New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-04
MEXICANS FIRE
ON U. 5. TROOPS
AND AEROPLANE
100 Shots Sent Across the
Border at Aviator Fly
ing Over Brownsville.
FOUR MORE BANDITS
SLAIN IN TEXAS
Carranza Is Told Signatures to
Pan'American Peace Appeal
Are Official.

Brownsville, Tex, Sept. 3.-Mexicans
en- the Mexican side of the Rio Grande
late to-day fired rearly a hundred
shots at an American army aeroplane
flying over Brownsville. They then
turned their guns against a squad Of
American soldiers on guard at the
Brownsville electric light plant.
When the firing started the soldiers
got behind shelter and returned the
fire. There were no casualties.
Four Mexican bandits killed by
American troops, a Mexican wom-
an shot to death by United
States soldiers and pursuit by
soldiers and rangers OF the band of
Mexican marauders who murdered two
Americans were other stirring features
to-day of the guerilla warfare that &c
raging along the border while the Pam
American conferrees are striving to
bring about peace in Mexico.
The killing of three bandits oc-
CURED at Los Guatros. fourteen miles
north of Brownsville. The shooting of
the woman was unintenti,na She had
been deserted by her husband when
outlaws appeared at their home, north
of here, and she started for the sol
diers' camp for protection. Approach
ing the camp in the darkness, she was
mistaken for a bandit and was fired on
and killed.
A detachment of the 18th United
States Cavalry early tonight had a
short fight with four Mexican bandits,
one of whom was killed and the three
others captured, about twelve miles
north of here. None of the cavalrymen
WAS injured. The prisoners were taken
to San Benito.
The search for the bandits who killed
Earl Donaldson, OF Fayette, Mo-, a
farmer, and J. II. Smith, engine tender
! Yesterday was pressed with vi.or. The
troops were spread out in line that
8 left no foot of the international boun-
,ary unpatrolled. They were ready TO
shoot on sight if the fifteen remaining
members OF the band made any effort
TO ford the swollen Rio Grande to Mex
ico and safety.
Citizens Join in Pursuit.
In addition TO the soldiers there were
hundreds of citizens. headed by Texas
Rangers, who pursued the trail of the
Mexicans to avenge the thefts OF cat.
/ tie, burning of barns, terrifying OF
women and the deaths of half dozen
! United States citizens.
The tactics of the MeXlcans yester-
day led army officers to believe that
/ the band was responsible Tor much OF
/ the outlawry Of the last several weeks
in border counties. First burning a
/ railroad trestle, the bandits yesterday
made away with number OF ranchers
horses. burned an irrigation pumping
! station and an automobile twelve miles
/ north of here and capped the day with
! the kidnapping of Donaldson. Smith
] and Stanley Dodd, contractor. Dodd
was unharmed by the Mexicans, VINO
apparently thought he was German.
/ Dodd. who escaped, to-day told how
/ Smith and Donaldson were murdered.
early yesterday | left San Benito
/ for a pumping plant | am building SIX
miles from that place. he said. "ln
nv automobile were three Mexican
workmen. We arrived at the plant soon
after o'clock and were working in
nit. when suddenly five Mexican ban
! dts came up and covered us with their
guns. quickly pulled one Of my Mexi-
! can workmen in front OF me. other-
wise | probably would have been shot
on the spot As the bandits took smith.
/ foreman OF the plant, and myself out
| of the pit, Earl Donaldson drove up IN
! a wagon. He was building a home near
B al
/ hitched his team and left the wagon IN
/ the road.
/ Discussed Disposition OF Prisoners.
"Then the Mexicans began a discus
! sion as 10 what they should do with us:
I For me the discussion lasted several
! hours. For Smith and Donaldson 1t was
not so long.
"After the bandits had escorted US a
short distance down the banks OF a
canal | was ordered 10 one slde. ny
/ this time several other members OF the
band had joined the first comers' II
4 looked as il II was all over win me-
as a GUN was levelled in my direction,
/ hut / caught hold Of Mexican, who
anneared 20 be some sort Of an ofhcer
n the band. and pushed him IN front
of me. nj, :.
smith called out: 'Goodby. Dodd, II
don't see you again. Then ne and
Donaldson were led of into the brush.
They soon were lost TO my view, ous
heard Two rife shots. quickly followed
by three more. Evidently i ponalosOdd foSOd
tried to run. for his BODY was iouhu
.hirtv feet from Smiths. ] think the
Npxicans wanted me TO attempt - es-
cape. because, apparently, they did not
watch me closely.
THAT / did not meet Donaldson's and
Smiths fate. | believe, was due TO the
fact that the Mexican with the sp-
pearance OF an officer told his com,
panions had once loaned him $40 /
ContIpued on page 3. column