El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-03-02
FIGHTING SOUTH
Of JUAREz WITH
INSURRECTOS
Continued from page one.l
and children had come to FL Paso.
where they are now living.
Details of the Eight.

and children had come to FL Paso,
where they are now living.
Details of the Fight.
The battle on the Santa Maria was
in progress late last week between
about 700 federals. believed to be from
Casas Grandes, and about 900 insur-
rectos under Col. Pascual Orozco. The
fight occurred at point about mid
way between Casas Grandes and Moe
tezuma, northeast of Ga1eana. From
last reports of the battle, the federals
were ambushed and on the defensive
in a canyon, with Orozco's men fight
ing from the hills. What remained Of
the federals was a huddle of men
about machine gun, which ratified
away at the hillside without doing
any damage to the rebel forces. Fran
cisco l. Madero, who at that ime IVES
In camp with about 1900 men at a
point SO miles to the north, sent word
to allow the federals to surrender and
not slaughter them.
The battle was an incident in the
mobilization of insurrecto forces, which
Madero himself announced to The Her
aid some time ago. The whole move
ment is explained. but no future plans
announced by Capt. Oscar G. Creighton,
chief scout of Madero's command.
Creighton arrived in Ell Paso early
Thursday morning. after having done
much bridge burning and bridge blow
ing on both the National railway and
the Mexico North Western, his work
hindering movements of the troops IN
der Cuellar and Rabago.
Madero's Movements.
What has occurred since the evacua-
ton Of Guadalupe by Madero's forces is
this, he says: The small command,
then of no more than 400 men under
Col. Soto, marched southwest through
the mountains, striking the railroad at
Lucero. On the route an almost mi
rac1e was performed: the command was
tripled. The presence of Madero him
self acted as it was calculated to act.
Every small band of insurrectos Joined
the force, ranchmen dragged rifles out
of their houses and rallied TO the pro-
visional president, and by the time
Lucero was reached about 1900 armed
and mounted men composed the force.
The move was made as preliminary
to a junction with Orozco. now re-
enforced to the total of 600, and Blanco
with about 500 men, and with intent
of forming an army Of 5000 men be-
fore any decisive battle would be at
tempted. Capt. Creighton and Maj. Edu-
ardo F. Hay. who is chief Of staff
under Madero, with few men arrived
the southbound freight train and later
another northbound train, both be-
tween Lucero and Ahumada. However,
these trains were not employed for
transporting the insurrecto army.
Madero's command arrived at Lucero
and proceeded at once to Ahumada.
Then they marched southwest across
country. going about so miles to the
hacienda Alamos, where camp was
pitched and headquarters established.
Burn Bridges and Train.
The scouts under Capt. Creighton
burned three bridges on the National
Railway, and fired a train Of 48 cars
loaded with railway ties. This de-
stroyed the track for the whole dis
lance of the tie train, and is the rea-
son that Rabago has been forced to re-
turn to Juarez or complete his trip
by march. The burning Of the tie
train. destroyed the right Of way for
a great distance. the. heat Of the burn
ing timber warping the rails and de-
stroying the laid ties. Completing this
commission, Creighton went to the
headquarters at the ranch.
Arriving at Madero's headquarters,
the American insurrecto captain re-
ceived orders to scout south and locate
OrOzco and Blanco who were marching
north to join the main command With.
10 men he rode about 40 miles south,
and came upon the scene of the battle
Orozco's men told him that they had
been engaging the federals who num-
bered about 700, but that nobody knew
of what command the soldiers were.
or from whence they had come. It is
now known. however, that they were
from Casas Grandes. Orozco's force
met them while insurrectos were
marching north to join Madero. The
soldiers were entrapped in a canyon,
and non their last legs according to
Creighton.
BIznco Joins Orozco.
Just as the scout was preparing to
return and report the battle to Madero,
the force under Blanco arrived, hav-
ing come up from another direction
from that Of Orozco. Blanco's men at
once took position and opened fire
from the walls OF the canyon. The
federal's machine gun had been in al
most constant use, said the insurrec-
tos. but it had done little damage,
much less than bullets. At that time
it was impossible to estimate the
losses in killed and wounded. but at
least onehalf of the federals had been
put out of commission, while the in
surrectcs had lost only at the begin
ming Of the fight. and probably no
more than so men in killed and wound
ed.
When Madero received particulars
Of the battle, he sent word to allow
the federals to surrender If they
cared to, and at once set on the march
with all his men for the south. Fur
Their movements are not known since
Creighton and 10 fresh men started
for the Mexico North Western line,
and IS other men, later REINFORCED to
l25. accompanied them The larger
band was under command of Capt. ].
Velencia. an Ell Pasoan, and one of the
most daring of the. Mexicans under
Soto. Velencia was sent to destroy
bridges near Guzman, while Creighton
was to destroy the tracks near Barreal.
This was done with the result that the
train OF 500 troops under Col. Samuel
Garcia Cuellar, was caught in trap
between those two points.
Blowing Up Track.
How Velencia performed his COM
mission is not known. But that he per-
formed it is known. Creighton de-
stroyed the track TO the north as told
N Wednesdays Herald. With his 10
men he stopped the southbound freight