Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-08-18
LieutS. Paul Davis and H. G.
Peterson Have Been Missing
Since August 10, Despite
Continued Search.
DEATH THREATENED
IF $4,000 NOT PAID
Bandits Give u. S. Authorities
Until Today to Pay Sum;
Were PatroIIing Big Bend
District Across Border.

Maria, Tex, Aug 17.-Dawkins
Fitzpatrick of Candelaria, Tex,
sent a message to the Mexican
bandits late tonight urging them
to postpone the time limit fixed in
the demand for the payment OF
$4,000 ransom for the release of
American aviators Davis and Peter
son until Wednesday because Of
the delay in receiving their de.
mand at the border, it was an
nounced here today.
A message from a former Villa
follower, now a member of the
bandit band, was received at the
border late today threatening to
kill the American aviators if any
evidence of military movements to
search for the Americans were
seen on the American side of the
border. This message was ad-
dressed to Dawkins Fitzpatrick, it
was announced here.
Maria, Tex. Aug. Letters
purporting to be from Lieuts. Paul
H. Davis and Harold G. Peterson.
American army aviators, missing
since last Sunday, were received
here today at military headquarters.
The letters stated the aviators were
Being held by bandits for $ls90H-
ransom somewhere in Mexico and
were threatened with death unless
the ransom was paid, according to
the letters.
Report Made to General.
The demand for the ransom was
received here today and a report
made at once to Major Genera.
Dickman, commander of the south
crn department. An unconfirmed
report was also received here that
the aviators were being held at
point close to the American border
and that Chico Cano. famous ban
dit of the Big Bend-Ojinaga district.
was the leader Of the bandit banI
holding the aviators.
The whereabouts of the bandit
rendezvous from which the Amer
lean avlators were believed to have
sent their message is unknown here.
Because of the rugged, rough nature
of the country south of the border
the location of the bandits camp
by airplane would be almost impos-
slble as there are many box canyons
III which they could hide without be-
ing detected from the air or by the
Mexican cavalry troops searching
for them.
Try to Send Messages. =,
Replies to messages sent their
relatives by Lieut.. Paul H. Davis
and Harold G. Peterson, American
aviators reported held for ransom in
Mexico, were received at Maria.
Tex, late tonight. The messages
from the aviators were received at
the same time the demand for the
$4,000 ransom for the release of the
aviators was brought to the border
today. An effort was being made to
get the replies to the aviators in
the bandit rendezvous in Mexico.
The messages from the aviators
were sent to their relatives at Strath-
more and Berkeley, Cal, and Hutch
inson, Mimi. as soon as received at
Maria. The text of their messages
was not given out, but it was UNDER
stood the avlators requested their
relatives to urge the payment OF the
ransom. The contents of the replies
was also withheld, but a courier who
is familiar with the district opposite
the Big Bend, was obtained and an
effort made to get the replies to the
aviators tonight
While no official announcement
was made here tonight, it was under
stood the ransom would be paid to
an agent of the bandits tomorrow
morning and it is believed the
courier carrying the kilograms TO the
aviators also was authorized to in.
form the bandit leader of this fact.
Officers in Conference.
San Antonio, Tex, Aug. 17.-Mai
Gen. Joseph T. Dickman, command
er of the Southern department, ani
staff officers we're in conference late
tonight over reports from Carl
aria, Tex, that Lieutenants I ssfA'
and Peterson, army aviators, are s.
ing held by Mexican bandits for ~,
600 ransom, which, army authorii w &
have been advised, must be tA4s.
Monday to Dawkins KiipatriS
storekeeper at Candelaria, dar
penalty of death for the aviatd Il
the money is not forthcoming.
General Dickman said report}Y RE-
ceived indicated that the two airfhen
came down at the little town of Di-
lares which is on both sides of the
Rio Grande. He declined to state
what steps had been taken to rescue
the men. or whether he mad been in
communication with Col George T.
Langhorne, commander of the Biz