Year: 1879

life, for at that time highwaymen were
known to have murdered men simply
because they had no money A poor
teamster on the mountains was once
stopped by a couple of men and his
money demanded, but when they
found he had none they content
ed themselves with both kicking him
heartily and cUrsing him for a de-
ceitful beggar for travelling without
money.


DISAPPOINTED THIEVES.


One Of my relatives, brother-iIl-Iaw,
member of a San Francisco commercial
house, has often said he would not sub
NIT to being robbed without resistance,
but would Be certain to shoot any man
who attempted it. He always Travelled
well armed, and fortunately never
met with any robbers until about three
years ago. He had some heavy coIlec-
tions to make through the southern part
of California, and in one town where he
stopped had several firms to call upon.
As he came out of one place where
he called he saw a man standing at the
door, but did not think of it again until
he saw him at a second place he visited.
He had been cOnversing with member
of the firm, and said among other things
that he had taken buggy to 90 to several
small towns in the vicinity and would be
back in two or three DAYS; that he was
then going to the livery stable for his
team. just as he turned to leave the
store the same man passed out before
him. On his way to the livery stable
he stopped at Wells, Fargo & Co. s Ex-
press office, as was his custom, and sent
his coin to San Francisco. A few hours
after leaving town he found himself on
| a pleasant but lonely forest road, .and
the day being warm, he was beginning
| to enjoy the GOODNESS of the shade, when
the horse suddenly stopped and refused
to move. The rest 1 will
tell, as nearly as possible, in his
own words: " As l raised my head to
! see what was the matter l was met
| square in the face by the barrel of a pis-
| tol. / had looked into many one be-
| fore, but this was the first one / had
! seen with a hole in it large enough to
crawl into. Throw up your hands!'
| As the lines were hanging on the dash
| board l had nothing to hinder my doing
it at once, which l did, like little man.
| The fellows pal then went through me,
and while doing so, if my arms dropped
a little, higher!' was the sharp order,
and up they would go as high as l could
reach. had only $50, which seemed to
| surprise them, as they thought 1 had
money they had seen me collecting, so
| they cursed me and their luck, looked at
my watch to see the time, examined my
weapons and put them all back in their
places, said that was a -- nice dia-
| mOnd ring for poor man to wear, but
did not take it, saying they only wanted
| money, as in these times such things al
ways gave fellow away. They then
| told me to sit down, gave me the lines,
and said if l looked back before | reach
| ed the next house they would blow my
| brains out. 1 didn't look back" When
he came home he walked into the house
and laid his pistols down, saying he would
| never carry them again. When asked
| why, he said, - twas of no use to carry


weapons" and told the story I have
! just given.


| 1t is related of Joaquin Mur1eta, the
| famous bandit chief, that the day after
one of his most daring exploits he rode
up to a saloon in a mining camp, went


in and drank with the crowd and heard
| his own story told over and over by the


excited throng and what they would do
| if they ever met him. He asked if they


had ever seen him. None of them had,
| but they could all describe ''the murder


ing greaser,' - and would be glad to meet
him-the sooner the better. Joaquin


then ordered a drink, went to the door,


and mounted his horse, rode up to the


bar, leaned down and took the glass,


drank to the crowd, tossed the glass on


the floor, and quick as lightning drew


his revolver, dashed the spurs into his


horse and shouted back at them: g Car
rajO Americana! Here is Joaquin MuTi-


eta!'' And before the bewildered min


ers had collected their senses he was out


of Sirht.