The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-08-22

bullet holes in their plane and they
reported that they had been attacked
by a bandit gang of three Mexicans,
one of whom they believed they killed
with machine gun bullets. Another
was believed to have been wounded
and the third put to flight.
A, report was received here today
from Lieutenant Estill, pilot, and Lieu
tenant Cooper, observer, dated Pre-
sidio, Texas, giving details of firing
on their biplane yesterday by Mexi-
can bandits. While flying over
Mexican mountain trail, the Ameri-
can aviators observed three Mexicans
mounted riding south. The planes
swept down low to investigate.
The bandits opened fire with rifles,
bullets puncturing the wings Of the
American machine. Observer Cooper
returned the fire and saw one horse
and rider fall A short time after
ward one horse mounted and climbed
up the side of the mountain and dis
appeared. Neither aviator was hit.
Saves Part of Ransom.
H. NJ. Fennell, banker of this
city, arrived late yesterday and an
nounced that the amount of ransom
actually paid was $500. Fennell took
the $4,000 demanded to Candelaria
Monday. He declared recount of
the money brought back by Captain
Matlack after release of the aviators
showed that $6,5O0 remained, which
Captain Matlack salvaged when he ex-
ecuted a coup, rescuing Lieutenant
Davis without paying the second half
Of the money.
Fennell said the bandits carried
high powered rifles in their hands
when Matlack escaped with Davis
The Mexicans were so astonished al
the nerve of the officer they failed
to shoot until the horse carrying then
disappeared across the river in the
darkness.
1t developed that Captain Matlacl
refused to wait for the signal flare
from the Mexican mountain and cross
ed the river at 1885 a. m. after thu
hour agreed upon had passed withou
the signal. Captain Matlack becam,
worried over the fate of the aviator!
and decided to cross alone to the ban
dit rendezvous and see what had hap
pened.
Shortly after Fennell saw the sig
nal flare from the Mexican side an,
he fired flare notifying the Mexi
cans that Captain Matlack had cross
ed.
Lieutenants Peterson and Davi
were anxious to return with the troops
The men had not been shaved fo
nine days. Their uniforms were mud
dy, snagged by cactus and wrinkles
from swimming the river.
According to the men, Renteria fail
ed to carry out his plan to command
eer their uniforms to take to his lead
er as evidence that the aviators ha,
been killed.
The first thought of both Lieuten
ant Davis and Lieutenant Peterson
when they crossed to the American
side after their release was of thei
parents. Each dictated a message t.
send home.
From descriptions given by the av
iators, the bandit leader was Jesu
Renteria, we'll known in the Big Bend
Ojinaga district, and not Chico Cane
although Renteria may have been op
Grating under Cano's orders as Cam
is known to be in the district oppo
site Candelaria. According to report
Renteria, who lost a leg and an arm
in train wreck in Kansas, wear
artificial limbs. The aviators sait
Renteria was the Mexican who nego
tiated with Captain Matlack until mid
night Monday night regarding detail
Of the delivery of the ransom.
MEXICO GIVES PERMISSION.
Mexico City, Tuesday, August 49,