Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 179, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1916 — FIGHT AT M’ALLEN RANCH A THRILLER [ARTICLE]

FIGHT AT M’ALLEN RANCH A THRILLER

Indiana Artillery Officers Get Story From Moving Picture Town Down at Border Line. Mercedes, Tex., July 26.—One of the favorite recreations of the Indiana troops at Llano Grande (pronounced Yawhrto Gmawmady) is a trip to McAllen, a town 19 males west of the damp, where the New York regiments are established. McAllen is another moving picture town and was named after W. B. McAllen, one of the most popular men in the Rio Grande valley. The McAllen ranch is a 'few*miles from the town. When the bandits were raiding this part of Texas, a band started for McAllen’s ranch for the purpose of looting and holding McAllen for ransom. McAllen was asleep in his nanchhouse when the Mexican cook apprised him of the arrival of the bandits. McAllen fired through the window, killing one of the Mexicans. The bandits rode their horses around the house, Indian fashion, shooting into the house, and MteAllen shot back. The battle lasted nearly half a day. The Mexican woman, who was the cook, loaded the rifle and revolvers for McAllen as fast as he emptied them. After the brave defender had killed five of the eight in the band, the others ran away. McAllen refuses to talk about the fight. There is not a drop of liquor or beet in the etnire New York outfit, and for that matter there is none in the Indiana outfit, either.

Camp Llano Grande literally Is swamped with chameleons, a species of lizard that lives on flies and insects and is the best scavenger of all the animal creation. Some of the boys, not knowing thedr usefulness, were killing them when Major FoxWorthy explained that they are not only harmless, but actually of benefit to the camp, and after that they were protected. Two of these chameleons have made their home in Col. Naiftzgetr's tent, and the colonel has named (them Antony and Cleopatra. He does not know which is which but he makes them both welcome and has a good deal of enjoyment out of their actions.

“They are a pair of game fighters,” Colonel NacPtzger said, “and don’t alow any other chameleons to come here, and they have destroyed about all the bugs and insects around the place.” A tiny ground squirrel, with an appetite for ice cream cones, is the pet of the officers at the Second regimental headquarters and Colonel Coulter bias issued an order that he must not x interfered with. The officers of the staff often find the little fellow in their pockets, looking for something to eat. A Scorpion stung Prank Sterivner, comet player in the Second regiment band. William MoOool, of the hospital staff, dressed the sting and the flesh is only slightly swollen today.