Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-03-16

' llla, outi5Weu mexican ban0lt, rdldC0
nited States territory to-day. With
500 men he attacked Columbus. killed
at least sixteen Americans and fired
many buildings before he was driven
back across the international border,
At least $50 troopers of the 18th
United states cavalry followed the Villa
band into Mexico. Reports late to-da y
to col. ". J, Slocum, commanding TINT
ted states troops at this point stated
that Villa had made IL stand five miles
south of the border, where spirited
lighting cnsued In this engagement
an unnamed private was killed and
Captain George Williams. adjutant of
the 18th cavalry. was wounded
The small detachment of troopers un-
der Major Frank Tompllins and Elmer
l.indsley, fighting dismounted, made q
determined stand against the renewed
Villa attack, and at last reports were
holding their ground
The raid on America territory
proved costly to the bandit chicftaiu
The bodies of eighteen bandits. includ
ing Pablo Lopez, second in command
had been gathered and burned before
noon and troopers reported n number
or dead still lying in the brush.
Led to the attack under tho slogan,
"D"ath to the hmericans." Villas fol
lowers fought with desperation. just
before dawn they crept along bitches
shIrtuG the United states cavalry
camp and rushed the sleeping town
firing heavily.
TROOPS RESPOND INSTANTLY.
The first Nolley brouEh, American
troopers into almost instant action. Whll'
part Of the raiders engaged the cavalry
men others began applying the torch auo
shooting American civilians who vcnturc'
from tn. buildings Lights in homes an,
public buildings immediately became
targets Tor sntpcrs posted at Villas direc
ton Other bandits creeping close /,
American homes cnticed number %
civilians into tho open with English
epokcn invitations. \ number of fatalitic:
are attributed to This rusc.
stores We're looted. oil was poured al
frame structures, and the match apple,
hv sull other bandits. The post officc wa
raidcd, furniture smashed, but the lootcr
obtained only ono small registered pack
nga
ATTACH LASTED TWO HOURS.
Many civilians barrica ded Themselves
FL their homes and fred at the Mexican!
81 thcy darted through Tho streets. TIL.
i-hting in the town ended almost n
suddenly as it began Loss than ~,
N"a's after tho FIRST shot was heard
N,lIas huglors sounded the retreat anc
t'o raiders b"sau a Gisordcrcd fight
closely followed by American troopers.
MACHINE GUNS FAILED.
Failure of the machine guns to work a
tho moment when they were most nccdcr
n the beginning 90 the fight between
Villa bandits and tho 18th cavalry wa,
the cause attributed for the escape Of tn,
bandits across tho border and also TO
tho relatively small loss of life anon,
them, according 10 Private Thomas Bar
tom Of the hospital corps. who with Pri
vato t.. NJ. Johnson brought five wound
cd soldiers and ono officer to FL Paso THU
, afternoon.
According to the men. tho attack he
gan near the edge of Columbus Their,
were no guns or weapons Of any kind il
tho hospital. Johnson said he killed on,
Villa bandit with an aHc which hc threv
n the fleeing Mexican passed tho hospi
tal shouting "Niva Villa"
Johnson also said the body Of pabl
Lopez, Villas lieutenant who directed tn
Nsabcl two months ago was identified
lle exhibited what he said were Iopcz'
lcEsius.
Private James Ncnuor. troop *. VIII
was shot through the Ghost saws h
killed four McNicanS and WAS raisin,
his rife to hro at another when u buI
Let struck him. lie says many Of IN
guns used 10y tho bandits were - cal
ihrc rifles and others wcrc Of ancicr
models. IN" villa mon, he said. ucr
without machine guns.
WOMAN CAPTrVT.'S STORY.
Mrs. Maud JTawl; Wright, an Amer
lean woman. WHO said she was hcI
captive 10y Villa nine DAYS and was lih
Grated in the midst of tu.daN's fghtiul
declared that Villa announced ON Marc
his intention to attack Columbus am
proceeded north under forced marchc
to carry ont his purpose.
Ills men, with scant supplies Of wat
or and meat, suffered severely. she sal,
and many dropped from their horse
on tho march to soca Grandc. NilI;
she declared, ruled them by fear am
his officers with the fats Of thci
swords beat tho soldiers into ANNA
tton sufficient to reach that poir
wherc they rested and prepared rc
the raid.
HER HUSBAND KILLED.
Tuesday, Mrs Wright related. yin
bandits attacked employees of the pal,
mas 'attl" company. engaged in roun'
me- up cattle, killing four Americans.
Mrs Wright said her husband, H.
ward John Wright, formerly Of liou
tom Texas, and Frank Hayden yout
employed at the I.arooker saw mill, we
taken from the Wright ranch March
and presumably killed. When she W;
taken prisoner and forced to ride ava
with n detachment of Villas men und
cot. Nicholas Scrvantcs. she said
bandit ordered her to give her baby
Mexican family.
Mrs, Wright was cared for to-day
the home of Mrs Slocum. wife
Colonel Slocum, There she told the sto
Of her capture and experiences from Il
time she was taken from the ranch
'olona Hernandez, west of Pcarso
where the de facto Mexican Governnc
Was reported to have maintained n hca'
garrison Tor the protection Of American
~ VILLA HAD i,5oo MEN
Up to yesterday, she said, Villa wo