The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1906-04-19


I'd in Mexico, but owned and worked
by Americans, had been in running or
der a year before Jose Favara put in
an appearance. He had been heard Of,
however. He was known as d cattle
stealer, claim jumper and a general
outlaw, and it was the popular belief
that he stood in with the police. at
any rate, they had not interfered with
his operations to any extent, and he
walked the streets of the town as free
as any other man. One day Jose ap-
peared at the mine. He walked
straight to the superintendent office
and, doffing his hat, said:
"Senor Barnes, l beg you to excuse
me. My name is Jose Fayara. 1
should have called on you weeks ago,
but have been busy in other directions.
am now here to do business with
you"
"Well, what is your business?" que
ried the superintendent, although he
had a pretty fair idea of it.
ITO arrange to draw my monthly sal
airy, senior"
For performing what servicesW
For leaving your mine in peace"
"Tn other words, you mean to levy
tribute on usY
THE senior hits the nail on the head
at the first blow. My terms are $500
per month in cash. l shall call for 1t
myself. If accepted you will be under
my protection If not
You will make trouble for us?"
THE Senior Barnes hits the nail
again like to do business with an
Americana"
Jose Favara was told that he would
have to wait few days until his prop
osltion could be submitted to the pres
ident and board of directors In New
York. He WAS agreeable. He went
away bowling and smiling, and Mr.,
Barnes sat down and wrote a letter.
The proposition was extortion pure
and simple The authorities could be
appealed to, and would doubtless do
something Nevertheless the fact re-
NAMED that Jose was a bigger man
in that district than the authorities.
He could harry and harass He could
scare every pson out OF the mine in
two weeks. He could capture every
mule and driver engaged in transport
ing the ore over the mountains. He
could do lots of things to make the sit
uation unpleasant, and the superin-
tendent recommended that a monthly
salary be paid. He added that 5000 per
month was dog cheap.
The president and his board looked
upon it as a rather funny case, but fol-
lowed the advice Of Mr. Barnes. From
that time on for two years Jose Favara
regularly appeared on the 10th Of each
month and received his salary"
Twice during that time the poems would
have struck for higher wages had he
not appeared and threatened them
with his vengeance. A Mexican lawyer
discovered what he thought was flaw
in the title of the New Yorker and
would have made cost and trouble had
not Jose sent him word that he was
after his scalp. 1t was conceded that
the outlaw earned his wage.
Things were going on satisfactorily
when the old president died and Mr..
Nervely was elected in his place. While
the dividends were large. Mr.. Nervely
wanted to increase them. He saw
way to do it by looping off and cutting
down. cut Of 10 per cent was made
In wages and salaries, and the 5000 per
month to Jose Favara was cut off en-
tirely.
When Mr.. Barnes wrote that this
move would bring trouble, he was d.
rected to arm his staff and fight. When
he asked for rifles a dozen old con-
iemned Springfield muskets were sent
him, but not single cartridge He
wrote for cartridges, but was answered
that the president would soon take
trip to Mexico in his private car and
would visit the mine and give further
In person. Mr.. Nervely
had been known in trade as hustler.
AS president of q silver mine he deter
mined to be a hummer.
Jose Favara called, as usual, on the
10th OF certain month to be told tnat
his salary was nix. He had been dis
charged. Mr.. Barnes entered into par
hculars with him, even to stating the
probable date of the arrival of the
president. Jose was Impasslye and
He smiled the same
old smiles and bowed the same old
bows. He knew he had earned his
money, but IL he felt sore he gave no
sign of It, He went away saying that
be might call again, and things went
on as usual for three weeks.
Then President Nsrvely arrived. 1t
was twenty miles over to the railroad,
Ind he had to make this distance on
the back of a burro, but he made 1t.
He arrived at the mine at 3 o'clock In
the afternoon. At 6 the poems came up
from the shaft and announced that
there was a strike on. There were