The Washington herald., 1911-04-18

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the field and partially veiled the man.
euvers of the contending forces
| Insurrectos Retreat.
Early in the engagement the federal
forces fell back, but quickly rallied. and
then began the slow advance which
eventually forced the rebels to evacuate
the outer line CT trenches. After perhaps
| thirty minutes of sustained and deadly
firing the insurrectos were seen to aban-
don their outlying positions and fall back
| from the breastworks toward Aqua Prize
| ia.
1t was here again that the rebels fur
nished an evidence of unexpected and
| surprising fortitude. Standing up unpro-
| tected, they fell back slowly, firing volley
after volley into the ranks of the advanc-
ing federals. Now and again they would
kneel in order to get a better aim.
| When the battle opened Commander
Garcia had about 400 men manning the
trenches to the west OF Aqua Prieta ::
2OO more held position on the south,
Gnd there were perhaps 500 others in the
parallels facing to the east During the
opening attack the rebel trenches to
the south were completely victorious
cutting up the federal forces in front in
such deadly style that they forced an
early retreat. In falling back the Diaz
troops swung around tC the east and
north and came in conflict with the rebel
trenches which had been dug to prevent
a left flank attack.
The battle at this poiat was fierce and
unrelenting, and after 4 period of ex-
ceptionaly heavy firing the federals fell
back. Following this movement. the
DIaz attack on the southeast slackened
very materially, and it was evident that
the entire federal assault had been a
failure all along the line.
Americans Excited.
From the opening gun Douglas was
thrown into state of mingled appre-
hension and excitement. Thousands
fiocked to the roofs to see the distant
clouds of smoke. lanced with flashes of
rifle fire. while others sought safety
within doors or as far away from the
international line as they could get
The federals at no time showed the
slightest disposition to heed the Ameri-
can demand for Douglas protection. In
the attack from the southeast and in the
circular movement, which ended in their
defeat in the eastern trenches. the fed
erals fired without regard to geography,
and there was hardly space in Douglas
absolutely guaranteed against the inva-
sion OF the flying bullets
Col. Skunk ordered out all the Ameri-
can cavalry in the beginning OF the con-
ffict. These lined up on the border and
themselves were exposed. although there
were no casualties in their ranks dur
ing the early part of the battle.
A company of the Arizona National
Guard was also ordered out and took up
positions at the armory to await devel-
opments. One bullet clipped the hair of
an American trooper, and 1t was finally
found necessary to move the mounts to
sheltered positions behind adobe build
ings along the border line.
Coll First Shot.
Near Fifth street, about a quarter OF
a mile from the line, a crowd had gath
cred to witness the fighting. and 1t was
here that Oscar K. Coll was struck-the
first American to suffer on the Ameri-
can side OF the line.
He was watching the progress Of the
battle and was wounded in the side of
the head by a bullet. which inflicted a
painful but not serious CASH
The American custom-house was under
fire continuously. and the cavalry posted
in this vicinity was forced to take smell
ter in a pit
through everything except the brick and
adobe structures. and the danger from
the Southern half of the city was at ali
times imminent.
The behavior OF the exposed American
soldiers was entirely cool and courage
Gus, and their activity in keeping the
Douglas residents as far back as Sixth
street undoubtedly prevented many cas-
ualties.
Jack Hamilton, was struck. Standing at
the corner of Railroad avenue and Sixth
streets, a spent bullet hit him on the
breast The wound was not dangerous,
and he was taken to the Red Cross
Hospital and cared for.
Bullets also hit the office of the
Douglas Water Commission at Railroad
avenue and Eleventh street. fully mile
North OF the international line.
Shot in Back.
During the afternoon. Frank Williams,
a blacksmths helper at the Copper
Queen smelter. was shot In the back
while walking with his wife and child
along G avenue in the heart Of the
business district.
This casualty also occurred a mile from
the international line. and, to further IL
lne lOldl uiSlceotN u NI'S Avn
eral soldiers to the command Of the
American government, another man was
shot in Seventh street, in the extreme
east part of Douglas. This man, Jesus
Alcantara, suffered a wound in the left
foot. and was hastily removed to the |
Red Cross Hospital.
Between and o'clock this afternoon |
bullets poured into Douglas as freely as
though the unfortunate town We're be-
sieged. The missiles were falling in every |
part of the town as far as a mile and |
a quarter north Of the international line !
Some of the courageous spectators, who |
clung to the vantage points at Fifth |
street. say the ground between there and |
the line, five blocks. was spattered with |
a continual rain OF lead.
At o'clock John Keith got Mauser |
bullet in his heel, when the missile pene- |
trated the office Of the Douglas Lumber |
Company at the intersection Of Railroad
and / streets.
Another bullet struck the residence OF
Mrs. Hobson at Twelfth street and Ave
nue. E. 1t entered the roof and lodged |
in the ceiling A barn in the rear Of
Robert Powers residence in Twelfth |
street. was also struck. Several resi-
dences were struck by bullets and there
were many narrow escapes on the street
Bullets still Fall.
At nightfall flying bullets were still /
coming from the fight raging due south
from Aqua Prieta. This state Of peril
,...,. .1,r, oaptiprad dav ha-