The General and the Jaguar (56 page)

250 Tumulty: “Governor Ready to Furnish All Information That Is Available,”
SFNM,
May 4, 1916; also May 5, 1916, telegram from Governor William McDonald to Joseph Tumulty,
PWW,
36:606.

250 “represented their only”: “Governor Visits the Villistas,”
SFNM,
May 8, 1916.

250 “Would it not seem”: Letter, President Wilson to William McDonald, May 8, 1916,
PWW,
36:653-654.

251 “I scarcely think”: Letter, William McDonald to President Wilson, May 12, 1916,
PWW,
37:31.

251 reprieve: Executive Order, William C. McDonald, May 13, 1916, NMSRCA.

251 undercover operation: This report is in the microfilm records of A. B. Fall at UNM and also in the claim file of Charles
DeWitt Miller. Included with the Fall records is a letter from J. S. Vaught, the prosecutor, to Mr. Ben Williams, asking if
he might show the report to Governor McDonald. The report in the Miller claim is incorporated into an affidavit signed by
Geck himself.

251 “the plans of their leaders”: Affidavit, Samuel Geck, April 25, 1925, Miller claim.

253 paid $250: Order, Judge Edward Medlar, April 22, 1916, LCCO, Criminal nos. 652 and 664.

253 new paying client: Petition, Buel R. Wood to Governor William McDonald, May 15, 1916, NMSRCA; “Trying to Save Seven
Villistas,”
EPH,
May 2, 1916, Bouilly collection.

253 “I am fully”: “Attorney for Columbus Raiders Declares Men Had Fair Trial with Just Judge and Fair, Intelligent Jury,”
SFNM,
May 9, 1916.

254 “The report you sent me”: Letter, J. S. Vaught to Ben Williams, May 18, 1916, Fall microfilm records, UNM.

254 another telegram: W. C. McDonald to President Wilson, June 3, 1916,
PWW,
37:159.

254 “I still have”: Newton Baker to Joseph Patrick Tumulty, June 6, 1916,
PWW,
37:171-172.

255 second twenty-one-day reprieve: Executive Order, William C. McDonald, June 7, 1916, NMSRCA.

255 “We are convinced”: “Carranza Pact to Take Rope from Necks of Five Bandits,”
SFNM,
June 8, 1916.

255 hangings: Descriptions of hangings taken from Gilbreath,
Death on the Gallows.

256 invitations: “2 Columbus Raiders Pay Extreme Penalty,”
DG,
June 9, 1916, clipping, NMSRCA.

257 rope: Oral-history interview, Blanche Ritchie Dorsey, May 2, 1981, NMSRCA.

257
hombrearse con la muerte:
Krauze,
Mexico,
362.

257 “He just gurgled”: Letter, Edward Schwemler to Haldeen Braddy, August 11, 1975, Braddy papers, UTEP. Schwemler said
he interviewed Mr. Hudiburgh in 1967. This story is similar to the event described by Jimmie Hines in a letter to the editor
of the
Deming Headlight
in March of 1981, which is available at the Deming museum.

258 Taurino was very: “Bandits March without Tremor up to Scaffold,”
AMJ,
July 1, 1916.

258 “I hope you”: “Four More Raiders Meet Their Doom,
DG,
June 30, 1916, clipping, NMSRCA.

258 “Don’t be afraid”: Ibid.

258 “I know I am”: Ibid.

258 José Rodríguez: “Rodríguez Set to Work at Making Bricks,”
SFNM,
June 30, 1916.

259 Rangel’s will: “Bandit Leaves a Will Saying Columbus Raid Was Ordered by Villa,”
EPH,
July 10, 1916.

17. A Ripe Pear

260 three dozen or so men: “Record of Prisoners, Mexicans,” NARA, RG 395, Punitive Expeditions to Mexico, Headquarters,
Historical Data, Intelligence Files, box 1. This document contains lengthy sketches of the prisoners, giving their ages, background,
and military history. Approximately twenty-one prisoners were brought back to the United States. The rest were released by
military authorities, or escaped or died. Interestingly, all but one of the soldiers who were returned to the United States
for trial admitted to having participated in the Columbus raid. The prisoners were:

1
. Enrique Adame, eighteen, a private, from San Geronimo Ranch, impressed into service as the column moved north and placed
under the command of Nicolás Fernández. Adame became ill en route and never made it across the border, but was captured by
Pershing’s troops when they entered Mexico. Adame, whose story was substantiated by two other prisoners, later escaped from
prison.

2
. Pedro Burcíaga, a twenty-four-year-old lieutenant from Namiquipa and member of Cervantes’s bodyguard. He joined the revolution
in May of 1915 and served under Cervantes. Admitted firing upon expeditionary troops while they were in Mexico but claimed
he was intoxicated.

3
. Ramón Bustillos, eighteen, a private, from Namiquipa, assigned to Cervantes’s detachment. Took up arms in September of 1915
after being told he could make more money as a soldier than as a mill hand. Didn’t like soldiering and returned home, and
was living quietly when Cervantes ordered him to join up.

4
. Tomás Camarena, private, forty-eight, the father of ten children and a native of Cruces, a member of Cervantes’s detachment.
Said he was forced into column after being threatened with death. He had begun fighting at Villa’s side in October of 1913.
At some point he was charged with complicity in the murder of a colonel and spent three months in prison. Thereafter he went
into concealment but Cervantes found him and persuaded him to reenlist. When the Villistas fled back to Mexico, he was given
the job of guarding a weapons cache.

5
. Guadalupe Chávez, private, age twenty-two, a Namiquipa resident, took up arms for Villa in 1914. Served for a while under
Cervantes and then was discharged as
pacífico.
Forced to rejoin in late February of 1916.

6
. Lorenzo Gutiérrez, a corporal from San Andrés, assigned to General Pedrosa. Took up arms in 1910. Fought with Villa at Torreón,
Zacatecas, and Celaya. Admitted going to Columbus. Found with a Winchester rifle and fifty-five rounds of ammunition, a crocheted
doily, several yards of blue silk cloth, some black cotton material, a leather money purse, and other items believed to have
been taken from Columbus.

7
. Francisco Herras, seventeen, private from Namiquipa assigned to Lieutenant Colonel Elijio Hernández. Joined the revolution
in 1913. Went to Mexico City and to Monterrey. He was discharged and was planting wheat on his farm on the east bank of the
Santa María River when a detail of Cervantes’s soldiers arrested him. He was at Guerrero when Dodd’s soldiers came through.

8
. Mariano Jiménez, a lieutenant, twenty-one years old and a native of San Luis Potosí. He had been a coal passer for Villa
in 1915 and accompanied him to Sonora. He was a member of Villa’s personal
escolta
until April 4, 1916, when Villa went into hiding.

9
. Pedro López, private, twenty-three, orderly to Elijio Hernández, who was killed in the Guerrero fight. A native of Mexico
City, López was an experienced soldier who joined Villa in 1913, fought with him at Celaya, Aguas Calientes, and León. Villa
himself recruited López for the Columbus raid, saying he was short of men. He participated in the raid and remained with the
Villistas until after the Tomóchic fight.

10. Pedro Lujan, forty-eight, a lieutenant colonel and Namiquipa native, admitted helping Cervantes recruit for the Columbus
raid and was captured in Mexico by Lieutenant George Patton. He took up arms in favor of Madero and was present at his defeat
during the battle of Casas Grandes. He returned home in 1913, cultivated his lands, then took up arms again to “avenge the
death of Madero.” He was a captain during the Celaya battle and then mustered out. He took up arms for a third time when the
Villistas began their trek north and remained with Cervantes until shortly before Cervantes was killed.

11. José de la Luz Márquez, private, twenty, light skinned and blue eyed, from Namiquipa. Fought at Celaya and León. Impressed
into service by Cervantes and reported to Nicolás Fernández.

12. Francisco Mejía, a twenty-year-old private from Jalisco, assigned to Elijio Hernández. Took up arms in favor of Villa
in 1914 and rose through ranks to become sublieutenant. U.S. Army officials noted that he resembled a “Malay” and had “markedly
white teeth.” Participated in impromptu attack in which Cervantes and José Bencomo were killed.

13. Juan Mesa, twenty-two, a private from Sonora, assigned to General Beltrán’s command during the march to Columbus.
Took up arms in 1913 and fought all over Mexico. According to the
New York Times
(“Assure Pershing of Cooperation,”
NYT,
April 14, 1916), Mesa was the first prisoner captured. His face was scarred by smallpox and he wore the cotton garb of a
peon.

14. Juan Muñoz, a twenty-four-year-old lieutenant, one of the highest-level officers captured by U.S. troops. He helped
with the recruiting for the raid. He was college educated, the son of the president of Namiquipa, tall and slender, and “rather
light for a Mexican.” He fought for Villa for three years, mustered out, but was forced to rejoin in the spring of 1916. After
Villa was injured, he attached himself to Cervantes and then deserted him about April 8, 1916. Later he served as an informant
for the U.S. Army. “He has been of good service to the United States and should be shown consideration,” an intelligence officer
wrote. In an interview with a Mexican author years later, he maintained the soldiers went to Columbus only to punish Sam Ravel
and killed only people who first shot at them.

15. David Rodríguez, twenty-one, a lieutenant from Ocampo, took up arms in 1914. Spent seven years in the United States.
Was forced to join Cervantes or face the “destruction” of his family. He was injured in the raid and left at El Valle with
other Villistas.

16. Rafael Rodríguez, forty-two, the father of five and a native of Namiquipa, began fighting for Villa in 1913. Eventually
he returned home, but was forced back into service in the spring of 1916. He reported to Elijio Hernández.

17. Francisco Solís, twenty-six, tall and slender, a corporal from Tamaulipas and a member of Brigada Villa in 1913. Eventually
he was discharged and relocated to Namiquipa. After Villa’s order went out, he said he was forced to rejoin. When he got into
an argument with Candelario Cervantes over the forced conscription, he was given ten lashes.

18. Juan Torres, twenty-two, a Namiquipa native, first took up arms in 1914. Left Villa in January of 1916 but was forced
by Cervantes to go to Columbus. He deserted him around May 1.

19. Santos Torres, a Namiquipa native, took up arms in 1914, but was discharged because of illness. Persuaded by Cervantes
to rejoin in 1915. Received amnesty from Carrancistas in February 1916, but joined Cervantes again, this time under pressure.
Served as horse holder during raid. “Has been of service to American troops,” an expeditionary intelligence officer wrote.

20. José Tena y Quesada, twenty, Namiquipa resident, was at home when one of Cervantes’s men appeared at his house and
read Villa’s orders. He felt he had no choice but to join and went to the cuartel in Namiquipa and was given a Mauser and
one hundred rounds of ammunition.

21. Silvino Vargas, nineteen, a resident of Cruces, short and slender and very dark. Joined Villa in 1913 and returned
home a year later because of illness. When he refused to reenlist, the Villistas captured his elderly father, who was released
only after the son took up arms.

260 Manquero bolted: “Proceeding of a Board of Officers,” April 14, 1916, NARA, RG 153, JAG, Mexican Claims Case Files,
box 6.

261 Lieutenant Patton: George Patton, “Report on the Death of Col. Cárdenas,” NARA RG 407, AGO, Mexican Expedition, box
2020. Though the ambush was a small event, it was nevertheless widely reported and brought Patton some of the fame he so desired.

261 cowboy’s adage: Blumenson,
Patton Papers,
333.

261 “Bandit”: Ibid., 336.

261 “The Gen. has”: Ibid.

262 Tomóchic: Account taken from Commanding Officer to Commanding General, “Narrative of Expeditions and Scouts,” July
8, 1916, NARA, RG 395, Punitive Expeditions to Mexico, Headquarters; Dodd to Pershing, “Report of Operations,” May 6, 1916;
NARA, RG 200, Papers of General John J. Pershing, Material Related to the Punitive Expedition, box 1.

262 “Traveled three days”: Eastman, “Report,” NARA, RG 407, AGO, Mexican Expedition, box 2020.

263 “One case was pulled”: Letter, Henry Huthmacher to Lena Huthmacher, June 1, 1916, Columbus museum.

263 “The dead were carried”: Eastman, “Report,” NARA, RG 407, AGO, Mexican Expedition, box 2020.

264 burned them alive: Dodd to Pershing, “Report of Operations,” NARA, RG 200, Papers of General John J. Pershing, Material
Related to the Punitive Expedition, box 1.

264 traded the foodstuffs: “Namiquipa Is Old and Big, Yet It Is Primitive City of Mexico,”
EPH,
April 24, 1916.

264 “We hope that”: RO, 52; “Our Troops Kill Villa’s Chief Aide,”
NYT,
May 27, 1916.

264 he remained defiant: Killing of Cervantes taken from Commanding Officer to Commanding General, “Report of Engagement
with Band of Col. Cervantes,” May 27, 1916, NARA, RG 200, Papers of General John J. Pershing, Material Related to the Punitive
Expedition, box 1, and Tompkins,
Chasing Villa,
202-205.

265 two old bullet wounds: Letter, James L. Collins to Captain George E. Adamson, June 29, 1934, Pershing papers, LC.

265 “The death of”: Pershing to Commanding Officer, May 26, 1916, NARA, RG 200, Papers of General John J. Pershing, Material
Related to the Punitive Expedition, box 1.

265 pine coffins: Telegram, United Press International, May 28, 1916, NARA, RG 153, JAG, Mexican Claims Case Files, box
7.