The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-12
ASSASSINS OF ARIZONA.
AN EXPERIENCE OF THE EARLY
SEVENTIES IN TUCSON.

the civil war. Arizona seemed given over to the
special jurisdiction OF tho devil" said Martin
q. Taylor of San Francisco, talking with friends
in the cAte of the Gllsoy House last night. ut
wasn't the country. itself that was at fault. for
there Is . heap that goes to make UP Arizona
besides hot sun and sandhills. 1t was the poo.
Pile. There had always been n tough popula-
tion there OF Apachcs, desperadoos, rinR.tailed
rattlesnakes, and ella monsters. but it got
tougher when the war ended and the men for
whom peace had no charms driftod into the far
Southwest. Tucson. like Ell Paso. was a con.
Venient place for them, being near the Mexican
border, 30 that III things got hot for them on one
side OF tho line they could skip across It at
short notice and get boy ond reach Of arrest.
Il was living Mt Tucson In the carly seven
ties engaged in the practice of law, but dovot-
Ing more Of my time to the acquiring Of land.
grant rights, and the development and sale OF
mining property. 1t was to satisfy myself as
TO the location OF a land grant boundary that
i left Tucson early one morning, alone on horse
back. taking the trail southwark down the San
Ia Cruz Valley. In the middle Of the forenoon
] overlook Francisco Garcia riding soherly
along the trail, with all Of his personal belong
ings-thny consisted OF n poncho and n parcel
tied up in u large handkerchief, with his sheath
ed sword thrust through crosswise benoath'the
knot-fastened to tho saddle behind him. Gar
cha was a toreador-an espada, In fact, the lead
ing man In the bull ring, who plays tho final
net in each encounter by a face-to.face duel.
armed only with q naked sword, with the bull.
There had been a bull fight at Tucson, as part
of the celebration. of the birthday Of that city's
patron saint, in which Garcia had distinguished
him self. But ho had dallled at the monte table
hfterward and left there the silver dollars that
he had gained by his professional skill and
bravery. Now he was on his way to Hermo.
sillo, in Sonora, in hopes to secure n star en-
gagement there for the Christmas holiday eel
ebrations.
W greeted each other cordially and rode on
together for a stretch. But as l had much the
better horse, and knew l must make the most
OF my time that day, l presently handed him
n package of cigarettes, said ddiOS, and rode
on away from him. Several miles ahead 1
turned OFT the trail to make my Investigations
OF tho landmark. 1t was late in the afternoon
late that / decided / would not try to re-
turn to Tucson that night, but go further dowr
American named Clumb kept q posadd, or inn.
"A circumstance that helped me to come to
growing upon. me through the day that l was
being followed. 1t had begun in the morning,
from a high hill Ave miles away, 1 bad seen
three men in the distance riding In the same d.
while making my explorations / had caught a
glimpse Of some one watching me from con.
this. l felt strongly that instinct that 1 wa.
bong 'shsdowed, which a man living amid
70 60 to San Pablo I took a different route
from that BY WHICH l had left the trail. Look,
of hills, 1 saw a man holding, three horses at
tho entrance of the canon through which I
Tucson. AS soon as 1 appeared in view he led
the horses tato the CANON out Of sight. and
whom 1 had seen riding that morning from
Tucson. and that the other two were ambushed
rode through the plaza to the inn. There the
frat person that my eve fell on was Francisco
Garcia sitting upon a mud bench built along the
81 hunted up tho landlord. l knew that he
was as thorough a scoundrel as ever went UNI
hung. that bis house had the worst sort OF repu-
i tation as a haunt and dealing place for thieves
safety here in the fact that i had been retained
ns counsel by the landlord in a case where the
Garcia. The bull fighter, had had his supper.
'ns" ri Sr Si% +. !? / said Tor iS vii 'P pay Fl for PG lis sup
per on my invitation. / did not sit up long
ride; Before going to bed 1 told Garcia thath
might spread his poncho on the floor in my
to sleep where he could guard his, horse. In
the one storied adobe house my room, OF course,
placita, or Courtyard. That there was no lock
to the door was not a matter for complaint in a
pected to protect himself against intruders with
his firearms. Tired nS | was, l did not go at
Ohtu " olUOp'- anu hnV hiOhShb w bi' WY ~
which 1 had been followed BY the three men
that day. required to me-, and this time with a
robbery. In a iand-grant case thon In contest
before the courts there would be a great advan.
OF the way II the information that | possessed
could be permanently suppressed and the one
have me killed. was dropping asleep, how;
ever, but Instantly reused mysef AS l heard
Who Is itr i called and grabbed my pistol
as | saw the door opening, 'Quicn esf re'
Hist. ss%hor: do not speak loudly came te
'N"!ssSy where You are until ! light the can
die. ! commanded. The candle and matches
were on the chair by my bed. The moment. Tho
and closed the door .fehindf hin. His po4Sh'
straight, slender sword in its sheath. -,
"'5enot, he said still in a whisper; THREE g
seeing where lay After they Ind fed thei
1sek. They spoke OF "A reward "a reward Of 5o'
pesos that they are to receive for killing you,
Do they know where ! am in the hOusef
asked. wondering H. after at: the Landlord
NJ That on Of the mon has gone now TO tin'
y out from n maid who works in he house, Sh'
is his sweetheart: But thCy will not attack 70,
ana fed first. That is to be done 80 that the!
may Start away at once after tho deed is &c
fEyrIl. / said, getting up and beginning +
GG r. S ON my Moi Hloi iaS iihe nheFf ! ha HG," mg IeT as !
They may not find me 30 easy ne they think.
"'SenOr. do me the honor to hearkcn TO M
words. 1horc are three OF them, well armed
and they are led by Josc Sanguily.'
'ssugUily was n name Of terror in Arizon
" that time. Bandit, desperate, professions
Issas sin, he had long been protected by LeoPl
high in power for his usefulness TO them In N
line OF his peculiar calling. Quick with tn
pistol. sure with the knife, absolutely withon
rompunctiOn or rCmorse, il was simply a matte
of bargaining as 10 the amount 10 be paid hil
10 secure the removal of any man who Nigh
stand IN the way Of his employer. With "A haI
Rpnr ~ llur1Nra tn his nI nliut. he rode in an
out OF Tucson at will. played monte at the gan
bling saloons. and waltzed with the scnortta
at tho dance hatls as often as his vocation al
forGed him the money to Indulge IN these taste
But. senior, it is not three against one; 1t
. three against two, Tor | will stay wlth you
Garcia continued. since your death has bee
determined ON, the ding is best ?oitled no,