Flores-Daniel Gang of California
The sun-drenched landscapes of 19th-century Southern California, a region in the throes of rapid transformation, bore witness to a tumultuous era marked by clashes of cultures, economic upheaval, and the rise of notorious figures who would etch their names into the annals of the Wild West. Among these figures were Juan Flores and Pancho Daniel, leaders of the infamous Flores-Daniel Gang, whose exploits became woven into the tapestry of California lore.
The Flores-Daniel Gang emerged during a period of intense social and political tension following the Mexican-American War and the subsequent annexation of California by the United States. Many Mexican-Americans felt disenfranchised and marginalized as Anglo-American settlers poured into the region, displacing them from their ancestral lands and challenging their way of life. In this climate of resentment and resistance, individuals like Flores and Daniel found themselves cast as both outlaws and folk heroes, their actions viewed by some as acts of defiance against perceived American oppression.
Juan Flores, the namesake of the Flores-Daniel Gang, was no stranger to the harsh realities of the time. Prior to his rise to infamy, Flores had been arrested for horse theft and sentenced to serve time at the notorious San Quentin State Prison. However, in October 1856, Flores managed to escape from his confinement, setting the stage for his subsequent outlaw career. Soon after his escape, Flores connected with Pancho Daniel, another individual with a penchant for lawlessness, and together they began to assemble a band of like-minded individuals.
The ranks of the Flores-Daniel Gang swelled to include a diverse assortment of characters, each with their own motivations and backgrounds. Among the gang members were Anastasio García, Espinoza, Andrés Fontes, Chino Varelas, Faustino García, Juan Cartabo, and a figure known only as "One-eyed" Piguinino. This motley crew, sometimes referred to as "las Manillas" (the Handcuffs), embarked on a campaign of raiding and pillaging that terrorized the communities of San Luis Obispo and San Juan Capistrano. The Flores-Daniel Gang quickly gained notoriety for their brazen acts of cattle rustling, armed robbery, and even murder, primarily targeting white settlers who they perceived as intruders on their land.
The gang’s activities escalated in January 1857 when they launched a daring raid on the town of San Juan Capistrano. The Flores-Daniel Gang stormed into the town, looting several shops and businesses, and in the process, they callously murdered a shopkeeper and his assistant. Emboldened by their success, the gang continued their rampage, indulging in a raucous drinking spree as they ransacked the town.
News of the Flores-Daniel Gang’s brazen attack on San Juan Capistrano quickly reached the ears of Los Angeles County Sheriff James R. Barton. Determined to bring the outlaws to justice, Sheriff Barton assembled a posse consisting of Deputies William H. Little, Charles K. Baker, Charles T. Daly, and three other men. On January 22, 1857, Barton and his posse set out on their mission to capture the notorious Flores-Daniel Gang.
As the posse rode south, they made a stop at the Rancho San Joaquin, owned by Don Jose Sepulveda, southwest of present-day Santa Ana, for a breakfast. Sepulveda, aware of the gang’s strength and reputation, cautioned Barton and his men that they were severely outnumbered and urged them to seek reinforcements before continuing their pursuit. However, Sheriff Barton, confident in his abilities and determined to apprehend the outlaws, disregarded Sepulveda’s warning and pressed on.
The posse continued their journey south, unaware that they were riding into a deadly trap. Approximately 12 miles from the rancho, in a narrow canyon, the posse was ambushed by the Flores-Daniel Gang. Gunfire erupted as the outlaws unleashed a barrage of bullets upon the unsuspecting lawmen. In a cruel twist of fate, the lawmen soon discovered that their weapons had been sabotaged; someone, believed to be a ranch servant sympathetic to the gang, had removed the ammunition from their guns.
Defenseless and caught completely off guard, the lawmen attempted to flee the ambush. Sheriff Barton, Constable Charles Baker, Deputy Charles Daly, and Constable William Little were tragically gunned down, becoming the first law enforcement officers in Los Angeles County to lose their lives in the line of duty. The remaining three members of the posse managed to escape the carnage and raced back to report the devastating ambush.
News of the ambush spread like wildfire, igniting a wave of outrage and a renewed determination to bring the Flores-Daniel Gang to justice. Within two hours, another posse, this time consisting of approximately 60 men, was formed and set out in pursuit of the outlaws. Under the leadership of James Thompson, who would later become Los Angeles County’s new sheriff, the posse located the mutilated bodies of the fallen officers. Fueled by anger and a thirst for revenge, the posse pressed on with renewed vigor.
The posse’s relentless pursuit led to the arrest of 52 suspected gang members. Meanwhile, another posse, led by General Andres Pico, a prominent Californio figure, stumbled upon two of the most notorious members of the Flores-Daniel Gang and summarily lynched them.
In the aftermath of the ambush and the subsequent manhunt, eleven men, including Juan Flores himself, were brought to justice and hanged on February 14, 1857. Pancho Daniel, who had managed to evade capture, was eventually apprehended the following year and met the same fate, hanged on November 30, 1858. By the time the dust had settled, more than 100 members of the Flores-Daniel Gang had been either captured or killed.
The story of the Flores-Daniel Gang serves as a stark reminder of the turbulent times that shaped the American West. While some viewed them as ruthless outlaws, others saw them as symbols of resistance against a changing social and political order. Regardless of one’s perspective, the Flores-Daniel Gang left an indelible mark on the history of California, their exploits forever enshrined in the legends of the Old West. Their story continues to fascinate and provoke debate, reminding us of the complexities and contradictions of a bygone era. The Flores-Daniel Gang’s legacy is intertwined with the struggles of Mexican-Americans in the face of cultural and economic displacement.