The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-01-14
BATTLE ON THE BORDER
Cool Bravery and Good Workmanship
of InsurrectOs Too Much for the
Mexican Troops

Comstock, Tex, Jan. 14.-More than
twenty men were killed in a desperate
battle between the Mexican federal
soldiers and a small party of insur-
rectos on the bank Of the Rio Grande
opposite this point yesterday. The in
surrectos had only eighteen men and
for three hours they held at bay about
twenty-five rurales and about 100 in
fantry soldiers.
OF the eighteen inSurrectos two We're
killed and seven wounded. E. S. OReil-
ly. correspondent with the insurrectos,
received a slight wound in the thigh.
The arrival of twenty more insur-
rectos in the last few minutes of the
fight saved the defenders and prevent
ed what probably would have been a
massacre of the little band. The orig
ina1 party of insurrectos numbered 40
men. They had been on a raid through
the district south of Las Vacas. get
ting horses and recruits For two days
a party of seventy rurales had chased
the band and on the night of January
10 the party went TO the river to water
their jaded horses and rest, thinking
they had eluded the government forces.
The next morning twenty of the
band started for a ranch about twenty
miles away to get more horses.
The camp of insurrectos was dis
covered and a company of seventy in
fantrymen was mounted and sent to
the support of the squad of rurales.
When they approached the camp of
insurrectoS preparations were made to
give them a hot reception. Two of the
rebels were set at work packing extra
ammunition and rifles on mule back.
The eighteen remaining insurrectos
took position in a line drawn across
the trail of the advancing soldiers
The firing commenced at a distance of
about 800 yards. The insurgents pour
ed a volley into the enemy and three
soldiers fell The soldiers returned
the fire and the battle was on.
After half an hours continuous
| fighting the federals received rein
| forcements from their main body and
a charge was made on the insurrectos.
| AS they advanced the defenders of the
! pass sent a storm of bullets into their
ranks, firing coolly and making every
shot count. The federals advanced a
short distance and then returned TO
their original position.
| The firing continued and one by one
the band of insurrectos dropped from
the ranks either dead or wounded until
|
guns. Again the soldiers charged, this
| time approaching within fifty yards
of the gully where the insurrectos
were concealed. Not a man gave way
but continued firing deliberately unit
the soldiers again retreated. Both ir
the charges and retreats the ruraleE
kept their line in good order ant
showed no panic.
The steady fire and good aim of the
insurrectos was more than the soldier:
could stand and they shrank from
closing for a final assault.
The battle started at 4:20 o'clock ant
continued steadily until 7:30. AS dark
mess approached the twenty insurrec
tos who had been sent for horses ap
Ipeared on a neighbOring hill. ap
lproaching at a gallop. The bugler o
the soldiers blew a retreat. They fel
back about a mile where they took
stronger position in a shallow canyol
and the field was left to the insur
rectos.
The insurrectos buried their dead
feared for the wounded, packed thei
lequipment and two hours later start
ed across country for Ell Burro. tn
mountains where they have establish
ed their stronghold.