Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1920-08-12

graph continued. he organized a band
Of horse thieves with headquarters in
the mountains to prey upon the haci-
endas Of Durango.
These are only two OF the many
stories told OF Villas beginning in
crime. Some of the others may be
little more romantic. but all lead to
the same end-his assumption OF
command Of q band Of outlaws
His life from that time was a con-
tippous match of wits with the ru-
rales of Diaz. He grew suspicion OF
his own men,; At night he would
steal away from them and spread his
blanket in some secret place. He de-
vsloped the senses Of q wild animal.
A Swapping twig would awaken him.
when he assigned an officer to lead
an attack. he demanded either sue
Cess or the officers life. II he deter
minded upon an assault and any Of
his stafr dared criticise. he paid for
his criticism with his life. Once in
the guerilla warfare which he carried
on throughout NOSE of the Carranza
against the Carranzistas.
II was the end of a series OF dar-
Ing victories. The Carranzistas were
Vstrsating and Villas ammunition was
low. Many Of his men did not have
q single cartridge for their guns. but
In the opinion OF the chief another
rout was necessary and he relied upon
the prestige Of his troops for success.
At the first rush the Carranza troops
showed signs Of weakening. but they
quickly discovered the condition OF
their assailants and engineered
counter attack which cost the lives
Of hundreds Of Vilistas and scattered
the survivors through the mountains
But villa cared nothing for human
life. Early in his military career.
while an officer in the army of Made
70, he instituted the policy OF killing
the officers Of all federal troops he
captured and giving the men the
ehoics OF either joining his forces or
being shot. Frequently he carried
ont his own orders Of execution.
There is one revolving instance
whom 20 men were captured In raid
On q village. Villa condemned them
to death and designated himself their
eYecutioner. He had them drawn up
with their backs to q wall. Then. re-
yoiyer in hand, he walked along the
line taunting them. II q man showed
no fear the bandit placed his revol-
yAr oyer. his heart and fired. II he
dtA show fear villa passed him by In
order that he might watch his fellows
1tS, So he kept on. killing the ones
who showed the least fear and order
Ing the others aside that he might
enjoy the torture their faces showed.
Until all were killed. Then the mur
derer threw his still smoking revolver
TO an orderly to clean and went to
bed.
Phe bandit himself was frequently
reported killed. now by one Of his own
men: now In skirmish with Carranza
troops; again by some old adventurer
who had sneaked into his camp and
stabbed him AZ ne rested In his own
tent. Japanese doctor said ne had
styen Villa q slow poison which must
result In his death. A report came out
Of tbs City of Mexico that he had
bssn shot through the right leg In
brush with the federals. that ne had
Ara9ged himself away to the noun
taips. but that he must have died for
want Of attention. In q dozen ways
vas ne killed by rumor. Some par
tteuiariy imaginative commentator
had him cremated. but a few days
later there was o hacienda raid In
which villa was seen and recognized.
The Mexican government had offered
t<e. eco to the one who should either
capture or kill him. 1t was under
stood there were other sources from
witch the reward would be swelled
to 100000, but still Villa lived.