Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-01-08

NouS calieu 10 the TWO men left With
The corral to bring the horses up. and
The tired beasts responded bravely to
he demand made upon them.
"The Americans followed the Mex
leans on a swinging lope. and before
the half mile to the river had been
covered by the leaders in the mad
chase four saddles were emptied and
only murderous Calderone himself and
three of his crew were on the break
for safety.
The surviving brigands urged their
painting steeds down the slope to the
river, forced the horses to take the
water, and when the rangers gained
the Texas bank the fugitives were in
Mexican territory, and Simmons held
up his hand in mute signal forbid
ding that any more shots be fired.
''The rangers were altogether a
dashed lot when they lined up on the
Texas side of the Rio Grande. They
had made splendid fight. it is true.
and rid the earth of fifteen or sixteen
desperadoes; but, then, the prize
beauty of the robber bunch had es-
capped and their work was practically
for naught. as Calderonei would soon
recruit his band. Simmons called the
roll and found all his men in sound
good health, with the exception of
two, Riley and Brinsmead, who had re-
ceived slight wounds in the fray on
the prairie. OF the robbers eight were
stone dead and the rest were wound
ed, some badly and some with only
scratches. l might as well get through
with the prisoners at once. Three Of
them died of their wounds and the
rest were hanged to trees and riddled
with bullets.
Simmons and his men remained on
the bank of the Rio Grande until
nightfall. and the chief refused to lis
ten to the opportunities of his men to
carry the pursuit into Mexican terri
tory. We can't cross this river, boys
he said, cause the greasers down in
Mexico City won't stand for it.
"That night. though. Smiling Silas,
who had been one of the boldest in the
fight on the plains, slipped from camp,
saddled his horse and, holding the
steed by the bride, swan the river.
He landed safely on Mexican territory,
his pistols and ammunition all right,
and waited until daylight behind
fringe OF chapparal. When the sun was
up he looked for Calderone's trail and
found it. It led south through the
mesa district to range of hills, and
about II o'clock in the forenoon he
came upon Calderone and his three
companions. The robbers were Sleep
ing under a broad palm tree, their
horses tethered close by, and Silas
could have shot them ere they would
have had time to arise and defend
themselves. But he disdained such a
course. Dismounting from his horse
and tying the animal to the tree, he
walked right into the midst Of the rob-
bers and aroused them with a loud
cry. The greasers sat up and reached
for their guns instinctively, but pis-
tol barked from each of Silas' hands
and two of the rufians toppled over to
arise never again. The other two,
Calderone and one of his lieutenants,
gained their feet, and the lieutenant
broke for the woods. 'Bangp cracked
Smiling Silas' long barrel gun. and the
runaway fell on his face with bullet
in his spine.
"Just as Silas fired Calderone turned
loose his gun, and the bullet carried
away the rangers hat. Silas jumped
toward his foeman before q second
shot could be sent and, striking him
In the face with the butt Of his revolv-
er, stretched him, dazed and bleeding,
on the ground. The American drew
back as Calderone struggled to his
feet, and the half breed boy who was
attending a flock Of sheep on the ris-
ing ground gazed at the strange and
thrilling picture spellbound. Calderone
swung his pistol over his head in a
trembling hand, but ere he could use
it Silas stepped in and wrenched 1t
from his grasp. You Mexican snakev
cried the ranger. Pull your knife!
I'll give you chancey
"Calderone was an expert with the
bowie-mostI Mexicans of his stamp
are-and, seeming to gain strength on
the instant, he whipped out his long
dagger and sprang toward the Ameri.
can. Silas had dropped his pistol and,
with bowie in hand, met the assault.
The knives clinked as the ranger par
ried the downward thrust of the Mex.
lean, and the quivering bodies Of the
two combatants came close together,
with the long strips Of steel locked AT
the, hits. 1t was then that Silas
American training stood him in good
stead, and, while his right hand was
engaged with the knife, his left swung
free, and he brought the member over
with wide sweep flush upon the side
Of the Mexican's face. Calderone fell
back, groggy and bleeding from the
force Of the blow, and Silas Ieaped aft
err him like tiger. cat bent upon Sc
curing prey. The greaser feebly raised
his knife to fend stroke, but Silas
blade swept under his arm and buried
itself to the hilt in his heart. Calde
rome fell to the ground corpse, and
80 the band was exterminated. Silas
reached the camp the same night, bu
!! he did not tell where he had been unit
the half breed Mexican boy related thu