The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-08-20

ment, today instructed Officers NJ
Candelaria TO pay the Mexican ban
dts the full $4,000 ransom as
stipulated in the agreement made
with them by the American gov
ernment.
Maria. Texas, Aug. 19.-Lieuts. H. G.
Peterson and Paul II. Davis. aviators OF
the United States army, held captive ior
more than a week by Mexican bandits
who demanded a ransom of sl5,ooO, We're
rescued early this morning by Captain
Matlocl of the Eighth cavalry and are
safe in American territory. Captain
Matlock brougt back with him one
half of the ransom money. He said
that after Peterson had been released
Davis was brought forward by the pan
dts and the two mounted Captain Mat
locks horse. The bandits demanded the
remainder OF the ransom money ana
Captain Matlock and Davis answered by
riding rapidly away.
The aviators alighted on the American
side of the river, Lieutenant Peterson
said. Upon their arrival at Candelaria
a week ago Sunday, their engine devel-
oped trouble and they We're forced to
land. smashing their landing gear ana
fusiage in doing so. The two aViators
then tried to find their way to the
nearest army camp and became con
fused. They walked and swan down
the Rio Grande during Monday, Lieu
tenant Peterson said, and then hlred
Mexican burros after Peterson develop
ed a fever They had started for can
delaria when an armed Mexican over
took them and made them prisoners
They We're unarmed.
They were overtaken by a band OF
armed bandits, Lieutenant Peterson
said. and a crowd of people from lit
tie town. They continued on their forced
journey until Friday night, when the
bandits compelled the aviators to write
messages demanding ransom and tell
ing of the death threat.
The leader of the banlits, they said
had worked on a railroad in Kansas
and lost a hand and a foot in an acci
dent there.
The messages were sent to the poruer
by messengers Sunday.
Captain Matlock returned with DAVIS
at o'clock this morning, both men
riding the captains horse
Goes Alone into Rendezvous
According to the agreement. Captain
Matlock made the journey into the Mex
lean rendezvous unaccompanied. lie
was to pay over 81 800 for the release
of one aviator and then the remainder
when the second aviator was released
Under the arrangement Matlock was 10
return with the avators by foot 10 the
American side and then come on to
Maria by airplane. Two flares were
TO t,e the signal for Matlock to begin
his perious journey into the bandit
country.
Captain Matlock said this morning
that the two aviators alighted in Mex
leo, contradicting the story OF Leiu'eii,
ant Peterson. He said the aviators
thought they had landed in the uhlteu
States, and this impression on their part
was not corrected until after they hao
reached the border early this morning.
The aviators, the captain said, had
became confused while in the air ana
had mistaken the Conchos river Tor
the Rio Grande Instead of landing
near Candelaria, as they thought, they
had landed at n point near Faiofnlrsh'
Chihuahua. more than 40 miles up the
Conchos river, where they apahuoiieu
their wrecked airplane after STRIPPING
If of machine guns and vital parts
which might make it of use to the Mex
leans
Were Taken Into Mountains
Thinking they were on the Rio
Grande. they started downstream IN an
effort TO locate Candelaria and report
their accident to military headquarters
They landed at 1890 Sunday afternoon
and were picked up Wednesday morn
ing by Jesus Renteria and a band OF
five other Mexicans. They were taken
into the mountains, but thought they
were approaching Valentine, Iexas.
They were told that sixty men belonged
TO the band, while in reality the ava
tors saw only 20 men at the ranch
where they were held Captain MatlocK
said the bandits were well mounted
The Americans tried once to escape
but were threatened with death and did
not renew their attempt.
Various plans for obtaining the ran
som money We're discussed by the pan
dts. One was for the delivery oil the
money by Americans in the middle Oh
the Rio Grande Another was for the
ayiators to be taken 100 yards up river
and the money taken an equal distance
down the river and both left at the
same time. Finally it was agreed that
an American army officer should be
sent from the American side upon sig
nails from the bandits by means or
flares. At the same time Renteria was
to start from the Mexican side with
the Americans. They were to meet and
exchange prisoners and money.
How Matlock Saved $500.
Captain Matlock's ruse, by which ne
saved 1900, was contrived on the spur
of the moment, after he had escorted
Peterson across the border.
81 Just decided there was no use IN
having those Mexicans that other ST.
500 after l had Davis, so told him to
iump on behind on my horse.
spurred him hard and we made wlid
dash for the border. and made it. They
called for us to halt, but l said Go
to HI and crossed"
Lieutenant Peterson crossed to the
American side at is O'Clock this morn