The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1915-11-05
SOME DOUBT OF
VILLAS STATEMENT
Escaped American Prisoner
Says He Saw Four Men
Reported Dead.
AT HIS NEW CAPITAL.

AL HID NEW CAfIIAL.
villa Says He is On the Way to Her
mosilio by the Most Direct
s&a Route.
Naco, Ariz., Nov. 4.-Francisco
villa, with 5000 of his troops de-
feated Monday at Aqua Pritea by
the forces of Gen. P. Elias Gales,
Carranza commander there, reached
Naco, across the border from here,
today and told American army OFF,
GERS that four Americans were shot
down by Gales troops while succor-
ing wounded under a Red Cross flag
in front of the breastworks at Aqua
Prieta. villa also announced that
Naco would be the capital of Mexico.
The Americans killed we're. accord
ing to Villa:
DR.. r. H. Tighen. chief surgeon Of
the Cananea Consolidated Copper
Company; his assistant, DR.. Miller,
and two American chauffeurs, ]. D..
Pylant and A. l.. Wilson. Villa,
while formally expressing regret at
their death, declined tonight to say
where they are buried. He said he
could not permit any bodies to be
disinterredsSxen to clear doubt that
they actually had been killed.
This doubt was caused by the
statement of DR.. Frederick II. Wick
man of St. Louis, Mo-, who dashed
across the line this afternoon shout
ing that he was about to be shot and
afterward declared that he had seen
Doctors Tighen and Miller at 8
O'Clock last night. Wickman, how
ever, appeared to be somewhat dazed
from shock sustained while under a
death watch awaiting execution for
some unknown offense.
Four thousand of Villas men are
at Villaverde, a watering station, %
miles south on the Naco-Cananea
railroad.
villa began receiving supplies as
soon as he reached Naco. He stated
that he personally intended to leave
tonight. 1t was believed he may go
to Nogales, where the army here
would follow him, while the force at
Villaverde probably would be left to
oppose any pursuit by the Carranza
forces.
Through agents here, Villa sought
permission to have his wounded men
removed from Naco to Juarez over
American territory. His request was
forwarded to General Frederick Fun
ston, commanding the American
troops at Douglas. The supposed
shooting of the American doctors and
chauffeurs also was reported by Cen
era, Funston.
The troops Villa brought here to-
day appeared to be well fed. Their
transport animals also were in excel
lent condition.
General villa tonight gave out a
personal statement as follows:
"I am on my way to Hermosillo
by the most direct route. My losses
at Aqua Prieta were 25 killed and
100 wounded.
"I have 5000 men with me and /
/. have given my word that no prop
efty will be destroyed at Cananea.
and my word is good"
From officials of the company 1t
was learned today that the Canaea
Consolidated Copper Company had
paid $4,000 Tor immunity. Other
concerns were also levied on, but no
figures were obtainable on the
amounts Of the contributions.
Regarding reparation for the lives
OF the Americans reported killed,
General Funston when told of their
deeth Is said to have informed in
quirers that all he could do was to
obtain permission from General CAL
les to search the battlefield for the
bodies. III the bodies are found.
protest would be fled with Gales
against. the killing by his troops of
non-combatants and against the fir
Ing on the Red Crosse flag, rnrston
seld ';f 5ss.s.5