Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1916-03-16
AMERICAN RI { TOWN
RAtDE0 BY BANDITS
U. S. TROOPS PURSUE

:. J. a. - -
Mexicans on Mission of Death
and Destruction Pounce
Upon Border Town
Columbus, N: M March -,9.-Fran-
T, cisco Villa; outlawsds Mexican bandit,
raided United States territory to-day.
With 300 men..-he attacked Columbus,
killed at least. 8iAmsrieans and fired
many buildings before he. was driven
back across the International border.
Not less. than ESQ 0atroopers Of the
Thirteenth United States Cavalry fol-
lowed the villa band. Reports to Col.
H.. J. .slocum, commanding United
States troops at this point, late to-day
stated that Villa bad made stand
Is miles south Of the border where
spirited fighting ,ensued. In this en-.
gagement. an unnamed private was
killed and Capt. George Williams, ad-
jutant of the Thirteenth Cavalry, was
wounded. 90 - sgs
The raid on american territory
proved costly to the bandit chieftain.
The bodies Of IS bandits, including
Pablo Lopez, second In command, had
heen gathered and burned before noon
and troopers reported an underterm-
ined number of dead still lying in the
brush. Led to The attack under the
slogan: Death 'tofthe Americans"
Villas followers fought with despera-
ton. Just before dawn they .crept
along bitches skirting the United
States cavalry camp and rushed the
sleeping town, firing heavily.
The first volley, brought American
troopers into almost instant action.
While portion Of the raiders engaged
the cavalry, others began APPLYING the
torch and shooting american civilians
who ventured from the buildings.
Stores were looted, oH was poured
upon frame structures and the match
applied by. still other bandita The
post-offce was raided furniture
smashed, but the looters secutsd only
-aas-.xSsrs..s.iss - 49,
The casuaities O. the Thirteenth
Cavalry in the fighting at Columbus
were several killed and six wounded.
Villas total losses in the days fight
were estimated in excess Of 100 killed
and twice as many wounded. The
American pursuit into Mexico, which
ended about 2 o'clock, was reported
to have accounted for more than 75
A1exicans killed and wounded.
The Americans losses on the Mexi-
can side was one corporal slain when
Villa threw out heavy guard to en-
gage the pursuing American troopers.
OF the eight American civilians
slain here, Charles Dewitt Miller, Of
Albuquerque and DR.. ]. II. Hart, Of
El Paso, were burned to death In the
fire that destroyed the Commercial
hotel.
The body of Walton Walker, a Sum
day school convention delegate, from
Playas, N. NJ, who was shot to d.ath
with w. II. Richie, proprietor Of the
hotel, also was incineratar.
The Mexicans set the MOTEL oa Are,
together with number Of other build
mgs and posted snip.rs to pick off
Americans as they fles 49,. e.
Mrs. NJ. James was shot and killed
in the doorway of another hotel from
which she was running with her sister.
Mrs. James fell dying over the body Of
e.. G. Miher,:who had been driven from
Als drug store across the street. Her
sister, child not yet in her teenes
escaped the fusillade without a scratch.
Mrs. James husband was wounded.
Mrs. S. II. Ryan, wife Of the captain
of troop. E., and. Capt Rudolph Smy-
ser Of troop H.. with Mrs. Smyser and
her little children had narrow escapes
from the bandits: The Ryan house
fronts regimental headquarters and
the regimental headquarters and the
ditch up along which Villa troops
came. 1t was riddled with bullets.
Fred Griffin, private Of X troop
was on a party Of Mexicans attack
ing the machine gun troop Of the
Thirteenth cavalry. Griffin fell NOR
tally wounded under a volley Of bull
tets, but killed two Mexicans and
tnen crawled to the side of the Ryan
home.
Every piece of furniture in the Ry-
Ill home was riddled.
Willis presence is accepted here as
discrediting his recent .assetlons that
he was not responsible for the assasi.
nation of ii Americans west of the
city cf Chihuahua q few weeks ago.
Farmers should get busy and ship
their hogs alive as the farmers Of Hor.