South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-26
South Bend Man Tells OF
Being Captured By Bandits

restaurant, had dinner and started
home about $50 or o'clock.
The first eight miles are in the
/ hills then the country drops into
a wide valley about seven miles in
I breadth and then into the hills again
/ for two or three miles 10 Tecolotes.
Just as we were descending into the
valley. II grew a little more than
dusk 90 I turned on my lights. Il
was quite dark by the time We
reached the foot OF the hill. At this
point we had TO ford a creek and
for 100 yards getting out OF the
stream had TO shift into intermediate
gears on account Of the rough roads
and a slight upward grade. | got
about half way out when three
Mexicans jumped up from the
thickets lining the roadway and
drew down on US with Mauser rifles.
One OF them pushed a gun at my
head and ordered me 10 stop; then
/ he made me turn or ny lights and
commanded all 10 step out OF the
machine They searched US, took our
money watches and other trinkets.
also all OF the newly purchased
clothes. Then demanded 10 be told
where the money was. I asked what
money. And they declared had
$4,000 pesos in the car. OF course
that was funny. 50 one jabbed me
in the ribs with a pistol which look
ed like cannon, However we con-
vinced them that there was no
money. This evidently displeased
them or they were so determined 10
extract money from US in some man
ner that they decide TO keep Swan
and Monks while Walker and I
should go TO Santa Barbara for a
10000 pesos ransom.
They told me 1 could have two
I hours 10 make the trip and must re-
turn alone. We argued some but
they got mean; So"
Here Mr.. Hills letter was inter-
rupted by a call from the military
authorities at Parral for assistance.
He resumed his letter June u, with
a continuation Of his tale:
To prOceed-"There was only one
thing to do and that was to beat it
for Santa Barbara. oh. yes as I
started Monks slipped me his dia-
mond stud, weighing about a carat
and a half.
Takes Lonesome Ride.
when I reached Tecolotes every
body was az the club dancing and
believe me there was some jumping
around when 1 told them what was
up. Schumacher and several others
OF US went into consul and decided
that I should return TO the Llace
where we had been attacked. with
$1,000 and see what I could do. Be-
lieve me II was some lonesome ride.
Some Of the fellows wanted TO ego
back and shoot them up, but show
ed how any interference on our part
would be jepardizing the lives of
Swan and Monks. However I figured
on talking with the E-exicans and
provided they refused TO be satisfied
with the $1,000; TO see if they i'm
agined they had a chance TO run if
brought a sufficient guard 10 at
tack them Which by the way was
hopeless owing to the darkness.
II got back there and stopped
above the arroyo, killed my engine
and waited. Finally in the dark I
could hear horses and then a voice
asking who l was. 1 told them and
they commanded me to shut off NY
lights and come 10 them. argued
and insisted that it was too dark
for me TO follow them. So they
cussed me and reiterated their COM
mand to follow their voices. I did
and walked right off an arroyo
bank and fell about FIVE feet onto
some boulders. And snap went that