Connecticut western news., 1910-12-29
Ransoned By JANE PINCKNEY BENNETT Copyright, 1910. by American Press
 Association.

very patriotic Mexican and upon the breaking out of the war. went home to do what she could to serve her country. Captain watriss sailed with his regiment for Vera Cruz and was with that army that made it's way, fighting battles as 1t proceeded, from the gulf coast to the City of Mexico.
 Sonora Watriss, being very rich, or ganized a company of rangers at her own expense. Several commanders of this force were tried and failed. At last the troop called upon the lady to take command herself. She con- scented, went into the field, and under her leadership the men who followed her made quite a reputation as par tisan rangers. They were not en- rolled in the Mexican army, and since they were very troublesome to the United States forces the general com manding gave orders that when cap tured they should be shot. Several of them were taken from time to time, every one of whom was executed. Tn retaliation Sonora watriss gave orders that from the next lot of prisoners taken by her men five should be se- lected by lot for execution.
 Not long after this order the rangers made night attack on an outpost of the American army and captured a captain, a lieutenant and thirty men. The senora was not present on this oc- casion, having intrusted the attack to a junior officer. The first she knew of | ha v,Ar. NO her while in her tent that five men se- lected to be shot were outside, the of fcer In charge of them awaiting a spe- cial order to shoot them. The lady threw back her tent flap for a look at the doomed men.
 Among them was her husbandl
 What to do she did not know. To claim immunity for the man she loved would be to destroy her influence with her troops They were all very bitter against the Americans for the execu- ton of their comrades and were re- | joiced that an officer was to be shot in retaliation The only thing that oc- cured to her was delay By staying off the execution she might find some means of saving her husband.
 "Take them back to the guard tent" she said. T am too busy now to at tend to the matter"
 But, senora," protested the officer in charge, .'aIl we wish is the order''--
 "Take them away" interrupted the senora impatiently. T am not accus- toned to receive suggestions from my interiors"
 The prisoners were marched off with out Captain Watriss knowing that his wife had for the time being saved his life. Sonora Watriss shut herself up in her tent, endeavorlng to think out some plan to prevent the execution. No one suspected the relationship be- tween her and Captain watriss, and she did not wish 1t to be known. It might throw distrust upon her without saving her husband.
 During the evening she gave an or der-she dared not refuse one-that the prisoners should be shot at s o'clock the next morning. At 10 o'clock that night she went the rounds to see that the guards were on post and the others asleep. Then, instead of returning to her tent, she mounted her horse. that she had picketed without the line of sentries, and unseen rode away. An hour later she was taken in by an of- fcer of an American picket post to the tent of the commanding general. After an interview of half an hour she de- parted, returned to her camp and stole | into her tent without any one of her command knowing that she had been away.
 Between dawn and sunrise an or | derly came to her to say that an of ficer commanding a flag of truce from I the American camp desired to see her. She directed that he be admitted, and | he said:
 "Senora, our general, understanding | that captain and four privates be- longing to his army are to be shot this morning. has sent me to say that If this is done he would make 1t his busi- ness to capture this command and hang every member of 1t, including yourself If. however, these prisoners are surrendered to him a ransom of | $1 900 for each private and $5,0O0 for the officer will be distributed to your l commando
 Sonora Watriss called her men to- gether and stated the proposition. The threat at first produced a contrary effect from what was intended, but \ when the ransom was considered with 1 1t a change of opinion was effected. Sonora Watriss watched for an oppor- 1 tune moment when to put the ques- | tion to vote. 1t was almost unani- mously decided to accept the ransom.
 4 Mexican OH CT and ten men were sent back wi;h the flag of truce and all the prisoners, but it required sew eral days to secure the ransom, during which all overt nets were Suspended. Finally 1t arrived and was paid over. the prisoners were delivered to their commander. and the Mexicans return cd to camp. ...h.# Not man in the command knew | that the senora had ransomcd the prls- | oners.
 A few days later the woman com-