Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-12-27

troops from the Ojinaga garrison was
ryfuted tonight by later developments
This report started from the fact a
number of the dead bandits wore
Mexican federal uniforms and carried
/ federal swords. But this was explain
ed tonight by the fact that, when VIII
Ia captured Ojinaga, he obtained
quantities of uniforms and sidearms
and it was believed his men had dis
guised themselves in federal uniforms
and sabres to make the Americans
believe they were federal soldiers and
embrol the United States and Mexico.
Assurances We're received at military
headquarters here tonight from Mex
| lean officials that no federal troops
were in the Mexican district opposite
Candelaria.
Bring Authentic Story.
Ranchers who arrived here tonight
from Candelaria brought the first
connected story of the Mexican raid
on the Brite store and the little ranch
settlement in the elbow of the Rio
| Grande. .,.'
But two men were at the BritC
ranch house Christmas morning wher
| the Mexican raiders arrived there
They were r. T. Neill, manager OF the
| ranch, and his son, Sam Neill Thei!
| wives and children were also at thu
ranch house. The father saw the
men approaching, awakened his son
the women and children were put II
the most protected room and the lone
men opened fire upon the bandits
riding wildly toward the house.
| desperate rifle duel was then Tough
between Sam Neill and the leader o.
the MeXicans at 100 yards range.
Meet Hot Reception.
Neill killed his man while his father
covered the approaches from the real
/ and fought off the Mexicans whC
We're attempting to gain entranc'
Through a rear door Two more ban
| dts were killed, whereupon the re.
mainder retired for a conference. A
| Mexican was then sent to the house
with demand that the Nells surrender
/ This was refused but T. r. Neill fin
ally delivered over the keys to the
| A'lANt SAoiN llNtAi pS anu o'iit "a ~ "
hand to assist in rounding up the
| horses, in order to save the womeT
and children from almost certain mas
sacre.
Preacher Drives Up,
While the store was being looted by
the bandits, Rev. II. NJ. Bandy of the
First Christian church of Maria
drove up in his car with his family
to spend the day at the Brite ranch
They barely escaped but got into the
ranch house where. the minister seizet
a rifle and guarded a window will
the other Americans.
At this time the United States mai
stage from Valentine drove up to the
Brite store carrying Christmas pack
ages for the United States soldiers
stationed at Candelaria. The two
Mexican passengers were murdered
before they could get out of the stage
Michael Welch was taken from the
stage, hanged and his sthroat cut il
the door of the Brite store.
Alarm Is Given.
T. T. Cobb, a ranch hand employed
on the Brite ranch, approached TIT
store during the looting but was warn
ed back by Foreman Guyon, who wa
barricaded in his house 100 yard
away. Cobb, realizing what had hap
pened rode twelve miles to the near
est telephone and gave the alarm, a
all other telephone lines had been Gu
by the bandits. Sheriff Cline and
posse started in pursuit of the ban
dts. They found Welchs body hang
ing in the store doorway and the mud
bodies of the two Mexican stage pas
sengers nearby. Mrs Brite and tn
Neills saw the killing of the three mel
taken from the stage. WEIGH, VIII
was aged and partially paralyzed, ha'
to be assisted to the place of his exc
cuton, they said.
Sam Neil was shot in the face bu
not seriously wounded during the bat
tie with the bandits.