The San Francisco call., 1910-09-11

amounted to approximately $4,000 an
nually, equivalent to the salary of a
justice of the supreme court and above
that of the governor. Bill spoke Span
ish fuently, but was not so proficient
in figures.
The zenith of his prosperity and his
manhood were reached simultaneously,
| might say, in the year 1874, when his
possessions were estimated at about
100000, consisting chiefly of real es-
tate in the city of San Jose and In the
then villages of Gilroy, HolHster and
Tres Pfnos.
AT that period he was thinking of
quitting the freighting business, or at
all events of seeking some other line in
connection with the quicksilver mining
industry that would not be so danger
GUS for wealthy driver. Thus we
come to the exciting event in his ca
reer that has made the name OF
"Azogue Bill'' somewhat famous, or
which shortly after the event, at least,
made his name dreaded by one Vas
quez, known as the worst type of ban
dit that ever held up or robbed a stage
in California. This Vasquez had his
headquarters at the time in Cantua
canyon, a natural mountain fastness in
the neighborhood of New Idria.
1t transpired that late one evening,
accompanied by his son Ismael, who
was now old enough to shoot, Bill drove
up to the station a { the foot OF Cham
bers mountain, about 25 miles from
Tres Pinos and IN a most undesirable
and rugged locality. AS they dis
mounted and were about to unharness
for the night two masked men sprang
suddenly out from a pile of rock, and,
placing their pistols close to the heads
of Bill and the boy, commanded them
to hold up their hands. This they lost
no time in doing, for Bill, while he was
a crack shot, knew when man had the
drop on him." Besides this, apart from
a six shooter kept in the Jockey box"
by Ismael for the purpose of shooting
antelope, then abounding close to the
highway, the two were unarmed. To
expect assistance in that out of the
way place at that time of day would
have been foolish.
When their chance acquaintances had
done searching their persons they took
them into the shanty. which, they dis
covered, had been already rihed, and
after an exchange of farcical saluta-
tions. during which Bill recognized one
George the Greek" one of the Vas
quez gang, the chief declared 1T was
their intention to take Bits team and
the 10 tons of quicksilver. valued at
about $4,000, and proceed at once to
Fremonts crossing on the San Benito
river, where the bandit chief. TlburclO
VasqueZ, was encamped The next
night it was their intention of taking
the loot to Moss landing on Monterey
bay and transfer it to schooner wait
ing there for just that purpose. From
there it would be taken to Mazatlan,
in Mexico.
The companion of George the Greek.
it subsequently transpired. was one
Anastacio Vasquez, an aid and kinsman
of the chief. 1t was well known by
these men that there was not another
teamster in the state who could
drive Bills team across the noun
tains in the night without upsetting
the two wagons and thus losing the
quicksilver. As Bill himself realized
this fact he was not unprepared for
the request soon made by the chief
bandit. This was to the effect that If
Bill would stand in" with them and
drive the team himself he could accom-
pany the treasure to Mazatlan and
there receive half of the profits of the