La Junta tribune., 1905-04-01

Il OF the man Who succeeue<l
the great Joaquin as the
nuDn(S terror of pioneer Czlifor-
mia:
Second only in name and achieve
menfs to joaquin Murieta In the his
tory Of California hIghwaymen stands
Tiburcio yasquez; but except in skill
Of horsemanship and dexterity In
catching and killing men one WAS the
opposite Of the other. Joaquin was
OF gentle blood. as handsome and gay
and chivalrous as any youthful knight
errant; Pasquez was a hybrid-haif
Iudian-coarse, treacherous. british
His boy hood was spent in tanning Wild
mustangs cutting resh with howie
knives. shooting. dancing the bolero
and fandango. and betraying young
damsels- Indeed, he was bedeviled
Don Juan at love"
Add Bishop Fitzgeralds picture OF
vasauez as he appeared. when barely
fifteen. In 1888:
He was but youth. slender, com
pactIy built. and OF fairer skin than
Is common with Mexicans- The whole
eountenance expressed maievoienee.
but his eyes were natures special La
bel OF one OF her malignest creations
Only in two other human beings have
I ever seen such eyes as those that
glared upon me from that doorway.
They were the eyes OF n wild
beast, the baieful glitter yen have seen
in the eyes OF snakes or panthers-"
Born at Monterey. California. In
1889. vasquex had his early training
from the Padres. and formed his boy
Isl. impressions from the careless.
plea sure-lovins Meaicans who had
made the old coast town centre OF
trade and gayety. The Americans
fiocked across the Sierras. sailed by
ship.oads from Panama up TO the cold.
.ind- swept sand hills at San Francis
co. spread 10 the mines and DIP and
down the coast. until old Monterey
was oyerrun. Young Nasques saw
them lay masterful. rough hands on
the towns organization. trainple ira
dition under foot. and set up their
own authority.
AN OUTLAW At FIFTEEN.
When he was barely fifteen the boy
became Involved In n quarre! with an
American over a pretty Mexican girl
II was at q dance. and the town con
stabie-likewIse an American-inter-
fcred 10 stop the quarrel. Vasqu>z
turned upon the ofiiccr like u Fash.
stabbed him to death. and rushed from
the dance hall. lie red TO the mines
at Sonora. where many OF his country
men had gone. and which had already
become a favorite refuge for Mexican
outlaws. Speaking with extrayngant
defiance. he explained his arrival at
Sonora: ''rhe Americans came In and
elbowed me at the dance They drew
after them the prettiest girls. 80
Killed them" II was the clash OF the
races typlhed. this young DEVILS ar
rogant resentment. IL was his bloody.
futile protest against American dom
Ination.
The precocious young criminal left
Sonora and his companion OF the
saloon to Join. rumor. said. the forces
Of Murieta. whose bands were terror
izing California. After the ieaih OF
Joaqnln he became the acknowledged
head OF the outlaw forces; his inteiii-
gence, boldness and the absolutely un-
scrupulous methods he used made him
a formidable criminal leader.
Many attempts. OF course. Were made
by the sherirs OF various counties 10
catch Nasqucz. and more than once
they "cornered'' him. only TO have MIN
slip away. His intimate knowledge
Of the country helped him. and the
speed and bottom Of his splendid horses
frequently saved him from capture
To sheriff Solomon of Sonora he sent
word once Ia this effect: Tell solomon
that when we meet he shall die the
death Of coyote.
In 1857 he was captured. but moth
ing beyond horse-steaiing could be
proved against him. He was sent to
the State prison at San Quentin for i've
years. 1t may be Imagined easily
enough that prison life suited him not
at all. with its dreary round Of hard
work and the utter lack Of provision
for feasting and dancing. and after
serving less than two years he headed
party OF escaping convicts. Prom
June to August he rode free In the
mountains. when he was captured once
more and held until the expiration Of
his term in 1853.
A NEW START IN CRIME.
On August II. 1873. occurred one q
the bIackest tragedies connected with
Vasquex's long career as q criminal
leader. when he. with six companio1n.
robbed Suyder's store At Tres Pinss-
The store was q stage and postoGDce
and supplied . sparseiy settled eouo-
Try On the ruad FROM and TO San Fnnn-
cisco and tie AousAern mines. Besis<s
the store. Tres Fines boastesi a snail
wooden hgteI. . stab1e for the sfaoR
seans and . bIacksmith shop. VIZ
vasuu<s an his feIlsws wapted -
saek thks iasienincant station does -
sren esenf. usiess Il vas that the -
uurfunffv Was oHeFRa 0hen the r.