The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-08-20
Peterson'B Story.

MARIA. Texas, Aug. l9.-ComplctclY
confused in their directions Lieutenant
H G.. Peterson and Licutcant paul ID.
Davis. American army aviators released
early today BY payment OF ransom 10
bandits who held them, believed thc:-
were on the American side or the border.
the entire time from the fall OF their
plane TO release.
Lieutenant Peterson first TO cross tho
border from Mexico, today made the TO-"
lowing statement:
we fell abort noon sunday. We
thought VIC were about two mnes FROM
CandrralIa We walked all Sundr%
Afternoon and Sunday night until about
ESQ o'clock Monday moi1Ine, when ""
came To Il ranch where VIC found NIX
lean who talked English. He told US
rIarc. VAS thee miles south. We asked
him 10 take us tncIc but he told US Inc
Mcxicana would Kill us if wc went there.
So we got him To take us 10 road down
which We walked about an hour.
..SlA o'clock MnnGay morning VIC head
cd down what We thought was the IL"
t;ranJc. We started climbing over the
hills following tho course Of the river.
Then VIC walked all day Monday. walk
ing IN hour and resting half an hour.
Monday night VIC walked by mnonllsE'
until 80 p. nj. when "" went 10 sle'p
and slcpt until 8 n. nj. Tuesday. lueS-
day we walked until $50 a. M WIG"
We took TO the river and swain lot Nv"
hours down stream, taxing Ten u''nu'e'
rests four different tines. "h'h W.
came to the rapids We decided We mus
land and walk. We landed. dried our
clothes and started over tn" mrnnla'hS
II had n little fever. We laid down GA
n mountain path and slept until IL. ~
wednesday. We saw smoke from W.
lace and headed in that Gir"ctIoh' we
Thought tho village was just around the
corner from Candclaria. We rcachcu '"e
village and got lots Of food
Then We hired Mexican win 'hIre
hurros 10 take us TO Iahu'lai'a
We were ready 10 start when an Ar'''u
Mexican came UP md addressed '"s
Mexican we had employed. The a'ih'u
man spike in Spanish. lhen ne 'e''
hurri"dly.
"Wc began our journey on burros
with cur Mexican guide. We soon were
ov.rlakcn by six armed bandits ana
many ,ownspcpople All but two OF the
hondlts left us but these two c"nuoa""
following us. After going about 40
minutes the bandits st0rpcd US ana 'oio
IN. Mexican owner Of the burroS 10 re-
,urp ,o his home The Mexican Objected
nc We were riding his hurros. Tn" BAN
dts then headed us up the valley 10
village where they made the McA'can
drink.
81 gavc tho cnc-armcd bandit leader
,wo dollars and arranged for food lor
us and liquor for himself. The Pahu''S
took rs on to Il ranch where th"y GOT
horse and n null" for us TO ride nus
was about : a. III. Wednesday. We r"de
until midnight. Then We slept until
7.3O o'clock Thursday morning. RrSum-
inc our Journey We continued IN inc
mountains all day Thursday and slept
in the mountains at night.
FRIDAY afternoon about $50 IN" pam
dts stopped the horses and said 'h'y
wanted TO have a little chat win us
The bandits told US 10 write inc mrs
sage saying ransom must Dc paid ior
our release. The bandit leader spoke
English very we'll. Hn Ind WORKED Oh
tho railroads in Kansas and had lost an
or mand IL leg in an accident ne saIu.
we stayed over night IN the mou''-
Trims Saturday night. when tho leader
returned from sending the messages
Tho bandits roragcd for food and We
had plenty TO cat. We camped all nay
sunday Tho leader lHft Sunday night
and returned Monday morning he saio
the money for our release would DC
paid.
we left there at noon Monday ana
then campcd until o'clock Monday
night. when VIC started to meet capt ain
Nntlack. We met him nj approximately
I.15 m. today. After bringing me
over the border he returned for Lieu
tenant Davis.
We were we'll treated. We had
plenty of food There were three pam
dts with US most OF the time. We dio
moi learn the names Of the bandits. buI
believe we could identify them.
We thought all the time VIC were
near Valentine.
We met Captain Matlack at ranch
which is about twenty-five minutes
walk from Candclaria upstream. we
were never blIndfodcd nor mistreaicd
in any way cxccp once when We trled
to escape The bandits said they would
kill US if W" tried again.
They also threatened to Kill US II
the ransom was unpaid"
Lieutenant Davis story differed from
that of Lieutenant Peterson only IN =
few minor details. Lieutenant Davis
added the fact that the plane fell near
bridge over the river. The place
afterwards was located near Falomir.
h,fo