The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-03-14
AMERICAN TROOPS
IN BATTLE WITH
VILLA OUTLAWS
u. S. Cavalry Pursues Bandits
Into Mexico.
Is AMERICANS ARE KILLED
Residents of Columbus, NJ. NJ, Are
Murdered When 500 Outlaws At
tack Town-Many 'Mexicans
Shot Down.

tack Town-Many 'MeMcans
Shot Down.
Ell Paso, Tex, March 10.-Francisco
Villa is reported to have been badly
wounded in a running fight with Uni
ted States troops following the raid on
Columbus, n. NJ The engagement in
which the northern leader is reported
to have been wounded occurred on
Mexican soil.
News of the encounter was tele-
graphed here from Columbus following
Thirteenth cavalry, which took up the
pursuit of the raiders. One report was
that 100 of the Villa raiders were
killed in the fight, which occurred in a
deep ravine. No casualties were re-
ported among the American troopers.
The report of the wounding of Villa
is circumstantially confirmed by one
of the Mexican bandits who was taken
prisoner He said he was riding close
to Villa when he was shot and that
Villa nearly fell out of the saddle, but
was supported by his men and aided
in making his escape.
Columbus, N. NJ, March 1O.-Fran-
cisco Villa. outlawed Mexican bandit,
raided United States territory. With
500 men he attacked Columbus, killed
at least seventeen Americans and fired
many buildings before he was driven
back across the international border.
At least $50 troopers of the Thir-
teenth United States cavalry followed
the Villa band into Mexico,
Villa Makes Stand.
Reports to Col H. j. Slocum stated
that Villa had made a stand five miles
south of the border. where spirited
fighting ensued.
In this engagement an unnamed pri-
vate was killed and Capt. Adjt. George
Williams was wounded
The small detachment Of troopers
under Majors Tompkins and Lindsey
fighting dismounted, made deter
mined stand against the renewed Villa
attack, and at last reports were hold
Ing LnelT STCuuu.
Eighteen Bandits Killed.
The raid to American territory
proved costly to the bandit chieftain.
The bodies of Is Mexican bandits, in
Guiding Pablo Lopez, second in COM
mand, had been gathered and burned
before noon and troopers reported an
undetermined number of dead still
lying in the brush.
Led to the attack under the slogan,
Death to the Americans" Villas fol
lowers fought with desperation. Just
before dawn they crept along bitches
skirting the United States cavalry
camp and rushed the sleeping town.
firing heavily.
Raiders Apply Torch.
The first volley brought American
troopers into almost instant action.
While a portion of the raiders en-
gagged the cavalrymen others detailed
by the bandit chieftain began applying
the torch and shooting American civil
ians who ventured from the buildings.
Lights in homes and public buildings
Immediately became targets for
snipers posted at Villas direction.
Other bandits creeping close to Ameri-
can homes enticed a number of civil
ians into the open with English
spoken invitations. A number of ia
talities are attributed to this ruse.
Stores were looted, oil was poured
upon frame structures and the match
applied by still other bandits. The
post Office was raided, furniture
smashed, but the looters obtained only
one small registered package.
Fight Ends Suddenly
Many civilians barricaded them.
selves in their homes and fired at the
Mexicans as they darted through the
streets. The fighting in the town
ended almost as suddenly as it began.
Less than two hours after the first
shot was heard Villas buglers sound
ed the retreat and the raiders began
disordered flight. closely followed by
American troopers.
Colonel Slocum said he had received
reliable information Villa had attacked
with 500 men, leaving 1000 others
posted at or near Boca Grande, 25
miles southwest.
Three Ranchmen Hanged
Prior to the raid, Arthur Mckinney,
foreman of the Palomas ranch; Will
liam Corbett and James O'Neil, cap
tured by Villa Tuesday, were hanged
and their bodies burned, according to
information received here.
Information that Francisco Villa and
his chief lieutenant, Pablo Lopez, were
in personal command of the raid was
given Colonel Slocum by Mexican
rancher captured by the bandits last
Sunday and who escaped during the
fighting. This Mexican told of the
hanging of the American ranchers Nc.
Kinney, Corbett and O'Neil He added
that a fourth American, whose name
he did not know, had been hanged at
the same time The Mexican said Villa
attacked with from 500 to 1000 men
and machine gun platoon.
The Mexican told Colonel Slocum,
who was appointed to West Point from
Illinois. that Villa left the BosQues
INTERESTING BITS