The San Francisco call., 1907-03-17
BANDITS SPREAD TERROR
ALONG MOUNTAIN TRAIL
Crags of Durango and Sina-
loa Cover Rendezvous
of CutthroatS
RURALES IN PURSUIT
Brigands and the Mounted
Police Have Many
Bloody Fights
RURALEs IN PURSUIT
SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE CALL


DURANGO, Mexico, March 1.-THE
mountainous sections OF the States OF
Durango and Sinaloa are overrun with
bands OF brtgands. This outbreak OF
outlawry is the worst known since the
days following the last internecene
strife Of the people OF this country.
when conditions were disturbed and lit
tie attempt at preserving law and or
der was made
Brigandage has always prevailed 70
some extent IN the mountains lying be-
tween Durango and the Pacific port OF
Afazatlan, and the rough trail connect
ing these two cities has long had the
reputation Of being the most dangerous
TO travel IN Mexico. It became neces-
sary g few years ago 70 increase the
force Of rural guards, or country po-
lice, IN the unsafe region IN order 70
cope with these bands OF outlaws For
q time their depredations were les
sened, but during the last few months
the banditti have increased TO such an
extent as 10 make travelling through
any portion OF the region covering
territory OF a width OF seventy-fve
miles and q length Of more than two
hundred miles absolutely dangerous. No
less than nine bands Of brigands are
operating IN the region named Ranch
men and peaceable settlers are in
state Of terror.
There are now two full regiments OF
rurales operating in the turbulent ter
ritory, and they are showing the
bandits no mercy. Many Of the out
laws have been killed during the last
two weeks, and others are being trailed
into the mountain Businesses, where
they make their rendezvous. Many
members Of the rurales were bandits
in former years, and they know all OF
- o--G - tactics nf that
class. But, more than this, they know
the mountain trails and the hiding
places OF the outlaws and are able 10
give quick and effective pursuit when
an outrage is committed.
NO QUARTER FOR BRIGANDs
II is said 10 b7 President Diaz's or
der that no quarter be shown the
brigands. No prisoners are taken. 1t
is a warfare TO the death. There are
many rich mines in the turbulent sec
ton, and their operation is being seri-
ously hampered by the attacks OF these
outlaw bands. A number OF mining
camps have been rsided by the bril-
gands during the last few weeks. Peo-
pie have been shot down when any
show OF resistance was made and stores
robbed Of money and supplies, which
were coolly carried away upon pack
mules by the bold bandits.
been committed by the robbers during
the last few months viii probably new
er be publicly known News has been
received here Of no less than twenty
such crimes at their hands, and these
are only q partial list OF their victims.
On some OF the remote ranches whole
families were murdered The brigands
do not hesitate 10 wreak their vengance
upon the rurales. Only a few days ago
six rurales were asleep IN their camp
in the mountains. when they were at
tackled by the outlaws whom they were
pursuing and all of the rurales were
killed before they could reach their
guns.
Encounters between parties of
rurales and the banditti are of almost
daily occurrence. Several Of the
bandit leaders have been killed in
these ARRAYS recently, but IL seems
that there is always some one ready
10 take their places and there has as
yet been no decrease shown in the out
lawry. One Of the most notorious Of
these bandit chiefs was Porfrio B.
Obaso. who operated at the head of a
select band of only three men. They
had committed many bold robberies
and q number OF murders in the vicin-
ity Of Conitaca and were said TO be
planning a raid upon that town when
they were overtaken by a small force
OF rurales. The bandits were shell
tered behind some rocks In the noun
tains and the battle lasted for some
time. 1t resulted in one Of the rurales
being killed and two wounded. Obaso
was shot through the body and died on
the spot.
PROTECTOR OF WOMEN
Gerardo Nunez is another bold ban
cit leader who was recently captured
chC M his "a nd racarT1x- q =
tackled the ranch of Jesus Uranga
Saenz at La Estancia Blanca, situated
within fifty miles Of Durango. They
took Saenz and all OF his servants
prisoners and bound them with ropes.
They then ransacked the building and
robbed the place Of $1,000 In money and
valuables. Although Nunez had been
captured and shot it is said that his
followers have selected a new chief
and are operating as bodily as ever.
A short time ago a band og brigands.
led by Jose Serna, made an attack upon