Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1916-03-09
V|L[|STAS RAID AMERICAN TOWN AND
ARE CHASED OVER DORDERBY SOLDIERS
From Seven 10 Nine u S Troopers and Eleven Civilians
Are Killed IN the Battle, and the Path ot The Fleeing
Bandits Is Marked BY Dead Bodies d the Mexicans,
Who Are Supposed to Have Been Led BY villa

Columbus. N. NJ, Mar. s.---city au-
thorities this afternoon estimated
from seyen 10 nine American soldiers
and eleven civilians had been killed
BY vilIistas who rAidsd the town 90
fore dawn. Three unidsntifsd travel
Ing men are believed to have perish.
"a whom tho Msxicans bnrnsd the
Commercial hotel.
Nearly so dead Mexicans have
been found. More bodies are report.
I'd 10 have marked the path OF the
retreating Mezicans. The American
troops may have suffered additional
losscs IN their pursuit Of the ficeins
MexicAns.
All stories agree that the rniderF
attacked Columbus simultaneously
from two sides about 4 a. m. Ameri.
cans were killed a. they ran into the
strsets from their homes. Civilians
fought shoulder 10 shoulder with sol.
diers Of the iath U. s, cavalry for
two hours until tho Invaders were
elected from the city and forced
southward. Machine guns enabied
the Americans 10 turn the tide against
the MexicAns. whose numbers are
variously estimated. Several hun
dred villistas, possibly led by the
bandit chief himself. are reported "a
have participated.
In their flight they carried away q
number Of cavalry horses.
Columbus. n. NJ, Mar s.---Four
hundred viilIstas who attacked Col.
um'bus from two sides under cover
or darkness about q. m. today were
driven or after nearly two hours
fighting with 500 American soldiers
and civilians after 80 or 40 Mexlcans
had been killed and wounded and
four American soldiers and seven
civilians had been slain. Five civil
lians were wounded.
The Americans were aroused from
slcep BY Mexicans firing in the streets
and into houses. Several were shot
as they ran from their doorways.
Others fell IN the sharp lighting be-
fore the raiders were driven back
across tho border.
Rumors that several guests per-
ished In the Commercial hotel when
Mexicans set It afre were dIscredlted.
However. the ruins are being search
ed.
Mrs, Gean, wife OF James Gean,
was shot down beside her husband,
who was also killed In the defense
OF their homo.
T, @. Miller was slain by the ban
dts before they set ilre to his drug
store. W. T. Ritchey, proprietor Of
the Commercial hotel. attempted to
defend his property against the squad
of villlstas that attacked Il. Their
flrst volley killed him. Three other
civilians gave up their lives aiding
the American troops.
]. L. Greenwood. president OF the
| . . "
Columbus bank, an eye witness TO
the fighting, said:
The town was aroused at the flrst
volleys. Armed citizens tried to help
the troops, But the Mexicans' ilrst
rush carried them through our patrol
lines into the heart OF the town,
Three dead Mexicans were found In
front OF the bank They probably
intended 10 loot It.
"villA himself lead the raiders. ac-
cording to citizens who know him BY
sight, II was certainly a hot fight.
The Mexicans were not driven out un-
I'll there had been nearly two hours
OF flghting. | understand Colonel
Slocum has not asked for reinforce-
mentu, but wish You would say we
need more troops here to protect our
people"
The town settled down after the
battle, and al was quiet before noon.
The villistas in their retreat carried
on q number Of United States cavalry
horsep,