Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-04-29
THIEVES OF MEXICO.
The Willy Rateros Will Steal tho Coat
of Your Back,


There are no burglars in Mexico and
for very simple reason-the daytime
and the public street afford the adroit
ratero such easy opportunities for ap-
propriating other peoples property
that 1t really is not worth his while to
bother with night raids or to take the
risk Of forcing an entrance into pri-
vate houses.
Other countries, other customs-the
ratero Is an institution in Mexico, and
like the rest Of the Mexican institu-
tions he is indigenous to the soil. The
sneak thief in other countries Is a
product Of civilizations human mill;
the burglar is poison separated some
where in the process Of milling. The
ratero is nothing Of the sort. He Is
just as legitimate a product, just as
much part Of the regular output, as
any other member of society. He Is
without shame or reproach in his call
ing and Is quite at peace with man
kind.
There is a diversity in the methods
of these thieves, ranging from the au-
dacity of q moments impulse to the
most elaborately plotted trap. Bold
specimens attack victim suddenly
and rely upon the surprises for an es-
cape. A man descending from street
car has the diamond snatched from his
scarf before his feet have fairly touch
ed the ground. and by the time he has
caught his breath the thief Is lost In a
crowd. A woman stops to gaze into
shop window in busy San Francisco
street in the capital city. and her
richly embroidered cloak Is jerked
from her shoulders, and the nimble
footed ratero disappears before near
by gendarme gets the alarm.
A crowd gathers in the street to
watch a horse fallen on the slippery
asphalt pavement, or procession on
a fiesta day, and the very hats are not
safe on the heads of respectfully
dressed people, or it may be on
Sunday, when all the suburban trains
are crowded, and the little stations as
we'll, that long arm is thrust into the
open window Of a starting electric car
and several hats gathered before any
one knows what has happened.
The more willy and considerate Of
the calling avoid giving these rude
shocks to their prey. These are the
ones who annex pocketbooks and
watches so quietly that the loss Is only
gradually appreciated and who teach
women the folly OF wearing dangling
ornaments in the street. Often they
are so elegantly dressed that no one
could object to being elbowed by them,
while the plausible situations they
create attest their lively wits. Ger
tainly they supply an ever fresh flow
of stories, many Of them too wildly
impossible to be told Of any other
country.
Some years since a travelling fakir
of the popular loud mouthed type ar
rived in the capital and set up his
booth in the Plaza mayor. The ex-
traction Of teeth without pain was the
lure that drew a throng, and several
successful performances made good
the promise. His rather primitive
method was to fire pistol close to the
patients head at the moment Of grip
ping the molar. The shock Of the noise
sufflced to distract the sufferers at
tention, and on the whole there were
few complaints.
At last a we'll dressed Mexican push
ed his way through the crowd, and
moaning over his aching tooth, seated
himself in the chair.
(Which one?" asked the dentist
briskly.
The man hesitated a moment.
1.-THE smallest on the left side," he
finally answered.
But the tooth appears perfectly
sound" said the dentist, after sur
vey.
But it has ached for three days, I
tell you, and I want it out"
You'll pay in advance?" was the
query.
Certainly. Will 1t take long?"
The fakir, a dollar in his palm,
smiled reassuringly and pulled out
handsome gold watch. 1T will be over
before the second hand can go half way
round" he boasted.
"All right" said the patient resign
edly.
The dentist got good grip on the
tooth while the man lay quietly In
the chair There was loud crack OF
the pistol, and the dentist held up a
sound and bloody tooth.
1T was a mistake to part with that,
senior. But did you feel anything?"
mo. Did you?"
mo" was the puzzled response.
"Then we're even," said the Mexi-
can, getting up and disappearing In the
crowd.
A few minutes later the dentist clap
ped his hand to his empty watch pocket
In dismay. It was then that he ap-
preciated the timely jest Of his pa
tient.
A story almost too perfectly rounded
to an amusing close Is nevertheless
vouched for among the raconteurs OF
Mexico. 1t is said that cert-.in judge
found himself at the opening Of court
one morning without his watch, which
hc remembered to have left under his
pillow. His remark to that effect was
overheard by a loiterer and presently
a messenger arrived at the judges casa