Estancia news-herald. [volume] (Estancia, Torrance County, N.M.) 1912-19??, 1916-05-11
A GOOD TALKER

the state of Durango, in Mexico
He came into Estancia las
Thursday on foot, and said h
had walked from Eagle Pass
Texas. He was on his way t
Albuquerque, where he think
he can procure the means to liv
until it is safe for him to return
to his ranch in Mexico. His con
versation is interesting, and one
Of his statements in particular i,
more than interesting if true
He says he has been in Mexico
nineteen years, and in partner.
ship with three other men. two
of them natives, owns a large
ranch in the mountainous coun.
try northwest of the city OF
Durango, with thousando Of head
of horses, mules, cattle and
goats. He is an intimat4 trend
of Villa, the now famous bandit
having worked for him as a
freighter eighteen years ago.
And here is his statement that is
more than interesting: He says
he talked with Villa on his ranch
the evening previous to the
Columbus raid, and again the
next evening, and frequently
since, until he considered it wise
for himself to quit the country.
This is 450 miles from Columbus.
According to Ritter's statement
Villa has had his camp where it
now is, in the mountains near
the Ritter ranch, ever since his
to that fourth wife;
that the bandit is devoting his
entire attention to this lady, with
hunting and fishing as side is
sue to his amorous devotions,
and that he couldn't be pulled
away from there with a six mule
team.
Ritter says the fact that he is
a refugee is due to his friendship
for Villa, which has gained him
the bitter enmity of the Car
'ancistas. He says that Villa is
perfectly safe from the Carran-
;istas where he is; that he could
,all ten thousand men to his
standard at any time he so de-
sired, and that his enemies in
Mexico could never take him and
know better than to try. They
Know where he is, but they don't
want to see him.
Ritter's flight was due to a
aid on his ranch by Carrancistas
md the fear that the U. S. sol
liers might get down there to
lelp them, the advance guard |
laving been within eighty miles
# his ranch. In that event his
My safety would be with Villa,
nd he did not want to be drawn
nto fighting against the United
,tates.
Hence he decided that as he
nust otherwise join Villa he had
etter make an effort to get
cross the Rio Grande.
He had to make a run for it,
nd left with a single companion
4 an automobile. He went by
'ay of Torreon and San Pedro,
rossing the desert from the lat
er place to Monclova, and thence
D Piedras Negras. Here he an
lcipated danger in applying to
he Carranza officials for a pass
ort, and so decided to force the
'sue. He made a run for the
ridge at such high speed that
he guards were taken by sur
rise and could do nothing but
ct out of the way at both ends
f the bridge. He was quickly
ut of sight of the guards. but
ad to stop for something to eat,
nd was found by soldier who
lmmoned him before the COM
handing officer. He decided not
} face this trouble, and as his
had been passive and
7as unlikely to have serious
,ouble over the affair, the auto
lobile was left in the possession
{ the latter and Ritter slipped
ut and made his escape on foot.
lie made his way to San Antonio
nd thence by way of Lubbock
, New Mexico with the design
{ reaching Albuquerque,
This in brief is Ritter's story,
nd if it isn't true, it is an inter
5 ing romance.
He is a well informed man of
luch force and ability. That
luch is true beyond any doubt
He speaks German and Span
h fuently and his English has
broad German accent.
He is a tall, we'll made man,
ronzed, muscular and strong
.e was we'll dressed and clean
|hile being drawn out by a rep
of this paper he
lowed high nervous tension,
nd was very bitter against Car
lnZa.
Asked the cause of the break
etween Villa and Carranza,. he
aid it was because Carranza
the Standard Oil money
nd wouldn't divide; that Villa is
bandit by instinct as we'll as
ractice, knows he isn't fit to be
resident of Mexico, never want ,
] to be and laughed at the idea,