The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-21
TRUE STORY OF FIGHT.
Associated Press Correspondent Denies
Mexican Version.

DOUGLAS. Ariz.. April 2o-The de-
tails OF Minister De La Barras response
firing into Douglas by the Mexican fed
era troops and rebels were received here
today. One of the claims OF Senor De
La Earra Is that Lieutenant Troncozee.
of the Mexican federal army, was wound
ed by shot from the American custom
house that shots came from this custom
house constantly during the struggle ana
that IL was not plain whether the SHOTS
came from revolutonlsts who might
have taken possession of the custom
house. or from American sympathizers
with the revolutionists who were pres
ent In the United States building.
The Associated Press correspondent.
who is on the ground. makes the FOL-
lowing statement;
Correspondent Story.
"On the day of the battle the insur-
gents did come very near the American
custom house. which was situated north :
west of Aqua Prlcta. but at no time did
cross Into American territory. Ihe
American cavalry arrived Immediately
after the battlc opened and took posses
sion OF all ground on the American side
near the custom house. The American
troopers ran patrol from both SIDES
OF the building extending, along the
rebels, who were firing from the west OF
the custom house, backed into the
American line and were Immediately ar
rested by the American cavalry; dis
armed and not permitted to go back into
the fight.
custom house. which extends around
three sides OF the building, east, south
and north. and which are the only sides
that could be struck by federal bullets
from Aqua Prleta except those passing
OF frame construction and II was pierced
by the Mauser bullets.
Many Americans and Mexlcans
crowded these three sides OF the porch.
saw not single gun in the hands OF
any sightseers. except the American me
riders. The customs officials and Ameri-
can civil officers certainly never fired n
shot. Once when the rebels at the rail-
road began backward movement Tor
AN instant, Mexican symp@thizers on . ne
were instantly sllenced. not only by
American civil officers and the line rid
ers, but by the. American civilians,
among them myself. as we feared draw
Ing the federal fire into this crowd on
All This happened IN Thursdaay's, bat.
were attacking Aqua Prieta II was dur
Ing this battle that Robert Harrington,
an American switchman. was killed In
and many other Americans Injured on the
American side OF the line.
During this battle not shot, was
fred from the American custom house
II. Some ground, stu American terri
tory, extends about fifty feet south OF
the American custom mousse ana inc
American troopers carefully guarded
this strip so that the rebels could not
get to the westward OF the American
custom house to use It as a shelter.
Major Schroeder OF the American
army hospital corps established his am
bulance corps In this strip to the west
OF the custom house and a little to the
south of it and there the wounded were
treated These wounded were rebels who
were shot near the line at this point and
carried by other rebels TO the American
side and disarmed.
"The following day, on my way to the
Mexican line, l presented my pass, signed
by Captain GauJot 10 the American
troopers and was passed over the line to
the Mexican guardhouse ON Mexican ter
ritory.
"I saw an American rebel approach
Captain Gauiot at the line. This Ameri-
can rebel was handling a gun. He asked
Captain Gaujot. who was on American
territory, If he. the rebel. might send
the firing PIN OF his gun across the line
into Douglas TO have II repaired You
certainly cannot was the captains re-
ply.
rebel passport signed by Colonel Me-
dina, jefe of Aqua Prieta. When return
Ing TO my automobile this same AmerI-
can rebel came up to me at the machine.
but he was Immediately ordered back
by an American trooper.
81 do not know what orders Captain
Gaujot issued to either the rebels or the
federals about trenchIng.'