Bisbee daily review., 1917-12-27
Fitzgerald Ranch Is Raided
Following KILLING g Near
Candelaria Raiders Are
Thought Part of Villa
Forces.

LEAD EIGHT MEXICAN .. -. ...
MARIA, Tex Dec. ? United
States troops crossed the Rio
Grsnde late today in pursuit OF
the bandits who rsided the BIite
ranch house Christmas morning
and killed the United States mail
carrier and two Mexican psssen-
gers in the mail car. The report
OF the crossing. which reached
C0lcneI George T. LanghOrne, in
command here. said that Sne
American soldiers and an un-
known number of Mexicans had
been killed in q running fight
MARIA, Tex. Dec. 26.-Mexican
bandits raided the Fitzgerald ranch,
between heer and the river. late last
night and drove Off all OF the horses
from the ranch, also taking a large
quantity OF provisions. according TO
a report received here from the Fitz-
gerald ranch tonight The rsiders
were believed 10 have been a part OF
a band which raided Candeldria yes
terdsy and were attempting 10 set
back across the Mexican border.
Eight Bandits Killed
Eight bandits were killed yeste-Csy
when ranehers and American cavalry
uSops fired upon the Nexican raiders
after they had killed Michael Welch.
the United States mail carrier, and
his two Mexican passengers. and had
looted TIE L C. Brite store at CzESe-
lzris. Tex -EhiE Has the Official r.
port received here today, but reports
Of fighting between scattered banGs
OF the bandits and the American cav
alrymen and Texas rangers have been
brought here all day from the river
front Il was believed here a number
OF the raiders were Overtaken aEa
killed wren they resisted the state
an darny TJrces-
Tonight troops guided by Texas
rangers were securing the rim rock
district in search of scattered bands
of the bandits and reinfOrcements
were being sent from here in com
mandeered civilian automobiles and
trucks
II is now believed the bandits were
q part OF Francisco Villas force,
which has been operating in the DIN
aga district The report received here
today that they wore Mexican federal
uniforms and carried federal swords.
But iris was explained tonight oy the
fact that, when villa captured DIN
aga, he obtained quantities Of uni
forms and side arms an dit was be
lieyed his men had disguised them
selves IN the federal uniforms and
ssbers to make the Americans believe
they we're federal soldiers and EN-
brOl the United States and Mexico
Assurance were received at military
headquarters here tonight from the
Mexican officials that I'd federal
troops we're in the Mexican district
opposite CandelaTia.
Ranohers who arrived here tonight
from Candelaria brought the first con
nssted story of the Mexican raid on
the Brite store and the little ranch
settlement in the elbow OF the re
Grznde-
Story o. Raid
ButtES men were at the Brite ranci
house Christmas morning when th'
Mexican rtiders arrived there. They
were 7. T Neill, manager Of tbs
ranch. and his son, sam Neill Theil
wives and children were also at th'
ranch house. The father saw the usI
approaching. awakened his son, th'
women and children were put in tn'
most protected room and the two lOn'
men opened fire upon the bandiu
riding wildly toward the house a des
perate rife duel was then rought be
tween sam Nell and the leader of III
Mexieans al Zoe yard rang.
Neiu killed his man. while hi
father covered the approaches from
the rear and fought off the Mexicans
who were attempting to gain entranc
through a rear door Two more bar
dts we're killed. whsreupOn the II
mainder retired for a conference
Mexican was then sent TO the hous
with a demand that the Neills SUI
render. This was refused. but T. Z
NeiH finally delivered over the key
- the Brite store near by and sent
hired mand to assist in rounding u
the horses in order TO save the wome
and children from almost certain ma.
sacre-
While the store vas being looted b
the bandits. Rev. H NJ Bandy. of tn