The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-03
VENGEANCE 0F
MEXICAN DE- VI
"reminiscences of Joaquin
Mureita in California.
IN DAYS OF Ell DORADO
When an Injured Love Count
less Murders.
IN DAYS OF Ell DORADO

When in 1919. California became Lhs
Mecca Of the restless, energetic, and ad-
venturous from all parts of tie world
there already existed 4 Spanisn-1ndian
civilization of considerable age, with a
tradition OF easy living and gentle man
ners. The eager, Glowing gold-crazed
and isolated ranches. He maintainea
thized with that civilization; and the
California Spanish We're unable 70 COM
prehend the newcomers. SO, mlsunder-
standing led TO conflict. The impulsive
natives resented the crowding-out process
that began in the mines, and continued
10 the towns and agricultural communi-
ties III the rich valleys Of The san Joaquin
and Sacramento rivers. the Sane Jose Val
lev and the mission communities of Los
Angeles. Santa Barbara and San Diego
In the course Of change various high
spirited youngsters among the Spanish
rose I'D to resist the irritating Yankee
invasion. More than one hot-headed ma
tive dreamed OF rebellion, the driving
out OF the incomprehensible Americanos,
and the re-estatlishment of pastoral sim
plicitv. Some gained a certain following.
but most became simple outlaws, waging
Individual war. and submerging whatever
RACIAL PATRIOTISM lllty bti5al4 WIN III d
brutal lust for murder and robbery.
Chief Of all these. 1.-THE king among
California cut-throats,' as he has been
called, was the boy. Joaquin Murieta.
The Fra Diavolo of FL Dorado" was
the more enphonious title won by this
young Mexican who came up from Co
nora, Mexico. to Los Angeles in 1919,
when he was scarcely seventeen. Begin
ming in 1850 his brilliant career of crime
occupied less than three years, and he
was killed before he was twenty-one.
In 1850 a brother-in-law Of Murieta was
arrested at Los Angeles for completely
In the murder of Gen. Bean, an officer Of
the United States army. In the confess
sion that followed he told of Murieta's
participation, with himself and others.
in a DEMONSTRATING raid the year before.
Until that time the young Mexican had
excited no particular attention being set
down as vivacious but law-abiding boy.
popular with the girls. One of these, Ro
sta Felix, a pretty senorita of sixteen
was so deeply infatuated that she fed
north with him when the civil authori-
ties were preparing to investigate his
brother-in-law's story of the horse steal
4. ing. Later Reyes Felix, brother of the
girl. Joined the young bandit. only to
be caught and hanged by the Los Angeles
vigilantes.
With ROsita, Murieta fed to a placer
mining camp on the Stanislaus river,
where he located claim. and began to
develop it. But the feeling in the mines
against the Mexicans was strong, because
of recent murders. the outgrowth of IA
cial hatred and one evening Murieta was
visited by a deputation of Americans.
who peremptorily ordered him out of the
camp.
Murieta protested that he should not
be molested, declaring that he had COM
piled with the legal requirements in locat-
ing his claim. and that it was a valuable
one one of the party. rendered abusive
and reckless by whiskey referred to
young Joaquin and to the frightened Ro-
sta in insulting language The quick
tempered Spaniard rushed at the Ameri-
can with a knife, but Rosita seized him,
and begged him not to make trouble.
Taking advantage of the girls interfer-
ence. another of the party knocked Muir
ieta TO the floor where he lay uncon-
scious while the devoted Rosita was
further insulted.
The last indignities soured whatever
good nature survived in the man. 1Iurieta
CUT loose from all of his friends, aban-
doned Rosita, and deliberately set him.
self the task of killing every man who
had participated in either Of the assaults
upon him. Later he talked bravely of
heading a California revolution. when his
band had grown to include mere than
.sr !.
bic lieutenants. all under strict disci-
pline. 1t was not Murietas policy to
keep this cumbersome body of men to-
gether, but he scattered them about IN
small parties TO plumber mining camps
and insulated ranches. he maintained
spies in the richest Of the dicgings. and
certain members We're detailed to pro
vide horses Al convenient places.
Late in 1851. Murieta appeared with
number Of companions at Marysville. and
on the following day five white men We're
found with riatas about their necks. hav-
ing been dragged 10 death Then. one
by one. the men who had driven him
from the ,StaEislaus mines and from Mur-
phys were murdered the work being
SO swiftly and quietly done that il WIS
impossible TO trace the murderers. But
there was no doubt in the minds Of those
who We're familiar with the younE Mexi-
cans history that Murieta was making
good his threat TO kin every man who
had injured him.
The leader himself was not naturally
over-crueI or bloodIhirsty. and # is prob
able that he would have become a more
or less staid citizen after his private score
was paid except for he presence IN his
hand CT twO or three seasoned villains
who delighted IN crime The worst Of
these-and by far the most sinister figure
In California outlaw history-was 4 terri
bic Mexican. Manuel Garcia or Three
FINGERED Jack" \ veritable giant I'm size
lacking finger. which h. had lost In a
Mexican revolution. ard with an aspect
ferf,cious enough 10 suit the part Garcia
eufchered and robbed with SAVAGE atas-
don. \ favorite amusement Of his vas
tob ride. with two or three companions
Unto camp Of Chinese placer miners
fscatter them with a savage veil. then
\ like a trained pointer working \ c,vev
of ouaiiS- hunt them out Of their hiding
pisces 70 rob and butcher them.
The offer OF a reward followed a THEY
ing raid through Calaveras county. En-
boidened by the apparent apathy OF the
authorities. and yielding TO pressure from
''Three-Fingered Jack. Murieta IN
March, 1855. led a party TO the Chinese
camps at Rich Gulch. near san An5reas.
The Chinese were scattered over dis