The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1916-04-06
j. S. CAVALRY
ROUTS VILLA BAND
Chief, Wounded and Crippled,
Escapes Before Battle.
AMERICANS Loss4WOUNDED
Capture Believed Question OF Days.
General Eliseo Hernandez
Among Dead Left
on Field.

Fl Paso. Texas. - Four hundred
American cavalrymen under the com
mand OF Col. George A. Dodd, gallop
Ing down from the granite slopes Of
the great continental divide, have fall
en- on the main body OF Francisco
Villas bandits at the San Geronimo
ranch, scattering them in many direc-
tions and driving the bandit chief.
wounded and crippled, to seek a hiding
place in the mountains. villa was
hurried from danger In a carriage.
The fight opened at o'clock in the
morning OF March 20 and continued
for several hours. The news of the
exploit was flashed into Juarez and
cent thrill along the border.
Taken BY Surprise.
For II hours the veteran Colonel,
with his picked troopers Of the
Seventh and Tenth Cavalry. drove
down the valley OF the Santa Marta
river. At the end Of a 55-mile ride
they fell upon the unsuspecdng villa
camp. where 500 bandits we're cele-
brating the massacre Of 172 Carranza
soldiers two days previously at Guer-
rero.
villa, shot through the leg and with
one hip shattered, was hurried from
the scene, barely in time to escape the
onslaught Of the Americans. The
bandits made a brief but hopeless
stand before a charge Of Colonel Dodd
and his troopers. Then they broke
and fed. leaving 81 dead on the field.
including their commander, General
Eliseo Hernandez. Two machine guns,
a number OF horses, rifles, ammunition
and equipment fell into the hands Of
the Americans.
Pablo Lopez Wounded.
Among the known wounded is Pablo
lopez, Villas lieutenant in the Colum-
bus raid. The American casualties
we're four privates wounded
The American soldiers did not linger
on the field Of victory. For five hours
they drove the enemy before them into
the wilderness OF mountain peak,
desert and canyon, where roads or
even trails are unknown and where a
misstep means death to horse and
rider. They halted only after the chase
had led them 10 miles and the fugi-
tives were scattered into little bands
Of half a dozen men each.
Villas Power Broken.
Villas career has ended; his power
bas been broken. His death or cap
ture is only a question Of days. Such
Is the inevitable conclusion reached
here as little by little the details Of
"Dodd's ride" reached the border II
seems impossible that the crippled
bandit can long remain hidden, even
In the mountain wastes in which he
has sought refuge.
The scene Of Colonel Dodd's victory
Is a broad valley lying at the head Of
the Santa Maria river. On the west
rise the barren foothills Of the conu-
mental divide and to the east is a
trail, made famous by Villa, which
leads through the Laguna de Castillo
district to Santa Ysabel It was at
the latter place that villa killed is
American mining men--a crime which
sent a thrill Of horror throughout the
United States and marked the begin
ming Of what many believe 10 be the
end Of his blood-stained career It was
toward Santa Ysabel that he was be-
lleved to be heading when the troop
ers Of the United States swept down
from the north upon his camp.
Panie.strieken BY Attack.
From the meagre details which have
reached here from Mevicans and
American military sources, Colonel
Dodds men made their way unnoticed
through the Arroyos, or deep gulches,
which split the foothills in all direc.
tlons. and were almost in the camp be-
fore the alarm was given.
villa is reported 10 have been IN a
small tent nursing his injuries when
the crash OF the American volley fire
ewoke the bandit to panic-stricken
action.
The extraordinary hold the bandit
chief has on his followers is shown by
The fact that their first thought was 10
save him. Unable to walk or ride, he
was placed in a light wagon and driven
over the rough mountain trails to some
Becret lair.
While 81 Of the bandits are known
20 have been killed. It is said the mum
Der may have been considerably larger
Nothing is yet known as to the mum
Der Of wounded. although It is pre-
tumably IN proportion to the dead.
Three Murdered BY Bandits.
The last outrage credited to villa oc
Cured ct Mlnaca, a town about 10
miles southeast OF Guerrero on tho
Mexico and Orient Railroad. Here the
Mexicans are reported to have mur
dered Herman Blankenburg, a mine
foreman, and two other foreigners. II
IS feared that the two unknown vic
tins we're Americans. Four Americans
Acklin, Hemple, Locke and Dr. Stellar