Life and Adventures of Joaquin Murieta: Celebrated California Bandit (Volume 4) (The Western Frontier Library Series) - Softcover

John Rollin Ridge; Yellow Bird

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0806114290 ISBN 13: 9780806114293

Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press, 1977

Synopsis

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.

About this title

About the Author

John Rollin Ridge, or Yellow Bird, was born in Georgia in 1827 and participated in the Indian Removal to present Oklahoma and in the bitter Cherokee Factional wars. After killing a man, Ridge fled to California, where he heard about and wrote of Joaquín Murieta.

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
• Publication date: 1977
• ISBN 10: 0806114290
• ISBN 13: 9780806114293
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 159