The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-08-25
Reginald Vanderbilt.

tain side and were on the way again al
$50 a. m. We rested during the heat
of the day and during the afternoon
came to rather properous-lookins
ranch where Rentaria obtained a goat
which we cooked for supper Then We
pitched camp for the night Rentaria
dropped pieces Of handkerchiefs and
torn pieces Of bank checks as we went
10 mark the trail We rode until q
m Friday. Rentaria had lot OF
amusement prodding my mule with
sharp stick 10 make him buck Peter
son knew a lot about Kansas where
Rentaria worked on the railroads once.
and talked 10 Rentaria into near
friendship. Rentaria began calling him
Peterson and let him ride without
guard. When I tried 70 argue with Rem
taria he always said: Do you want 70
die move and when we said NO. ne
would say Alright go ahead then
Peterson bawled me out for arguing
with Rentaria and Rentaria would then
say 10 Peterson. You and me good
friends we rode Friday resting during
the heat OF the day. as usual. At p.
m. we reached part of ravine in the
mountains Here Rentaria announced
to US that he was holding US for $4,000
ransom, which must be paid BY mid
night Of August IS or he would kill US
both We stayed here until Monday
afternoon Rentaria left every night
and came back in the mornings 70 sleep
during the day we were treated very
considerably and had as much 70 cat
and as good as did the bandits them
selves In view of our lack of knowl-
edge OF the mountains. we decided that
il would be useless to try an escape as
We would only be recaptured within
few hours. But when two Mexicans laid
down their rifles. about fifteen feet from
them. ! signaled Peterson and he maze
a rush for the rifles while ! endeavored
to overpower the guards. But they
bested me and the other one covered
Peterson with his rife.
sunday morning Rentaria told US
that the kilograms for the ransom had
been sent. He told Peterson that i the
ransom Vas not paid he was going 70 get
a shirt and some trousers for him and
take his uniform back to the Americans
4 to prove that he had been killed. but
| that he would not xiii him. He would
| kin me- he said Sunday night he lett
/ and came back Monday morning bring
/ ing kilograms from our parents and food
/ which was sent BY Capt Matlack he
was in fine spirits and said the money
would be raised by ranches BY p. m
/ At 2 D. m our guards told US TO get
4 ready and we liked two miles over me
mountains to deep canyon where the
/ guards informed us Rentaria would
come for US al O'Clock.
About 9l5 we heard Rentarias
! whistle and the guards went forward 70
| challenge him. We were guided on the
/ journey by Rentaria who told Us that
! he would send Lieut. Peterson out first
and if the money and everything went
right he would then send me out.
HE put Peterson on behind a horse
man and rode out through cornheld,
| where he met Capt. Matlack.
"Rentaria told Peterson he was MS
good friends and got his address. 50.
\ he said. he could come to visit him. He
expressed the desire to ride with him
in his aeroplano some time and hoped
/ he would soon see his parents This was
when Peterson brought back 70 him the
$500. which Capt Matlack had given
him for his ransom.
"As soon as Peterson had left with
4 Capt. Matlaclz. / was started on 1904
with two mounted bandits beside me-
! back 10 the mountains and I sympathiz-
ed with a man being led 10 the gallows'
/ for i was convinced that some treachery
had been planned and that so far as l
was concerned they were going 20 put
an end to things. as I knew Rentarie
hated me. However. in an hour tney
took me back to san Antonio and Rem
taria shook hands with me as he oade
me goodbye He said that i he ever
| saw me again he would kill me on sight.
! Mexican agent then took me to Capt
! Matlack
II wish to make mention here Of the
4 very brave deed OF Capt Matlack' VINO
=, IT. T-sroas a1S