.
Locking Ssel fv men Of as ,b It ever verbs has the been tv my luck nt1 to
fsIioSS. sSfSS Inc way Rayof low down %1Sp Ssliety. wRS
S Ssi shot The or third sis f gsn' pl.l ~ x Tie I Leaders isaefh and
the a m @a' aAa assRsa '{ }dski Iash MAN sGe Of Sf'e eSe ih Tss
He was a little above tho medium height.
s sEsf' hs and CARRIED i!sPd sin;. sEiild xPsSy a. n's air I sSas 5SE:
and piercing. lis features ane and regular
mined. cruel mouth with thin, straight lips
There was something. inexorable and remorse
exposure to sun and wind. and although |
never had seen him before knew that he
tnd there was nothing to do save make the
best q the situation.
"Alittle IRE was smould ering In the stone fre.
men put a coffee not on the embers and point
Cd to a piece OF bacon hanging against the wall:
i f IN t Rs s q sbs Z ~ and MY Ry,tb PG shis a nd't q p Gsosls q
bread made my supper, which ] ate @, with , faI
was to apnear confident and unconcerned, and,
my supper eaten, | seated myself on the floor
there were no chairs or benches in the hut
Egnted my pipe. and waited for what might
come, No one had spoken to me while ! was
cooking and eating my supper, but the three
mad gone outside. Now. as they came back,
caught these words from the Captain:
There's no hurry. We've. plenty OF time
nrsl
Seated on a roll OF blankets opposite me
tho Captain began to question mo about my
EEL ana about what was going ON In the settle
bIents. There was no evading his relentless
s{e ana keen nterrogatories and l answere
nm promp ly and frankly. On one point only
tined TO deceive him. telling MIN that oul
laymtster would 20 next week to the mine to
pay OF the hands. This wac to get him of
from any idea that ! was likely to have a con
adorable amount of money with me. in poinl
OF fact, ] had seven Mexican dollars, nothing
more, lie listened to all l said with no ex
preston Of belief or disbelief. and at last
brought the int view abruptly TO "a close by
That's all we have 10 talk about tonight
reckon Well turn in. Here's n blanket. You
kcl.'
lie motioned mo 10 the corner furthest from
tue door. wl6rp tlEaI my AulIlA for IA Milo n