The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1911-04-18

Bullets Rain Over Town of Douglas,
Raking Two Schoolhouses and the
Customs House and Driving the Cti.
zens to Shelter-American Red Cross
Volunteers Cross the Line lmme
diateIy After the Firing Ceased to
Attend to the Wounded.
Douglas, Ariz, April 1S.-The long
expected attack of.the Mexican federal |
troops on Aqua Prieta opened in dead
ly earnest at $50 a. m. and was re.
pulsed with heavy loss to the govern
ment forces. The firing was fast and !
furious on both sides. The rattle of |
musketry was continuous.
The hail of bullets from the federal
machine guns fell far within the con-
fines of the city of Douglas.
At 1890 a. m. the firing ceased with
the rebels holding every position
which they occupied at the beginning
of the battle. The rebels began dig
Red" Lopez reported the rebel
casualties in the trenches as light.
American troops had forced Douglas
residents back to Sixth street, within
three blocks of the center of the city. |
FederaIs Begin the Attack.
1t was evident from the outset that
the battle was to be decisive one.
Both sides exhibited desperate courage.
The federals began by massing
themselves to tho southeast of the |
town and moved slowly within rifle
range of the rebel position.
The insurrectos, facing in three d.
rections. lay low in the trenches or
fiat on the open ground. The federals' |
1re raked over them and into both |
Aqua Prieta and Douglas.
The steel and leaden missiles from
the federal guns carried far over the
international line and plowed their
way into the buildings facing along
Second and Third streets and dug up
the ground here and there over the
whole southern end of the city.
The federals, in moving in, had ad- |
vanced from the camp which they es- |
tablished at Sulphur Springs, water
hole five miles south of Aqua Prieta.
Encounter Rebel Cavalry.
They marched slowly to point
southeast of Aqua Prieta with evident
intention of gaining the border in or
der to attack the rebel position along
the international Line. Before they
We're able to gain this coveted posi- |
ton, however, they encountered the
rebel cavalry. which had galloped out
to intercept them, and there was a rat
tie from the repeating rifle as the two
advanced forces came into firing
range.
The cavalry dropped back slowly
and the federals next came within
range of the deep entertainments
thrown up by the rebels, which were
nlled with insurrecto sharpshooters,
Most of the residents of Douglas re-
NAMED within doors or sought other
places of safety. Some attempted to
gain points to view the field of battle
Notwithstanding the strict orders of
the American troops many rushed to
the international lines to get view of
the fighting. They were here exposed
to most imminent danger.
With the firing of the first shot Col
onel Skunk ordered out all the Ameri-
can cavalry available in Douglas. They
were rushed to the border and took
up positions along the line.
Troops Exposed to Fire.
Many of these men were exposed to
tho fire of the Mexican troops, though
there were no casualties among them.
Company G of the Arizona national
guard was also ordered out and took
up position at the armory to await
further orders.
There were four troops of cavalry
and one Of militia in Douglas. This
was considered an ample force to pro-
tsct the American line.
The battle ragged for three hours
when the federal guns were silenced
by the rebel sharpshooters and the
entire force withdrew from the field.
Bullets rained over the town of
Douglas during the battle, raking two
schoolhouses and the customs house
and driving the citizens to shelter.
American Red Cross volunteers
crossed the line Immediately after the
firing ceased to attend to the wounded.
Oscar Coll, a newspaper man, was
hit by bullet while watching the
battle from the streets of Douglas, but
he was not seriously wounded. The
automobile of United States Marshal
Overlook, containing that official and
others, was struck by bullet, but |
none Of the occupants was hurt.