South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-02-10
BANDIT WHO AIDED
IN WRECK PLOT IS
PRISONER IN j. s.
Member of CaSteIIo'S Gang,
Which Caused Death of 40
in Mexican Tunnel Crash,
CAPTURE Near Border.

Ell PASO. Texas. Feb. 10.-Emelio
Garcia, one ~ the members OF Maxi
mo Castillo bandit gang which
wrecked a Mexico & Northwestern
passenger train with the loss of more
than two score lives in Big Cumbre
tunnel. was captured near Hachita on
the New Mexico border Tuesday and
turned over to the L. 5. military au
thOrities.
The arrest was made by Joan Gar
cia, a secret service agent i'm the en-
plOy OF the cOnstitutiOnalists At first
Garcia denied he was a member Of
Castillo's brigands, but later confess
ed that he was a member of the band
that cOncocted the diabolical plot at
Big Cumbre that resulted in the
deaths Of many persons. among them
l . Americans.
Constitutionalist soldiers escorted
Garcia to the line and turned him
over TO Capt. White, L. S. A., COM
manding the border patrol at Hach-
ita. Word of the capture was receiv-
ed here by Gen. Hugh L. Scott. who
was asked for instructions regarding
the disposition of the prisoner.
According 10 press dispatches from
Hachita, the prisoner gave a detailed
story of the incident at Big Cumbre
tunnel.
Castillo. the chief of the band,
feared that troops were going TO be
sent against him from Pearson or
Casas Grande." said Garcia land he
decided TO blow up the tunnel at Big
Cumbre to prevent pursuit. Mines
were planted along the tracks IN the
tunnel which were arranged to eX
plOde on contact.
after Castillo had planted the
mines he held a council with his men
and it was decided to wreck a train
in the tunnel to make the blockade
absolute. Accordingly the bandits
took possession of a freight train, set
the cars on fire and pushed them in
the heart of the tunnel"
p. ReScuers penetrated the Cumbre
tunnel Monday from the south portal
and got as far as the Wreckage of the
express and baggage car. The only
human remains found other than the
charred bones found near the locomO-
tive Sunday. were some human ribs.
These are supposed to be the bones of
r. V. Blanco, express messenger.
Blanco had been I'm the service of the
Wells-Fargo Express Co. for z years.
He was employed in union station, FL
PasO. until Jan. 20. when, owing Go a
shortage of route agents, he was as
signed TO the Mexican Northwestern
run. This was his first through trip.
One hundred and sixty soldiers un-
der command of Longino Antillon ar
rived Monday morning from Te-
mosachie to take up the trail Of Max
imo Castillo's marauders and TO follow
them until all, including his sympa-
thizers, have been exterminated. The
pursuers will be divided into five par
ties. They will go north to Las PalO-
mas, each following a different trail
and covering a territory W de enough
to enable them to sweep The country
clear of lurking bandits. Nothing
definite regarding Castillo's where
abouts is known, but he is reported in
the vicinity of Hot Valley.
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 10.-ROdolfo
Reyes, who was arrested together with
a number Of members of the chamber
of deputies a short time ago, was re-
leased from the penitentiary Monday
upon the express orders of Pres.
Huerta. Political charges had been
made against him.
This act of amnesty, it was said. was
due to the fact that this is the ami
versary of the death Of Gen, Bern
ardo Reyes. father of the released
prisoner. who was shot a the begin
ming Of the battle Of Mexico City, one
year ago.