Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-18

hands at the game, and had been seen
about Fairbanks the day Of the hold
up. Both Of them were known to be
desperate and fearless. Sheriff Scott,
Of Pima county, Arizona, said that he
had once ordered Alvador to put up his
hands, and Alvador had calmly looked
down the muzzle Of the pistol and kept
his hands at his sides. They had been
in trouble all along the Mexican border
many times, and were familiar with
the lay Of the country, and with al
most all Of the people living along it.
A Dangerous Game
Knowing what dangerous game they
| were pursuing the officers Of the law
waited for reinforcemsnts before NOV
ing. The robbery occurred in Cochise
county and it was up to the sheriff OF
that county to capture the bandits. The
sheriff had an idea Of the tactics which
would be pursued. and bided his time.
Railroad detectives and secret service
men and express company detectives
secured the country to no avail. After
a while the sheriff quietly went out one
night to nearby ranch and picked up
his men, and also, O third one whom
he wanted as witness The Cochise
Jail was q frail affair, so the robbers
were taken to the Pima county jail, at
Tuscon. There they awaited trial. But
something happened. Just how and
r-ot hafnTa
the case was called the prisoners, AL
yador and Jack" escaped, leaving the
witness behind. he ..E.
For weeks the robbers roamed the
country about Tucson and Benson,
laughing at the efforts Of perfect ar
my Of officers to round them up. They
were wanted by the state, the govern
ment, the express company and the
railroad. Consequently large rewards,
amounting to thousands Of dollars,
were placed on their heads-"dead or
alive" Sheriffs, secret service men,
wells-F Fargo men, Southern Pacific
railroad detectives and private man
hunters" were out for the money. The
thing developed into a farce from the
man. on the-streets viewpoint. While
all of these officers were searching des-
perately for the bandits, the bandits
were daily holding up passengers and
ranchers in Pima and Cochise coun-
ties, demanding food and ammunition.
A sewing machine man was made to
dismount from his wagon and go into
town and buy pistol cartridges. The
bandits finally tired Of the game. and
sent a note, by a go-between. to the
sheriff Of Pima county offering to sur
render under certain conditions. A
newspaper man Of Tuscon, known to
the robbers, and friend Of the sher-
IFS, was named to carry on the nego-
tiations. Meanwhile, the army Of re-
ward hunters secured the country
fruitlessly.
"out Of the Blaekness."
Night had fallen with its accustomed
quickness in the west, when the lone
newspaper man mounted horse, un-
armed, and turned the animals head
toward the Rincon Mountains, north
east of Tucson. For miles he rode to-
ward the mouth Of a certain canyon
mentioned by the robbers. Suddenly
he was challenged. Out Of the black
ness Of the desert a man. with gun In
hand, approached and exchanged word
with him. Then blind was placed
over the reporters eyes and he was
turned rapidly around few times un-
til he lost all sense Of directions. His
horse was then brought to him and.
led by another horseman, the reporter
began a tedious and dangerous ride,
which would end in the robbers strong
hold. Miles Of rough going were COW
cred before the mysterious sentry or
dered the reporter to dismount and
reached and the blind removed from
the visitors eyes. Before him sat the
two desperate characters for whom the
state machinery, backed by the best
from other sources, were even then
searching. The two bandits and the
sentry, being old acquaintances Of the
reporter, came forward and heartily
shook hands, asked few Indifferent
questions and then came down to bus
mess. The terms were easy to arrange,
and were these: That the bandits
would walk into the sheriff's office in
Tucson within forty eight hours, If the
sheriff would consent to divide with
them OH the rewards. You see, these
men had starving families to provide
for, and to their women and children
half of the rewards must go, or no sur
render. The sheriff, a wise old owl
with years Of experience along the bo--
der, accepted the terms, and within
the given time the men walked fear
lessly into his Office and were locked
up.
Such is one of the dramatic stories
that could be told Of the nerve" and
methods Of the train robbers Of the,
far southwest when that country was
young.-John Kershaw, Jr., Of Douglas,
Arizona in the News and Courier.