Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-12-07
LOrdSburg Boy Is Killed
In Battle
Albert Riggs Shot In Battle with
Mexican Bandits

Albert A. Riggs, well konwn Lords
burg boy, is the first man from south
ern Grant county to fall on the field
of battle in the service of the United
States. Word was received here
Monday afternoon by his brother, w.
S. Riggs, from the surgeon of the Sth
Cavalry at Maria, Texas, that Albert
had been shot and killed while on pa
troll duty for his country after a san
quarry battle with Mexican cattle
thieves on Mexican territory at the
town of Buena Vista. The fighting
of the American boys was not in vain,
as 80 Mexican bandits were killed.
Albert Riggs was the only American
soldier killed, a comrade was injured.
Albert Riggs has been a resident of
this section for over five years Dur
ing that time he has worked on the
range for Ed. Mansfield, Curt Rain
bolt, Ed. Rhodes and many other well
known cattlemen of this section. When
war was declared with Germany, AL
bert and Mart Taylor were riding
from the Animas to Stems discussing
the situation Like all good Ameri-
cans, he was indignant and insulted
at Germany's conduct. When he
reached Stems he could not stand
the pressure" as Mart put it. He
took the first train for El Paso and
enlisted with the Sth Cavalry, Troop
L. later writing Mart Taylor to pack
his bedding and chuck box and that
he would write for it later After a
short period of training at Fort Bliss,
Albert was sent to Presdio, Texas,
where he was advancing rapidly with
Uncle Sans fighting forces and had
written home several times stating
that he was anxious to go after the
Kaiser"
He is survived by a brother and
three sisters Mrs. Fred Allison of the
Muir ranch, Mrs Marshall and Edna
Riggs Of Carlsbad, N. M. His broth
er, w. S. Riggs, is a well known stock
man of Lordsburg.
Hundreds of friends throughout
this section of New Mexico grieve the
4 loss Of a true friend and all are proud
to aavc had the p4ivilege OF knowing,
him, soldier of the United States
faithful in serving his. country to the
last
/ His remains were inferred with mil
itary honors at Preside, Texas, Tues
day afternoon.
/ The Americans, 20 cavalrymen, un-
der command of Lieut. Leonard F.
Matlack, followed a hot trail from the
Tigner ranch late Friday, after alleg-
ed Mexican cattle thieves After
travelling but a short distance they
were overtaken by darkness and camp
ed for the night At daylight S8tu--
day morning they resumed the pur-
suits, following the hot trail At the
little hamlet of Buena Vista, on the
Mexican side, about twentw miles
above Presidio they ran into about
200 bandits who tried to ambush them.
In the fight that ensued 35 of the
bandits were killed and many more
wounded. While the battle was in
progress, the bandits were strongly
reinforced, and the Aemricans then
returned to the Texas side of the river,
where Lieut.. Matlack discovered that
several of his men were missing.
In the meantime, troops l and L
and the machine gun troop, under
Captain Barnes, had been dispatched
to the scene. With the reinforce
ments the Americans again crossed
the river where the fighting was re-
newed, The bandits fought desper-
ptely, but were finally driven into the
hills. The carcasses of the stolen cat
tie we're found in the streets Of Bue-
IA Vista after the fight,