Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1913-02-22
PISTOL AND GUN
IN DEADLY DUEL
COL. FALCON PENA OF MATAMOR-
OS AND CAPTAIN OF TROOPS AT
SAN FERNANDO FOUGHT-LAT-
TER WAS KILLED.
THE CAPTAIN FIRED FIRST-PENA
WAS IN AUTO GOING TO SAN
FERNANDO CHAUFFEUR'S
NARROW ESCAPE.

4
terday afternoon near San Fernando, a
village 9S miles southwest of Matamoros
between Colonel Pena. Matamoros Of
| ficer, and the captain in command of
the San Fernando garrison. The shoot
ing resulted in the death of the captain.
whose name could not be learned here
today. According to reports, Colonel
Pena shot in self defense, the dead man
having fired the first shot, which is al
| legged to have been without justification.
| Colonel Pena was Ell route to San
| Fernando to take command of the gar
sisOn Of one hundred men located at
that village. He was being driven in
IN automobile by 7. A. Newman, well
known automobile machinist with the
\ Hinkley garage Of Brownsville, who
himself had narrow escape from one
Of the captains bullets. The colonel
was armed with 30-30 winchester rife,
while the captain had revolver. Mr..
Newman guessed that only four shots
we're exchanged during the fight.
Upon arriving within a few miles Of
San Fernando the automobile carrying
Colonel Pena, and driven by Mr.. New
man, was temporarily disabled by a
puncture While Newman was repair
ing the tire, Il troop of seven men on
horses. headed by Il captain. rode up to
the automobile and greetings were ex-
changed with Colonel Pena, who was
expected at San Fernando. The colonel
suggested that the men return to San
Fernando and have dinner ready and
he would come on in the automobile.
To this suggestion the men agreed and
they began the return trip to San Fer
nandO. The automobile overlook them
about a mile and hal fthis side Of San
Fernando, and when about a hundred
Yards to the rear Of the soldiers, the
captain waved a pistol in the direction
of the automobile. causing it to slow
down. The captain was riding in the
rear of his man. Dropping further be-
hind them. he rode ahead Of the auto
mobile short distance, al the time hold
ing a pistol in his hand. Colonel Pena
suggested that he return the pistol to its
holster.
The captain, who apparently had been
drinking, evidently became offended at
the command and in moment a shot
rang out. At this time the captain S
horse was to the front and just to the
left of the chauffeur's seat. The horse
became frightened when the shot was
fired and jumped to the right side of
the automobile. When the first shot was
| fired Newman jumped out Of the ma
chine. and before he could realize it the
captain was lying on the road, dead.
\ Had he not acted as quickly as he did
Mr.. Newman would have received a bul
! let through his right chest He was not
expecting trouble. and the shot was fired
before he realized that anything of the
kind was likely to happen. a bullet
hole near the top Of the back cushion OF
| the front seat. which came out about
eight inches to the left and at the back
of the front seat, is mute evidence of the
fact that. had Newman remained in his
place. the bullet would have gone
through his right chest.
The escape was a narrow one and was
made quicker than thought. Had he re
mained second longer, the fortunate
ing along the roadside with the dead
captain of the San Fernando Mexican
garrison of one hundred men. The
change of position by the horse from
one side of the road to the other side OF
the road placed Newman directly i'll the
line of fire. Colonel Pena having been
seated in the rear and ust to the left OF
the chauffeur.
The soldiers during this time remained
passive and merely looked on. After the
shooting, the colonel commanded them tC
continue their trip to San Fernando
where they soon arrived. amid the ring
ing Of bells and hundreds of cheers
Nothing was said ut the time of the
TRACED on the roadway. 1t occurred
about a mile and half from the village
Colone lPena, with Mr.. Newman driv
ing the automobile, went into San Fer
nando, and within short time the driv
er began his return trip to Brownsville
When he passed the point of the shoot
ing an hour and half later, the body
of the dead captain still lay at the road
side.
Mr.. Newman brought the automobile
in last night, and considers hiself ex
ceedingly fortunate to be alive to joiI
his family in this city. The hole made
by the captains bullet runs diagonall!
through the back of the chautfeur's seat
and enables one to easily picture the po