A SOLID MAN.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 221, 24 September 1887, Page 7

A SOLID MAN.

Among the passengers to San Francisco Jately by the steamer Granada, was J*ose Lorenzo y 'Barreto, of Guad'alnpe. in the State of Sinaloa, Mexico, who shot and killed four men of the bandit king EracoLio BernaVs band on the 3rd of June last. Meagre details of the attack on the isolated mining camp, which Barreto defended bravely and, almost alone have reached the United States. Barreto is part owner of the E^taca crold mine, a short distance from (iuadalupe. The night before Bevnal made his descent, Barreto and his partner, Francisco Echeguren, brought from Guadalupe -^9,000 topay off the men. This money was placed in a safe in the company's store. Bernal became possessed of Urn information, and early next morning Barreto. who slept in. the store near the &afe, was awakened by a demand to open the door. He arose, and looking out through a window, saw a score of armed men. He lof used to open the door, and was told that lie did so at the peril of his life.

Terrible Odds. One man, who was evidently one of Bernnl's lieutenants and leader of the party, con-ulted with the rest, which gave Barreto time to form a plan of action. Ho was alono against twenty or twentyfive men. The door was heavily barred, the building was a strong one, so he determined to resist and resolved to sell life dearly. Like all stores in that country, the company's establishment was well supplied with firearms. Barreto collected all the rifles, pistols and ammunition he could, and took his station near the window. As soon as he heard the bandits hammering at the door with the butt ends of their rill os he began to fixe at them through the window. The promiscuous reports of rifles and pistols made the bandits believe thai they bad been expected and that the store was well defendc 1. Barreto was therefore overjoyed when he saw them retreat, bearing with them several wounded, but keeping up an indiscriminate fire ab tlio enemy concealed behind the window in the store. Escape was impossible. The band was still in sight, but Bane to hoped tli.it the firing had awakened the miners and his partners, who would form a .small army and come to his rescue. The iSupeiintendenfc of the mine and B.irreto'd partner, Eeheguren, did try to rally the men, but fearing Bernal's wrath, even if they escaped with their lives, the latter refused to proceed to the rescue. They '•aid that Bernal was Mire, sooner or later, to return with a larger force if defeated that time, and would annihilate them all. Echegui'on and the .Superintendent followed the men into the mine where they sought safety. Barreto, who was anxiously awaiting developments in his improvised fortress, soon disco\ered to his utter dismay and disgust that the retreat of the bandit leader was simply a ruse to gain time, as he was awaiting re-enforcements under the leadership of the bandit king, Bernal, himself, and which arrived just as the miners, Echeguren and the Superintendent, were entering the mine. Barreto saw from the window that Bernal, after speedy consultation with his lieutenants, had formed a plan. There were about 150 men in all. One-half of them immediately opened fire on the window behind which Barreto was concealed, while the others proceeded to pound in the door, which of course finally yielded. Barretto in the meantime had kept up a continuous fire, killing four and wounding six men, himself being wounded in the arm. Bernal entered the stoic at the head of the men. He immediately had instituted a seirch for Barreto's companions, who he believed had secreted themselves. He refused to believe, until finally convinced after a personal investigation, that it was Barreto alone who had resisted so bravely mid killed four of his band.

A Magnanimous Brigand. "I trembled," said Bavreto in relating his story, "I trembled le&fc he should, on making this discovery, order mo shot down on the spot. His little, sharp eyes rested on me for a moment, and then he opened his lips to speak, to pronounce my death sentence, I thought. ' Where is the money V he asked curtly, at the same time glancing at the safe, and without waiting: for my answer he advanced and examined the lock — it was one of those old arrangements, opened with a key. He divined that I had this in my pocket, and had me searched. Finding it, he opened the safe, took out the bag of money, which he handed to his men, and then ho again advanced to me. Behind me weie the firearms which I had used in my defence. He picked them up one by one, examined them with the eye of an expert, threw aside those which were of poor make aud selected the best, which he gave to his men. This ho went through with remarkable coolness. Then he turned to me once more, gazed at me from head to foot with a look which a man would give while examining a blooded horse he intended to purchase. " ' You are brave fellloAV,' said he finally. ' I make you a present of your life, T forgive you the death of my fellows, because you area brave man.' Upon a look from their captain the bandits let go their hold on me. "In the meantime a detachment had been sonii in the mine to bring out Echeguren and the Superintendent. These were strapped on mules and carried away by Bernal to his mountain retreat. He informed me that if I wanted either one or the other alive within five days they would" be released for a ransom of $15,000. This sum was raised and paid over to Bernal the noxt day, whereupon the captives were set free.

A Romantic Robber. Passengers on board the Granada, which came from Mexico, vouch for Barreto's story as true, and supplement il by others equally as blood-curdling and even more exciting in detail. Bernal has long been a terror in Mexico. The mountains where he makes his homo are his stronghold. Every attempt of the authorities to capture him has failed. He has repeatedly repulsed and defeated whole companies of soldiers who have invaded the mountainous districts urged on by tl c promise of heavy rewards for his capture. His band consists of from 150 to 200 men — murderers, assassins and fugitives from justice, who have sought safety under his standard. One reason why he can cany on his depredations with so much freedom,, it is said, is because the settlers hold himin fear and teiror. He has never molested! a poor man's possessions, and if any of his men did so he always made restitution with ample interest. All kinds of tales of the munificenco and "kind and noble deeds" performed by this assassin are extant. The poor do not molest him because hedocs not molest them. The arm of the lawis nob strong enough to reach him, and he is thus enabled to hold supreme sway. It is said that he, like the robber barons of old, swoops down on whole settlements and relievos them of their riches. His men are alwa> .-3 on the forage, and as it costs a great} deal to maintain and equip them, the amount and extent of their depredations I may be imagined.