The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1911-03-16
WITNESS BIG BATTLE
Thousands Il Spectators See Fight
and Give First Aid.
Americans in Automobiles Carry Away
Wounded = Insurgents Fail to
Trap Federals.


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 Cen
eral Jose de la Luce Blanco, and a
Federal force of 300, directed by Col
oneI 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 9 O'Clock the rebels were
seen streaming over little bog and
pouring down into the side draw from
the international line, the Americans
began 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
a 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 peri ct patrol along the
line.
After mystifying both the Mexican
officials and the Americans on the Dor.
der for week, Blanco surprised al
by suddenly breaking out of the can
yon leading from Cenizes Springs anc
attacked the Federal force of 300 mer
that had been rushed into Aqua Priets
last night on a special train under
command of Colonel Mora. Except ;
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 t
| throw out a skirmish line for the pur
pose OF drawing the Federals into &C
, ton to ascertain their strength.
: The battle lasted an hour and it
! believed that the retreat that followe
, was for the purpose of drawing tn
Federals into the canyon, where tn
main body of Blanco's forces wa
ready for action. The Federals, how
9 ever, after spirited pursuit, rallie'
and returned to Aqua Prieta, refusing
l. to be entrapped.
The rebles, after short encounter
at close range, galloped over the cres
g f the draw, the Federals following
S AS the Federals appeared on hig
d ground, the insurgents poured in thei
n most deadly fire, and it was at thi
: point that most of the Federal soldier
were shot.
Lieutenant Manuel Robes, of tn
, 9th, fell shot through the right shou
- der and the right arm. Lieutenar
Susano Morales, also of the 27ti
!. dropped with almost an identic;
wound.
= Probably the loss of these two me
= affected the ranks of the Federals, fc
: the troops on the left wing swun
- around blindly over the next ridg,
where they were encountered by
rebels at range not greater than 20
yards. Here fell Corporal Geronim
= VEGAS, his right leg shattered clos
. to the hip. Silvestro Ramirez, of tt
= 9th, was also shot through the rigf
" leg and five soldiers were killed.