Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-02-14
SAvAGERY IN MEXICO.
Federal Soldiers Murder innocent Old
Nom -Combatants.

Federal Soldiers Murder innocent Old
Nom -Combatants.
Mulata, Mexico, via Preside, Tex,
Feeb. 9, via Maria. Tex, Feb. 12.-In
the recent fight near here between
Mexican federals and the insurrectos
under General Ortega, in which the
former were forced to retreat, an AS
ISOLATED Press correspondent was with
the insurrectos. The bodies Of the four
old non-combatants whose deaths are
laid to the federals were found in a
farm house near Mulata. They were
Eucevio de La Cruz, Cruz Samaneijo,
Decederio Garrasco and Matias Car
rasco. One of the men was 80 years
old, another was blind and another a
cripple. All were white haired. This
morning the insurrectos found those
old men with their hands tied behind
their backs lying riddled with bullets.
One was slashed across the face by a
sabre.
Several Americans viewed the bodies,
photos were taken and several signed
an affidavit describing the incident.
This sworn statement will be sent to
Washington.
dramatic incident followed the dis
covery Of the four murdered men. A
government soldier had been found ly-
ing wounded In the field. He had been
cared for and fed. When the mur-
dered men were found several insur-
rectos made a rush for the plaza In
Mulata to get revenge by killing this
wounded soldier. In the crowd was a
son and a nephew Of one Of the aged
martyrs.
Like crazy men they ran yelling into
the plaza and dragged the soldier into
the street. Many argued against him,
but others maddened by the sight Of
the butchered old men drew their pis-
tolls and declared they would kill any
man that tried to stop them. At that
moment Ortega, the insurrecto COM
mander, rode into the plaza and called
a halt.
my children" he said, II have had
a home laid in ruins and wife and
babies driven naked and starving into
the hills, and / am not yet ready to
kill an unarmed wounded man."
The rage faded from the eyes Of the
crowd and only one, the son, stepped
forward to take the soldiers life. Or
tega drew his pistol. 1T would break
my heart to have to kill comrade," he
said, but we shall not be murderers."
The wounded soldier was picked up,
mumbling his praises in terror, and
removed to a shanty.
In the two days battle the federals
lost ten to twenty men and the pro-
nunciados lost one man killed and one
wounded. The dead man, Hilario San
chez, was shot while batterine In a
door Of a house with the Scotchman F.
S. McCombs, to get a squad Of SOL
diers
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
Diabel among the insurectos. His
home Is in Seattle, Wash.
During the entire fight the insurrec-
tos forced the fighting. The federals
advanced along the road to within 500
yards of the town. When fired on they
halted and for two days did not ad-
vance. Their two field guns and ma
chine guns were kept playing upon the
insurrectos lines, but did no serious
damage.
A battle line was formed with the
infantry on the left of the Rio Grande
and the cavalry guarding the right
flank A flanking party Of sixteen in
surrectos drove in the infantry and
the cavalry was driven in three times.
The battle started at 10 o'clock Feb
ruary 7 and lasted to 8 o'clock the
night of the 8th. The federals had
600 soldiers in the field and the in
surrectos mustered about 200 men.
During the second days fighting the
federals were completely surrounded
and were driven back each time sor-
tie was attempted.
In the evening Ortega made an in
spection Of the different detachments
and found that their ammunition was
almost exhausted. When the federals
began their retreat the insurrectos
were not able to halt them, but gave
chase for several miles down the road.
In the official report Gen. Luque and
Col. Dorantes claim that only seven
soldiers were killed. The Associated
Press correspondent was present when
twelve soldiers in uniform were dug up
from their graves and several other
graves were not counted. Five more
graves were found at another spot and
three dead men, including one captain,
were brought into Ojinaga. These men
were WOuIlueu dlu uISu Oii lhc iodu'
Twenty-Five dead Is a conservative
estimate. The federals had about fifty
men missing when they returned to
Ojinaga, but 1t Is known that at least
twelve deserted. Bullets frequently
fell among the American soldiers and
federal officers guarding the American
side Of the Rio Grande.
Capt. Williams, commanding the
troops, may make a report OF the in
cident to Washington.
The insurgents announce their inten-
tion Of capturing Ojinaga as soon as
they get supply Of ammunition.
Coyame thirty-five miles from Ojin-
aga, is surrounded by band of insur-
rectos under Emilio Salgado, who has
demanded the surrender of the govern
ment stores and archives. The town
Is garrisoned by a small company OF
rurales and a company of armed citi-
Zens. Salgado could easily capture the
place, but says he will give the garri-
son an opportunity to surrender In or
der to avoid the accidental killing or
non -combatants. Five boys, all Amer
lean citizens, were captured by MeXi-
can rurales yesterday while bathing In
the Rio Grande. The rurales shot at
them and compelled them to wade
across the river and surrender.
The boys were released this morning
after being locked up all night. Capt.
Williams, commanding the American
troops at Preside, was on the point
of ordering the commander of Ojinaga
to release the boys when they returned
to Preside.