HER DARING ESCAPE

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 14 March 1917, Page 2

HER DARING ESCAPE

WOMAN’S AWFUL ORDEAL IN BANDITS’ DEN "A fusillade of shots roused my husband and myself. Peering out of the window we saw the forms of men moTing in the direction of the soldiers’ little camp.” These thrilling words were uttered by Mrs W. K. Ellis as she described diow in a fierce raid by Mexican greasers she narrowly escaped death. Mrs Ellis was the only Avoman in Glenn Springs Avhcn the bandits swooped down upon the little .settlement near midnight. In the flickering 1 lights of the burning buildings she and her husband stole out of their house and j fled in safety to the hills, where they, wandered till the morning. Telling her friends in Marathon, Avhere she is resting of her experience, Mrs Ellis says—i ‘ ‘ The flashes of their rifles were like lightning streaks against the darkness, and avc knew there must bo a number of Mexicans attacking the place. Mr Ellis told me not to strike a match or i make any light, for fear of attracting the attention of the bandits. “In the dark we hunted for our clothes and dressed rapidly at the kdobo house, where I later learned the soldiers of Troop A made their stand. We could hear the shouts of the Mexicans and saw a party of them moving toward our bungalow. We slipped out of the back door, and, hugging every shadoAv as avc went, for fear of being shot, made our way into the hills. There we hid behind the boulders and rocks and dawn found us wandering in the mosquito and desert growth, three miles from Glenn Springs. Heaven knows • how avc got so far in the darkness. I don’t. “I don’t know whose ranch it was, I but I Avas given a burro and rode on it four miles to John Rice’s ranch. After j the raid avc returned to our house at , • Glenn Springs,, having heard that the Mexicans had left. The interior of the house Avas thrown into disorder and clothes were missing, but strangely 1 enough silvenvare, though thrown about . was not stolen. My husband had been popular, with the Mexicans employed in wax factory, and that is probably the L reason why the Mexicans did not burn • our house. lam not afraid'to go back and hope to do when there is sufficient ■ military protection.