Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1919-06-05
THREE TROOPERS
CROSS TO MEXICO;
One IS DROWNED
Trio Penetrate Twenty Miles Into
Interior Before Their Cap
ture and Return.
WITHHOLD EXPLANATION

One trooper is dead and three in the
guard house at Fort Brown awaiting gen.
eral court marital as the outcome of a pri-
vate invasion of Mexico staged by four men
of Troop l., Fourth Cavalry, at McAllen,
last Saturday.
The four, mounted and armed with their
automatic pistols, rode out of MeAllen,
without permission, and headed for the riv-
er. Three miles above Hidalgo they put
their horses into the Rio Grande Three
men and two horses reached the Mexican
bank after swim that was almost too much
for the horses. Two of the men were
thrown off as their mounts struggled
against the current. One, Private Paul
Babilan, sank and was drowned. His horse
and another turned back and reached the
American bank. The other horseess troop
er managed to make the Mexican side safe
ly.
The three men then started south into
Mexico, two riding one horse. Mexican
immigration officers trailed them, and
found them Saturday night asleep in a
thicket twenty miles from the river, with
their horses tied to trees. They took the
prisoners to Reynosa and turned them over
to the Mexican military authorities there.
Meanwhile the riderless horses had been
found on the American side. Investiga-
tion disclosed something of what had trans
pired and Captain Bradford, district adj
jutant at Fort Brown, was notified by Ma
jor Kiehl, 4th Cavalry, commanding off
Ger mt McAllen, that the men had entered
Mexico. He requested the Mexican author
tiles at Matamoros to have the men trail
ed, arrested and returned to this side for
punishment
Major Flores, commanding at Reynosa,
notified headquarters at Matamoros that he
had three of the men. After authority
had been obtained from Mexico City for
the immigration officers to turn over their
prisoners formally to the military authori-
ties, Major Flores promptly sent the three
men under guard to the river at Hidalgo,
where they were turned over to Major
Kiehl's command. Tuesday they were
brought down to Fort Brown under guard
on the evening train. Their handouts at
tracted attention and a garbled version Of
the story spread rs result. Rumor had
it that the men had $1,000 in currency on
them when they were captured. Major
Kiehl this morning said over long distance
telephone that on the contrary the men had
no money ana were suffering from munger
when they were taken.
Meanwhile the body of Dabilan was re-
covered from the river, badly eaten by gars
or trutles. The remains were buried Tues
day at McAllen. Dabilan was to have been
the interpreter for the party, evidently, as
he spoke Spanish fluently.
The three awaiting general court martial
at Fort Brown are Privates A. l.. Woolman,
+. f. Wojbichoski and r. l.. Sibol, all of
Troop L, 4th Cavalry.
Major Kiehl questioned the three when
they were brought back but they refused to
make any statement of their motives in
crossing the river. 1t is their privilege to
remain silent until they are brought before
a court, so that the underlying cause of the
wierd expedition cannot be determined un-
til the trial is held Charges are being
drawn up by Major kiehl now.
Il haven't the slightest idea what made
them do it," said Major Kiehl Thursday
morning. 1.-THE trial will have to bring
out the facts"
Captain Bradford, in relating the story
to the press Thursday morning, expressed
his warm appreciation of the courtesy
shown the American officers by the Mexi
can authorities particularly the command
ing officer at Matamoros and Major Flores
commanding at Reynosa