The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-03-10
VILLA BANDITS
STAY AMERICANS
RIDE INTO TOWN 500 STRONG
SHOOT, KILL AND LOOT
WITHOUT MERCY.
CRISIS NOW REACHED
u. 8. Troopers Killed In Battle With
INSTRUMENTATION Hanged
And Bodies Burned.

Columbus, N. NJ, March 9.-Five
hundred villa bandits attacked this
point at 1880 this morning, killed a
Number of civilians, men and women,
and held possession OF the town for
an hour and half Driven off by
three troops of the Thirteenth Cav
airy, they retreated at O'Clock, leav-
ing part of the town in flames.
A large number of Mexicans were
killed Their bodies dotted streets
where they had been posted picking
of Americans as they emerged pell-
nell out of dwellings and hotels.
There appeared to be no wounded.
Several guests were burned to death
in The Central Hotel, which was one
OF the first buildings fired by Villas
men.
Mexican bandits standing outside
the flaming building shot down A.
l.. Richie. proprietor of the hotel,
and w. X. Walker. a guest, as they
attempted dash out OF the door.
Both were dead when picked up
later.
C. C. Miller. owner OF drug store,
was shot as he tried to enter the door
OF the Hoover Hotel, an abode struc-
ture, whose mud walls protected a
score of covering women and chill
dren who remained in the rooms,
while a bowling mob of bandits surg
ed through the surrounding streets.
They first attacked the. camp OF
the Thirteenth Cavalry. The camp
itself suffered little, but n number
OF An erican soldiers were killed and
wounded, and a number of cavalry
horses ridden OF by the Mexicans
as they fed back toward Mexico ait
err daylight.
Mr.. and Mrs. Milton James and j
Dean, merchant, were later added to
the list of Americans killed.
The attack was complete surprise
Villa deceiving all the authorities by
dispatching telegram to Hachita
N. NJ, last night, saying that he was
at the Nogales ranch in Chihuahua
near the border. at least forty-four
miles from here. This telegram was
signed ostensibly by the American
caretaker of the ranch, and stated
that villa personally was at the
ranch house.
All the while, however, the Mex
lean bandit leader was making his
way from Bosques Grandes ranch
about twenty-five miles southwest OF
here.
A Mexican scout gave an inti-
nation of this. He reported late
last night that he saw two parties
of Villas men moving eastward from
Bosque Grandes ranch toward Palo'
mas, an abandoned Carranza outpost
six miles directly south below here.
Col. II. j. Slocum, commanding the
Thirteenth cavalry, has heavy patrols
out and two troops OF cavalry at Glib
sons ranch, fifteen miles west.
Carranza customs guards at the
border gates three miles south OF
Columbus, had dug few rifle pits
for the fifty Carranza soldiers, who
fed Plomas when villa appeared in
the vicinity several days ago.
Lieutenant oastleman, officer OF
the day, turned out all the men re
naming in the camp. Shrieking bat
tie cries, the Mexicans in oyerwhelm-
ing numbers rushed ssayagely into
the town north OF the railroad tracks
A courier was sent to Major Lindsley
at Gibbons ranch, fifteen miles east
to bring up the troops posted there
The first volley of rifles woke all the
townspeople.
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 Am
erican troops stationed there. The
telephones also went out Of commits
sion.
j. ]. Moore, a merchant on a ranch
one mile west. was killed.
A chauffeur driving an automobile
with an Ell Paso license, name un-
known, was killed and body burned
Colonel Slocum announced that
four American soldiers had been kill,
ed and seven wounded. Fourteen