Year: 1878

For several weeks past the good


people throughout Costilla county


Colorado, have been sorely tried and
vexed by the despredatlons Of horse
thieves, who ran stock of their ranches
and managed to elude detection and cap
ture by heading for Leadville and
mingling with the throng ofpeople that
are crowding in that lively camp. The


last theft committed was one of three
horses and two mules, and a determined
effort was made 10 follow the thieves up
and make an example of them. So a
posse Of men, under the leadership of
Deputy Sheriff Dave Withdraw, of
Costilla county, was organized, and
took the saddle in pursuit. They struck
the trail of the party, and learned that
the stolen animals were in the posses
sion of two men. Little time was taken


for rest and sleep, and the posse pushed
on, gaining on the thieves every hour.
On the South Arkansas the pursuers


were REINFORCED by three more men,
who had consented ID enlist in the pur-
suit. About twenty-six miles below


Bales ranch the thieves were sighted =,
and later In the day were overtaken.
They showed fight as the nearest of the
pursuers approached, and the younger
one Of the two thieves unslung carbine
and fired at the posse, without striking
any one. Then the other turned loose
with revolver, and following the ex-
ample of his younger cOmrade, took aim
and discharged two charges from his
weapon. The other one in turn had
saluted the pursuing party with Sec
ond shot, but the posse, thinking they
were in for a sharp fight drew their
weapons and returned the snots. AT
the first fire the younger of the two
thieves fell to the ground dead, having
been pierced through the neck with a
ball from the rifle of one of the party.
The other thief was shot in the breast,
and throwing down the weapon with
which he had determined to sell his
life, began to grOan and writhe from the
pain of the wound inflicted. The officer
and men then drew near and found the
younger one dead and the other suffer-
ing from wound that told that his
hours were numbered. The wounded
man was removed to the log store at
Buena Vista, where he lived for six
hours. During intervals of semi-con-
sciousness he was asked to tell his name
and that of his comrade, but stoutly and
steadfastly refused, and begged them to
put him out of his misery. After his
death the two bodies were taken and
laid side by side for burial. On examin-
ing the clothing Of the two for some-
thing by which they could be identified
the posse was amazed to find the
younger one was a woman. She was
dressed in rough loose suit of mems
clothes, with heavy pair of rawhide
boots drawn up, and the pants tucked
in the spacious boOtings. Her face in
the cold pallor of death showed COM
plexion that had once been light and
rosy, eyes of fair hazel color, and hair
that was light, and showed an inclina-
tiOn to be wavy, cut short and concealed
by the slouch hat she wore. She was
about twenty-five years Of age, with a
figure that, though small, gave evidence
of having been robust and hardy. Her
companion was man about thirty years
of age, thick set, and inclined to be
heavy, but rather prepossessing. He
was about five feet eight inches in
height, with a dark complexion,
features that denoted determination and
a resolute eye. There was no inquest
held over the bodies. The posse formed |
at Garland for pursuit was transformed |
into burial corps, and the two bodies
were buried side by side near the spot
where they met their death.