[J. M. Scanland, Joaquin Murrieta, A Californian Fra Diavolo, The Overland Monthly, November 1895]

 

JOAQUIN MURRIETA.[1]

A CALIFORNIAN FRA DIAVOLO.

 

            JOAQUIN MURRIETA, had he chosen Mexico for the field of his dare-devil career, would have been placed by his talents at the head of a revolution and history would have awarded him the title of General. In Central America he would have terrorized a government and become its Dictator. In Spain or Italy his reckless feats and gallant loves would have given him a notoriety almost amounting to fame. He was the typical brigand of the footlights, but his lines were cast among aliens and his deeds were given their right names under the law. Anglo-Saxons have never wasted much sentiment on the brigand — no matter how picturesque.

            While California's great bandit's career was as sanguinary as those of any of his more famous prototypes, it contained extenuating circumstances that raised him above the level of the mere bandit for booty. In the eyes of his race and of the common people he was revered as their liberator and avenger. He became an outlaw to revenge himself for the inhuman treatment received by himself and wife at the hands of a few American ruffians. Robbery was a secondary consideration. With the members of his hand it might have been different, but race hatred played a big part in their minds.

            Right or wrong, many of the Spaniards and Mexicans of California after the conquest refused to accept the fact that the war was over, and believed that it was no crime to kill an American in open conflict. This mistaken patriotism easily led to brigandage, and bands of from half a dozen to fifty and one hundred were organized and terrorized the people for nearly a generation. At times Murrieta had several " divisions " in the field, each numbering ten, twenty, or more, according to the territory to be covered. His immediate command sometimes aggregated a hundred men, and this, with several detachments under fearless lieutenants, formed a formidable army in those days, when the country was sparsely settled, and had no telegraph or other means of rapid communication.

            In addition, in nearly all of the towns and villages there were silent members of the band, who kept their chief informed of the movements of the officers, and vigilantes, and also as to the most available subjects for robbery. He had secret agents in the mining camps, who reported the " strikes " of the miners and where the money was " cached." Others, whether they shared in the booty or not, gave reports from ranches,

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[1] This spelling of the bandit's name is preferred by Mr. Scanland as that given him by Don Coronel of Los Angeles, from whom much of his material was obtained. It also agrees with the spelling used by Mr. D. S. Richardson in his article, "Duels to the Death", in the OVERLAND for August, 1888, (which should be read by anybody interested in Californian bandits). There is, however, a great diversity of opinion as to the proper spelling. Mr. William Heath Davis spells it Murietta, which is also the spelling preferred by the postal authorities in the naming of the town in San Diego County. Bancroft spells it Murieta; the San Luis Obispo County History, Muriatta; and a tale, "Joaquin, the Claude Duval of the Mines," published by Robert McDevitt of New York in 1865, Muriete – Ed.

JOAQUIN MURRIETA.        531

stores, and gaming houses, and at the opportune time these would be raided by Murrieta or one of the detachments. Relays of horses were in waiting at various places, and provisions were also supplied at these agencies. The organization was as complete as that of an army —having a " military " staff, a quartermaster, and a code of signals and passwords.

            The division of the band into squads, and their robberies in various portions of he State at the same time, gave to the band the reputation of being ubiquitous, and threw a kind of supernatural glamor around Murrieta. One of his lieutenants, Joaquin Valenzuela, alias Carillo, alias Botillier, bore a striking resemblance to his leader, and when these bandits appeared at different points simultaneously, there were many who believed that Murrieta was more than human. The hatred of Murrieta's double seemed to be directed in an opposite direction from that of his chief, for he made a specialty of killing Chinese. He would throw a lariat around the body of a Chinaman, pinioning his arms, then pull his head backward by the cue and cut his (throat. He was the most cruel assassin of the band, and murdered merely to revel in blood.

            Murrieta was mild in manner, genial in disposition, and affectionate and kind to all save Americans. He had a low, sweet voice, and spoke with that calmness and decision which denotes a positive character, and his well-shaped mouth denoted firmness. He was of average height and slender figure, was quick in movement, and walked gracefully. He had a high forehead, piercing black eyes, and his features bore the stamp of intellectuality. His hair was what novelists style " raven black," and he wore it in semi-curls over his shoulders. This was not in imitation of the regulation bandit style, but after the fashion of the Spanish settlers in the early part of this century, which had not then gone out of fashion among the gallants. He also wore a " dark, curling mustache," and being handsome and gay, was the ideal and idol of the senoritas, and of many of the señoras.

            He came to Los Angeles from Sonora, Mexico, in 1849, when in his eighteenth year, as a horse trainer in a Mexican maroma, or circus. Here, he met again and loved Rosita Feliz, a Castilian beauty whom he had known in Sonora. Her father being a Spaniard, objected to the marriage of his daughter with a Mexican. It seems that the lovers eloped singly. Joaquin went ahead to get out of range of the old gentleman's musket, and the dutiful daughter with her chalo chaperon, followed to the designated point in Stanislaus County. Here he located a mine, and it proved to be of great value.

            Ever since the discovery of gold lawless bands of Americans had been murdering and robbing successful miners, more especially if they were Mexicans or Chinese. No sooner had the rumor spread that the young Mexican had discovered a valuable mine, than his cabin was visited by a number of cowardly ruffians, styling themselves American freemen.

            The spokesman of the gang said to Joaquin: " Greasers are not allowed to take gold from American ground. This is our country now, and you had better git."

            Joaquin replied that he had located the claim in compliance with law, and he had as good a right to seek gold as any one.

            " Wall, you git, and take that with you," said the bully, pointing to Rosita.

            This allusion to his wife aroused the Aztec blood of Murrieta, and he replied in a quiet but firm manner, yet in tones expressing a threat: " I will leave,

532      JOAQUIN MURRIETA.

since I am forced to do so, but say nothing against my wife,— or you may regret it."

            One of the ruffians struck Joaquin in the face. He sprang for his bowie-knife, which was lying on a table, but his wife seized his arms, and appealed to him to desist, saying, " The Americans will murder us."

            She was pushed aside, and Joaquin was knocked down by several blows from clubbed muskets. The assassins took what valuables were in the house, and assaulted Murrieta's wife. Smothering their revengeful feelings, the heartbroken husband and wife sought a home in the mountains, where they hoped the Americans would not come.

            Not long afterwards, Murrieta visited Murphy's Camp, and was riding a horse that he had borrowed from his half-brother.  An American miner accosted him with: " You — Greaser, that is my horse, and you stole him!"

            Thereupon the mob took him from his horse, tied him to a tree, and flogged him on his bare back, and he was warned never to return to "these diggings," if he did not wish to be hanged. He left the crowd, his back bleeding, and his spirit of manhood broken. The mob rode to his brother's ranch and hanged him.

            Murrieta swore vengeance on the Americans,—the outrage upon his wife, the humiliation to himself, and the murder of his brother, should be avenged by a hundred deaths. And it is believed that more than five hundred murders were committed by his band.

            A small band was soon organized, comprising Murrieta's brother-in-law, Roger Feliz, Manuel Garcia, known as Three-Fingered Jack,— because he had lost a finger in one of the skirmishes around Los Angeles during the American conquest, — " Pancho " Daniel, Ruiz, Pedro Gonzales, Captain Claudio, and Valenzuela.

            With these banditti Murrieta began his bloody career of vengeance and pillage. Their first murder was that of one of the men who had assisted in the flogging of Murrieta and the hanging of his brother. The man's body was found near Murphy's Camp, literally cut in strips. Two or three others of that mob were killed and then the miners of camp realized that the " Greaser " was on the path of vengeance.

            In a few months, the band was well organized. Mexicans who had grievances to settle with Americans, and others from mere hatred, joined. They were sworn to obey the orders of their leader without questioning, and to be loyal to him and to each other. Disobedience was severely punished, sometimes with death ; and he who betrayed his associates was hunted down and killed. There were lieutenants and sub-officers, and each had his specified duty as is prescribed in the army. When a raid was made, the lieutenant and officers of the band acted within the limits of their orders. For example: Manuel Garcia, of the three fingers, who was naturally a blood-thirsty villain, did nothing but kill ; and Pedro Gonzalez, who was a horse-thief by preference, gathered in the horses, his duties being in the light of quartermaster for the squad. Each detachment of Murrieta's comand was thus officered, and when acting singly, or in one body, each officer and private had his place in line and his specific duties. They were all mounted on the best and fleetest of horses that could be had. When hotly pursued a detachment would disband, or scatter in all directions, like the Vendeans in the Chouan war, and the pursuers would find themselves pursuing nothing. They would rally again at their rendezvous in Cantau Cañon, between the Coast Range and Lake Tulare, which was entered by a narrow gateway in the moun-

[illustration]

            Pen sketch by Boeringer after the head preserved in alcohol.

HEAD OF JOAQUIN MURRIETA.

tains, and was almost an impregnable position. The Mexicans had the advantage of being the better riders, having well trained horses, and thoroughly knowing the topography of the country, furthermore, they had the sympathy, if not of the direct aid, of a great number of their countrymen who warned them against danger.

            Their field of operations was at first confined to Calaveras, Tuolumne, and San Joaquin counties, but as the band increased, it also covered Southern California.

            The career of this modern bandit was about three years,— he was but twenty-one when he died. This gay cavalier had for chief of staff, a lady whom he passionately loved, Señorita Antonia Molinera, who like the " Spanish Nun," attended him in his adventures, disguised in male attire, with this difference,— Murrieta knew of the disguise, while the Spanish Colonel did not. His gallantry

533

534      JOAQUIN MURRIETA.

led to his death. Antonia ran away with Pancho Daniel, one of the bandits. Murrieta pronounced death upon both, and detailed Vergera to go to Los Angeles and kill the betrayers. Vergera went, saw, and was conquered by the charms of the pretty Antonia of the "little mill." He refused to kill either her or her lover. In order to save herself from the vengeance which she knew would surely be visited upon her, she betrayed Murrieta to his death.

            Murrieta dressed after the fashion of the day, and was a typical Mexican on horseback. His hat, or sombrero, was plumed with black feathers, his pantaloons and jacket were of fine black cloth, and the jacket was braided with gold. He rode a magnificent steed ; the Spanish saddle being ornamented with silver.

            By his recklessness and daring he seemed to court death, yet his escapes seemed to be almost miraculous. Once while he was paying court to a charming señorita, the house was surrounded by vigilantes. They entered and demanded Murrieta, whom they said they knew to be there. The lady of the house protested, which gave Joaquin time. He secreted himself in the bed into which the señorita had hastily jumped in order to feign illness, so that the bedding would not be disturbed. The vigilantes entered the room with their arms in readiness, but seeing a sick lady in bed, apologized and retired.

            When they were few, Joaquin and his associates would camp amid the boughs of large trees, and on one occasion their pursuers passed underneath, loudly boasting what they would do with the " greaser " when caught. Two of them, in the rear, were lariated, and dragged to death, or rather hanged, to the great amazement of the vigilantes, who could not detect the trace of an enemy near.

            He frequently visited the towns in disguise, with one or two attendants, dance at the fandangos, flirt with the señoritas, play monte, and if unsuccessful raid the bank. While Murrieta was at a monte table in Marysville, a braggart said he would, " Just give one thousand dollars for a chance at that greaser, Joaquin."

            In a spirit of recklessness, Murrieta sprang upon the table, bowie-knife hand, and shouted: " You cowardly gringo, look, I am Murrieta!"

            The man trembled and the crowd stood back in amazement. Murrieta then walked out of the room, his associates covering the crowd with their revolvers. Under various disguises he entered towns, sought out persons who had betrayed him; and while in the act of stabbing them to death, uttered, " Joaquin! "

            Perhaps the most daring act was that at Stockton. The Governor had offered a reward of five thousand dollars, " dead or alive, for Joaquin Murrieta." Disguised, he rode into town, and seeing a crowd reading a placard, he rode up. Reading it, he dismounted and wrote underneath:

I will give $10,000 myself. Joaquin Murrieta.

            In a moment he had remounted, and as his horse swiftly sped away, he turned in his saddle, and with a dagger in his hand, shouted, " Carajo, gringos! "

            Some of the timid ones fired after him as soon as they had recovered.

            So numerous had become the murders and robberies, and so ineffectual were the local officials and vigilante bands, that State assistance was invoked. In the spring of 1853 the Legislature commissioned Captain Harry Love to enlist a company of twenty men to suppress the bandits.

[illustration]

'' I AM MURRIETA !"

            Captain Love had commanded a company of " rangers " in Texas -- a company of legalized vigilantes, whose duty was to protect the people from lawless bands. The Captain and some of his companions had migrated to California.  His company was mainly composed of Texas rangers. They were good riders, excellent marksmen, and brave.

            The company started southward, after the bandit, " dead or alive," and the five thousand dollars. Friendly couriers informed Murrieta of the movement, and for some time he eluded the vigilantes, yet continuing his depredations. The rangers had now been on the trail about two months, when, finally, Captain Love learned of the whereabouts of Antonia

535

536      JOAQUIN MURRIETA.

Molinera, the faithless mistress of Joaquin. She had now been deserted by Pancho Daniel, with whom she had eloped, and fearing the wrath of Joaquin, she sought protection from the Americans. For her own safety she had kept herself informed of the movements of the bandits, and reported that they were at Tejon pass.

            The rangers rapidly rode to the place designated, and at dawn next morning surrounded a party of Mexicans, whom they believed to be the bandits. The party consisted of seven, and the rangers were eight in number. The Mexicans had camped on a slight eminence or knoll, in a plain, and though having an unobstructed view for perhaps fifty yards, were surprised. Six of the Mexicans were seated around the fire preparing breakfast, smoking and talking. Their horses were perhaps twenty yards distant. Murrieta was standing by his horse, feeding and petting him.

            The rangers seemed not to know Murrieta, even from the descriptions they had received. Love first accosted him as to his destination. Joaquin replied, " Los Angeles." Love was asking other questions, when William Burns, a former gambler, who knew Joaquin, turned and recognized him.

            Manuel Garcia, he of the three fingers, was the only one who had not laid aside his arms, and stood waiting for developments. As soon as Joaquin saw his former companion, Burns, he shouted to his men to vamos, threw himself upon his bare-back horse, and sped away like the wind.

            Love and two others followed. Joaquin fell as his horse leaped a precipice, amid the whistling bullets. He remounted, and threw his body over on the side of the horse to protect himself. In a moment, the horse was shot, and fell ; but Joaquin was instantly on his feet.

            As he arose he was shot in the arm. He stopped, faced his pursuers, held up his arm, saying: '' Mira! Mira!" —" Look ! Look !"

            No attention was given to the surrender, but the three pursuers again fired at close range, each shot taking effect. Murrieta raised his arms, scowled at his assailants, and shouting, " It is enough," sank to the earth, dead.

            In the meantime, " Three-Fingered Jack " and the other men were having trouble with the other four rangers. Jack fought desperately, and fell riddled with bullets, uttering a " Carajo, gringos," as he breathed his last. The remaining three bandits were either killed, or captured and killed.

            With the death of their leader, the band disbanded. The head of Joaquin Murrieta was severed from his body, in order that it might be identified, and the reward secured. The strong right hand of Jack, which contained only three fingers, was also cut off. They were placed in alcohol and brought to San Francisco by two of the company, William Black and J. Nuttal.

            A " dodger " issued on August 18, 1853, had these "scare lines," in big black type: " Joaquin's head is on exhibition at King's, corner of Halleck and Sansome streets ; also, the hand of Three-Fingered Jack ! Admission, one dollar."

            The press agent evidently did not work the newspapers to any extent, for the attraction failed to draw, and after a short season of one week, the show closed. The managers took the grewsome exhibit to the smaller towns, but there it also met with a frost, and finally the exhibit was seized by creditors and sold by the sheriff to satisfy a claim of fifty dollars. It was bought by a San Francisco museum proprietor, and exhibited for many years. For a short time,

[illustration]

JUAN SOTO

the hair on Joaquin's head continued to grow, and the nails on Jack's remaining fingers continued to lengthen. The Mexican element looked upon this as supernatural, believing that Joaquin and Jack were yet alive.

            The rangers received the reward, but they found no treasure in the camp of the bandits, or upon their persons. The result of their most recent robberies had no doubt been secreted in the camp which was left in their hasty flight and fight for life.

            The majority of the rangers came to a violent death. Captain Love, jealous of his wife and a farm hand in his employ, attacked the man, and was killed, his wife aiding her lover. Burns, who cut off Murrieta's head, was assassinated, presumably by one of Joaquin's friends, and several others were killed, probably by the same hands; others were killed

538      JOAQUIN MURRIETA.

accidentally, and even the sheriff that sold the " aforesaid exhibit " met an accidental death. The violent death of these men was regarded by the Mexicans as the vengeance of Heaven, and as the natural consequence of their act.

            For a year or two the State was free of banditti, but having had a taste of blood, a number of Murrieta's lieutenants organized small bands and again took to the road.

            Pancho Daniel, who had deserted from Murrieta's band, taking also his mistress, Antonia, organized at Los Angeles a band, mainly of Manila men, and on the same line as that of his late chief. The hand was composed of the unlucky number of thirteen, and all came to a sudden period excepting one, who was only spared because of his youth. They had killed a merchant at San Juan Capistrano and robbed his store, and were pursued by the sheriff and four assistants, who were ambushed and killed. A party of vigilantes from Los Angeles started after the bandits. Two were caught and hanged in the defile now known as Cañada de la Horca. The others were killed or captured, and Pancho Daniel came to a timely death in Los Angeles, at the end of a rope.

            Claudio, another of Joaquin's lieutenants, organized a small band, composed of Bras Angelina, Sebastian Flores, Francisco Garcia, Juan Cartabo, " El Huevo " (Bad Egg), and other ex-members of the old band. Their career was short. " One-Eyed " Piguinino and " Indian " Juan desired to secede from the band and lead an honest life. They were refused a division of the spoils. Indian Juan threatened to invoke the law in order to obtain the plunder he had stolen as an outlaw. Garcia and Bras Angelina shot him to death. Flores betrayed his commander, and nearly all the band were killed. Fifteen years afterward Bras Angelina was hanged at San Jose for killing the Indian, on the testimony of Flores.

            Tiburcio Vasquez was, next to Murrieta, the most daring bandit in California's bloody history. He was about fifteen years of age when Joaquin began his career. He had no grievance like Murrieta, but became an outlaw from choice, — he wished to acquire a reputation even greater than that of Murrieta. At a fandango in Monterey, he quarreled with another Mexican who claimed a señorita for the next dance. An American constable interposed, and Vasquez stabbed him to the heart. Vasquez was bloodthirsty, reckless, affable in manner, and possessed influence over those with whom he came in contact. He was of mixed blood, half Indian, and was brutish by instinct and treacherous by nature. His features were coarse, and he was anything but handsome, yet his dashing manner made him a favorite among the ladies. Soon after Murrieta's death, he, with the assistance of Juan Soto, a noted horse thief, and Chavez, organized a band of about forty men, mainly thieves, who had only plunder in view. The career of Vasquez was temporarily suspended by his capture and retirement to the State prison for horse-stealing. He escaped and resumed business at his old stamping ground. He also emulated his predecessor in his romances. He eloped with a daughter of Señor Salazar at San Jose. The unromantic old gentleman overtook them at a ranch house at the foot of Mount Diablo, with a shotgun. One shot wounded Vasquez, and the other struck his daughter in the arm, and she fell fainting in the arms of the bandit. The old gentleman then took his daughter home. Vasquez's next escapade was to gain the affections of the wife of Abdon Leiva. Rosaria persuaded her hus- 

JOAQUIN MURRIETA.        539

band to join the band, taunting him with cowardice on his refusal. Finally he consented, and like Antonia, she accompanied her lover on his raids. But as her husband was along, she did not don male attire. Finally, Leiva's eyes were opened and he shot Vasquez, slightly wounding him. He then took his faithless wife home, where it is presumed they lived happily " ever afterwards."

            The depredations of this band were confined to Santa Clara, Alameda, Monterey, and Fresno counties. Horses and cattle were stolen, ranches plundered, stages robbed, stores sacked, and people murdered. This continued until the spring of 1874, when a sheriff's posse surprised Vasquez in the house of " Greek George," near San Fernandino Mission, Los Angeles County. Like his prototype, Murrieta, he was unarmed and sitting at the dinner table. On seeing the officers he jumped through a window and ran for his horse, but was stopped by a load of buck-shot. He turned and faced the officers, and was I again shot. He threw up his hands, and walking towards the officers, exclaimed: " You have done very well ! "

            It is believed that Leiva betrayed him. Vasquez was hanged at San Jose about a year later.

            Chavez, late lieutenant of Vasquez, with Procopio, or " Red-Handed Dick," Chico Lugo, Santo Satelo, and José Tapia, soon organized and began operations in Southern California. Two of them were captured, and the others were pursued into Arizona, where all were killed.

            This was the last of the Mexican banditti in California, which began because of an outrage, and was perpetuated by race hatred, covering a period of nearly a quarter of a century.

            No treasure of any considerable value was found in the camps or on the persons of these bandits. Yet it is known that many of their robberies were very fruitful, raids on mining camps netting ordinarily five and ten thousand dollars. And the amounts plundered from the ranches, cattle and horse-buyers, and travelers, was also considerable. But what became of it? By many of the early Spanish settlers it is believed that much of this booty was buried in jars in and around the temporary camps of the bandits ; and that Cantau Cañon is a veritable gold mine — already coined. With the death of Murrieta and his lieutenants, the secret of their buried treasure died with them. All of them died in poverty, and as nearly all of them died suddenly, it is not believed that these hiding places had been revealed to their families or friends. For years parties of hidden treasure-seekers have been prospecting in the vicinity of these bandit camps, but the results of their searches have not been told for prudential reasons. Some of the hunters have acted under the advice of clairvoyants, who can see for others, but not for themselves, but have not reported progress. It may be, however, that a great deal of the treasure has been found during the continual burrowing, and yet large sums remain buried, like the victims of the bandits, in forgotten places.

J. M. Scanland.