Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-01-15

| ant Sheep-herder fell with a puilet III
his brain. A Mexican from within
came to the door to know why the
shot had been fired. but Vasquez wax-
ed him back, calling out that 1t was
nothing.
A Cold .Biooded Murder.
A freight teamster named Haley was
the next to arrive. AS he drove IN
front Of the store and climbed down
from his wagon, Vasquez came SUD-
denly upon him, and ordered him. with
curse to lie down and be tied. But
the order did not appeal to Haleys
reason; he began to argue the point;
and the hot-blooded bandit swung
the butt Of his big pistol against the
lteamster's head, bringing him down In
senseless lump. Course the stupid
fool" ragged VasqueZ, Il should nave
killed him." The reckless. devils mood
was on him.
Following close after Haley came
George Redford, another teamster. He
was quite deaf. and did not hear vas
uuezs command to PROSTATE himse1.
But he saw that trouble was afoot, and
ran toward the stage stable. AS ne
ran. Vasquez's two companions began
to fire: their shots went wild. however,
and Redford had almost gained the
door of the stable when the leader
turned and killed him with bullet
| through the back.
The shooting Of Redford had been
seen by Scherrer the blacksmith, whose
shop stood near the stable. He thought
there was to be a wholesale slaugh-
ter, and determined to warn the hotel
keeper Davidson, Of the danger Leav-
| ing his shop, he made dash for the
open door Of the hotel, with the Mex
leans firing at him. But he gained the
shelter Of the hotel unharmed,. crying
to Davidson. "Shut the door, quich!"
Vasuuez, too, had seen the open door
of the hotel and had called out, with
an oath, to have 1t closed. Shut
that door!" he shouted, land keep 1t
shut. Then you won't be hurt!" But
there was some delay, and as David
son came forward to obey the order,
Vasquez rushed across to hasten the
action by firing through the panel.
The bullet tore through the thin wood
en- door and struck the hotel keeper
square in the breast, killing him In
stantly. 3
| The death Of Davidson ended the aw-
full carnival Of murder; the plunderers
in the store finished their work; those
on guard ransacked the stable. and
picked out seven Of the best horses to
lead away; and the victims lying bound
| in Snyders store were left to release
themselves as best they might. From
every source about $500 in money was
secured, and quantity Of goods taken.
The usual alarm was raised, the usual
posse organized, and as usual, the pur-
suers were left far behind by Vasquez
and his crew, who fled straight for
Cantua Canon.
In a short time, however, Vasquez
was hunted out Of Monterey county,
and late in 1873 the tax collector OF
Los Angeles met him on a mountain
road. Now, Maddigan, the collector,
was an efficient man, despite his inforz
NAL mstboaSsl
lts6np as ..,s' custom to gather them
! when and where he could. AS Vasquez
came up to him-a complete stranger
to the collector-Maddigan held up his
hand to stop him.
Good morning" began the collector.
II don't seem to remember your face,
sir; maybe you've not paid your poll
tax. Is it SOP" The outlaw, surprised
at the question, admitted that the lit
tie Irishman was right, after returning
civil salutation.
Then maybe you'll pay the tax to
me now," said the collector, a peremp-
tory note in his voice., Is 1t so? It'll
be two dollars"
VERY well, friend" Vasquez an
swered, smiling. He gave over the
money, and Maddigan scrawled on a
receipt blank the date and amount,
signed it, then looked up to ask:
What was the name you said, sir?"
"Vasquez," came the smiling answer.
"Tiburcio Vasquez. Shall spell 1t for
you senor?" For Maddigan's hand had
fallen limp from the book, and his eyes
had opened to a wide, terrified stare.
But he recovered his nerve, filled In
the blank, and gave over the receipt.
Vasquez laughed at the little mans
terror, and with q cheerful "Adios,
senor," rode on.
Final Capture and Execution.
From Los Angeles Vasquez, in De-
cember, 1873, led party of twelve out
laws north into Fresno county, where
they pillaged the little mining town Of
Kingston. In this raid they captured
and bound more than thirty men, ter
rorizing the whole village, and got
away with what plunder they could
find without a motion of protest from
the inhabitants. Then followed other
raids. not so successful; the sheriff Of
Los Angeles county took up the chase
in grim earnest; and Vasquez fled early
in 1874 to his old retreat near Mon
terey.
The flight south was discovered and
the Los Angeles sheriff was notified.
1t was learned that Vasquez was quar-
tered at Greek Georges; a watch was
set on the house; and one day the Of
ficers came upon him while the bandit
was at dinner. Vasquez saw the off,
GERS enter the house, and, knowing that
the doors were guarded, jumped
through a window of the dining room.
He ran for the stable, where a horse
stood saddled, but shot from one Of
the sheriff's posse stopped him with a
shattered leg. Throwing up his hands
in sign Of surrender, he dragged HIM
self forward to meet his captors. To
them he said, as they disarmed him:
Boys, you have done your work
we'll; 1 have been a id fool"
The reign of Vasquez was over; his
band was broken and scattered; and,
though there were occasional outbreaks
among the survivors and imitators OF
this reckless leader, he was the last to