The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-03-24
SEEKING RANGERS
WHO WILL SHOOT
Governor COIquitt Plans to Recruit
His Army-TeXan las Close
Call.

Austin, Texas, March 20.-Reports
of new disorders along the Mexican
border, including the a tempted kid
mapping Of an American citizen by
five Mexicans, today caused Gov. o. B.
Colquitt to order the Rangers force
recruited with "men who can shoot
81 have instructed Capt Hughes to
| look for more men suitable for the
Ranger service My Instructions to
him are to get men who can shoot
and will shoot when necessary" said
Gov. Colquiett tonight.
Capt. Hughes commands the Ranger
force, which has headquarters at Ray
mondville, Cameron county, in the ex-
treme southeastern section Of tine
State. Brownsville, opposite Mata-
moras, Mex, is the county seat. Cam
eron county citizens today asked the
governor for protection. Several fill
clustering expeditions have been re-
ported this week operating along that
section of the border.
Two kilograms today formed the
basis of the governors action in Or
dering the Ranger force increased.
The first reported the kidnapping OF
an American, Charles Ballard, by five
Mexicans, near Carrizo Springs. The
second was the petition from Cameron
county citizens The Ballard telegram
sent by Sheriff Gardner of Dimmitt
county, to the governor, dated March
19, reads:
:"Char!es Ballard, American was,
kidnapped from city yesterday morn
iGg at o'clock by five Mexicans and
led by rope around neck and hands
tied behind him to Rio Grande river
a5 mouth of San Ambrosia creek, near
San Pedro ranch. When led into
river, he cut the rope, freed himself,
and diving down stream, escaped to
the Mexican side, where ne was shot
at several times but not hurt. He
plunged into the river, diving down,
swan to American side and escaped
10 San Pedro ranch, four miles from
Rio Grande. All indications point to
federal Mexican soldiers Have sent
for Ballard; will arrive tomorrow
evening"
Sheriff Gardner went in pursuit
with posse, and the Rangers and
United States army border patrol also
began search for the men but Jney
were thought to have escaped into
Mexico.
The Cameron county petition de-
clared murder and robbery are being
committed freely and appealed for
Ranger protection. The killing OF
two men, both wealthy Mexicans, was
cited.
AT practically all places in the
county where Mexicans of the common
class gather for their amusement,
whiskey, beer and mescal are being
sold openly without State, county or
federal licenses" said the petition.
Ranger Capt. J. ]. Sanders tonight
made an official report from Laredo
on the Ballard kidnapping to Gov. Col
quit 1t was Capt. Sanders who re-
ceived the body of Clemente Vergara
when it recently was returned from
Mexico. His telegram tonight stated:
about noon Wednesday Mexican
asked Ballard TO go into the country
and repair a gas engine. They left
Carrizo Springs on foot. Along the
road they met four other MeXicans
with five horses, who came out Of the
brush and stopped Ballard, tied his
hands behind him, placed a rope
around his neck and started to the Rio
Grande. Ballard was walking, the
AIeXicans riding. During theA night
Ballard got his knife from his hip
pocket and cut his hands loose, but
continued to hold them behind him
until they reached the river. When in
deep water he cut the rope from his
neck and dived towards the Mexican
side. While swimming he was fred
a. by the Mexicans. He reached the
Mexican side, ran down the river
bank, dived in and swan to the Texas
side. Officers have just returned to
Carrie Springs with Ballard, who
seems very sore and nervous He mas