La Junta tribune., 1905-04-01
| PIONEER = DESPERATE
TIBURcIO vASQUEZ AND HIS
"REIGN OF TERROR.
A Whoss Hisdeeds Exceeded Those -
Any Oshsr Has Tinns-tsis Iifs as Leader
Of shs Snasu Army Of Brigands which
Rava9ed Counaies Of ths STATE.

| in accordance with a prearsnged
plan. the leader and two Of his coma
panions took up the stations outside 10
command the road. while the others
joined the two already In the store
There were half dozen men in the
! store-teamsfers, miners and the clerk.
John Utzerath-when a quick trans
l formation scene was enacted by the
four Mexieans- From idle gossips they
turned suddenly TO nerce. weii-armed
desperadoes. brandishing guns and or
derinS the Americans TO throw away
their arms and lie down on the door 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 q systematic
fashion. those on guard outside were
alert and active. A Portuguese sheep
hesder named Martin came up to the
store. vasquez saw his approach. and
called out Ia 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 secohd warning
was a pistol shot. and the poos. ig-
norant sheep herder fell with . bullet
in his brain. A Mexican from within
came TO the door 10 know why the
shot had been nrsd. but vasquez
waved him back. calling out that IL
was nothing.
A cOLD-BLOODED MURDER
A freight feamster named Haley vas
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. Eut
the order did not appeal to HaleS'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 .
,enseiess lump. Curse the stupid
fool" rnged yasquez. Il should have
killed him." The reckless. devirS
mood was on him.
Following close after Haley came
| George BEDFORD, another teamster.
lie was quite deaf. and did not hear
yasquezs command to prostrate him
self. but he saw that trouble was
afoot. and ran towards the stage stable.
As he ran. vasquex's two companions
began TO fre: their shots went via.
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 Bedford had been
seen by scherrer. the blacksmith.
whose shop stood near the stable. He
| thought there was TO be q Wholesale
| slaughter. and determined to warn the
hotelkeeper. Davidson. Of the danger.
Leaving the shop. he made . dash for
l the open door of the hotel. with the
Mexicans firing at him. But he gained
| the shelter OF the hotel unharmed. cry
ing to Davidson. shut the door.
quick Il
vasquex. too. had seen the open door
Of the hotel. and had called out. with
| an oath. TO have II closed. shut that
| door, he shouted. "and keep IL shut.
Then you won't be hurt-' But there
was some delay. and as Davidson came
forward to obey the order. vasquex
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
ccmber. 1871. led q party Of twelve
outlaws north into Fresno County.
where they piilaxed the little mining
town Of Kingston In this raid they
captured and bound more than thirty
men. terrorIxcd the whole village. and
got away with what plunder they could
ind without q motion Of protest from
| the inhabitants. Then followed other
| raids, not 20 successfui: the shefiR OF
Los Angeles County took up the chase
| In grim earnest: and vasques ned
early In 1ssA 10 his old retreat near
Monterey.
The night south was discovered and
| the Los Angeles sheriff was notified II
was learned that vasquex was quar-
tered at Greek Georges: q watch was
| set on the house: and one day she e.
Gers came upon hin while the bandt
was at dinner. vasqpes saw til -
GERS enter the house. and. knowing that
| the deors were guardea. 5uDped
| through q window Of the dining FoooI
He ran for the stable. where hsrse
| stood saddled. bet . shot froo 80 u
the sberiTs poese stcpped hin vith .
shattered leg Throwing ~ hts has9s
| In sign e ssrres<Sef. ~ drsswe4 hin
| self fsrward to meet his 0ptors- To
tAe0 he said. ~ they disarmed hin:
-Boys. yeu have doss ysuf weet
vel: have beea fsslr'
ne reign Of vasqUes was ever: NJ
bapa vas broken ald srattered: snd
thU1gh there were occnsteua1 eut-
tgeaks angag H. survfves1 al inifs-
esrB - thts s<ekIeD la4F. - was tie
last - nnke any Dsveest aonfnBe the
ADegfcnn lnvnsesa- vasg1l8 wos oe1t
= 4 urisso hnautsnl fnu0 WnseA -