The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-04-12

Bennett to the right 60 FIRE the villag,
and to post himself so that he coult
cut off the escape OF the robbers tC
the hills ON that side. | felt quite
sure that they would not try to come
in the direction in which they had
first seen my men.
shortly after we opened fire the
village seemed to be suddenly desert.
ed, the rihemen alone remaining al
their posts. The robbers did not,
however, leave the place but, much
to my surprise. went into The houses,
which Afforded no protection except
to screen them from view, nud,
stranger still, tho deadly fire of our
men could not dislodge them, as volley
after volley Iailol TO bring any OF
them out.
1T occurred TO me that a. this ratio
our supply OF ammunition would be.
como exhausted and tho village still
remain in possession OF considerable
force OF the enemy, so | concluded
they would hnvo To be attacked at
close quarters aud pokel out of the
houses.
My force was too small for me to
retain reserve under my immediate
command, and l sorely felt the need
of 1t now. | could not take the force
from tho hills for fear the bandits
would avail themselves ot tho oppor.
tunity to escape, so, having two meu
with me, / sent one to each OF the de.
tachments for fifteen men, aud theu.
with Trumpeter Steele, ran down the
hill toward the village. In the dead
space under the hill the trumpeter
sounded the assembly repeatedly, SO
the men sent for would know where to
assemble
II took tho position OF center
skirmisher of the party and directed
Trnmpeter Steele to sound tho charge,
telling the men that at the last note |
was. going forward and expected them
to 30 with me.
"At the last note of the trumpet W
spranS up over the bauk into the viii
lage.
"rhis sudden couutercharge by tho
men whom the bandits had n few
minutes before probably regarded as
their victims completely demoralized
them. They became panic.stricken
and dispersed, fleeing down the hill,
while our boys poured deadly fire
into them at close range so long rs
they were in sight.
A notable incident Of the fight was
the killing of the chief of the band, II
tall, handsome man, who looked like
Spaniard.
He was apparently person ol
great Importance aud influence; was
equipped with n good Winchester
rifle, revolver aud fine talabong. or
kind Of broad sword; he also had II
fino pair OF field glasses of French
make.
y man of superb courage, he used
his Winchester from his horse.
"He died as hard as ho fought.
When pierced by two bullets through
the breast he fell from his horse,
rolled, plunged and scrambled over
the grouud like chicken beheaded.
1T was now $50 a. M, the affair
having lasted in its various phases for
two hours and fifteen minutes.
THE men were now afforded an op.
portunity to get breakfast, but ex-
pressed IL desire to go elsewhere.
"Tbe stock was driven in from the
grazing ground; chickens, pigs aud
goats were killed to be brought in for
food for tho soldiers. Great quaint.
ties of rice and various kinds of pro.
visions were destroyed, also house.
hold goods OF great variety, tho nc,
cumulation, probably, of years ol
plumber and robbery.
1--WE burned the town.
'As we moved out of the noun
tains into the valley the command
presented remarkable sight.
Almost every man carried one OF
more OF some sort OF bandit weapon
spear, bolo, etc. and the soldier VIII.
did not have bunch of chickens, /,
young pig, kid or some such thing
was the exception.
The combat resulted IN the killing
of l5O bandits, according to count. "