50th Company, Second Battalion
11th Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps
Somoto, Nicaragua
2 September, 1928
From: Commanding Officer
To: Area
Commander, Northern Area, Ocotal,
Nicaragua
Subject: Enemy information furnished by
prisoner.
1. Interviewed late yesterday,
prisoner Maximo Hernandez Calis who was captured by
McHenry's patrol on August 25, 1928 in the vicinity just
south of San Lucas, furnished the following information.
Mr. T. H. Bracken acted as interpreter.
(a) "I want to tell the truth for my
father is honest and I want you to send and get him so he
will know I am well and not dead. I have been
connected with Modesto Escalante for the past month.
About three weeks ago Escalante had decided to surrender
when he received a letter from Ferrera to meet him at a
certain time between Sonis and Mal Paso. Escalante
detailed, in addition, to myself, the following men to
accompany him to appointed place:
Rafael Perez
Juan Perez
Cuiatano Picado
Ciriaco Picado
We arrived [at the] house of Apoliario Perez and met Ferrera.
Escalante and Ferrera argued for some time. Ferrera
then gave Escalante a letter and some money. We left
Ferrera and went to [the] house of Ciriaco Picado (between
San Lucas and Sabana Grande). Escalante talked with
Rafael Perez for some time then left. Rafael Perez
then assembled us (Juan Perez, Cuitano Picado, Ciriaco
Picado and myself) and told us Escalante had given him
$280.00 and a letter for the Jefe of San Marcos, name,
Mondragon. That we were to take two or three pack
mules and leave for San Marcos the next night. Rafael
Perez and myself were armed with pistols (38 Cal) and eight
rounds of ammunition each. The next day I was fairly
drunk and feeling bad so that night Rafael Perez told me to
rest up and then proceed to [the] house of Juan Perez
(between Sonis and Espino) and wait for him. Two days
later Rafael Perez and [his] detail returned and unloaded 25
rifles (used) and 2500 rounds of ammunition for same.
Ammunition was in packages of 100 rounds each. At this
time, Ferrera, Escalante, Pascual Hernandez (lives near
Pataste) and a mozo [resident worker] employed by Don Camilo
Castellon were in hiding near Pataste awaiting opportunity
to capture Don Camilo, as he had previously refused to give
a donation to Ferrera's cause. During the period of
waiting (at [the] house of Juan Perez) Rafael Perez told me
the following.
(b) "That he and [his] detail went
to San Marcos with the letter and money ($280.00).
Upon presenting the letter to Mondragon, he gave me [a] note
to Francisco Siercke (this about 1:00 a.m.). I went to
Siercke's turned over note and $280.00 and received cargo,
leaving San Marcos at about 2:00 a.m." /
p. 2 /
(c) "Escalante returned to where we were with about
twenty men, issued them rifles and one hundred rounds [of]
ammunition each. We then separated and assembled the
next night (about August 20) in the vicinity of Sabana
Grande. The total bandit forces were now about forty
men. Ferrera with about fifteen left first, then
Maldonado with about twenty leaving Escalante, myself,
Rafael Perez, Juan Perez, Ciriaco Picado and Cuaitano Picado
behind. Rafael Perez was made lieutenant by Ferrera
before he (Ferrera) left. The group left behind was
all armed with rifles except myself, who had [a] pistol, the
same as when I was captured. In addition Escalante and
Rafael Perez had pistols. We separated and drifted
back to the vicinity of our homes. Escalante told me a
few days later that Don Camilo Castellon paid to Ferrera, in
cash, about one thousand dollars and that he (Escalante) had
received his share."
2. Previous to yesterday, Calis, when interviewed had
refused to admit connection with Escalante and Ferrera.
He is about twenty one years of age and his father is
reported honest and law abiding. His home is about two
leagues south of San Lucas.
----- /s/ -----
Geo. F. Stockes
Captain, U.S.M.C.
.jpg)