Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-08-21


by officer near Camulos to prevent his rescue
from arrest by the bandits. The TETON Indians
becoming enraged at some depreciation that con-
cerned them, had swoOped down upon the ban
dts, stole their horses and whipped some Of
the gang with lashes.
Although he wreaked a horrible revenge
against those who tried to capture him. he
never made any attempt to punish these Indians
who took even the clothes from the gang.
General Bean of San Gabriel, who tried to Or
ganize a movement against Murrieta, was way
laid the road and murdered. campaign
was started against the bandits in the town Of
Saw Mill Flat and Murrieta had the water poi
soned.
But finally Murrieta's Nemesis appeared He
was Texas frontiersman, named Harry Love,
who had come to Los Angeles to live He or
gained company of rangers from among the
daring horsemen of Los Angeles and went on a
systematic hunt for outlaws.
After various adventures and narrow escapes
both sides the end came early one Sunday
morning July %, 1853. Love and two three
companions riding ahead of the mounted
rangers the fats just west of Tulare lake in
the San Joaquin valley They upon small
company of Mexicans eating breakfast around
camp fire.
Love asked them what they were doing and
of them replied that they their way
to Los Angeles. He asked further question Of
one of the poems; whereupon a Mexican on the
Otnef SIDE OF the nre spoke UP naughtliy. say
ing: Il am the leader Of this band say what
you have to say to me-
Il will speak to whomever I please" retorted
Love. Noticing that the Mexican had risen and
was siding toward saddle that lay the
ground. Captain Love covered him with a re-
volver and told him stand STILL for there were
revolvers the saddle
While they were standing there a ranger who
knew Murrieta by sight came up. The recognf-
ton was mutual Joaquin suddenly yelled for
his men to escape best they could. Leapng
a horse without saddle bride Murrieta
went headlOng over bank and down into
vine, landing in a tumbled heap at the bottom.
Neither his horse nor himself was hurt however.
Scrambling to their feet. they started off at
dead down the canyon One of the rangers
had followed them. His horse had fallen also.
Without attempting to remount, he took careful
aim and shot Murrieta's horse as it ran.
The outlaw leaped from the falling horse and
continued his retreat foot. BY this time half
a dozen rangers following him. Three
times they fred he was seen to hesitate and
reel then run on again. One last shot and he
stopped
Turning, he raised his hand and said Don't
shoot any more; the work is done" He stood for
minute with weakening limbs; then he sank
slowly to his right side his head upon his arm.
Wicked old Joaquin Murrieta no more. An
other pursuing party overlook and killed Three
Fingered Jack. One of the bandits escaped and
drowned himself in the San Joaquin river An
other murdered by Mexicans who we're
afraid he might reveal to the authorities their
connection with the band.
Murrieta's head cut off and until the San
Francisco earthquake. exhibition in nay-
in San Francisco
At the time of his death Don Joaquin was pre-
pairing his grandest coup. He intended to col
lect all his booty and march his men openly
like army, into Mexico. The oldtimers assert
that he had his loot cached in the TETON for this
getaway and that it is still there
lsmae Ramirez says that he spent three
months looking for the buried gold One rainy
night he saw the mystic light Pickering under
meath old oak tree back of the ruins OF Fort
TETON. He carefully noted the location, intending
TO dig at the indicated spot the next morning.
When he went there at down, however, he found
that a rancher had also seen the light. Ramirez
found enormous hole and great iron kettle
from which the rancher had taken $4,000 in
gold
According to all reports the light has begun
to dance and flicker again around the Teton
ready to guide some one to the uneasy gold Of
the arch cut-throat and bandit Joaquin, Murrieta