The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-08-29
TELL THRILLING
EXPERIENCES IN
HANDS OF BANDITS
FIRST DETAILED STORY BY DAVIS AND
PETERSON OF FORCED DESCENT IN
MEXIC0-FACE TO FACE WITH DEATH.

held captives by the Mexican ban
dts was given to the International
News Service by Lieutenants Peter
son and Davis, United States Army
aviators, who returned to Maria Sun
day after leading the American
punitive expedition into Mexico in a
futile chase after bandits
Il left here at $50 Sunday morn
ing to make a patrol of the border
from La Jatos to Bosque Bonita. We
reached La Jatos at 1898 and pro-
ceeded up the Rio Grande. We went
through Preside and followed what
we thought was the Rio Grande, but
which We later found was the Con-
chas River Our mistake was due to
the swollen condition of the river,
which made it appear larger than
the Rio Grande.
I'VE travelled up the Conchas River
until 11.30 a. m, when we observed
a railroad crossing the river. This
railroad was not shown on our map
and as We had been i'm the air some
two hours we decided to turn for
home. After spending 10 or 20 min
,utes looking for the Southern Pacific
Railroad and failing to locate it,, we
turned back to the river for another
look at the railroad bridge.
while we were crossing the noun
tains the engine Of our plane sudden
ly became mass of smoke and then
stopped. We were up 1000 feet, but
managed to glide to mesa on top
of a small mountain-the only level
spot we could see. The only way to
save our lives was to pancake the
snip and wreck it. The ship was a
total wreck but we escaped injury.
I'VE crashed at 1890 Sunday. At
1.3O we took a compass from the air.
plane and with canteen only about
one-quarter full Of water we started
to walk towards the railroad. We
walked for two hours in the heat of
the day. Our water supply. was get
ting low, SO we abandoned the hunt
for the-Failroad bridge and started
down an old river bed, hoping to
find water. At 6 p. m. we found a
small pool i'm a worn rock. We soon
drank .all of this.
I'VE continued our tramp until IL
p. m, when we tried to go to sleep.
We could not sleep, we we're too
thirsty, so we decided to continue our
search for water. At 3 a. m we
found a small Mexican ranch. We
were given plenty of water. The
Mexican sold us tOrtillas and coffee
for $1.00. He then directed us to
Polaris on the Rio Grande, but which
later proved to be Polaris on the
Conchas River
We attempted to swim down this
river, but were unable to make j.
because of the current and rapids.
We walked along the bank of the
river, but were unable to make it
was the toughest kind of going. Of
ten we had TO pull ourselves over
cliffs by our hands.
AT $50 Monday two airships pass
ed over us. We did our best to at
! tract their attention, but, owing to
the great height at which they were
compelled to fly over the mountains,
they were unable to see us.
I'VE managed to sleep Monday
night. We were up at $50 Tuesday
morning, and after walking until 3
we started to swim down the river.
We estimated that we SWAN 2S miles.
Peterson was so hungry he ate sew
eral buckeye nuts, which later made
him sick Rentario later told him it
was wonder the nuts did not kill
him, as they are considered very poi
sonous by the Mexicans.
! While swimming down the river
we were sucked under twice by ed
dies; we decided it was unsafe TO
continue. We walked until 10 O'Clock
i'm the evening, when we went to
sleep with a rock for a bed. We had
intended making a town, if possible,
but it was SO dark that Lieutenant
Peterson nearly grabbed a rattle
snake in cropping his way about the
rocks, and | came within several feet
OF another one. The day before we
had killed a RATHER after a battle
with him We have the eight rattles
for souvenirs.
up at $50 o'clock Wednesday
morning, we we're again on our way.
About $50 o'clock we reached a small
village We purchased some
tOrtillas and arranged with Next
can to take us to the next town, eight
miles away, on two burros, for $40.
AS we were leaving two heavily arm
ed Mexicans approached US, but did
not bother US. We were not far from
the town, however, when we were
surrounded by six Mexicans, all
heavily armed The leader, who
turned out to be Rentaria, questioned
us, but let us proceed while he con-
ferred with the others.
"A quarter Of a mile further, how
ever, we were again overtaken, this
time by three Of the Mexicans who
sent our guide back and ordered Us
to follow them up an old river bed.
WE concluded they were going to
take us to some secluded spot and
rob U.S. But they treated US very
we'll We travelled until ID. m,
stopping three times, once at mes
cal distillery, again att ranch where
we had the evening meal, and once
at q ranch where RentariO traded
the two burros we were riding for an
old horse and a lame mule.
I'VE camped overnight on the
mountain side and were on the way
again at $50 a. m We rested dur
ing the heat of the day and during
the afternoon came to rather pros
porous looking ranch where RentariO
obtained a goat which we cooked for
supper Then we pitct ed camp for
the night.
"Rentario dropped pieces of hand
kerchiefs and tOrn-up bank checks a.
we went to mark the trail. We rode
until a m., Friday. Rentario had
lot Of ammunition.
Peterson knew lot about KAN
sas, where Rentario worked on the
railroad once, and talked Rentario in-