The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-03-16
SIXTEEN AMERICANS SLAIN
BY MEXICAN OUTLAWS IN NEW
MEXICO TOWN.
Bandits Were Led by Gen. Francisco
Villa, Who Escaped Into
Mexico.

with oDO men he attacked DuS,
n. NJ, killed at least sixteen Ameri-
| cans and fired many buildings before
! he was driven back across the inter-
national border
Not less than $50 troopers of the
18th United States cavalry followed
the Villa bandits into Mexico. Re-
ports late today to Col. Slocum, COM
manding American troops here, stat
ed that Villa had made stand five
miles south of the border, where spir-
tied fighting was in progress In this
engagement private was killed and
Capt. George Williams, adjutant of
the 18th cavalry, was wounded.
The small detachment of troopers
under Major Frank Tomkins and Ell
mer Lindsey, fighting dismounted,
! made a determined stand against the
| renewed Villa attack, and at last re-
ports were holding their ground.
halU ffOVeu COSuy.
The raid on American territory
proved costly to the bandit chieftain
The bodies of eighteen bandits, in
| Guiding Pablo Lopez, second in COM
mand, had been gathered and burned
before noon and troopers reported an
undetermined number of dead still
lying in the brush. Led to the attack
under the slogan death to the Amer
: cans" Villas followers fought with
desperation. Just before dawn they
crept along bitches skirting the Unit
ed States cavalry camp and rushed
the sleeping men, firing heavily.
The first volley brought American
troopers into almost instant action.
While portion of the raiders engag-
ed the cavalrymen others began ap-
plying the torch and shooting Ameri-
can civilians who ventured from the
buildings. Lights in homes and pub
lie buildings Immediately became tar
gets for snipers posted at Villas di-
rection. Other bandits creeping close
to American homes enticed a num-
Der of civilians into the open with
English-spoken invitations. A num-
! Der of fatalities are attributed to this
ruse.
Stores Looted
Stores were looted, oil was poured
upon frame structures and the match
applied by still other bandits. The
postofice was raided, but the looters
got only one small registered pack
age.
Many civilians barricaded them
selves in their homes and fired at the
Mexicans as they darted through the
streets. The fighting in the town
ended almost as suddenly as it began.
Less than two hours after the first
shot was heard Villas buglers sound
ed the retreat and the raiders began
a disorderly flight, closely followed
by American troopers.
Mrs. Maud Hawk Wright, an Amer
lean woman who said she was held
captive by Villa for nine days, and
was liberated during today's fight
ing, declared that Villa announced on
March 1 his intention to attack Co.
lumbus. Villa then proceeded north
under forced marches, she said.
Scant Supplies.
Villas men, with scant supplies,
suffered severely, Mrs. Wright said,
and many dropped from their horses
on the march to Boca Grande. Villa,
she declared, ruled them by fear, and
his officers with the flats of their
swords beat the soldiers into ANNA
tion sufficiently to reach that point,
where they rested and prepared for
the raid.
Tuesday, Mrs. Wright related, Vii
la bandits attacked employees of the
Palomas Cattle company engaged in
rounding up cattle and killed four
Americans.
Mrs. Wright said her husband, Ed
ward John Wright, formerly from
Houston, Texas, and Frank Hayden,
a youth, employed at the La Borga
mill, were taken from the Wright
Ranch March 1 and presumably kill
ed. When she was taken prisoner
and forced to ride away with a de-
tachment of Villas men under Col.
Nicholas Servantes, she said bandit
ordered her to give her baby to
Mexican family.
Told Pitiful Story.
Mrs. Wright was cared for today
at the home of Mrs Slocum, wife Of
Col. Slocum. There she told the
story of her capture and experiences
from the time she was taken from the
ranch at Colonia Hernandez, west of
Pearson, where the de facto Mexican
government was reported to have