Bisbee daily review., 1912-05-01
FIVE AMERICAN MEN
HAVE FIERCE FIGHT



the match to set the oil on fire. and |
the light OF the match was the last
thing he saw on earth. We simply /
Tiddled him with buck-shOt from our
sawed-oh shot guns. His lieutenant I
then took compand of the rebels, and
ordered that all 'hombres' be killed, !
but cautioned his men TO take good
care not to kill the women and young
women. as he wanted them for him
self. We heard him shout this order.
There we're five married women and
one young lady at the ranch house,
all Americans. We five Americans
rad sawed-off shot guns. No. los, *.
TIA heavy, loaded with buck-shot, Gnl
We proceeded 10 do business %l.a
them We lay on a porch, fifteen feet
above the walks, behind bags Of
sand for protection-and we simply
moved them.
In the attacking force was an old
Mexican and three sons, all of whom
had befriended the American. One
Of the young MeXicans had been in
his employ for Ave months They
would have died for us the Ameri,
can said. as a sob rose in his throat
and quivered on his lips. The four
had been compelled by the rebels 60
join the band.
Killed His Friend
i saw the old man and his three
sons with the rebels, and l heard the
old man cry out. John, for the love
OF God, don't shoot -us. We are here
by force When / heard that | i'm.
mediately turned the barrel OF my
sawed-on gun at right angles. but at
the next shot ! killed the boy who
had been my friend, who had helped
my wife about her household duties.
and helped me on the ranch.
The memory Of this unfortunate
circumstance robbed the narrator Of
his composu-e again, and he sobbed
softly, as a strong man sobs when he
is affected.
The fighting lasted from 1880 to
three O'Clock in the morning. when
the rebels retired The night was
very dark. but the fighting was al
close range. and we could see the
piles Of dead bodies at the flashes Of
the rifles of the rebels. When they
( retired, I ran down stairs. and tOlC
the women to get ready TO leave
The rebels departed through the south
gate OF the hacienda, and we went
through the north gate. About three
hundred yards distant we reached
4 the river bed, a very shallow river
and dragged our women through 70
I the opposite side. We then ran
/ about three miles distant, where we
found a deeper river and took
I pOngo belonging TO the ranch, and
stayed with it for distance Of twelve
miles down the river. At six O'Clock
in the morning the rebels overlook rs
and compelled us 10 give up the
boat We took our women into the
brush then. and had 70 cut our way
through the underbrush and thorns
TO q road a distance OF about fifteen
. miles away. We were aiOOt all OF
the way and the women suffered ter.
riJly
Carried wife on Back
At about seven miles before we
got into Port del Rio my vile gave
out, and carried her on my back
for three miles. Finally we overlook
a Mexican woudcutter who had seven
burros. We held him up and TOOK
his burrOs, loading our women or
them. We compelled the Mexican 10
so with US SO that he would not 20
back and informe the rebels where
We had gone to. and kept him with
us on a boat Tor two days.
We got several canoes at Port del
Rio, belonging TO the COmichi ranch,
and went down the river to the haT
Dor Ct is called harbOr. but il is
very shallow where gasoline
launch belonging to the ranch was to
meet US. Twenty-Five minutes after
we left Port del Rio We we're fired
at at long range, but IS there was
no road or horse trail following the
river, they could not follow US The
distance to the coast was about TWEEN
ty-fye miles, which we made in the
small canoes. When We arrived al
the rivers mouth the launch was not
there To meet US. and VIC lay there
in the shallow bay in anchored ca
noes for two days and two nights
the sun broiIng hot in the day time
and without food for thirty-siX hours.
There was one baby in the party, a
bottle baby, and the father and I
went ashore 20 get milk for it, and
| provisions for the party. from Next
cans.
Got Milk for Baby
After we got the milk aud prOyiS
ions and were returning, and were
about 100 feet from the shore, about
thirty shots were fired at us The
bullets struck the boat. and by the
time We got to where the o. Fl boats
we're anche9etk we we've as ret As ID
we had sVtm, the whole distance.
they bay was rough that night. ane
the boats came very near capsizins
The launch 'cahle about midnight and
took us TO Mazatlan. There We took
coast steamer to GuaS mas, and We
came out Of Mexico by way eof No.
gales. We we-e charged thirty five
dollars apiece for the trip. which
believe was a hold-up.' $50
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