Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-21

L dIldl, LUZ HERRERA, LUdt He WOuiu
call upon him next day to arrange for
buying provisions and to have the Par
raj military officials designate some
camping place for the Americans out
side Parral in accordance with the
agreement by which the American
troops are not to occupy Mexican
cities. Major Tompkins took only
his advance guard into the city during
/ his call.
The presidente said he had not re-
ceived the message which Major Tomp-
kins had dispatched. The messenger
was a Mexican, a Carranza petty Off
GER. After the Parral fight the auth
critics there claimed they had discov-
cred that this messenger had been
captured and killed by Villistas.
Fired Upon Leaving City.
The conference in the city with the
presidente and with the Carranza
general commanding in Parral, Gen
eral 1smael Lozano, was pleasant.
Promises were made to sell the
Americans food and to show them a
good camping site. Immediately the
American started out of the city &C
companied by Herrera and Lozano,
who were riding with Major Temp
kins.
When the Americans were out of
the town, the pack train at their rear
Major Tompkins heard firing. Looking
back he saw that some one in the
town was shooting at the pack train
He had heard shouts of Viva Villa"
and Viva Mexico" and curses against
"gringoes."
Major Tompkins turned to the Car
rama leaders and asked them what
they knew about firing on his pack
train. General Lozano and the presi-
dente hurried back toward the town
to stop the shooting.
Two Americans Killed.
The Americans were in a column
formed for defense when this firing
began. Both OF the soldiers killed in
the action were near Major Tomp-
kins.
AS the firing became general, Major
Tompkins and the men of his COM
mand could see their assailants, who
wore the khaki uniforms of Carranza
soldiers. Major Tompkins discovered
one column of these uniformed men
moving out to cut off the road to the
east and the north, where he would
have TO retreat.
Orders Men to Shoot.
He shouted to them to get away
from the road. When they did not the
American commander wheeled and
ordered his men to reply to fire. Ser
geant Jay Ridgely of troop NJ Thir-
teenth cavalry, was the the first Amer
lean killed. His body lay all day
in the road, as his comrades were too
hard pressed to pick it up.
A bullet struck Major Tompkins in
the left breast. The wound was slight
according to military standards and
the major continued fighting until re-
Inducements arrived.
Lieutenant J. B. Ord. of the Sixth
infantry, was shot in the left ear.
Retreat Under Fire.
AS the firing began. Major Temp
kins received word from the Carranza
general that the civilians were doing
the shooting, that his troops were I'M
able to control them and advising the
Americans to fall back. This falling
back movement continued for five
hours and half, over a distance of Is
miles on a road bordered by bushes
and hills, affording good cover for
pursuers. During all this time the
American troops repeatedly caught
sight of men in Carranza uniforms
shooting at them, but saw few if any
civilians.
After moving out from the trap of
hills where the fight began, Major
Tompkins formed line of dismounted
men across the road and on adjoining
emlnences. who retarded the attackers
until the pack animals and stores had
time to get back toward the Amer
lean rear.
Repeatedly during the afternoon this
defense line continued to form. to fire
from the cover of rocks, ploughed
ground and bitches and then fall back
to its horses for further retreat. The
Americans had only their pistols and
rifles and every man was instructed to
save his cartridges until he could
make them count During one of these
defensive stands, Private Herbert
Ledford, troop M, the Thirteenth cav
airy, was shot in the hand. He con-
tlnued to fight. Late in the afternoon
he was shot off his horse. His BODY
lay In the road but at all times under
cover OF such an effective American
nre that 1t was not molested.
List Of Others Wounded.
The other Americans wounded dur
ing the afternoon fight were Corporal
Benjamin McGehee Of the Thirteenth
cavalry, shot in the mouth; Corporal
Walter E. Willingham, troop M. Thir-
teenth cavalry, shot In the calf of the
left leg; Corporal Richard famous,
troop X, Thirteenth cavalry, shot twice
and Private L. NJ. Schoenberger. troop
*, thirteenth cavalry. who suffered
sllght wound in the left hip.
AS the American fell back, Major
lompkins finally ordered that only the
expert rifle shots among his men
should reply to the Mexican fire, as the
cavalrymen were not hard pressed