The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1919-08-28
STORY OF RESCUE
ARMY AVIATORS.
Captain Mattock Takes Long Chance
to, Save Aviator and Part
Of Money.


Grande, United States calvary troops,
aided by airmen as scouts tonight are
combing the mountains for the ban
dts who held the two American avia-
tors 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.
1t was feared torrential rains would
obliterate trails left by the bandits.
The expeditionary force for a time
moved forward in the face of high
winds, according to the reports.
The two lieutenants, H. G. Peter
son and Paul N. Davis for whom ran
som was demanded and who were re-
leased early today, guided the Amer
leans in their quest for the Mexican
outlaws.
With nearly six hours start on the
punitive expedition the bandits are
believed to have scattered in the
mountain passes and canyons, and it
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
aviators who left the flying field here
early tday, secuted almost the entire
Ojeniga district.
1t was known tonight how many
are in the bandit band. Lieutenant
Davis and Lieutenant Peterson said
they saw six men. There were 20
other bandits at the ranch where the
outlaws stopped. American aviators
were told the band numbered 60.
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 in case of
emergency.
A report from the expedition indi-
Gated that pursuit has continued
throughout the day but that there
had been no contact with the bandits.
H. N. Finnell, 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 a recount of the money
brought back by Captain Matlack
after release. of the aviators showed
S6,6000 remained.
Fennell brought $6,5OO back to
Maria this afternoon and deposited it
in 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 oday. He outlined
preliminary negotiations Monday be-
tween Captain Matlack and the Mexi-
can brother-in-law of Renteria, who
acted as a go between.
He said the bandits insisted the de-
livery of the aviators be made after
dark so flares might be seen. The 60
between crossed to San Antonia, Chi
huahua, opposite Candelaria and Sc
lected the spot where the aviators
were to be delivered. 1t was at an
old cottonwood tree a 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
lack crossed. He was gone more than
half an hour returning with Lieuten-
ant Peterson. AS he rode into Can
delaria, Captain Matlack said:
"HepE's one of them, thank God"
Returning to the old cottonwood
tree, Captain Matlack told Lieuten-
ant Davis to get on behind. The Cap
tain spurred his horse without de-
livering the balance of the money.
"You can go plumb to hell, I'm go
ing back" the captain shouted as he
galloped across the river. When Cap
tain Matlock dismounted Fennell said
he shook the money in their faces.
Look at that; I'm going back to-
morrow and get the rest of that
money! 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
they had a good time. Davis said:
I'll say 1 did"
Neither man was hurt by the fall
of the biplane. The aviators believed
the accident was caused by the fact
that their oil supply had been ex-
hausted. The men had only a quart
canteen full Of water but drank from
the Concho river.
"They said the bandit Renteria
forced them to write messages asking
for the ransom and read the messages
to see if they were correct"
Saddle weary and rain soaked, the
troops of the Eighth Calvary con-
tinued pushing forward tonight de-
spite the storm that swept the noun
famous region south Of the Rio
Grande-Big Bend district. Torrential
rains fell in the Ojinaga district and
low visibility prevented good airplane