DEATH TO BORDER BRIGANDS.
The ranche of the James Boys furnished a temptation to the Mexican
border brigands, which they were in no wise able to resist, even
if they had possessed the least particle of that moral sense which
enables men to withstand temptation. The Jameses were successful
rancheros; they lived out on the confines of the white settlements
in Texas. Their fat herds spread over the valleys and ranged over
many hills. This wealth of cattle excited the cupidity of the
Mexican border banditti. They envied the outlawed boys their goodly
possessions; and they were nerved to undertake to appropriate the
herds, even if the lives of the owners should be taken in order to
compass their wishes.
There was a robber chief of Nueva Leon, who had once been a
faithful lieutenant of Cortinas, "the Robber Governor" of the State
of Tamaulipas. This fellow, whose name was Juan Fernando Palacios,
had achieved a local reputation about Piedras Negras, Eagle Pass,
Mier, and other localities on the upper Rio Grande, as a daring
freebooter and bloody minded murderer. He had gathered about him a
band of men of like disposition with himself--principally fugitives
from justice from the neighboring states. This gang of desperadoes
numbered more than thirty men, and Palacios resolved to lead them
over among the ranches of the Texans. There was much booty to be
gained by a successful raid. It was at a season of the year when
many herds were being pastured in the valley of the Pecos, and with
thirty men and more he fondly hoped that he could come upon, and
discomfit all the "cow boys" in that region, and drive away the
well conditioned herds at his leisure.
It was in the autumn of 1877. The dry season had withered the
grass on the hill slopes and the upland plains. But down in the
valleys the grass was green, and the wild flowers bloomed in all
the freshness of the spring time. Palacios and his brigands made
careful preparations before they set out. There had been a season
of quiet on the border. Several months had passed since the last
raid was made. The Mexican brigand hoped to take the "cow boys"
unawares--surprise them--kill them, and drive away their herds.
This was his hope.
Mexican brigands are good night travellers. Indeed, their most
important movements are made in the night. During the day time,
if possible, they take shelter in the chaparral, and remain
quiet until the shades of night fall over valley and plain, and
then under the starlight they ride--sometimes accomplishing long
journeys in a thinly inhabited country without giving the least
information of their presence, so secretly do they move.
It was a lovely evening in October. There was no moon, but the
stars shone brightly from the cloudless sky. El Paso was unusually
quiet that evening. There was not a fandango in progress in the
place; the sound of the violin was not heard within its borders.
The senoritas sang no vesper hymns. Palacios and his robber band
had gone across the river into Texas, and not many young men
remained in El Paso. All night, beneath the silent stars, the
mongrel band of the bandit chief rode on toward "the settlements"
of the hated, as well as dreaded Texans. Before dawn they found
shelter in a patch of chaparral in the valley of an affluent of
the Rio Pecos. No one had seen them. Thirty miles and more they
had ridden in the direction of the fat herds of the Texans. The
day passed away, and once more the curtain of night fell, and the
Mexican raiders rode in its shadow. By dawn they had reached the
vicinity of a well stocked ranche. A convenient shelter was sought
and found near a little stream. The raiders were many miles from El
Paso now, and the valleys and the hill slopes, and the lower plains
were dotted with great herds of cattle. But the rancheros had not
yet discovered the presence of the enemy, and rested in fancied
security.
[Illustration: An Alarmed "Cow-Boy."]
Palacios and his band hovered near the herds all day. Men were sent
out to ascertain the number of herdsmen attending the different
droves. All this time the horses of the raiders were carefully
concealed in a thicket by the bank of the stream. When the
evening came on, Palacios was well informed of the locality of all
the herds in his immediate neighborhood. Dividing his men into
two bands, over one of which he appointed a notorious murderer
from Mier, named Jesus Almonte, and assumed command of the other
in person. The time appointed for "the stampede" of the herds was
ten o'clock at night. At that hour the western herdsmen are almost
always sound asleep. Palacios was certain that his presence on the
American side of the Rio Grande was not known. He had met no one,
and his scouts had reported everything quiet among the herdsmen.
Ten o'clock came. The Mexican robbers, well armed and splendidly
mounted, quietly left their covert. Almonte and his band proceeded
two and a half or three miles up the stream where a large herd of
cattle were corraled. Palacios went down the creek to "stampede"
another herd of seven or eight hundred head. The process of
"stampeding" is thoroughly understood by the Mexicans. The herdsmen
were aroused by the approaching horsemen. But it was too late. The
Mexicans were among them, and Almonte's gang killed two of the
"cow-boys" at the upper herd, and Palacios' crowd killed one at
the lower herd. The "stampede" was complete. The herds were turned
toward the Rio Grande, and driven rapidly away. All the remainder
of that night, and all the next day, the robbers pressed forward
toward their place of concealment and shelter beyond the Rio
Grande. As yet, no pursuers had appeared, but Palacios knew well
that they were not safe on this side the river. He knew that the
avengers were on his track, and he cared not to see the face of a
Texan at that time. Coming at night time to the river some distance
below El Paso, he crossed over with all his booty, and speedily
made himself comfortable among his sympathizing countrymen and
countrywomen.
It chanced about that time that Frank and Jesse James rode down
toward the Rio Grande to make observations, and enjoy life just
beyond the borders of civilization. Being somewhat in the outlaw
business themselves, they cared very little for "the borders
of civilization," or for that matter, for the interior. While
riding, they met one of the sorely disconsolate herdsmen, who told
the story which we have related, with many embellishments; for
instance, that a band had come out of the south country, killed all
the herdsmen in the valley, driven off _all_ the herds, and that
_he_ only was left alive to tell of their fate.
To this doleful tale Frank and Jesse James gave good heed, for one
of the missing herds had been their property.
The two brothers consulted together as to what could be done under
the circumstances. They had been into Mexico on many occasions
before, and, although the frightened herdsman had magnified the
numbers of the raiders, so that they appeared a mighty host, Frank
and Jesse James were not the men to submit tamely to downright
robbery. The brothers resolved to pursue the raiders. And so they
rode on and on until they came to the Rio Grande.
It was in the early morning. The October sun had not yet appeared
above the horizon, but all the eastern sky was refulgent with the
coming glories of a lovely day. Frank and Jesse James had ridden
far, but their horses were not jaded, and as for themselves,
physical endurance is their normal characteristic. They were ready
for any desperate adventure, such as they were then engaged in.
Only for a moment did they pause when they emerged from the river.
Their fire-arms were carefully examined, and then they urged their
horses onward. El Paso was silent. The inhabitants had not yet
awakened from their slumbers. Palacios and his band, with their
stolen herds, had passed on through the village in the direction of
the mountains. Their trail through the sand was still fresh. The
James Boys rode on. Three miles away they came to the camp. Deeming
themselves safe, the Mexican raiders had taken no precautions
to guard against surprise. The herds had been corraled, and the
bandits, wearied by their long marches, slumbered heavily.
[Illustration: After the "Greasers."]
Cautiously approaching the Mexican camp, the two brothers, with
that quick perception for which they are distinguished, saw at a
glance the situation of the camp and the position of the sleeping
robbers. The dreamers were suddenly aroused by the reports of the
avengers' pistols. Jesse and Frank James were in their midst, and
dealing death to the miscreants ere they could grasp their weapons.
Some who dreamed were sent to their account before the phantasy
had cleared from their brains. With a death-dealing pistol in each
hand, they fired with incredible rapidity, and at each discharge
an unfortunate wretch fell to rise no more. Terror-stricken, the
robbers fled in every direction. Some were arrested in their
flight by the unerring aim of the outlawed brothers; and some more
fortunate escaped to the mountains with life only, everything being
left behind in order that they might save it.
The corral was broken up. The Boys are skillful herdsmen, and soon
the great tramping drove was turned toward the Rio Grande. Ten dead
robbers, stark and still, among the cactus patches, testified to
the prowess of the American desperadoes. They passed back through
the village. Not a man was visible. They had heard of the fate of
their robber friends. Terror-stricken, they had abandoned their
homes and fled into the chaparral beyond the hills, which at
this point approach the river. The Boys were hungry after their
morning's engagement, and halting at the little adobe _posado_,
they ordered breakfast, taking care that it was prepared under
their personal supervision, in order that no treachery on the part
of their unwilling entertainers should succeed.
The feat which they had accomplished was one of the most daring
ever recorded in the annals of border strife. Then, the nonchalant
way in which they ordered the trembling inhabitants to minister to
their physical comfort, furnished another proof of the admirable
nerve of these remarkable men. After refreshing themselves, the
Boys, at their leisure, recrossed the Rio Grande with nearly the
whole number of cattle which the bandits had driven away.
Desperadoes as they were, Palacios and Almonte were indisposed to
surrender the rich prize which they had secured, as they thought,
without any effort. The two chiefs had stopped in the village the
night previous to the arrival of the Jameses, and were not in the
camp at the time of the attack of the Boys. In El Paso, they lay
hidden in a heap of hay, while Frank and Jesse regaled themselves
with "the best the market afforded." The Mexicans were convinced
that a large force of _Gringo Diablos_ were at hand, and they
feared for their lives. They waited for the appearance of the
squadrons of rangers in vain. Gradually it began to dawn upon their
dull comprehension that the whole force of the _Gringos_ numbered
just two men. Palacios, Almonte, and a few of their followers
rallied some hours after the Boys were on their march over the
rolling plains of Texas. They were furious, and boasted of what
great things they intended to accomplish. Sometime, toward noon,
they cautiously approached the river, reconnoitered, and finally
ventured to cross over. There was no enemy in sight, and the
twenty-five brigands of the border became valiant, and set out
on the trail of the Boys who were marching on with the recaptured
herds.
Encumbered as they were, by a vast drove of cattle, their progress
was slow. Toward evening the Mexican bandits came in sight. But
they did not venture to attack. Hovering on the rear, and galloping
along the flanks of the moving herd, the Mexicans made a thorough
reconnaissance of the force of Americans. There were just two men,
and no more. Emboldened by this knowledge, they approached with a
view of "stampeding" the herd. Five well mounted men were sent to
engage the Boys while the others advanced on the left flank of the
herd. But they did not know the character of the men they sought
to kill out there on the plains. Secured to the saddles which they
bestrode, each carried a long range sixteen shot Winchester rifle.
The bandits came within range. If they ever prayed, the time for
prayers had arrived. They were approaching, unwittingly it may be,
the margin of the river of death; the black angel hovered over
them, the sun of time was being surely extinguished. Detaching
their deadly rifles from the fastenings, each singled out his man,
took deliberate aim, touched the trigger, and instantaneously two
Mexican robbers fell to the earth pierced through their hearts.
Their comrades marked their fall, and knew the cause. They turned
to flee. It was too late. Even as they turned two more of them
fell, pierced through and through by the unerring bullets from the
steadily aimed rifles of the American outlaws. The other one of
the five fled, and succeeded in making his escape.
The Boys fully comprehended the designs of the Mexicans, and Jesse
suggested that he would ride to the summit of "the swell" to the
left, to see what "those other devils are about."
[Illustration: Fight with Mexican Cattle Thieves.]
Riding rapidly up the slope, his horse was soon reined up on the
crest of the ridge. There he discovered on the slope below him a
party of some fifteen armed men. Bringing his rifle to bear, a
Mexican saddle was emptied in an instant. The raiders replied;
but their guns would not send a ball so far. They were not less
than four hundred yards away. Jesse continued to empty saddles
until four men were down. The Mexicans turned and fled, and Jesse
gave them a parting salute, which brought down a horse. When
he rejoined his brother he remarked sententiously, "Well, I've
prepared a feast for the vultures over yonder."
"How many are down?" asked the other.
"Oh, only four men and one horse," he answered, with a grim sort of
smile.
The dangerous time for them was the shadowy hours. They knew that
all the brigands of that region would take their trail. They were
a hundred miles from any certain succor. The Mexican raiders are
not to be despised in a night affray. They expected attack, and
it is one of the peculiarities of the Boys, that they never sleep
when there is danger surrounding them. The severe losses which they
had sustained only rendered the pursuers more wary; but they still
hovered around. The Boys expected an attack that night. The sun was
sinking low in the west, and the brothers were earnestly consulting
as to the best means of guarding against the consequences of a
night attack.
"See," said Frank, "away there on that ridge whose top the sun is
gilding! Are those moving objects men on horseback, or a herd of
buffalo? What do you think?"
The brothers halted. Since their removal to Texas they never ride
abroad without carrying with them a field glass each. They now
raised their glasses and looked long and earnestly at the dark
objects moving between them and the horizon.
"They are mounted men," said Jesse.
"Texans, Mexicans, Lipans or Commanches? Which do you say?" asked
Frank.
Jesse looked again. The mounted men were nearly two miles away--a
long distance to determine the character of men, or designate their
nationality. Long and carefully did he scrutinize the movements of
the horsemen.
"Soldiers--Federal soldiers--by Jehovah!" he exclaimed. "Well, I've
seen the time that I would not like to see such a company, but I'm
confounded glad they've come around this evening. I'll get a nap
to-night, anyway."
It was agreed that Jesse should ride forward and inform the officer
in command of the presence of Palacios' band of raiders. He
spurred his horse forward over the high rolling swells of prairie
toward the horsemen, who were also advancing. The Mexicans saw
this movement, and saw the horsemen. They at once surmised that
a detachment of McKenzie's command was out looking for them, and
turning about, they rode hastily back the way they came.
The Boys were left in peace. The detachment of cavalry swept onward
in pursuit of the fleeing raiders, and the herd, fatigued by long
driving, were indisposed to scatter. The return to the pastures
from whence they had been driven was leisurely made. The Boys
returned safely to their abode, and Jesse was welcomed by one who
worships him as the world's noblest hero.