The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-03-09

der gates three miles south Of Colum-
bus, had dug a Few rifle pits r-the
| so Carr ana sogH 4ers who fled Pa1omas
when Villa appeared int the vicinity
several days go.
Lieut.. Gasteman, officer of the day,
turned out all the men remaining in
the camps. Shrieking battle yells the
| Mericans in overwhelming numbers
rushed savagely into the town north
of the railroad tracks.
| A courier was sent to Major Linsley
at Gibbons ranch, Is miles east, to
bring up the troops posted there. The
first vo11ey of rifles awoke all the
townspeop1e.
Villa is said to have been seen by
several Americans directing his men.
He cut the telegraph wires east to
Ell Paso to prevent any call for Amer
lean troops stationed there. The ,tele-
phones also went out of commission.
While part of his forces fought the
hastily rallied American troops, Villa
is said to have detailed snfpers and
soldiers to various houses. Houses
throughout the town were ridd1ed with
bullets.
A. l. Riggs, wife and two children.
in the living quarters of the custom
house, barricaded themselves behind
mattresses on the floor. L. jaeger, his
wife and family were on the second
floor of the station building and did
the same thing.
In the section hit nearby Foreman
S. S. Mccullough and his wife and
their four children sought safety on
the floor. Bullets flew over their
heads. c. G. Miller was shot dead
as he dashed from his drug store
to the Hoover hotel across the street.
A woman dragging a little girl by the
hand, was wounded and stumbled
over the druggists body.
Snipers posted in front of frame
117i1 n ioI1 1ad iTa
shot at the American inmates as they
sought refuge from flames fast de-
stroying several buildings.
These Mexican snipers moved de-
liberately in the dark. The lighting
of lamps by householders and hotel
the rife fusilade, promptly brought a
shower Of bullets.
Every house in town appeared to
have been hit from once to a doz-
en- times.
Civilians armed themselves at want
age points within their homes and
answered the shots of the Mexicans.
Some of the bandits sought to entice
Americans out into the streets by
speaking English. J. S. Dean was
caught in this way. A Mexican, who
spoke excellent English, called to
him Dean emerged from doorway
and his reply in English betrayed
his death.
At the same time another American
shouted:
"Hey, who are you?''
''Vtve Vi1la,'' came the reply.
ST don't know who he isl the Amer
lean answered, "but I have some of
him left here scattered in the street"
The American pointed to the street
where half a dozen dead
bandits lay in the pale light of dawn
The quick flash of a few pistol shots
were visible and disclosed dying forms
in the stret. Villa apparently left |
when Col. Slocum's troops began |
pressing the sniper5 toward the south. |
Villas buglers began sounding the |
retreat shortly before o'clock. The |
town was cleared of them by $50 and
the remaining people of Columbus be-
gan to take account of casualties and
losses. Walter Walker, who was shot /
at the Central Hotel with the proprie-
tor, w. T. Ritchie, was a delegate to
the New Mexico state convention of
Sunday schools. His body was burned
in the ruins of the hotel.
Mrs. Rachael Walker, also q dele
gate to the convention from Playas,
N. M, was saved by jolly Garner and
his partner. Ben Aguire. United States