The chronicle=news., 1914-12-01


servers OF Mexican affairs discover
ed that the "unlettered bandit gen
elal' was born genius as a stratc-
gist and commander, and from the
time of his first prominence as a fol-
lower of the constitutionalist chief.
Carranza, there appeared the possi-
bility that he would some day COM
pletely oyershadow this mild-man-
nered old lawyer-general as leader
in Mexico.
Now that he has entered Mexico
City. the capital itself scarcely
knows who Villa is. However IA
miiiar his name, Villa has never
ceased to be an enigma. Those who
have seen the Worst side of him have
never pictured him better than
primitive man, still the red-lianded
bandit he was years ago. Others see
him changed SO remarkably as to
look seriously to him as the Saviour
of Mexico
| Sketching what is most Interesting
about Villa rather than what, per-
Ibaps,l is the, most veracious. there is
the romantic story OF how he turned
bandit. Born in 1858, in the little
mining town of Las Nieves, in the
state of Durango, he remained there
until the death of his father. Then,
as a protector of his mother and Sis
ter. he became a cowboy in western
4 IChihuahua. From their parents.
who were poems of northern Mexico
4 (some accounts say of Il very good
family, the children had inherited
Spanish and Indian blood traits. The
story is that when regiment of
Porfirio Diaz' soldiers once visited
the town, the eyes of captain
alighted on Villas sister. There
was an elopment witout marriage
The most melodramatic accounts say
that Villa galloped after the elopers,
caught them and arranged their
marriage. Then he told his newly
acquired brother-in-law to sign his
own death certificate, dig his own
grave aad lie beside it. Villa shot
the bridegroom and rolled him into
the grave. President Diaz, hearing
of his officers death, set a price
on Villas head Whatever the eX-
act truth, something OF this sort oc-
jcurred
L Villa escaped to the mountains and
became bandit. His real name had
been Doreteo Orange. but as ban
dit lie became known as Francisco
and "Pancho" Villa. He gathered
together number of desperate men
of the northern mountain country,
and within few months his name
was the terror of the region. He
was Robin Hood incarnate. He and
Ihis band subsisted by robbery and
pillage on the Chihuahua moun-
Itains.
| According to the more generous
estimates OF Villas life at this time.
Il his outlawry was rather in the form
of guerilla warfare than actual brig
andage. for the purpose of satisfying
his revenge upon the dictator, Diaz.
H At the outbreak of the Madero revolt
against Diaz in 1910, Villa, unasked.
cast his lot with the Maderists. and
rendered such valuable aid that Ma
luerO WAS iOIteu " leCoShlEe tiic pSoh
commander. When Madero sent
! General Huerta into the north to
combat the orozco rebellion. Villa
and Huerta came to a clash. They
were much alike. Each contemptu-
| Gus of the other. Huerta had Villa
ARRESTED and condemned to death by
La military court for characterization,
but Madero's debt to Villa saved him
frem this extreme penalty. He was
taken to Mexico City as a prisoner,
readily escaped, and pushed Ills way
north again, seeking refuge across
the Texas border.
Villas rise to his present power
dates from the day - little less
than two years ago - when he start
ed across the Rio Grande with two
companions, six borrowed horses,
81 in money. and meager supply
of beans, coffee and sugar. Less than
a year later he was the head OF q