The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-18
1881. SUMTER s. c. WEDNEsDAY FERRnAR7 ~ 7o14
FEOERALS GROSS BORDER.
HUERTA RECRUITS MAKE GOOD
THEIR PASSAGE.
Villa Has Men Out Looking For
Band Which Has Slipped Across
Leave Horses Behind Them.

Eel Paso, Texas. Feb. 12.-The fed
eral recruits who made a successful
dash across the Rio Grande last night
at Ysleta, apparently were safe from
pursuit today. although the rebel COM
mander, Gen. Francisco Villa, at
Js.urez said detachments Of his men
were securing the country southeast
Of here.
Eleven prisoners. including Jose
Maria Martinez, were brought into
the Juarez cuartel. Reports that q
OF the fugitive recruits had been shot
across the river from Ysleta were not
confirmed. Martinez is said to be
relative OF the federal Gen. Pascual
Orozco.
Four Mex.cans rounded up last
night by Capt. Davidson of the Thir-
teenth cavalry were today ordered
kept under close surv, lance. Juan
Rodriguez, one Of the number, said
that, before the arrival Of the Amer
lean troops, the Mexicans made off
with 27 horses This statement cor
roboraies that Of corporal Of the
Fifteenth cavalry. who, while secret
ed in ditch, saw three small detach-
ments of Mexicans. all mounted leave
the corral in the direction Of the river
Rodriguez said the Mexican federal
consul at FL Paso. Alfred Mesquiz,
employed him TO care for the horses,
but the allegation was denied by that
official
Nobody could be found to claim the
horses saved by the arrival Of the
troops last night.
Meanwhile Gen. Hugh L. Scott. IN
command at Fort Bliss, instructed his
officers to have nothing to do with
the animals lest the army be put to
the labor and expense OF caring Cor
them. There are about 200 Of them,
or. with the 27 captured by the Mex
leans. almost enough to have mount
cd the force. said to have numbered
258 men.
The failure Of an owner to appear
today led TO the conclusion that the
first suspicion that the horses and
saddles had been secretly collected al
the corral as part Of the plot was
correct.
AS the incident constitutes a viola
tion OF the neutrality laws, the inves-
tigation falls into the hands Of Rober;
T. Neill. United States district at.
torney here.
Gen. Scott turned over to the pros
ecutor n complete report, but the at.
torncy said he had been unable to get
an investigation under way although
he was making preliminary inquiries.
II appears the purpose OF the re-
cruits was to Join another federal
force reported in the vicinity Of Ola
Aqua. near the railroad between here
and Chihuahua. Villas spies reported
that 1t was the purpose Of this force
to wreck the railroad Attached to
one OF the saddles saved last night By
the Americans was a box Of dyna-
mite fuses.
The most important information
available today came from j. Todd
McClammy, Villas cattle agent on the
American side. who said he succeed
cd in getting two spies into the mys-
terious company at Ysleta, where they
observed the fullness OF equipment of
the men and obtained other valuable
information. McClammy notified
villa, who sent out soldiers. but most
# the fedcrdls appear to have elud
cd him.
Gen. Scott. assisted by Lieut.. Wal
ter Neill. is his own scout service, no
provision for this branch of the
work having been made He has
called on a great many people along
the border and makes 1t a point tu
enlarge his acquaintance every day.