The Advocate and news., 1898-11-16
CHAPTER Nv


heralded advent of a department in
spector in those days meant something
ominous, and from Frazier down to the
drum boys the garrison scented mischief
the moment that familiar old black
hooded, dust covered spring wagon,
drawn by the famous six mule team,
came spinning In across the mesa just
after retreat no escort whatever being
In sight. Cavalrymen had trotted along
side, said Riggs, from two Of the camps
ON the way, but they had made that
long days drive from Crockett Springs
all alone, trusting to luck that the Fri
day gang, so called, would not get wind
Of 1t. Just who and how many consti-
tuted that array of outlaws no man, in
cluding its own membership, could ac-
curately say. Two paymasters, two
wagon trains and no end Of mail stages
had been Jumped" by those enterpris-
ing road agents in the course Of the five
years that followed the war, and not
once had q conviction occurred. Arrests
had been made by marshals. sheriffs
and officers in command Of detaCh.
menta, but a more innocent lot Of vic
timA according to the testimony Of
friends and fellow citizens, never dwelt
In Dixie Three only Of their number
had been killed and left for recognition
In the course Of those three years One
only Of these was known, and the so
called Friday gang managed to surround
It's haunts, its movements and its mem
bership with mystery that dehed civil
officials and baffled the military. Es-
Oorts the size Of a cavalry platoon had
been needed every time disbursing
officer went to and fro, and q sizable
squad accompanied the stage whenever
10 carried even o moderate amount Of
treasure. At three points along the road
from the old Mexican capital to the
outlying posts strong detachments Of
cavalry had been placed in camp, so
that relays Of escorts might be on hand
when needed.
At three different times within the
past two years strong posses had gone
with the civil officials far into the foot
hills in search Of the haunts of the band,
but no occupied haunt was ever found,
NO band Of any size or consequence ever
encountered, yet depredations were in
Cessant. The mail stage came and went
with guarded deliberation. The quar-
termaster's trains were accompanied by
az least q company Of infantry The
sutler's wagons travelled with the quar-
ternaster's train, and the suffers mon
ey went to San Antonio only when the
quartermaster and commissary sent
theirs, and then whole squadron had
been known to ride in charge Anything
from wagon train down TO a buck.
board was game for the gang, and sol.
diers, ranohmen and prospectors told
stories Of having been halted, overhaul.
cd and searched by its masked members
at various times and whether found
plethorio or poor having been hospita.
bly, entertained as soon as robbed of all
they possessed Only four days before
Riggs made his venturesome dash three
discharged soldiers filled with impa.
thence and whisky, had sought to run
the gantlet to the camp at Crockett's
and came back in the robbers cast off
clothing to take on" for another term,
having parted with their uniforms and
the savings Of several years at the So
Gcitation Of courteous strangers they
met along the route. Nothing but an
emergency could have brought Riggs
full tilt, for he was getting along in
years and loved the comforts of his ar.
my home.
Emergency it was, as he explained to
Frazier instantly on his arrival. The
general had indubitable information
that ranches to the south had long been