The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1919-08-29

to a near-friendship. Rentario began
calling him Peterson and let him ride
without a guard When I tried to
argue with Rentario he always said
do you want to die nOw?' And when
we said No. he would say, All right
90 ahead then Peterson bawled me
out for arguing with Rentario and
RentariO would then say to Peterson
You and me good friend We rode
Friday, resting during the heat of the
day as usual.
AT X p. 10. we reached a part of
a ravine in the mountains which was
hidden on four sides by mountainous
walls. Here Rentario announced to
US that he was holding us for ST., 1000
ransom, which must be paid by mid
night of August IS or he would kill
us both. We stayed here until Mon
day afternoon. Rentario left every
might and came back i'm the mornings
to sleep during the day. We were
treated very considerably and had
much to eat, and as good as did nc
bandits themselves.
In view Of our lack Of knowledge
OF the mountains, we decided that it
would be useless to try an escape, as
we would only be recaptured within a
few hours. But when two MeXicans
laid down their rifles, about Is feet
from them, | signaled Peterson, and
he made rush for the rifles, while
| endeavOred to overpower the guards.
But they bested me and the other one
covered Peterson with his rifle.
Sunday morning Rentario told us
that the kilograms for the ransom
had been sent. He told Peterson that
If the ransom was not paid he was go
ing to get a shirt and some trousers
for him and take his uniform back
to the Americans to prove that he
had been killed, but that he would
not kill him, he would kill me, he
said.
Sunday night he left and came
back Monday morning, bringing the
telegram from our parents and the
food which was sent by Captain Mat
lack. He was in fine spirits and told
us the money would be raised by
ranchers by | .. M
AT p. m. our guards told us to
get ready, and we hiked two miles
over the mountains to deep canyon,
where the guards informed us Rem
tario would come for us at A o'clock
About 9.15 we heard Rentario's
whistle, and the guards went forward
to challenge him. We were guided
ON the journey by Rentario, who told
me that he would send Lieutenant
Peterson out first and if the money
and everything went right, he would
then send me out. He put Peterson
on behind a horseman and rode out
through cornfield, where he met
Captain Matlack.
"Rentario told Peterson he was
Ibis good friend" and got his adj
dress, so, he said, he could come to
visit him. He expressed the desire
to ride with him in his aeroplane
some time and hoped he would soon
see, his parents. This was when
Peterson brought back to him the
$500 which Captain Matlack had
given him for ransom.
AS soon as Peterson had left with
Captain Matlack, l was started on
foot with two mounted bandits be
side me, back to the mountains and
I sympathized with a man being led
to the gallows, for l was convinced
that some treachery had been
planned and so far as | was con-
cerned they were going to put an
end to things, as l knew Rentario
hated me. However, in an hour they
took me back to San Antonio and
Rentario shook hands with me as he
babe me Goodbye He said that if
he ever saw me again he would kill
me on sight. A Mexican agent then
took me to Captain Matlack.
Il wish to make mention here OF
the very brave deed of Captain Mat
lack, who, after the man RentariO
had appointed as agent refused to &c
into Mexico alone, came i'm after me
when he knew armed Mexicans to be
lurking i'm a cornfield where they
could easily have cut both of us OFF
on our way back. He knew he had
only fifty-fifty chance for his life
When | met Captain Matlack he
told the Mexican agent that ii he
made any noise he would shoot him
mounted behind the captain and we
started out. Matlack offered the
other Mexican agent $1,000 if he
would keep quiet and told him that
he would shoot him if he mada any
noise. Then Captain ordered the
agent to follow US to Candelaria. a
we neared the cornfield Captain Mat
lack told me that we were sure to he
fired on and that at the first shot
both of us would jump into an irriga-
ton ditch and fight until troops ar
rived from Candelaria-
'But the MeXicans didn't fires and
we reached Candelaria safely at 2 a
m, Tuesday, and it was here that we
first learned that we had been IN
Mexico, as we believed we had fol
lowed the Rio Grande and not the
Conchas. The latter was not on. our
map.
Tuesday we returned to Mexico
with X troop Of the Eighth Cavalry,
and have been there until the return
by ship today"
Woman Tells OF Babe DesertfOn.
The Hagerstown Globe publishes
the following:
After leaving her child on a w. nj,