Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-27
BANDITS LOOT
MEXICAN BANK
BRING REIGN OF TERROR TO
TOWN OF VlESCA
Fifty Robbers, Well Mounted and
Armed, Meet Feeble Resistance,
but XIII Three Police
and Cut Wires

By Associated Press.
CITY OF MEXICO, June 26.-Ac-
cording to telegraphic advices received
by Vice President Corral today one Of
the boldest bandit raids ever attempted
in the history of Mexico was success
fully carried out when the town of
Viesca was assaulted and looted yes
terday.
The bandits, numbering fifty, all
well armed and mounted, swooped
down upon the town without warn
ing. A feeble resistance was made by
the police of the place, but after three
of them were killed and three more
wounded the marauders practically
had things their own way. They first
proceeded to the Jail, releasing all the
inmates, some of whom joined the rob-
bers. The bandits next headed for the
bank Of Nueva Leon, a branch of the
main institution of that name, located
in the city of Monterey. They soon
overpowered the employees there and
robbed the bank of all the money they
could get at. The sum Is not stated
in the official dispatches.
From there the robbers, with a
whoop, went to the government stamp
office, looting Ii and doing great dam
age to the postoffice. They then
turned thtir attention to the express
office, robbing it.
By this time the whole of the towns
population was terrified. The bandits
cut the telegraph wires and tore up
some railroad tracks However, be-
fore communication was interrupted
word was sent to the state capital
Governor Cardenas Immediately re-
ported the raid to the secretary of the
interior and dispatched local troops to
the scene.
After imprisoning the municipal Off
GERS and further terrifying the inhab-
itants, the bandits got word that the
troops were coming. They then pre-
partd to flee.
This morning they left, passing by
way of Hacienda Hornos and the town
of Mata Moros de Laguna. At this
place they encountered the first de-
tachment of troops sent to capture
them. A lively fight ensued in which
one trooper was killed and several
wounded. The soldiers captured one of
and are now in the wilds of the state of
Durango. having crossed the border be-
tween Coahuilla and that state shortly
after the battle. The captured bandit
is now In prison in the city of Torreon.
In giving access to the official corre-
spondence containing the above facts
to the Associated Press, and in COM
menting upon the happenings. Vice
President Corral said: For over a
score of years the republic Of Mexico
has been absolutely free from bandit
raids or uprisings similar to the dis
graceful affair which occurred at VII
esca yesterday. For that reason the
government will mete out stern meas
ures to these criminals in order that
they and the world at large may know
that the days of the bandit in this coun-
try have passed.
HFrom private information have re-
ceived today / am satisfied most of the
men concerned in the raid have spent
terms In jail before. The men were
trying to rescue former railroad en-
ployes who had been imprisoned. and
for that reason they first attacked the
jail"
Today the president called a special
session of the cabinet at which 1t is
stated conditions in the state of Goa
huilla were discussed at length.
The attack on Los Viesca is sepa-
rate and distinct from the one on the
town of Vietas yesterday. The towns
are miles apart from each other.