Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1922-08-20
BRUCE BIELASKI
IN BROWNSVILLE
ON Way TO EAS!
Recounts Experiences With
Mexican Bandits in Zapa-
tista Country South Of
Mexico City Last June

4. Bruce Bicaski. who was kidnapped
In Mrxitu last June and held for ran
som by bandit chief. finally escaping
from the bant..ts three days after ms
capture. arrived i'm Brownsville az $50
today in company with his wife. who was
also one of the party originally captured
by the bandits. They are on their way
10 Washington. via Houston. Galveston
and New Orleans. and expect To return
home in New York "a soon a. official
business mt Washington is concluded.
The only thing I can say just at this
moment said Mr. Bielaski. n he step
ped from the Mexican international train
nj the international bridge. Is that
am glad TO get back in the United States
and this city looks better 10 me than
any place I have seen in three months.
My wife says brownsville looks like the
Garden Of Eden"
Mr.. Hiclaski related The story of his
capture by n bandit chief in the noun
tnins in the Zapaiisia stronghold in the
Stat. of Guerra. on SUNDAY. June -.
a rariy consisting Of the chauffeur, Mr..
AMI Mrs. Bielask and two ladies. and
Jesus Rarccnas. were in the ear. AMI as
they entered a pass in the mountain
read they were halted by a party of
Mcxicans who covered them with rifles.
No indigniiies If any kind were Of
fercd. Mr.. Hielaski stated The bandits
hcd a conference and in few hours
the three ladies were released with in
struciions TO go to Mexico City. secure
10000 pesos and bring that amount tn
n place in the mountains designated hy
the chief. They were warned that in
the event of their failure To secure the
menrv Helaski and I'arcenaS would be
killrd. The ladies' were badly frightened
hut fhev did n directed. returning f.
Mrxico CITY and secured the money. In
the meantime the bandits iearned that
soldiers were scouting in the mountains
and made n hasty retreat from tha; Vi
entity. moving hack into the timber on
IN" mountain side 10 an almost inacccs-
sillr position.
The bandit chief. realizing that the
change cf base wouh make it impossible
for Mrs. Riclaski 10 deliver the ransom
m,Ilcy. released Rarrcnas on condition
that hr go and secure The money and
return with u 50 the now hiding place.
assuring him that Bielaskis life world
paw the forfeit IL he failed During the
night following the release Of I.arccnaS
Hielaski managed 10 affect his cScap.
while his guards were slceping. lie trav-
rle1 through the mountain trails until
he reached u small town where 4 garri-
son If federal soldiers were stationed.
lie advised them of the proximity of
the bandit ramp and then proceeded To-
Mexico City. where the rest "f the
party had assembled. telegraphic Iii,
patches frem the small town he first
reached having advised them Of his cs-
cape.
Mr.. Biclaski stated thar four men
have been captured by Mexican officials
who aIl"ge they are members of the
"and which capiurrd Biela>ki. and pie
tures AMI descriptions of others are in
ih" hands of Mexican authorities. who
are making diligcni search for them.
As 10 the newspaper reports that MIR
Rielaski was Instrumental in framing
up the hold-up and kidnapping as Il pub
h'iiy stunt. Mr.. BiclaSki stated: The
newspapers have been very v"cifcrouS in
their charges against me- They even
hal me charged with crimes in this
country. They made charges that I was
guilty Of framing M The whole thing al
though they never gave lcgiacl reason
for s,rh charges. The charges would
differ even in the same paper atirih-
ute most of these charges a. the fact
that DE In Iluerta WAS in the United
States at the time irving to arrange
some financial matters for the Mrxitan
government and ANYTHING which would
not rebound 10 the credit of the Mexican
government was diScrcliicd by the Mex
lean newspapers
Mr.. Riclaski was generous in his
prai>" of tho Mexican officials who han
died the investigation of the charges
made bv the newspapers. the final ont
com" "f which was the complete rxhon-
eraiion of Mr.. Eielaski. who declared
that the Mexican court handled The ease
rcurtecusly but thoroughly. and now
have a large number of soldiers Srour-
ing the mountains in nm effort Ia captnrr
the bandit chief and his followers.
In regarl To general conditions in
Mexico. Mr.. Eielaski stated they are
about the spine uncertain" stating
that in his opinion there had been little
change effected in recent years
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