El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-28

town. It had grown dark by this time
and Maj. Howe, after seeing. to the
/ dressing Of the wounds OF his men
! bivouaced at the scene of the Skin
| mish, throwing out heavy guards TO
| prevent being surprised by the bandits,
| should they be reinforced and attempt
| night attack. The fights at La Joya
! and Santa Cruz were fought on April
| 10.
Natives All UnfriendIy.
On the morning Of the 11th. as soon
as il was light enough to see the road,
Mai Howe had his men in motion
toward the little Villa stronghold of
Santa Cruz and entered without oppOsi-
ton. Much to his surprise here. more
Z corn was Communicated and the horses
given another treat. The leading men
Of the village were quizzed and it was
learned that while Villa had not been
brought to the town, he had passed
! within a few miles of it and that he
had proceeded southeastward toward
the Durango line. AS at La JOya and
as evidenced by the attacks at both
places, there was a marked show OF
friendliness for the bandit chief in
Santa Cruz and a corresponding hos
tility toward his American pursuers
As at La JOya, the houses were
searched for arms and all rifles, pis-
tolls and sabers found were destroyed
In the search Of the houses Of Santa
Cruz, much loot in the form of Ameri-
can made slickers, boots and shoes
and uncut drygOods was found, which
was taken IS evidence that many of
the men who participated in that in
famous raid under Villas banner, were
residents Of the town.
Shortly after leaving Santa Cruz, the
Americans came upon a camp ground
where lot Of discarded bandages and
indicated cotton were found, evident
" a place where the wounds or villa
had been dressed while he and his
small escort rested not more than
day or two before. Natives gave 1t as
their opinion that the wounded leader
was on his way to Novanoia and the
American column gave chase, but ar |
irving at that town, no trace Of villa
could be found and the column started |
toward the city Of Durango, where It |
was thought the eX-Iesder OF the Con- !
stitutionalist forces might attempt to I
find refuge.
Reached By AirpIane.
While in camp at Casita. little town /
five miles north of the Durango line, |
Lieut.. RAIDER. Of the aviation corps. |
who had been searching for Howe
and his men. flew in from the south /
and made a landing. He told Of hav-
the little command with a view to-
ward apprising il Of the reception Civ
en- Mai. Tompkins at ParraL He had
gone as far south as Otto, a little
village in the state Of Durango, about |
is miles south of Casita.
After going over the situation VITA
Lieut.. RAIDER, Maj. Howe determined
to foregO further pursuit to the south
ward, and marched northward in the
direction Of Parral, where he hoped to
arrive in time to be Of assistance to
any American force which might be
in or trying to get into Parral.
Herrera Guides Americans.
When he had reached a point about
five miles south Of Parral, Maj. Howe
was visited by Jose La Luz Herrera.
presidente of the town, and urged not
to attempt 20 enter the city because
Of the temper Of the populace. and he
offered to personally guide the col
1mn by a safe, though circuitous route.
to the campground where the Ameri-
cans had made their stand after being
forced to abandon ParraL His offer
was accepted. after a thorough canvass
Of the situation. and Howe and his
men. "a hours later. April Il, were with
their companions in arms and for the
first time in ten days were eating
regular rations.
Hard March: Loss slight.
When the command left Namiquipa
On April it took with it five days
rations and forage. For the remain
ing five days Of the trip IL lived on
he country, the luudulNdulS oA winch [
were so hostile that they put forth
every effort to make IL impossible to
procure either food or forage. The
losses OF the command on their 80
nile drift through hostile territory was
lne man killed, four wounded. six
horses killed in action. and % animals
lead Of exhaustion, due to the riSorS
Of the march. The record is one 10
be proud Of
Lieutenant Holds Horse.
One Of the laughabie incidents or
the trip is related by an officer, who
tells of an excited orderly making a
lieutenant hold his horse for him at
the battle OF Santa Cruz. The orderly
became so absorbed I'm the fight that
ing: Here lieutenant. hold my horse
so I can shoot
The Lieutenant at that moment, kept
by other duties, held the
horse until the orderly could take
lew shots.