Rustlers, Railroad, and Stagecoach Robbers

The Black Jack Christian Gang in Mexico

Book Review

In the new historical fiction book Rustlers, Railroad, and Stagecoach Robbers The Black Jack Christian Gang in Mexico, author David K. Martineau weaves fictional character Deputy Marshall Art Saenz, into the lives of Mormon Colonists as he tracks The Black Jack Christian Gang on both sides of the border.

Martineau intertwines Deputy Marshall Art Saenz not only with the Black Jack Christian Gang, but also other notable people such as Colonel Emilio Kosterlitzky, Bishop Franklin Scott, a young Bert Whetten, Bertha Martineau, and many more.  He also places Art Saenz at the Mine Riots in Cananea which some say planted the seeds of the Mexican Revolution.

David has obviously spent a lot of time researching for this book.  It was neat to learn more about Colonel Emilio Kosterlitzky, the Mexican Cossack, and his Rurales who were a cavalry unit who weren’t technically part of the army, but reported only to President Porfirio Diaz. 

In the book Deputy Marshall Art Saenz reflects on his bi-cultural background growing up on both sides of the border, saying, “He treasured both parts of his life and drew strength from having them both.  He didn’t much care for people who could only speak Spanish, nor those who could only speak English, thinking that both were missing important cultural aspects of life.  He felt he possessed a much better understanding of people and life due to his dual cultures.”

In this quote the author reflects a prescient truth about the Mormon colonists even down to this day, Colonists have the ability to speak both English and Spanish, operate seamlessly between both cultures, giving them the ability to comfortably straddle both sides of the border.  This ability affords them opportunities closed to the rest of us.

If you want to learn more about the history of the Mormon Colonies in Mexico and the cast of characters involved (both good & bad) then you should read Rustlers, Railroad, and Stagecoach Robbers The Black Jack Christian Gang in Mexico.