Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-14
BY J. E. BRISTOW.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch TO the star.
TEPIC, Nayarit, Mexico, April IA
(N.AN.A).-This bandit business is
not very profitable for the bandits, and
it was mighty poor business for me
during the month I spent climbing
mountain sides or compelled to hide in
canyons in the wilds of Nayarit SO my
captors wouldn't be caught.
When I saw the railroad Wednesday
morning by moonlight it was the pref
test sight I have ever looked at. I
could have kissed the rail. I was so
thankful. A month with bandits in the
mountains of Nayarit would make
Christian of any man-that Is, II he
managed to get home to tell about it.
When 1 arrived in Topic weeks ago
and started into the mountain country
TO look at a mine, didn't know would
not be back here for so long, or that
would travel more than $50 miles and
have only a blanket to sleep on and
under and just the sky Tor a roof 1or
more than a month.
If had had any such thought as
that would have stayed home, rested
my So years by my own f1reSide and
tried to find a mine in my back yard.
Left Topic March 5.
started from Topic March 5 by
automobile to look at mine had
made a payment on. This mine Is
near a little ranch called Rancho San
Tafe, about 60 miles from Topic. That
doesn't seem far. but the mere number
of miles doesn't mean much in this
country. especially when you have to
cover most of them on mule ana
never on level ground.
We went first by automobile to santa
Maria Del Orc. There we left the roao
and took to muleback had engaged
a man named Carlos Fields as an IN
terpreter. I don't speak Spanish. l
needed some one who knew the country
and could get along with the natives:
Fields had hired two other men Tor
me. Alfonso Occiguida and Emilio
Perez. They were to help at the mine.
There were also two moZoS along. MozoS
are sort of all-around men, very neces-
sary in Mexico. One of them was In
charge of the mules. We had nine OF
those animals.
We left Santa Maria Del Orc with our
mule train and took the mountain trail
to the mine. We were two days on the
road. The night of the second day we
reached Rancho San Tafe. We expected
to camp there while I was looking over
the mine.
It isn't much of a place, this So
called ranch The house is built OF
grass and cane and has only one room,
A family lives there, man and his
wife.
Persuaded to Stay.
The following morning we climbed to
| the mine, which is up the mountain
side, looked things over and decided
what to do about operating. That night
we went back to the ranch, which is
about halfway down the steep side OF
| the mountain.
1 planned to leave for Santa Maria
! Del Orc the next night, for we had
completed our arrangements for our
work and were eager to get back and
start things going. But Fields objected
| to leaving and talked me into staying
another day.
Fileds said he wanted to look at a
possible lead property up the river lit
tie way The river Is in sight of the
mine and is in the valley east OF where
we were 1t is called Rio Santiago. ]
agreed to do as Fields wished.
The night of that next day we were sit
! ting around outside the little ranch house
discussing how we would work the mine
1t was around 7:30. Suddenly, six men
brandiShing rifles came running into
the clearing. I could see them In the
moonlight, and they looked dangerous.
was sitting next to Fields. When
1 saw these men I leaped UP and ran
into the house. I thought there were
rifles there. We had had them in our
car, and when We gave up the car and
took to the mules the rifles had been
taken along. So was sure the guns
were in the house. But they weren't.
Captives Mount Mules.
had hardly gotten into the house
when three of the bandits were on me
They jabbed their rifles into my stom-
ach. I knew the answer to that, and
held my arms up. I have only enc
hand. I held that in the air, with
the stump of the other as erect as
could get it.
Fields came in and the bandits took
us outside. Fields told me We had to
mount our mules and go with the
bandits. I mounted my mule and Fields
and Occiguida did the same with theirs
The bandits pointed a gun at Emilio
Perez, who is a little fat, and he sour
ried out and climbed aboard mule.
The bandits led the way. We moved
around the mountain, crossed q little
clearing and climbed to the summit OF
O graggy knob. Not word was spoken.
We arrived at a clearing and found
over. This man was Cruc Delgado. He
had two front teeth missing, there was
a squint in his left eye, he had a droopy
moustache and all In all he was tough
looking customer.
After much trading back and forth
Fields informed me I must pay these
fellows 10000 pesos, which is $4,000, to
get away I laughed, thrust my hands
into my pocket, pulled out 40 silver
pesos and offered it to them. told
Fields to say that was my pile.
Asks for Blank Checks.
The bandit chief wouldn't take it.
Fields talked with the man who had
headed the bunch who caught us. His
name was Chane Flores. Flores talked
with his chief. Finally Fields told me
had better give him, Fields, a couple OF
blank checks signed with my name, as
he had made deal to release me for
1000 pesos He said he would 60 to
Topic and get the money.
have an account with banking
| firm in Topic, the only bank in the
whole State of Nayarit, and Fields knew
| it. 1 told him had only 800 pesos
there. Fields said that would be all
right, that he would raise the remainder
| himself.
I didn't want to sign the checks with
out filling in the amount, but Fields
1