Fierro, Rodolfo
Born in El Fuerte, Sinaloa, he worked on the railroad
until he joined Pancho Villa. In the Battle of Tierra Blanca, a Federalist train
was captured single-handedly by Fierro who rode horseback until he could
jump onto the last car. No bullets hit him, but he was able to kill the crew.
From that moment on, he was a key Villa lieutenant. Fierro, always a daredevil
and a man of great courage, specialized killing Villa's enemies, including
prisoners of war, hence his nickname, "El Carnicero"
or "the Butcher."
He was a tall man with straight hair, a wide nose, a mean
look, and "an insolent mouth." He treated women well and married a
beautiful woman.
He died trying to cross a a stream near Nuevo Casa Grandes
on October 13th, 1915. The stream was swollen by heavy rains. He was laden with
gold and he drowned on his
second attempt.
Based on Juan López de Escalera, Diccionario Biográfico y de Historia de
México. México, Editorial del Magisterio, 1964. pp. 359-60.
Don Mabry
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