Bandit Week continues here at OPOD with this picture of Pascual Orozco. Don't let his boyish look and dapper suit mislead you, Pascual was pure bandit, through and through. As a start, during the Mexican Revolution of 1910, he was an insurrecto general, and Pancho Villa actually reported TO him. If that does not give you bandit cred, I don't know what does. I actually wish the bandits had created some sort of organization chart, as I find it very difficult to sort through who was on which side during the revolution, and who reported to whom. I guess they did not do this, as it appears to have been a loose knit operation, with allegiances constantly changing. In any event, it appears that Pascual was higher in the organization than Pancho Villa. Perhaps to better convince you of his Bandit Worthiness, I should show the following picture of him.
In this picture he literally defines the Bandit Chique look. With this outfit he would be equally at home attending a cock fight, dancing the night away at one of San Antonio's finest night clubs, or leading a cross-border cattle raid with the Texas Rangers in hot pursuit. His fine gold watch ensures that he is never late for any engagement, and that he shows up looking polished. Note he is sporting the bandit's best friend, the Colt 45 peacemaker, a model 94 winchester, and ammunition belts for BOTH weapons, with enough cartridges for any event that might come his way. I like to consider Pascual Orozco the Gentleman Bandit, able to adapt to almost any situation.
OK, a little more background on Pascual. As a young man, he made a wise investment in a gold mine that made him a very wealthy fellow. He then took some of his money, and developed gold mines of his own. This was successful, and he ended up a man of significant wealth. With that wealth, he was able to not only outfit himself, but was able to provide financing for the insurrecto movement. This financing, combined with his daunting appearance, led to him quickly moving up in the revolution hierarchy. Early in the movement, we was a gun runner, purchasing guns in the United States, and then transporting them to Mexico to help arm the insurrection. He was opposed to the Diaz government, and supported Madero's call to overthrow the Diaz government. He was a general in the insurrection, and achieved a number of notable victories over the Federales. After one victory, he stripped the dead Federales, and sent the uniforms to Diaz with a note, "Here are the wrappers, now please send some more Tamales". That has to be one of the best Bandit quotes of all times.
When the insurrection was successful, and Madero was made president, Pascual thought he would be put in charge of the new Mexican Army. Madero instead put Carranza in charge. This did not sit well with Pascual, and he was also upset that Madero did not institute land reforms, which had been one of the main reasons for the revolution. He then helped organize a rebellion against Madero. He helped finance the revolt with his own wealth, as well as organizing a cattle rustling operation where he would steal cattle, sell them in Texas, buy arms and then bring them back into Mexico. He was instrumental in bringing down the Madero government, and supported Huerta as president to replace Madero.
When Huerta's government fell, Pascual went into exile in the United Sates. While in the United States he immediately started making plans to retake Mexico. These plans ran afoul of the U.S. neutrality laws, so Pascual was arrested. He escaped from jail in El Paso, and made a run for the border. Along the way, he decided to raid a ranch in West Texas. The ranch owner organized a posse of Texas Rangers, and they overtook Pascual near Lobo, Texas. A gun battle ensued in which Pascual was killed.
A fitting end, I say, as a true Bandit should die with his boot on in battle, and never of old age.
