The National tribune., 1903-09-24

lions OF the hostile Indians had almost
entirely ceased in southern AriZcaa. prif-
cipa!lv on account OF the chastis cii4"nt i'll
flcted upon the old Camp Grant CT i1s-
ki-mei,-sin tribe by the citizens ard PaF'-
goes. this very security had attracted
large increase in the population of Incsoh
of that undesirable element known va
riousiy as FOUNDERS" 'footpads." and bad
men of every description. who sought the
isolation of Arizona as refuge from pun
sing justice.
REFUGE FOR MEXICAN OUTLAWS.
Tucson is situated within SO miles
of the Mexican boundary, so that Il crlih-
inaf mounted on a swift horse could reach
the latter in about - hours. 1t lie had
no mount lie could easily reach the, State
of Sonora by following the Santa Cruz
= River during TIE night and hiding by day
in the dense underground on the river
banks The numerous Mexican mufder-
ers and thieves who had committed
crimes in their country could pursue the
same course. reversing the route
Arizona had no Rangers in those days,
like Texas, for instance. Sherifs ana
their DEPUTIES were few and far apart:
the treaty of extradition between the
United States and Mexico unfortunately
reads that criminals may be exchanged
between the two Nations upon the demand
of either q think it still reads thus.) An
American criminal. especially when lie had
money. could consider himself safe so far
rs eytradition was concerned, as soon as he
reached the line" unless indeed he should
fall into the hands of Mexican bandits.
in whei. case he had no more trouble ever
after of any kind. The Mexican autho-
rites. glad to be rid of their worst element,
hardly, ever demanded the delivery of one
of their countrymen from the Governor OF
Arizona, and frequently disreearded the
demands on our side for escaped maletac-
tors, either averring that they could not
be found or refusing downright to give
them up. The unsettled state of the Mex
lean Republic in those days, and especial
" the overcoming State revolutions IN
Sonora. were of course the principal
cause of this unfortunate state of affairs,
which allowed a continual stream of muir
derers and robbers to flow hitler and
thither.
1t will therefore be readily understood
that the town of Tucson, now an incor-
porated city with two regufar policemen
and Constable for the Precinct, harbored
many shady characters, and quite fire.
uuently its population awoke to find
dead man in the street, sometimes killed
over night while seeking his habitatiOn in
the then unlighted streets, sometimes also.
and this quite frequently, killed IN brawl
over cards or women in q bar-room or
dance-house, when his body would be sim
ply dragged some distance away and
abandoned. As everybody kept firearms
in their houses, hoTse-breaking was very
rare. II
MERCHANT AND PAwNBRoKER.
At last a crime was committed of such
an atrocious nature that the whole popula-
ton was shocked to such degree as to
awaken them to the realization that some
thing must be done, quick and sure, to in
timidate the criminal element, which was
( in little fear of the tardily Gf ever admin
; istered hand of justice in the courts, and
of the absolutely insecure Jail.
In the Fall of 1872 one Vicente Herman.
DEE located with his wife in Tucson, and
soon after esta blished near the southern
edge of the town, in what is now South
Meyer Street, store OF general merchan-
disc, adding thereto somewhat later the
business of pawnbroker. Nearly all
Mexicans being inveterate gamblers and
nearly all, even the poorest of their wo-
men possessing some jewels of gold or
silver. this latter branch of the business
was very remunerative, and Hernandez
was soon well under way to become, if
not wealthy, still, well-situated man.
1 will here observe that Mexicans of the
lower classes will pay heavy interest on a
small debt for years, rather than pay the
debt itself, for the simple reason that the
amount of interest paid is always smaller
than the amount borrowed, for the pay
ment of which they generally await a
"windfall'' that might enable them to
liquidate the Indebtedness, which very of
In,-f
can teamster who owned his own wagon
and team, and whose wife took in wash
ing and ironing. who during a sickness in
the family had borrowed $40 from a
wealthy countryman, promising to pay q
weekly interest of 81. Sure enough, every
Saturday evening he went to pay this in
terest, and if he failed to do so the lender
would send q reminder and collect it.
These proceedings had gone on for two
years and two weeks, in fact, till the Dor
rover told me of it OF course, settle
ment was speedily effected. / also knew
a woman who had borrowed 81, giving as
a pledge her heavy gold earrings. She
paid so cents interest every Saturday for
over year.
To return to our story. According to
Mexican custom. which obtains to this
day, of giving the store a name, Herman
DEE had named his business LAS piedras
negros" Ghe black stones) and put up a
Sign accordingly. lie came from New
Mexico, where he had made the acquaint
ance of the Zeckendorfs, now, as then, the
principal merchants of Tucson, who
knowing him TO be an honest and indus
trious man and person of gen'lemanly
appearance and manners withal, advanced
him good stock of merchandise to begir
business with. Mrs. Hernandez was {
lovely young wife of about 80 years of age
very pretty, refined and charitable, quail
ties which soon made her beloved by ricl
and poor.
Their business was carried on in tn,
same house in which they lived; it was (
rather long adobe house, OF which TIL
store and pawnbroker shop occupied abou
"a feet by IA feet in width. Two door
led into this establishment, one frontini
on the street and the other upon a vacan
lot Windows there were none. A doc
led from the store through partition wal
Into the adjoining livingroom, which wa
parlor and sleeping room in one, bein
about 20 feet long. At the end opposite t
the store there was door, the only one i
the whole rear wall, which led into tn
corral or yard, where. about 10 yards {
the rear of the house, was situated sma
kitchen, in which the only help employe
by Hernandez, q young Indian cir
sometimes slept. In the middle of tn
wall, running back along side stree
there was small window protected by VI
right wooden bars. From the rear cornc
of this wall an unfinished adobe wall ra