Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-03
BY c. =. M.

| death Of the mother of Juan VasQueZ,
| the once noted robber of the central
and southern parts OF California,
more especially through the counties
! of Monterey, San Benito and San
Luis Obispo, which he and his gang
! terroriZed into complete submission,
and who eventually received justice
at the end OF a rope. thought 1t
might not be out Of place to relate, a
story in connection with Vasqnez
that goes to show that he was not
bad clear through and this one act
may have tendency to soften, in a
slight degree, the hard feeling that to
this day comes to the. surface with
the mention Of his name throughout
the territory where he practised his
profession" 10.
Vasquez was the acknowledged
head and captain of gang that in
tested the counties above named.
Any history Of Californis will relate
the "standinS'f the gang had in the
communities it ruled over. 1t is suf-
fcient to say that no member of the
gang was denied any request he
might make of ranchers or others.
The Vasquez gang had a standing
that none ever attempted to dispute.
It was stated by Vasquez when he
was about, to dance on air" that he
had never killed person, and l, who
was personally acquainted with the
man, believed him. He could rob "a
man or company of men with a
sang-froid that is met with in but few
and at the same time he was as quick
as cat to note any move either. be
fore or behind him that might mean
danger to himself The writer was
not present at the occurrence below
related but was within a few miles
of the spot at the time and can vouch
for the truth Of it. -. ..a.$
Some three years previous to the
occurrence about to be related, Vas
quez gang himself not being pres
ent) madea raid on the Smith (that
name being as good as any for the
oecasion) stock ranch for the purpose
of replenishing, its supply of horses.
Smith was a handwriting rancher,
with a wife and two children, one Of
them being boy Of about IL years
of age, the other was younger. Smith
had got hold of the ranch some
years before, and not being a practi-I
cal rancher he had had a pretty hard
scramble to make both ends meet
and keep up the interest on the mort
gage that was on the place. During
the raid of VssqHez' gang Smith I'M
dertook to thwart the robbers and
consequently was shot down, as
would have been dog that had at
tempted to bite one of the gang.
Passing over the details that fol-
lowed the burial of Mr., Smith and the
bereavement of the poverty stricken
family that had been left to struggle
on as best it could, brings the story
up to q year later when one day Vas
quez alone stopped at the Smith ranch
and demanded good dinner, stating
that he would pay for it, which sne
did; at the same time acquainting the
widow of his identity Widow Smith,
through fear and Itrembling, served the
hlghWayman chief with the best her
kitchen could furnish, which was not
much. At times she wished she had
dose of poison to place in the food
she was serving. but his eyes were
ever on her. He rode away, after
thanking her, stating that he would |
call again. H. ss.-5.s.. ~
Two years after, the widow Smith
made trip to the county seat to see
If there was any possibility of extend
ing the mortgage that would fall due
the following month. Little & Morse,
the holders of the mortgage, close
listed, soulless, and not ayerse to
pressing the widow or the orphan,
having ascertained the value of the |
ranch to be far in excess of the. mort |
gage thereon. fand thinking to get the !
property thus cheaply, positively re-
fused to extend the time of payment !
one hour, the-poor widow leaving their |
office with tears streaming down her |
cheeks They had utterly refused to |
listen to her prayer for an extension |
of time.
On the day that the mortgage fell |
due, and on which widow Smith ex-l
pected to be made to vacate the ranch |
that had been her hame so long, |
Vasquez rode up to the door, tied his
horse and again demanded for some |
dinner, stating that the quality of the |
previous dinner he had eaten there
was the cause of his return.
After finishing his repast, he in
CURED: What makes you look so wor.
ried, widow Smith? Some trouble |
ahead? No fear Of my boys ever COM
ing here again; have stopped that"
Telling ones troubles even to a
highway robber seemed a relief to
widow Smith. She related to Vasquez
the whole story: of her prayers to
the foreClosers on her home to extend
the time: Of their refusal to do so
and of the troubled straits she ex-
Dected to enter, upon being thrown
cut of her farm. Of the fate of the
children, who had helped her keep
body and soul together Also of the
fact that she expected Little & Morse
there that very day to demand the
of the mortgage or throw
her and the children out onto the
county road.
NasqueZ. after inquiring the amount
Of the mortgage, gave a shI1IC of his
shoulders. characteristic Of the Mex