The Elbert County tribune., 1913-08-22

by an 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 horrible revenge
against those who tried to capture him, he
never made any attempt to punish these Indians
who took the clothes from the gang.
General Bean of San Gabriel, who tried to or
ganize movement against Murrieta, way
laid the road and murdered. campaign
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
ganized company of rangers from among the
daring horsemen of Los Angeles and went on a
systematic hunt for outlaws.
After various adventures and escapes
on both sides, the end came early one Sunday
morning. July 25, 1853. Love and two three
companions were riding ahead of the mounted
rangers the flats just west of Tulare lake in
the San joaquin valley. They came upon small
company Of Mexicans eating breakfast around a
camp fire.
Love asked them what they were doing and
of them replied that they were on their way
to Los Angeles He asked further question of
one of the poems; whereupon Mexican the
other side of the fire spoke up haughtily. say
ing: 81 am the leader of this band say what
you have to say to me-"
II will speak to whomever l please" retorted
Love. Noticing that the Mexican had risen and
was siding over toward a saddle that lay on the
volver and told him to stand STILL for there were
revolvers on the saddle
While they were standing there ranger who
knew Murrieta by sight up The recogni-
tion mutual. Joaquin suddenly yelled for
his to escape best they could. Leaping
on horse without saddle or bridle Murrieta
went headlong over bank and down into ra-
vine, landing In a tumbled heap at the bottom.
Neither his horse nor himself hurt, however.
Scrambling to their feet, they started off at a
dead run 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 1t ran.
The outlaw 1eaped from the falling horse and
continued his retreat foot. BY this time half
dozen rangers were following him. Three
times, they fred he seen to hesitate and
reel; thsn 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
a minute with weakening limbs; then he sank
slowly to his right side, his head upon his arm.
Wicked old Joaquin Murrieta was 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 was murdered by Mexcans who were
afraid he might reveal to the authorities their
connection with the band
Murrieta's head was cut on and until the San
Francisco earthquake. on exhibition In a mu.
scum 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 openly
like army, into Mexico. The old-timers assert
that he had his loot cached In the TETON for this
getaway" and that 1t is still there.
Ismael Ramirez says that he spent three
months looking for the buried gold. One rainy
night he saw the mystic light flickering under
meath an 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 rancher had also the light. Ramirez
found enormous hole and a 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 o.
the arch cut-throat and bandit. Joaquin. Murrieta