The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-02-16
FIENDISH CRUELTY
EXHIBITED BY THE
SOLDIERS OF DIAz
Insurgents Win Signal Triumph
Over the Regulars Army In
a Two Day Battle Near
Mulata.

| MARIA, Tex, FeD. 14.-Delayed ad.
1 vices received here today clear up sus-
pense over results of the fighting be-
| tween insurrectos and federals around
Mulata. The last word received last
week told Of federal reverses in an as
sault upon rebel lines at Mulata.
l. Is learned now that the tide OF
battle remained the same with the re-
suit that the federals retreated to
| Ojinaga. their base of supplies. The
| insurrectos were unable to check Luz
que's retreat. Their supply of amuni-
ton was exhausted. The federals' loss
Was 40 killed and wounded.
The insurrectos loss was one killed
and one wounded throughout the two
days battle. Their leader. Ortega.
provided excellent defensive works
against the federals' assaults. The in
surgents fought from behind breast
works, stone heaps and trees. 1t re-
minded one Of days Of fighting when
the Indian combated the westward
march of the Yankee.
Cruelty of the Regulars.
Stories are told of federal soldiers
cruelty to nom combatants and the rei
fusal of the insurrecto leader to permit
his men to take revenge. Four old
| non combatants were found in farm
house near Mulata when the federals
| first approached the town. They were
| Fucevio De La Cruz, Cruz Samaneijo.
| Decederio Carrasco and Matias Car
rasco. One of them was 80 years old,
another was blind and another a
| cripple. All were white haired.
The insurrectos found these old men
| with their hands tied behind their
| backs, lying riddled with bullets. Their
| heads were crushed, and one was
Blashed across the face by sabre. A
number Of Americans viewed the
bodies and several signed an affidavit
| statement will be sent to Washington.
A dramatic incident followed the dis
| covery of the four murdered men. A
| government soldier had been found
| lying wounded in the field. He had
been cared for and fed. When the
rectos made a rush for the plaza in
| Mulata to take revenge by killing this
| wounded soldier In the crowd was
son and nephew Of one Of the aged
| victims.
Like crazy men they ran yelling into
the plaza and dragged the soldier into
the street Many argued against them,
| but Others maddened by the sight Of
the butchered old men. drew their
| pistols and declared they would kill
any man that tried to stop them. AZ
that moment. Ortega, the insurrecto
commander, rode into the plaza and
called a halt.
My children" he said 81 have had
home laid in ruins and wife and
babies driven naked and starving into
the hills, but l am not yet ready to
kill an unarmed, wounded man."
Mob Is Quoted Down.
The mob's rage was quieted and only
one man, the son of one Of the VIC
Tins, stepped forward to take the fed
eral soldiers life. Ortega drew his
pistol.
1T would break my heart to have
to kill a comrade," he said, but we
will not be murderers like the soldiers
Of Diaz"
The terrified wounded federal SOL
der was picked up, mumbling his
thanks and removed to shanty.
In the two days battle the pronun-
ciados lost one man killed and one
wounded. The dead man, Hilario San
chez, was shot while battering in a
Coor Of the house with the Scotchman.
II. 8. McCombs, to get at a squad of
federal soldiers.
McCombs entered the house alone
and drove the federals out killing one
Of them. McCombs is the soldier Of
fortune who has earned the title of "El
Diable" among the insurrectos. His
home is In Seattle. Wash.
During the entire battle the insur-
rectos forced the fighting. The federals
advanced along the road to within 500
yards Of the town. When fired on they
vance. The two field guns and machine
gun were kept playing upon the in
surrecto lines, but did no serious dam
age. A battle line was formed with
the infantry on the left on the Rio
Grande and the cavalry guarding the
right flank. A flanking party of 16 in
surrectos drove in the infantry and the
cavalry in three lines.
The battle started at 10 o'clock
February and lasted until 8 o'clock
the night of the 8th. The federals had
600 soldiers in the field and the insur-
rectos mustered about 200 men.
Regulars Surrounded.
During the second days fighting the
federals were completely surrounded
and were driven back each time a sor-
tie was attempted. In the evening
Ortega made an inspection Of the DIFF
ferent detachments, and found his am
munition was almost exhausted, when
the federals began their retreat the in
surrectos were not able to halt them,
but gave chase for several miles,
Twenty five dead is conservative es-
innate. The federals had about so men
missing when they returned to DINA
ga, but 1t is known that at least IL de-
serted.
The American soldiers and federal
officers guarding the American side
were repeatedly fired upon by the fed
eral soldiers. The insurrectos an
nounce their intention Of capturing
Ojinaga as soon as they get supply
Of ammunition.
Five boys. all American citizens.
were captured by Mexican rurales yes
terday, while bathing in the Rio
Grande. The rurales shot at them and
compelled them to wade across the
river and surrender. The boys were re-
leased this morning after being locked
up all night.