The Elbert County tribune., 1905-03-30

Nasquez. rode up. With no prelimi-
nary confusion, and apparently acting
in accordance with prearrangeI
plan, the leader and two of his COM
panions took up the stations outside TO
command the road, while the others
joined the two already in the store.
There were half dozen men in the
store-teamsters, miners and the clerk.
John Utzerath-when a quick trans
formation scene was enacted by the
four Mexicans. From idle gossips they
turned suddenly to fierce. well-armed
desperadoes, brandishing guns and or
dering the Americans to throw away
their arms and lie down on the floor to
be bound. There was no question OF
resisting-the six men obeyed the or
der promptly.
While the four robbers on the inside
were cutting the store in a systematic
fashion, those on guard outside were
alert and active. a Portuguese sbeep'
heIder named Martin came up TO the
store. Vasquez saw his approach, and
called out to him in English TO stop.
But Martin could not understand, and.
knowing nothing of the business going
forward in the store, started to enter.
The outlaw leaders second warning
was pistol shot, and the poor. ig-
norant sheep-herder fell with a bullet
in his brain. A Mexican from within
came to the door to know why the
shot had been fired, but Vasquez
waved him back, calling out that il
was nothing.
A COLD-BLOODED MURDER.
IL Il
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
n curse. to lie down and be tied. Ru.
the order did not appeal to Halef's
reason; he began to argue the point;
and the hot-blooded bandit swung the
butt of his big pistol against the team
ster's head. bringing him down in
senseless lump. Course the stupid
fool" ragged Vasquez, 81 should have
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
Vasquez's command to PROSTATE him
afoot, and ran towards the stage stable
AS he 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
a bullet through the back.
The shooting of BEDFORD had been
seen by Scherrer, the blacksmith.
whose shop stood near the stable. He
thought there was to be wholesale
slaughter, and determined to warn the
hotelkeeper, Davidson, of the danger.
Leaving the shop, he made dash for
the open door of the hotel. with the
Mexicans firing at him. But he gained
the shelter of the hotel unframed, cry
ing 10 Davidson, "Shut the door.
quick"
Vasquez, too, had seen the open door
of the hotel. and had called out. with
an oath. TO have it closed. "Shut that
doorr' he shouted, land keep it shut.
Then you won't be hurt!' But there
was some delay, and as Davidson came
forward to obey the order, Vasquez
rushed across to hasten the action by
firing through the panel. The bullet
tore through the thin wooden door and
struck the hotelkeeper square in the
breast, killing him instantly.
CAPTURE AND EXECUTION.
From Los Angeles Vasquez. in De-
cember, 1873, led party of twelve
outlaws north into Fresno County,
where they pillaged the little mining
town of Kingston. In this raid they
captured and bound more than thirty
men, terrorized the whole village, and
got away with what plumber they could
find without 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 Yasquez fed
early in 1874 to his old retreat near
Monterey.
The flight south was discovered and
the Los Angeles sheriff was notified. 1t
was learned that Vasquez was quar-
tered at Greek Georges; watch was
set ON the house; and one day the Off
GERS 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 window of the dining room.
He ran for the stable. where horse
stood saddled, but n shot from one of
the sherif'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
well; have been fool"
The reign of Vasquez was over; his
band was broken and scattered: and.
| though there We're occasional out
breaks among the survivors and imita-
tors OF this reckless leader, he was the