Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1912-03-04
WERE STEALING HORSES
MARAUDERs WERE DISCOVERED
IN THE ACT OF MAKING AWAY
WITH LIVESTOCK
SEVERAL WERE seen TO FALL
PUNcHERs REPORT THAT 1T is
THEIR BELIEF THEY KILLED
FOUR MEN

Ell Paso, Tex, March 4.--Colonel E
2. Steever today dispatched Lieuten
ant Hill of the Twenty-second infan
try and a squad of soldiers to Col
umbus, N NJ, to investigate repor
that American cowboys and Mexican
rebels clashed on Saturday at Rancho
Las Palomas, 80 miles from Columbus
on the Mexican side.
According to the roprt, which was
transmitted to Colonel Steever for
investigation by the customs officers
the horses of the Americans were kill
ed and they retreated on foot to Col
umbus, after killing and wounding
several of the Mexicans. 1t is not
not known which side took the ag-
gressive, nor why the Americans were
on the ranch.
Il cannot say whether there is any
thing to the story" said Colonel
Steever, nor VIII until Lieutenant
HfIT has investigated and reported"
Cattlemen who passed through Col
umbus on their way to the cattlemen's
convention here today state that Ran
cho Las Palomas is owned by Ameri-
cans and Englishmen, and that the
Americans in the reported fight were
empolyed on the ranch. According to
this source of information the Ameri-
cans resisted when the Mexicans tried
to commander horses from the ranch.
The cowboys mounts were killed and
they retreated to the ranch house
where they resisted until the maraud-
ers rode away. They were exhaust
ed when they reached Columbus yes
terday afternoon and talked but little,
but before turning in for sleep, they
said they saw seven Mexicans fall,
and that they believed four of them
were killed.
According to an announcement at
rebel headquarters in Juarez today
the fighting reported at Chihuahua
Yesterday resulted in an insurrecto
victory. Five men were killed, it was
stated. It is said that Colonel Pancho
Villa attempted to take the town with
his loyal federal troops but was re-
pulsed by Pascual Orozco, now in
open rebellion against President Ma
dero. A mob is said to have sur
rounded the residence of Abram Con-
zales, governor Of the state of Chihua-
hua, and demanded his resignation.
The governors loyalty remained un-
shaken. He escaped from the city
taking refuge with ella, who, after
falling to capture the city. withdrew
to the hills eight miles away.
Il The troop trains which left Juarez
yesterday with 800 rebels on board
are reported to have made good prog
ress during the night. Colonel Dem
etrio Ponce, at Juarez. stated that his
detachment would be able to join
Orozeo at Chihuahua this afternoon
II needed in case aof another attack
10y villa. ~ 81
General Salazar and his staff, who
did not accompany the troops last
night are still at Juarez today. They
were waiting for one of the troop
trains to return over the Mexican
Central There was but one loco
/. motive in the Mexican yards and
General Salazar did not care to de-
priye the road of its use
Two Mexican rebels who strayed
past the boundary line last night are
in jail today. When American sen.
tries stopped them two of them, said
to have been the worse for liquor, re
sisted and we're arrested. Four others
in the party promptly retreated the
few steps necessary to take them
back to native soil. The men arrest
ed were armed.
All Quiet in Matamoros