The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-11
TO RECOVER BABY
Mrs. Wright at Ell PasO Await
ing Kidnapped Child.
Husband Slain, Child Stolen by
Villa Bandits.
WILL Death OF EXHAUSTION
Villa Told Officers He Preferred
Utmost Cruelty.
He Believed Germany and
Japan Would Interfere.
WILL DEATH OF EXHAUSTION

& El Paso. March 11.-Mrs, Made
Hauke Wright, the American woman
who rode nine days with the villa
troops preceding the raid on Column
3 bus, n. M, is here today awaiting the
carnival of her baby which had been
taken from her and given TO Mexl-
can family. Her baby is safe at Pear
son. Mexico, and 1t IS sald VIII oe
drought to her today.
Il want to go to my baby, Mrs
Wright said. 1T would only take me
three days to walk to Pearson. she
twas informed that the child probably
would be brought to JuareZ on lne
Ftrain which is to bring the Mormon
Ecolonists. Mrs. Wright retold her story
zas though 1t were commonplace Be
Ecause she suffered in silence, never
Hcomplaining and holding herself aloof
yfrom the bandits she was called
G''Laroyna''-Queen of the Nlllistas-
by the troops Villa had told onc Of
the officers that he preferred to have
her die of exhaustion rather than 10
kill her outright and because she prov
ED to be able to Withstand hardships
rbetter than his own men, he promised
her he would release her after he had
Sacked Columbus. He also agreed to
Sgive her 500 in gold and a permit to
rtravel unmolested throughout any
part of Villa territory.
Talks to villa Twice.
villa only talked to me twice Mrs
Wright said. Il avoided talking with
ehim because he would have thought
j admired him and would have forced
elne to accompany him. He told his Of
Ulcers how he would wipe out the town
-of Columbus and then when the init
Ted States tried to invade Mexico, Ger
Emany and Japan would step in to in
gterfere. Villa believed this firmly. 1
Ehave overheard him make such re-
Nmarks from time to time. Whether
fsome agents of these two countries are
arnaxing him believe this or whether it
sis an idea which came to him, 1 do
7not know. But he is convinced that
She will he assisted in the fight he
thas started.
How I wanted to escape to tell the
Epeople of Columbus about the attack
hut / was watched all the time. The
FIRST night 1 was allowed to sleep in
an abandoned adobe hut which was
prepared for me. About thirty sad
dies were piled in front of the door.
The guards slept with their heads to
the door and their feet to u fire just
( beyond.
II Could Not sleep.
rs ''I lay down but not to sleep. About
midnight, I heard the snoring of the
Mexican guards. 1 peeFed through the
opening of the saddles, and spied
Villas charger, a splendid steed about
fifty feet from the hut. One by one
ii removed the saddles snd stepped
over the sleeping forms until
reached the horse.
1.-THE horse was tangled in his rope.
III began to untangle the horse and
then one of the Mexicans turned
fOver. He saw something was wrong
stood behind the horse, but the horse
refused to stand still and it kept me
busy keeping behind the animal.
Finally the guard came out to where
the horse was.
N What are you doing here?' /
l~of 4 he
asked. Untangling this horse L re-
.plied. When he finished the task, !
Started, I longed for a hatpin, a dag
ger, a penknife anything to kill the
man. I could have shot him had !
had a gun. But if 1 could have killed
him. 1 could have escaped since none
Of the other horses could have over
taken me. l returned to the hut
From then on I was watched constant
! ~ until l was released at Columbus"