The life and adventures of Joaquin Murieta : the celebrated California bandit / by Yellow Bird (John Rollin Ridge) ; with an introd. by Joseph Henry Jackson.

Format:

• Book

Author/Creator:

• Ridge, John Rollin, 1827-1867.

Series:

• Western frontier library ; 4.
• The Western frontier library ; v. 4

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

• Murieta, Joaquín, -1853--Fiction.
• Frontier and pioneer life--Fiction.
• Revolutionaries--Fiction.
• Outlaws--Fiction.
• California--Fiction.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (210 p.)

Edition:

New ed.

Place of Publication:

Norman : University of Oklahoma Press, 1955.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In 1854, a Cherokee Indian called Yellow Bird (better known as John Rollin Ridge) launched in this book the myth of Joaquin Murieta, based on the California criminal career of a 19th century Mexican bandit. Today this folk hero has been written into state histories, sensationalized in books, poems, and articles throughout America, Spain, France, Chile, and Mexico, and made into a motion picture. The Ridge account is here reproduced from the only known copy of the first edition, owned by Thomas W. Streeter, of Morristown, New Jersey. According to it, the passionate, wronged Murieta organized an outlaw company numbering over 2,000 men, who for two years terrorized gold-rush Californians by kidnapping, bank robberies, cattle thefts, and murders. So bloodthirsty as to be considered five men, Joaquin was aided by several hardy subordinates, including the sadistic cutthroat, "Three-Fingered Jack." Finally, the state legislature authorized organization of the Mounted Rangers to capture the outlaws. The drama is fittingly climaxed by the ensuing chase, "good, gory" battle, and the shocking fate of the badmen.

Contents:

""Cover ""; ""Title Page ""; ""Copyright Page ""; ""Table of Contents ""; ""List of Illustrations ""; ""Introduction, by Joseph Henry Jackson""; ""Publisher's Preface ""; ""Editor's Preface ""; ""Life of Joaquin Murieta ""

Notes:

First paperback published 1977.

ISBN:

• 0-8061-7481-1
• 0-585-14801-5