The daily sentinel., 1906-08-30
MURDEROUS MEXICANS
Town Marshal of Fruita Captured
Robbed, Held n Prisoner for
Many Hours and Then
Thrown in River
To Drown.

The little city of Fruita Was work
ed up to a high pitch OF excitement
today by the announcem mt that a
murderous assault had been made up
on s. r. Shafer. familiarly- known as
Daddy" Schaffer. the city marshal
and deputy street commissioner OF
Fruita.
This morning Mr.. Schaner who had
been missing from his home since
| Tuesday afternoon walked into Fruita
in Il sorry plight, and the story he
told justly aroused widespread indig-
nation.
On Tuesday afternoon Mr. Schaffer
was working along the bitches near
the Wagner place, within the city
limits of Fruita. He was alone.
Suddenly two hard looking MeNi-
cans came up to him and covered him
with two big guns and told him to
move on down the road. OF course
Mr.. Schaffer obeyed. with one MeNi-
can in front of him and one behind
him Mr.. Schaffer was marched clear
to Horse Thief Canon. to point near
the f. f. Knowles ranch. II was then
late in the afternoon. The Mexicans
then searched Mr.. Schaffer and took
from him $23 and some small change.
They left his watch which they over
looked. A camp was then made in a
wild piece of country and Mr. Schaf-
fer was held a prisoner all night long
the MeXicans taking time about
watching him.
On yesterday morning the ruff
fans and their prisoner arose early
and Mr.. Schaffer was forced to walk
down to the bank of the Grand river.
A boat belonging to Mr. Yonts was
unfastened from its moorings and
Schaffer was made to get in this with
his captors From the way the MeNi-
cans acted Mr.. Schaffer feared that
they were planning to murder him
and his fears were grounded. Short
ly after the boat left the shore the
two Williams grabbed Schaffer and
after fierce struggle succeeding in
throwing him overheard. The water
was icy cold. and some fifteen feet
deep and the current was very swift.
the two men then rowed rapidly
across the stream, leaving Mr. Schaf-
fer to drown but the latter struggled
manfully and finally when almbst
completely exhausted succeeded in
reaching the shore. Suffering from
his chilly bath and the other hardships
he was forced to undergo he could
hardly walk, but set out for Fruita
a numer of miles away and this morn
ing at an early hour after long and
painful journey he arrived home.
This morning n posse was organiz-
ed and left Fruita about ten O'Clock
in search of the MeXiCans and ii is
to be hoped that these determined
men will run down the murderous
wretches.
Mr.. Schaffer states that the men
We're entire strangers to him and
and he could not understand a word
they said. He gave the posse a good
description of the men.
Two years ago Mr.. Tally, then mar
shal of Fruita arrested two Mexicans
for some criminal act. These men
were convicted and sent to the peni-
tentiary at Canon City. Some of the
Fruita people believe that these fell
lows who have now served their time
returned to Fruita with revenge in
their hearts. bent upon doing harm
to the marshal. and got the wrong
man when they attacked Schaffer.
Tally is no longer marshal. This
theory is very plausible.
Mr.. Schaffer has long resided in
the lower valley and there is no ques-
ton but that his story is true His
condition on returning this morning
proved that he had been greatly mis-
treated. The affair created a great
sensation in the lower valley. 1t
was bold piece of criminal work.