The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-08-23
Only Half of the Ransom Was
Paid to Bandits for Re-
lease of Aviators
CAVALRY OFFICER MAKES
QUICK DASH INTO MEXICO
Captain .Mattock Takes Long
Chance to Save Aviator and
Part of Money

Part OF Money
Maria. Texas, Aug. 19.-Spread out
fanshaped over a wide stretch Of Mex
lean country south Of the Rio Grande,
United States cavalry troops, aided by
airrnen as scouts tonight are combing
the mountains for the bandits who
held the two. American aviators for
$4,000 ransom.
After the forward dash over the
border today, the troops probably
were being handicapped tonight by a
storm which was reported in mes
sages by field telephone to be raging
in the mountains below the border.
It was feared torrential rains would
obliterate trails left by the bandits.
The eXpeditionary force for time
moved forward in the face Of high
winds, according to the reports.
'rhe two lieutenants, II. G.. Peterson
and Paul \. Davis for whom ransom
was demanded and who were released
early today, guided the Americans in
With nearly six hours start on the
punitive expedition the bandits are
believed to have scattered in the
mountain passes and canyons. and it
probably will be necessary to search
every square mile Of the rough coun-
cry below the border to find them, in
the opinion of military men.
Despite the difficulty in locating the
bandits from the air, American avia-
tors who left the flying field here
early today. secuted almost the entire
Ojeniga district.
1t was known tonight how many are
in the bandit band. Lieutenant Da-
Wis and Lieutenant Peterson said they
saw six men, There were 90 other
bandits at the ranch where the out
laws stopped. American aviators
were told the band numbered so.
Arrangements for nurses. ambu-
lances and surgical dressings for the
punitive expedition troops were being
made tonight by Elmer Donnell OF
st. Louis for the use i'm case of emer-
gency.
A report from the expedition indi-
Gated that pursuit has continued
throughout the day but that there
had been no contact with. the ban
dts
H n. Fennell, banker of this city,
arrived late today and announced that
the amount of ransom actually paid
for the release of the aviators was
$500 Fennell took the $4,000 de-
manded to Candelaria yesterday. He
declared q recount Of the money
brought back by Captain Matlack
after release Of the aviators showed
$4,000 remained.
F'ennell brought the $4,000 back to
Maria this afternoon and deposited it
in a bank The money was in $50
bills. Fennell said the army would
reimburse the cattlemen who sub
scribed the ransom money.
Fennell tonight told the first con-
nected story Of events preceding the
crossing of the American aviators to
the United States today. He outlined
preliminary negotiations Monday be-
tween Captain Matlack and the Mexi-
can brother in-law Of Renteria, who
acted as q go between.
He said the bandits insisted the de-
livery Of the aviators be made after
dark so flares might be seen. The go
between crossed to San Antonia, Chi
huahua, opposite Candelaria, and Sc
lectetd the spot where the aviators
were to be delivetred. 1t was at an
old cottonwood tree mile and half
south of San Antonio. The go-be-
tween had returned to the American
side and said arrangements had been
completed.
When the flares agreed upon failed
TO show after midnight. Captain Mat
half an hour returning with Lieuten
ant Peterson. AS he rode into Can
delaria. Captain Matlack said:
Here's one Of them. thank Cod
Returning to the old cottonwood
tree. Captain Matlack told Lieutenant
Davis to get on behind. The the Cap
tain spurred his horse without deliver
ing the balance of TIE money.
You can so plumb TO hell. I'm 60
ing back" the captain shouted as he
solloped across the hiver. When Cap |
tain Matlack dismounted Fennell said
he. shook the money in their faces.
Look ut that: I'm going back to-
morrow and get the rest Of that
the Captain told them, Fen
nell said.
'.The aviators were elated over
their experience. once across the riv
er," said Fennell. We asked them if