Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-01-13
DESPERATE BATTLE!
WITH MEXICAN
INSURGENTS
TWENTY MEN SLAIN
IN THREE HOUR FIGHT
Rebels Hold Ten Times Their
Number of RuraIes at Bay and
Government Forces Finally
Retreat Before Gallant Foe.

my Morning Journal Special Leased wlrc1
Comstock, Tex, Jan. 12.-Morc
than 30 men we're killed In desper-
ate battle OF Mexicon soldiers and a
small party of insurrectos on the bank
of the Rio Grande opposite this point
The insurrectos had only Is men
and for three hours they held at bay
as rurales and about 100 infantry.
When darkness ended the fight the
he'll the field and the fed
eral troops had withdrawn couple
OF miles to camp. The insurrectos lett
two hours later for their mountain
headquarters fifty miles away carry
ing their wounded with them.
OF the insurreetos two were killed
and seven wounded, II. :. O'Rielly.
the correspondent with the insurrec-
tos, was slightly wounded.
Twice the ruraIs charged the In
srrgents position. coming. within 80
yards. hut each time were repulsed.
The correspondent counted eighteen
soldiers carried from the field during
the battle.
The return of twenty insurrectos
who had been out on raid saved the
rest of the band and prevented what
probably would have been n massacre
OF those defending the rebel camp.
The original party Of insurrectos
numbered forty men. They had been
on raid through the country south
OF Las vacas, getting horses and re-
cruts. For two days seventy rurales
had chased the band and Tuesday
night the party went to the river to
water their jaded horses, thinking
they had eluded the government
forces.
The next morning, twenty rebels
started for ranch about twelve miles
TO get more horses. The camp Of the
nsurrectos was discovered and sew
enty mounted infantrymon were sent
to the support or the ruraiea When
they approached the twenty insurrec-
tos then there, prepared TO give them
"a hot reception.
Two Of the rebels were set at work
packing extra ammunition and rifles
on mules.
The eighteen remaining insurrectos
took position In a line drawn across
the trail of the advancing soldiers.
The fireing began at distance OF
about 500 yards. The insurgents
poured volley from their thirty
three soldiers fell. Theetaionetaoin
calibre rifles into the enemy, and
three soldiers fell The soldiers re-
piled with the Mauser rarbines and
the battle was on.
After half an hours continuous
fighting the federals received rein
from their main body and
a charge was made on the insurrectos.
AS the federals advanced, the de-
tenders of the pass sent storm OF
bullets into their ranks firing coolly
and accurately. The federals ad-
vnnced short distance and then re-
turned to their original position
The firing continued and one by
one rebels dropped from the ranks
either dead or wounded. until only
nine men remained working their
guns. Again the soldiers charged,
this time approaching within fifty
yards OF the gully where the insurrec-
tos were concealed. Not n man gave
way. but continued firing deliberately
until the soldiers again retreated.
Both In charge and retreats the
rurales kept their line In good order
and showed no panic.
The steady fire and good aim of
the insurrectos were more than the
could stand, and they shrank
from closing for a final assault
The battle started ut 4:20 o'clock
ma continued steadily until 1880 AS
darkness approached, the twenty IN
who had been sent for
horses appeared on neighborlng
hill at gallop. The bugles of the SOL
llers blew II retreat and the federais
fell back about mile, whore they
took a stronger position In n shallow
canon. The field was left to the In
The eighteen rebels had
held at bay nearly ten
lines their number for three hours.
The insurrectos buried their dead,
jared for the wounded. packed their
and two hours later start
ID across country for El Burro. n
on which they have estab-
ished u stronghold.
The report from Mexican govern
nent sources that detachment OF
had crossed the river and
ircd on the soldiers OF the American
hide is denied by the insurrectos, who
iay that If they wished to do so, after
he fight started Il would have been
impossible as the ford. the only cross
ng place, was literally churned by
1ullets ana man could not have
lyed to reach the opposite side.
So far as Is known, only one man
'rossed the river TO the American
iide. He was a press correspondent
md he did not not do so until two
iours after the battle and then under
over OF darkness.
The insurrectos have strongly
ortifled cnmp In the mountains and
more than 150 men under arms ut
hat point They are well armed and
,lontifully supplied with ammunition.