Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-10-13


National Capital Unapprecintcd Mt
the Time-Driven Into Bankruptcy,
He Went to Mexico IL Voluntary
Exile, Where He Made Vast For
tune and Lived Like IA Monarch.
The career Of Alexander r. Shop
herd, better known as BOSS" Shop
herd, who died few days ago on his
vast estate ut Batopilas, Mexico, reads
much like Il romance. He was ma
tive Of Washington, being born there
on Jan. 80 1880. Owing to the death
ii liz father he had to support himself
at an carly age and learned the car
pc.uer's trade. A quarrel with his
employer led to a change, and he be-
came plumber. In this he was sue
cessful and soon owned his business
and had large income. In 1862 he
served as member Of Washington
military company known as the Ma
tional rifles.
In 1870 President Grant appointed
him governor of what was then the
territory of the District Of Columbia,
and he began a comprehensive system
Of improvements. Washington was a
city Of swalnps and mud banks. Al
though elaborate plans had been made
foy laying out the national capital, lit
tie had been done in carrying out the
improvements except in the immedi-
ate vicinity of the federal buildings.
Under the law the city was to pay one
half and the national government the
other of the cost of local improve
ments. Governor Shepherd uudertooh
them on so extensive Il scale that in
little more than two years $40,o0oOcU.
had Leon expended.
The city was changed from munic-
pality Of narrow and muddy streets to
one OF broad and well paved bouie-
Yards, but the enormous expenditures
involved aroused so much opposition
that a congressional investigation was
ordered, which. however, resulted in
the ton of Shepherd.
Following this. congress reOrganiZeH
the government of the District with a
board of three commissioners. presi-
dent Grant appointed Shepherd one OF
the commissioners, but the senate re-.
fused TO confirm him. He returned t.
his plumbing business, but was forced
into bankruptcy
Disappointed and saddened by the
estimate put on. his efforts by the ma
fp,.iYv nf his faI1,,yyv hn
to Mexico. where for TWENTY-FIVE.
years he has lived the life of an exilp
in the Sierra Madrc mountains, devel-
op!n- on Il gigantic scale an extensive
silver mining property, which is now
worth many millions of dollars. Mr..
Shepherd was said TO have been worth
SlJ,O0O,OO0 at the time of his death.
Mr.. Shepherds experiences during
the first few years of his residence at
Batopilas We're full of excitement and
real danger. He was surrounded by =
desperate set of Mexicans who would
not hesitate to take his life for the val
tie of Il cigarette if favorable oppor-
tunity was offered. 1t was Il frequent
occurrence for mule trains going be
tween Batopuas and chihuahua to be
held up by brigands.
1t Is related that on one occasion he
was going from Chihuahua to Batopi-
las, accompanied by two. moZos, or
Mexican servants. They were ridiug
those little mountain burros which are
used exclusively in the rough travel of
that part of Mexico. They had Just
entered mountain pass when show
er of rocks fell in front of the burros.
Mr.. Shepherd and his mozos looked up
and saw about fifty feet above them
on an overhangtng cliff the forms of
Eve Mexicans all dressed in charro
suits and each with rifle pointed d.
rectly at Mr.. Shepherds head.
Mr.. Shepherd was so terrified that
he almost fell off his burro, but he had
presence of mind to throw up his hands
and keep them up until one of the ban
dts leisurely made his way down and
politely told him that they meant him
no harm and that they simply wanted
what money and valuables he had with |
him. Mr. Shepherd complied with the
demand very readily. and he and his |
mozos We're then taken in charge by |
the brigands and escorted throuoh the !
pass to Il nearby cave, where
the bandits had store of good things. !
Mr.. Shepherd accepted Ill. invitation !
to remain to dinner, and Il fine repast |
was set and enjoyed by the visitor /
After dinner an escort of two bandits
was detailed to accompany Mr.. Shep.
herd to within few miles of Batopi-
las. Mr.. Shepherd was so we'll treated
by the bandits that he never reported
the robbery to the Mexican authorities.
Since the development of the mines
at Batopilas has become so great the
of silver and bullion from
that camp are very large. About p,-
cry two weeks Il couducta. rs il is
called, leaves BatopilaS for Chihuahua
loaded with silver bullon. The aver
age alnvunt of bullion in each Of these
shipments is about %lNN.UUU
Mr.. Shepherd had Il wH&niGcr..,
home at Batopjlas rr"iiug III yl
,iou3nesS and traUt| A.,t!!Y a. tAp ca,