The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-08-20
LIEUT.. PETERSON TELLS
IN DETAIL STORY OF THE
PLANE FALL AND CAPTURE

-
! Peterson, first to cross the border from
Mexico today, made the following state
ment:
I'VE fell about noon Sunday. We
thought we We're about two miles from
Candelaria. We walked all Sunday after.
noon and Sunday night, until about 2:3O
o'clock Monday morning, when we came
to a Mexican ranch, where we found
Mexican who talked English. He
told us Piares was three miles south.
We asked him to take us there, but he
told us the MeXicans would kill us ii
we went there. SO we got him to take
as to a road down which we walked
about an hour.
I'VE slept about one and a half hours.
until o'clock Monday morning, when
we headed down what we thought was
the Rio Grande. We started climbing
over the hills, following the course Of
the river.
I'VE walked all day Monday, walking
an hour and resting half an hour.
Monday night we walked by moon
light until 1890 p. m. when We went
to sleep and slept until G a. m. Tues
day. We bought Mexican tortillas at
little village to eat
Tuesday we walked until $50 a. m,
when we took to the river and swan for
five hours downstream, taking 10 min
utes' rest four different times. When
we came to the rapids we decided we
must land and walk. We landed, dried
our clothes and started over the noun
tains.
Il had a little fever We lay down
on u mountain path and slept until
a. m. Wednesday. We saw smoke from
u village and headed in that direction.
We thought the village was just around
the corner from Candearia. We reach
ed the village and got lots Of food
Then we hired u Mexican with three
burros to take us to Candelaria We
We're ready to start when an armed
Mexican came up and addressed the
Mexican we had employed The armed
man spoke in Spanish. Then he hur
riedly left.
Overtaken by Bandits
I'VE began our journey on burros
with our Mexican guide. We soon were
overtaken by six armed bandits and
many townspeople All but two of the
bandits left us, but these two continued
following us. After going about 45
minutes the bandits stopped us and told
the Mexican owner of the burros to re-
turn to his home. The Mexican OBJ
jected, as we were riding his burros.
The bandits then headed us up the val
ley to a village where they made the
Mexican drink.
"a 1a1lpr
50 and he arranged for food for US and
liquor for himself. The bandits took
us on to a ranch where they got a
horse and a mule for US to ride This
was about p. m. Wednesday. We rode
until midnight. Then we slept until
1880 o'clock Thursday morning. Resum-
ing our journey, We continued in the
mountains all day Thursday and slept in
the mountains at night.
Friday afternoon about $50 the ban
dts stopped the horses and said they
wanted to have little chat with us.
The bandits told us to write the mes
sages saying ransom must be paid for
our release. The bandit leader spoke
English very well. He had worked on
the railroads in Kansas and had lost
an arm anu Il IeS III an dcCiueil, LAG
said
I'VE stayed over night in the noun
tains Saturday night, when the leader
returned from sending the messages.
The bandits foraged for food and we
had plenty TO eat. We camped all day
Sunday. The leader left Sunday night
and returned Monday morning. He said
the money for our release would be
paid.
I'VE left there at noon and then
camped until o'clock Monday night,
when We started to meet Captain Mat
lack. We met him at approximately
,:15 a. IN. today. After bringing me
o.er the border he returned for Lieu
tenant Davis.
Were Well Treated
I'VE were well treated. We had
plenty of food. There were three ban
dts with us most of the time. We did
not learn the name of the bandits, but
believe we could identify them. We
though all the time we were near Val.
entine.
I'VE met Captain Matlack at a ranch
which is about 25 minutes walk from
Candelaria upstream. We were never
blindfolded nor mistreated in any way,
except once when tried to escape. The
bandits said thy would kill us If we
tried again. They also threatened TO
kill us if the ransom was unpaid"
Lieutenant Davis story differed from
that of Lieutenant Peterson only in a
few minor details. Lieutenant Davis
added the fact that the plane fell near
a bridge over the rivr. The place after
ward was located near Falomir. Chi
hua.