Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-02

'"id. and Of these barely twoscorc mer
""f" arnicd or physically capable o
s"it-d"fcnSc. while the soldiers. as ha
been seen were taken at a disadvau
tag" and might easily be cut TO pieces
b,ior" they could offer organized re-
Sistancc.
Th"r" could to- no shadow OF doubt
'hat II the assailants had oHcyed the
hrst law Of military operations and
crushed the opposing; force before Civ.
ing vent to their predatory instincts,
the story Of tho raid on San Jose might
nave bcen told only by the troopers
on dniN az the bridge. always provided.
an unlikely thing I'm itself. that thcv
mounted forthwith and rode off al ton
speed i;ut, by one of those miracles
which often come to the aid OF civihHa-
ton In its ag"-lour struggle against
barbarism. tho Mexican bandits were
attracted irrcsis,ibly by the sight OF
the dcfcnselcss town. with it's rich loot
OF :, bank. hotel some stores and pri-
waite residences
They were thieves one and all. This
attack IN AN American community wore
tn" thin disguise of patriotic rnoti:.
but It's tru" purpos. WAS revealed by
inc action Of every mnraudcr, both
readers AMI rank aud file, in not losing
Il second before beginning the cn,lreOial
task Of plumber. True. their recognized
chief. none other than Sebastian Pancho
III person. contrivcd To urge on some OF
his followers in - swift dash on the
camp. No doubt. GU, Of the tail Of his
eye he marked for condign punishment
those rebels who thought more of loot
than OF immediate victory. Even 50
i'anchos innate savagery showed itself
hs he rode past "a small store from
whi"h an elderly IMAM was cscor,ing Il
screaming woman CARRYING a baby in
h"r arms.
Raising a revolver the Mexican free
point BLANK. ami the old man fell
writing in agony. The woman s,um
blcd over his body. shricsiug in mortal
terror. yet striving TO shield the child.
The accident undoubtedly saved her
life. because one Of the band. gallop-
ing close behind Pancho. fired at her
with a rifle and missed.
Markham. as,ounded by the tornado
of yells and muskc,ry, grabbed n re-
volver and rushed barcheaded into the
open. He took in the situation at a
glance. and his soldiers heart quailed
inomcntarily Ill the natural belief that
the watch and ward his troops main
tanned over the district had failed most
lamcntablN. But he was made of stern
stuff. No matter what the prime cause
OF the disaster, his duty now WAS to
Try TO rectify ii.
He noted az once that tho enemy had
given him 81 few most precious seconds
OF respite. Not more than 100 men
were racing down ON the camp. whereas
I'VE times that number were available
and could have swept the small body
OF Americans into eternity before they
could even reach their piled arms and
| ammunition belts. Already the startled
troopers were assuming some semblance
OF order. and Markhams voice reached
| them in high. clear notes.
Number section will prevent the
horses from being stampeded. The re-
leaders. Aim low stop this first
/ rush"
He was obcycd To the letter. for these
hardy American boys were already vet
I Grams in frontier warfare. and knew
/ instinctivcly how to act for the best
! even in the trying conditions OF a sur
prise attack.
/ While Markham was running to
reach the center Of the line. he noticed
! that the rebels were already setting fire
I TO the hotel The main street had
cleared as though by magic. except for
~ number of bodies, both Americans and
I Mcxicans. some lying ominously still.
| while others were dragging painfully
! TO the shelter OF building or an in
! closed yard From doorways and win
dows came scattered shots. The men
, OF san lose were at least striking IL
blow in defense OF their homes and
! families.