Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1919-08-22
BANDITS HOLD
U. S. SOLDIERS
Take American Airmcn and
Demand Ransom For Their
Return-Cavalry Pursuing
Outlaws in Mountains.

Maria, Tex, Aug. l9.-Spread out
Tan shaped over u wide stretch of
, Mexican country south of the Rio
Grnndc, United States cavalry troops.
aidcdby airmcn as scouts, tonight
nrc combng the mountains for the
bandits who held the two American
aviators for $4,000 ransom.
After the forward dash over the
border today, the Sroous probably
were being handicapped tonight by u
storm which was reported in mes
sagrrs by field telephone to be raging
IN The mountains below the border.
1t was fcnrcd the torrcntial rains
would oblitcrate trails left by the
! bandits. The oXpcditionary forces for
time moved forward in the race of
hiEh winds, according to the reports.
lhc Two licutcnants, ii. G. Peterson
and Paul N. Davis, for whom ransom
was demanded and who were releas-
cd early today, guided the Americans
IN their quest of the Mexican out
! laws.
With nearly six hours start on the
punitive expedition, the bandits are
believed to hnvc scattered in the
mountain passes and canyons, and it
probably will be necessary To- search
every squire mile of the rough coun-
try below the border TO find them,
in the opinion of military men.
Despite the difficulty in locating
the bandits from the mir, American
nvintors who left the flying field
here cary today secuted almost the
entire OiinaEa district.
IL was not known tonight how
many arc in the bandit band. Lieu
'cnant Davis and Lieutenant Peter
son said they saw six men. There
were twenty other bandits ut tho
'"nch where the outlaws stoppcd.
American nvlntors were told the
band numbered sixty.
Arrangements for nurses, aanbu-
lanccs, and surgical dressings for the
punitive expedition troops were be-
ing made tonight by Elfcr Donncll,
of st. Louis, for use in case of emcr-
lccncy.
a report from the expedition indi-
cntcd the pursuit. had continued
throughout the day but that there
had been in contact with the dnndits.
II. NJ. Fcnncll, banker of this
rlty, arrived late today and announc-
cd thnt the amount of the ransom
actually paid for release OF the avia-
tors was So 5000. Fcnncll took the
"ib."VV Nctiiuilucu W kullucTUTlU yes
tcrday. He declared recount Of the
money hrught bnck by Captain Mat
lack after release Of the avlators,
showed $4,000 remained.
Fcnnoll brought the .6,5000 back
to Mnrfn this afternoon and deposit
I'd IL in II bank. The money was In
$50 bills. lcnnell said the army
would reimburse the catLlemcn who
subscribed tho ransom money.
Fenncll tonight told the first con-
nccted story of events proceeding the
crossing Of the American aviators to
the United Stntcs today. The outln-
cd preliminary negotiations Monday
between Captain Matlncll and the
Mexican brothcr-in-law of the bandit
ltentcrin, who acted rs go-betwccn.
lie said the bandits insisted that
the delivery Of the aviators be made
after dark, so flares might be seen.
The Eo-betwcen crossed tn San An
tonic, chihuahua, opposite Candida
ria, and selected the spot where the
aviat0rs were to be delivered. 1t was
ut an old cottonwood tree mile and
n half south of San Antonio. The go
between then returned to the Amcri-
can side and said arrangements had
been completed.
When the flares agreed upon fail
cd to show after midnight, Captain
Matlack crossed. He was gone more
than half an hour, returning with
Lieutenant Peterson. AS he rode in
TO Candclaria, Captain Matlack snid:
"Ilero's one of them, thank God"