The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-30
BANDIT GR|EF bERNAL
His Career as Nearly Roman
tic as Crime Can Be.
POLITE AS A COURIER
Money His Only Booty, and
0nIyin Round Lots.

New York, March 2s-Tbe Journal says
Eraclio Bernal was the most audacious
ard magnanlrous nandit who ever ur-
ished in Mexico-the most gentiemanly
rcbber who ever looted mine.
Bernal levied trib lite on the ro'ning COM
panies of MEXICO for years. The local au-
thor'ties we're IN eriess against him until
strong hand of President Diaz inter
vened.
One of BernaPs great exploits was the
robbery Of the Jocuistita Mining Com
pany, an American enterprise in charge
of Captain Rawlings At 3 o'clock on a
fine June morning Bernal came down
from the mountains with eighty men.
He placed guards at the mine the min
ing Office. the store and the important
points. After rousing Captain Rawlings
from bed he assured him that he was ex-
ceedingly sorry to disturb him at so I'M
seasonable an hour, but that his business
was of the most urgent nature.
In the first place he asked for 5000 in
order that his robbers might buy food. He
did not intend to rob poor storekeepers,
As it happened most of the money was
spent at the company's store.
Then he explained that he wanted s10,-
OOG. Captain Rawlings said that he did
not have this and that even in week
he could not get together more than S.
900. All he had on hand was $4,000 This
Bernal finally agreed 70 take.
When Bernal received his plumber Can.
tain Ratings told him that he would have
to account to his employers for the miss
ing property and asked the robber if he
would not kindly give him a receipt for
it. Rernal cheerfully gave this.
The said that he would send later for
the 1920 which Captain Rawlings had re-
tanned Off his workmen Bernal explain
ed that his messenger would hiring re-
quest for the money signed with thetan-
dts secret sign, of which he gave speci-
men to Captain R2wlings. The messen-
ger came in due course.
Bernals end was miserable. The robbed
to President Diaz, who sent word to Gen.
eral Martinez:
At give you three months 10 catch this
man"
General Martinez took 1000 soldiers,
secured the mountains broke up the band
and executed 800 robbers or suspects. For
Bernal dead or alive he offered $4,000. A
rancher named Garcia ran him dwon, and
from ambush shot him through the back
Captain Rawlings own narrative of the
raid on the Jocuisita Mine follows:
STROY OF THE RAID.
Bernal arrived at the Jocuistita Mine
on June II with eighty vilIionous greasers
armed with Remington rifles, revolvers
and long knives, and mounted on broncos.
He came down from the mountain and
took possession of the mine about 6
o'clock in the morning. He first left d
few men to guard that point and then
went to the mill, half a mile below. where
he left thirty men. After that he entered
the town with forty men and put guards
at the store and all points Of Importance.
The church he made his head quarters.
I was awakened in bed few minutes
after a. m. There was a knock at my
door and I was called, ''Who is there?"
A man whose voice knew answered, 'Tt
is L" Without getting out of bed I said,
Come inp' The reply was, "They won't
let ne. &C ma out Yourself.
I iumbzed out of bed, went to the dsar
and found two guns pointed at me.
asked what was the matter, and the ans
wer was, ''Eraclio has come" / Un6er-
stood that. The patio was full of armed
men.
They asked me for my gun, which thew
thought I kept under my pillow. I told
them I had none, and to convince them
turned back the sheets, at the same time
covering my watch. which was lying On
the bed.
They ordered me to put on my clothes
ana 60 to the office Ny cleck had al
ready arrived and opened it. The rohh.rs
followed c,ose behind me, with pistols
pointed at me- My clerk and all my mill
men were drawn up in a line and wara
kept standing in this line by the ROBBERS.
who covered them with their guns, At
last Bernal returned from the town. lie
approached me in q courteous and easy
manner. called me by name. shook nv
hand and remarked:
Il am cry sorry to disturb YOU so early
In the morning, but am here on urgent
business and have not a moment to ltse.
SO you viii pray excuse this uncermoni-
Gus visit
Being in his dusty travelling clothes. Re
called his servant to bring his valise and
then changed his clothes.
Now FL Captain he said. 'T am ready
to proceed to business"
! told him the first thing 7 wished him
to do was TO order his men ont Of the
store and Office. He did this nronsftv.
then invited him into my Office. As he
entered boy came with note from the
foreman of the mine asking if I could not
have Bernals men ordered away. 50 that
the miners might go to work. The bandit
politely agreed to this Then I requested
him to release the mill men. so that they,
too, might return 10 their work He eaae
the necessary order.
Feeling encouraged by his reasonable
conduct asked him if he would give the
the order that none Of his men should
insult me. With ctarIuyqkoj cmfwypiln