The oasis., 1909-06-12
CORRECT HISTORY.
,,rLa oasis" Corrects "Mesca's" Ac-
..urt Of an Occurrence That Trans
elred Fourteen Years Ago.

That brilliant and usually ac-
curate writer, Frank Alley, who is
known more generally under his
nen name "Mescal," has visited re-
Gently the Fronteras region, and in
the course of his correspondence
to the Kelly papers he has pre-
sented the following account OF the
Tribolet affair, that occured.in the
spring 1S95-in the month OF
March and April:
Perhaps the most peculiar and tragic
incident identified with the modern his
tory of Frouteras was the Tribolet
episode.
Tribolet owned a ranch two miles
north of Fronteras. He was power
among the local Mexican population
and authorities.
lie was master OF their methods, an apt
student of local customs, he had gath
cred in a liberal supply OF shekels and
was considered a power in the land.
In the year 1895 the Guggenheimers
UDefdICu
Viejo, six miles south OF present city OF
NaCozari, the camp OF the Moctezuma
Copper Company. The Guggenheimers
were operating on the great Pilares de
Nacozari chalcopyrite copper mine,
which they subsequently sold to the
Moctezuma Copper Company, a branch
of the Phelps-Dodge system. The stage
was known to carry the pay from Bisbee
down to Nacozari Viejo for the employees
OF the Guggenheimer smelter.
On this occasion it transpired that
Triboet conspired with the presidente
OF Fronteras to intercept and hold up
the stage and take in the pay roll, which
only amounted to six thousand 'dobe
dollars, which, at that time were worth
about 80 cents.
Relying on their strength in official
and other circles, Tribolet and the pre-
sident of Fronteras hired four Mexicans
to do the work.
On the date appointed this work was
carried out so effectually at point or
the Arzpe road on the Cuchuta ranch
about six miles south of Fronteras thai
the six thousand 'dobes were captured
and Moreno, the driver, was killed
This would amount to one Thousand
dobes for each man.
In the stage at the time was "ten
derfoot" connected with the Guggen
heimer company, who made swift ruI
when the hold-up occurred. He wen
across to the headquarters OF the Gu
chuta ranch, and paid Mexican ia
sum to carry him on horseback acros
the line to Bisbee. Arriving at Bisbee
he never stopped to retire or rest unit
he set the wires on fire. He com
municated every detail of the Who'll
transaction as he had observed it to tn
Guggenheimer agents in the City c
Mexico. They in turn handed the mat
ter over to President Diaz, the Bismar
OF Mexico.
The president wired the particulars t
the governor of Sonora, with instru(
tons to forward advices to the locs
military officers at Arizpe to procee
Immediately to apprehend all suspecte
parties, give them trial, and if guilt
Oh any completely in the affair whatevt
give them the 'fusilar." The governC
OF Sonora advised the president thu
tiete was a powerful and lntiuentl;
American implicated, as well as stron
local officials and timidly suggeste
mat they had better be careful.
Strict orders along the same line wei
repeated in manner that clearly il
Vmated that the governor was suppose
10 carry them out or face consequence
il this time Tribolet and the pres
ue1Ie OF Fronteras were breathing easi
snu a Iounging in every sense of absolu
securely.
orders were now sent to Arizpe, al
Mehdez, a soldier, who seemed to tai
particular pride in carrying out drast
rIis5Ifoctlons, ri5 especially when they a
pn pieQ to "Gringo," went after Il
,o9 L9e presidente was arrested at
residence in Fronteras. and Tribolet W