The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-10

Columbus, n. M, March 10-Mrs
Maud Hawk Wright. an American
woman, who said she was held captive
by villa for nine days and was hber-
ated in the midst of yesterdays fight
ing, declared that Villa announced
on March 1 his intention to attack
Columbus and proceeded north un-
der forced marches to, carry out his
purpose.
His men. with scant supplies OF
water and meat. suffered severely, she
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
animation sufficient to reach that
point where they rested and prepared
for the raid.
On Tuesday Mrs. Wright said Villa
bandits attacked employees of the
PaIonnas Cattle Co.. killing four
Americans engaged in rounding up
cattle.
Mrs Wright said her husband, Ed
ward John Wright, formerly Of Hous-
ton, Tex, and Frank Hayden, a
youth employed at the La, Rocker
Sawmi11, were taken from the Wright
ranch on March 1 and presumably
killed. When she was taken prison
er and forced to ride away with a
detachment of Villas men under Col.
dit ordered her to give her baby to a
Mexican family.
villa Had a Big Force.
Mrs Wright was cared for yes
terday at the home of Mrs. Slocurn,
wife Of Col. S1ocum. There she told
the story of her capture and expert
ences from the time she was taken
from the ranch at Colonia Hernandez,
west of Pearson, where the defacto
%fN
have maintained a heavy garrison for
the protection of Americans
Up to Tuesday, she said, Villa wore
civilian clothes, a queer little round
straw hat and rode a small mule, but
just before the fight, he appeared
clad in a trim military uniform and
rode one of three handsome sorrel
chargers which had not been used
during the long march. Mrs Wright
said villa. led nearly ], 800 men upon
the sleeping American town, at which
were quartered less than 500 Amerf-
cam troopers.
She said that some OF the men de-
tailed to guard her during the march
north told her that Villa had 5000
men and 5000 horses.
ct appeared to me as If he had
twice that many men and horses,
she added.
Just before she and her husband were
taken prisoners with the Hayden boy.
Mrs. Wright said, the Villa. men told
her they had raided Colonia Jaurez,
an American Mormon settlement west
of Pearson, looted an the stores and
killed some Of the foreigners.
'Servantes, with twelve men came
to the ranch the night of March ~
Mrs. Wright said. They pretended to
be Carranza soldiers and asked me If
had any food to sell. My husband
and Frank Hayden were at Pearson
H. elT1n1 Ta1y ALL
only a little flour and meal-just
enough for our family and the family
of a Mexican eInp1oye. I was cooking
in expectation of my husbands arriv-
al home, and servantes asked if he
might buy food for some of his men.
told him I would give him and his
men something to eat.
Took All Family Supplies.
ut was just about dark then and
my husband came into the yard with
two. pack mules which he unloaded
AS soon as that was done some of the
Mexicans caught and sadd1ed the ami
mails. My husband came into the
house and said that looks bad I said
we would have to put up with and do
the best we could.
t3Servantes became impatient and
demanded to see our stores of -four
and meal. AS soon as opened the
store room he ordered some of his
men to take all our supplies. Then
they called my husband outside. The
next saw of him his hands had been
tied behind his back. My husband
called to Hayden and he also was
tied.
Then went with my baby in my
arms to Servantes and told him that
he had eaten our food, taken all of
our -four and meal leaving us moth
ing, and that I did not think it was
just to make a prisoner of my hus-
band.
Meanwhile the soldiers, evidently at
Servante's order, began stripping the
house of everything. They took 13
horses and every other animal on the
ranch. I protested again, and SER
vantes said he would order the flour
to be returned, but the man to whom
he gave the order never moved
my husband was taken out to the
with Hayden. went out with the
baby to see him and saw that they
had also made a prisoner OF the
Mexican who had been working about
the place. A Mexican soldier ordered
nay husband not to talk said to my
husband ''I am sure they intend to
kill you The soldier told me to
shut up and my husband said he
thought everything would be all right
If I went into the house.
Had to Give Up Baby.
'sHe said it was too cold for the
baby outside. SO went into the house.
But soon afterward a soldier came
in and said my husband wanted to
see me. When went out heNtoId me
to leave the baby with the wife of the
Mexican who had also been taken