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UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
Marine Detachment
Pueblo Nuevo, Nicaragua
20 November, 1927
From: Second Lieutenant George H. Bellinger, U.
S. Marine Corps.
To: The Area Commander, Ocotal, Nicaragua.
Subject: Report of Patrol
1. I left Somoto with a patrol of five men and
one pack animal about 0900, Sunday, 20 November,
1927, enroute to Pueblo Nuevo. About two leagues
out of Somoto I came in view of a house situated
on a hill about 75 yards off to the right of the
road. Two men were sitting at the right corner
of the front of the house conversing. My
attention was drawn to their suspicious actions
which caused me to order them down to the road. One of the men passed something to the other and
then came on down. The other went to the door of
the house and handed something to the woman
inside. I had to call sharply two or three times
to that man before he finally came. Private
Arthur W. Rue and Private Howard C. Joyner
accompanied me to search the house while the
other marines kept the men on the road. We
searched the house and found three war type
machettes and one other working machette. I sent
Private Rue out to search the back of the house
and he found two 38-caliber pistols hidden in
the brush close to the house. These pistols had
four shells in one of them and one shell in the
other. We continued our search in the brush and
found nothing more. The bandits' arms were
properly and securely tied behind their backs
and I had the bandits placed in front of the
patrol under the care of Sergeant Frank B.
Patterson and Private Rue. The bandits were
several times warned to stop talking to each
other, and continued walking ahead. About a half
league down the road as the prisoners were
rounding a bend they suddenly tried to duck into
the thick brush. I heard Sergeant Patterson call
to them to halt but they did not pay any heed
and so both Patterson and Rue fired on and
killed them. We put their bodies on the side of
the road in the brush and continued on.
2. At about 1700 two leagues distant from Pueblo
Nuevo we were suddenly surprised by a native
charging down on us waving a machette in a
menacing way. He had apparently been but
recently in a fight, for he was bloody about the
neck and front of his shirt and showed fresh
scars on his neck and face. We finally managed
to stop him and get his war-type machette away
from him without anyone being cut up. He had
apparently been drinking guarra and engaged in
some kind of brawl along the road. His neck had
been cut in the back and was bleeding. We had a
hard time trying to procure his machette. Private Rue had opened up his shirt and we saw
the blood. Before we could hardly say a word the
native wheeled about on his horse and commenced
whipping it vigorously. I thought he was a
bandit and wanted to bring him to Pueblo Nuevo.
I called to him to halt [ p. 2 ] but he whipped
his horse all the harder. I chased him for about
100 yards and was gaining on him when he
suddenly swerved his animal to the left into the
bushes. I again yelled to him to halt and struck
his animal. The native fell off and rushed back
the other way, running very fastly. Private Rue
went into the bushes and opened fire on him
bringing him down. When we found him his left
arm had been badly mangled at the elbow from the
shots. At first he bled profusely. We tried to
do something for him but he fought us off. He
was hostile the entire return trip trying to run
away from us and acting pugnacious. The corpsman
dressed his wounds and he was then taken away by
some other natives.
3. I reported these contacts to the Commanding
Officer here upon my arrival at about 1820. Statements from other members of this patrol
will be forwarded upon the Patrol's return to
Somoto.
/ s / George H. Bellinger
Pueblo Nuevo
9 p.m. 20 Nov 1927
Capt. R. W. Peard
Dear Sir,
Bellinger came in with his patrol bringing a
native all shot up. The chief of police said he
knew the fellow & said his name was Bicisitasion
Gonzalez [Visitación González], a good hombre
but that he was drunk. I think he was drunk when
Belllinger shot him & had probably had a fight
previously as Bellinger said he was all bloody.
B. was all keyed up & I had to take some time to
get the details from him, hence the delay in the
detailed telegraphic report. I have just now
been able to get him to sit down and make out
his written report as I wanted it to get off
with McDonald tomorrow. Dunford patched the
native up the best he could but said it was
hopeless. He was shot in the side & left arm in
addition to a machete cut on the back of his
head. Jose says he thinks the fellow will live
but I don't see how he can. Jose (native guide)
also says the reason the president of the
elections did not show up at Potrerillos was
that the police from Esteli had threatened him.
I am having Jose write you a letter telling you
about it as I can get only about one fourth of
what he says. I am also sending Gy. Sgt. Gordons
report to you with a statement from some natives
at Potrerillos attached. You said in your
telegram to send reports direct to Brig.
Commander but I thot [thought] you would like to
see it them & they will go in just as fast.
I expect Paul from Condega about 10 p.m.
tonight. He and Sgt. Shacker will also have
reports to send in. [ p. 2 ] In your letter you
mention sending Cpl. Faulkner and Pvt. Moore to
Leon with the bull carts. I received your
telegram about Cpl. Faulkner and Pvt. Voit but
haven't heard anything before your letter about
a Pvt. Moore going in.
Bellinger is having a hard time with his written
report. I just gave him a little Dewars White
Label to calm him down but I guess it will have
to be typewritten in the morning in order to be
coherent.
Will write more when Paul gets in.
Respectfully yours,
M. A. Richal
127/43A/3
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