Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1911-03-16
WITNESS BIG BATTLE.
Thousands Of Spectators See Fight
and Give First Aid.
Americans in Automobiles Carry Away
Wounded A. Insurgents Fail to
Trap Federals.

Douglas, Ariz., March 1S. Eleven
Federal soldiers dead, IL wounded,
with the losses to the rebels unknown,
is the result of battle just east of
Aqua Prieta today. The opposing
forces were 500 insurrectos under Gen
eral Jose de la Luce Blanco, and a
Federal force of 800, directed by Col
onel Mora.
The battle was spectacular and was
witnessed by fully 5000 American,
many of whom rushed close to the bat
tlefeld while the fighting was still at
its height. After the smoke had
cleared away, it was Americans in
automobiles who gave the first aid to
the wounded, hurrying them to Aqua
Prieta, where two American physi-
clans were in readiness to assist the
Mexican army surgeons.
If there were any rebels killed or
wounded they were taken back to the
mountains by their comrades.
When at O'Clock the rebels were
seen streaming over little bog and
pouring down into the side draw from
the international line, the Americans
began a rush from Douglas to the
boundary by the thousands, mounting
to the house tops and watching the
rebel movement with field glasses.
Automobiles streamed from all di-
rections. Soon the entire country
from the American custom house to
the Eastern outskirts of the city was
solid phalanx of sightseers.
When it was seen the rebels were
advancing on the town, the commits
sario Of police in Aqua Prieta, La
borio Vasquesa, telephoned to Captain
Johnston, commander of the Third
United States cavalry troops at Doug
las, and within Is minutes the troops
had galloped through the city and had
established perfect patrol along the
line.
After mystifying both the Mexican
officials and the Americans on the bor-
der for a week, Blanco surprised all
by suddenly breaking out of the can
yon leading from Cenizes Springs and
attacked the Federal force of 300 men
that had been rushed into Aqua Prieta
last night on a special train under
command of Colonel Mora. Except a
few prisoners taken by the Federals,
the rebels retreated in good order
1t is understood that Blanco's entire
force did not participate in the en-
gagement. His first action was to
throw out skirmish line for the pur-
pose of drawing the Federals into ac-
tion to ascertain their strength.
The battle lasted an hour and it is
believed that the retreat that followed
was for the purpose of drawing the
Federals into the canyon, where the
main body of Blanco's forces was
ready for action. The Federals, how
ever, after spirited pursuit, rallied
and returned to Aqua Prieta, refusing
to be entrapped.
The rebles, after a short encounter,
at close range, galloped over the crest
Of the draw, the Federals following.
AS the Federals appeared on high
ground, the insurgents poured in their
most deadly fire, and it was at this
point that most of the Federal soldiers
were shot.
Lieutenant Manuel Robles, of the
9th, fell shot through the right shoul-
der and the right arm. Lieutenant
Susano Morales, also of the 9th,
dropped with almost an identical
wound.
Probably the loss of these two men
affected the ranks of the Federals, for
the troops on the left wing swung
around blindly over the next ridge,
where they were encountered by 80
rebels at range not greater than 200
yards. Here fell Corporal Geronimo
Viegas, his right leg shattered close
to the hip. Silvestro Ramirez, of the
27th, was also shot through the right
laor opd Gua unl6iaro xryoro I,l1oJ