Bisbee daily review., 1912-04-18
FIERCE FIGHT
 WITH BANDITS
Former Bisbee Man Tells Of Trouble Americans Are Having at
 Velarflena
IS TOO WARM FOR HIM

C. D. Crane. Of Vclardena. Mexico
 below Torreon. arrived in the city
 yesterday and will spend several
 days here renewing old acquaintances
 Mir. Crane was employed at the Cop
 per Queen general offices about sev
 on years ago but since that time he
 has been with the Guggenheim inter
 ests at Velardena.
 Mir. Crane left Mexico for the req
 son. as he says, that he knew that if
 he remained he would be robbed oi
 more iE three days than he would
 be able to make ir three months. He says that the trouble around Velar- dena and outlying points near Tor. reon is not solely due to revolution. ary activity but the bandits, who make no Pretensions to respect Of foreigners and their property.
 Mir. Crane tells Of a thrilling fight with tho bandits at Velardeha. There Is large mercantile establishment. there. a branch Of large Torreon house. It is insured by Loyd's of England against footing and tho guard consists Of three Americans, fool Americans" Mr. Crane called them.
 The attitude of the American guard. which was very roOstery, excited the anger of the bandits and they threat ened vengeance. Several days later they attempted to take the store and began firing at about 700 yards. The Americans and others of the little town had posted themselves on the top of the school house and, acting Under orders of the Americans. sev- eral of whom had had experience in the PhilllPines, they reserved their fire until the bandits arrived at with- fin 200 yards, then opening with whitening fire. The Mexicans left seven deal on the field and fled in panic.
 This only served to make the bandits angrier and they again sent word they would take the town and loot the big store. The first arrived at the smelter, short distance from Velardeua and footed all residences there and telephoned the Americans at the store that they were coming. Three hundred bandits advanced from one direction and 200 from aI,- other. The warning gave the volun- teer guard time to send a request for aid to a neighboring town and forty responded. They got in sight of VeIardena just as the banc. it's began firing at long range. The relief squad double-timed and when they arrived and began pouring a steady fuSillade into the bandits it was a complete rout.
 Mir. Crare says that while the store has not yet been robbed and footed thatth e bandits will get it as soon as their needs become more press ing. The bandits are unlike the rebels" said MT. Crane, fin that they will fight They know nothing of most of them are des- perate characters and they fight like demons"
 MT. Crane and over a hundred oth- CT Americans got out of the VelaI- dena mining district on the last train that left there, the train consisting Of seven Pullmans. They went by way of Torreon and in the vicinity of San Pedro the train was halted by a band of 300 liberals but no one was robbed or harmed, as most of the Americans spoke tke Mexican Van- guage They came out of Mexico b. way of Eagle PisTs, Tex, and since that time Mir Cane has been visit ing relatives in Texas.
 Mir. Crane, after spending several days here. will go to Los Angeles and later to British Columbia, where he formerly resided. He possesses a beautiful gold watch that was given