The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-19
Imprisoned Aviators Are Re-
leased by Clever
RuSe.
ONLY HALF OF RANSOM
MONEY PAID.
When Peterson Is Released
and Starts for Border Davis
and Capt. Matlack Mount
Horses and Flee.

Maria Tex, Aug. 1s.-Lieuts. n. G
I Peterson and Paul H. Davis, Amsri
can army aviators captured by 1
band Of Mexican bandits and held fol
$4,000 ransom, are today safe on tn,
United States side. of the Mexican
border-Lieut. Peterson's freedom
bought for $500, Lieut.. Davis res
eued by Capt. Matlaek, of the Eighth
cavalry, who, unaecompanied, went
to the bandits rendezvous ano
brought about tho release Of both
aviators.
Lieut.. Peterson crossed the border
to the American side shortly after
o'clock. An hour later Lieut.. Davis
and Capt. Matlack reached American
soil.
Capt. Matlack, carrying the $4,000
ransom money demanded for the re-
lease of the American aviators, went
into the bandits mountain camp late
last night after he had received a
prearranged signal from the bandits.
Determined to outwit the bandits,
Capt. Matlack, on arriving in the
bandits camp, demanded that the
Americans be released Immediately.
L
that the ransom money be turned
over to them before the lieutenants
were brought out.
Plays Shrewd Trick.
Capt. Matlack then offered the ban
dts $500. half of the amount de-
manded, and insisted that one of the
men be brought out before he would
pay the balance.
Lieut.. Peterson was released by
the bandits. Capt. Matlack paid the
bandits the $500 demanded for the
release of Lieut.. Peterson, who i'm
mediately left the bandit camp and
started his journey towards the bor-
der.
Lieut.. Davis was then brought out.
At signal from Capt. Matlack he
jumped astride the captains horse.
and before the bandits could inter-
fere the officers fed into the night
without paying the $500 ransom.
According to Lieut.. Peterson, he
and Lieut.. Davis, on arriving at Can
delaria Sunday a week ago, were
to make a landing, smash
ing the landing gear and the fuselage
of their army airplane in doing so
Lieut.. Peterson says they landed on
the American side of the river. Be-
coming confused in their efforts to
locate the nearest army camp, they
wandered about for several hours.
Overtaken by Bandits.
Monday they started making their
way down the Rio Grande. Late
Lieut.. Peterson developed a
fever. Making their way to a Mexi-
can hut, the officers rented a pair of
burros and started for Candelaria,
Both were unarmed.
They had proceeded but a short
distance when they were oyertaken
by an armed Mexican bandit, who
made them prisoners.
They were then taken to the bandit
camp in the mountains, where they
were detained until rescued.
Forced to Write Messages.
Friday night the bandits compelled
both Davis and Peterson to write
messages telling of their capture and
the demand for $4,000
'ansom and the threat to kill both
lnless the money was paid. These
messages were sent to the border by
courier Sunday, reaching American
lrmy officers late Sunday night. At
he same time the aviators managed |
o send messages to relatives, Peter !
ion communicating with his father |
It Hutchinson, Mimi, and Davis |
lending message to his parents at |
Strathmore, Cal.