Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-01
SPANISH WOMAN LED
U. S. TROOP INTO TRAP
ON MEXICAN BORDER
Engaged Soldiers in Farley
While Treacherous Bandits
Fired Volley From Ambush
Near Fort Hancock
ANOTHER RAID FEARED

FORT HANCOCK, Tex, Aug. Texas
rangers and Government line riders patrolled
the border al night and early today seeking
the Mexican bandits who escaped after the
clash between American soldiers and the
outlaws, in which two Americans and five
bandits were slain.
In every Mexican village and lonesome
hut along the international line, the pur-
suers sought the renegades
Back at the scene of the ambush guards
men Of Company G, Eighth Massachusetts,
infantry, trenched themselves and held their
outpost position against q possible new
raid.
Citizens along that portion of the
border begged the military authorities for
leave TO cross the Rio Grande and attack
the larger bandit bands known to be In that
| territory.
One of the objects Of the rangers pursuit
was a woman--a Spanish woman who Is
| said to have had guiding hand in the
affairs of the Mexi an raiders.
It was she who really led the soldiers
customs officials and cowboys into the trap
that had been laid for them. 1t was she
who stood in the doorway of the hut of Pas
zepulveor and engaged James ID. Bean,
customs chief, in conversation while the
bandits inside the house-believed to have
been the storehouse of quantities of snug
gled amniuntIon-trained their rifles on the
approaching troops. After the firing II was
she who led the escaping bandits.
The complete story of the fight was first
told to the correspondent two hours after
the battle was reported at headquarters
The story Of the ambush goes forward
| from the time that Bean and Bob Woods
the cowpuncher who was to be sworn into
| the customs service today, had trailed the
bandits to the Zepulveor hut
TREACHERY OF MEXICAN.
Zepulveor had been known as a friendly"
Mexican In this vicinity. Bean galloped
| to Fort Hancock, and Captain II. d. Cush-
| Ing, of the Massachusetts, Guard, ordered
seven soldiers of Troop +, Eighth Cavalry,
| to the scene under Sergeant Lewis Thomp-
son. The men left their horses 200 yards
| from the hut and cautiously approached
| They covered" the hut of Zepulveor In
| some way, according to stories told by the
| troopers another smaller hut so yards away
| was not covered" Bean approached the
| house, calling upon the occupants to come
| out. The woman appeared in the doorway.
Good evening senors," she said. What
| do you wiSh?"
| Bean, who speaks Spanish we'll, went
| forward. At this time Bob Woods and
Mike Twomey were standing with Sergeant
Thompson at n little outhouse Of adobe
and sapllngs, midway between the Zepulveor
hut and the other shack
I'VE learn that you are hiding four ban
dts" Bean said to the woman.
mo, senor," responded the woman. I'VE
| are pacifiers and good people. We do not
ike Such evil ones.
DASH UPON TROOPERS.
At this moment Zepulveor, who is an
old man, slipped from the other hut. carry
| ing a rifle. He raised it to his shoulder
| and fred. Woods fell with a bullet through
his back Zepulveor fired again. and two
| more dropped. Sergeant Thompson wheeled
| to face the old man, and a third bullet
cut ragged hole in his shoulder. AS this
| happened the woman dashed through the
| doorway and seized a pistol.
xiii the grlngOes," she shouted
Four rifles crashed through the windows
| and improvlsed portfolios of Zepulveor's
shack. The old man raised his rifle again.
| AS he did one OF the troopers fired and
brought him down. He was hit. but not
killed.
The soldiers turned their attention to the
| house, firing carefully as they advanced.
| The mesquite sage brush was a hundred
| yards away. AS the soldiers closed in the
woman appeared in the doorway.
A RUNNING FIGHT.
Follow me-" she cried. and ran After
her ran the four bandits. At their head
| was Elias Amada. AS the dash TO the
| brush began the soldiers fired a volley.
target. He fell with seven bullet holes
through his body The soldiers took up
the chase. AS he ran past Zepulveor's
| twitching writhing body Bean fired a shot
| through the head of the bandit.
| But the others escaped In that bush
country it is easy to hide regiment within
| a half mile square.
Carranza soldiers from the San Ignaclo
| garrison came to the border line and took
| part In the shooting. The rangers did
| not drop the search for moment.
| I'VE know for certainty that there are
| any number OF bandits living In these
| villages" said Sergeant Finley, OF the
rangers. but OF course, 1t Is difficult to
prove anything against them. In fact, I