Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-07-11
Unvarnished Facts Regarding Crook
as an Indian Fighter.
Interesting Statements by One Of the Officers
OF the Mexican Band-An Army Made up Of
convicts-The Murderers Of Judge
McComas OF st. Louis.
st. Louis Sunday Savings

| Vi lile Mexican NatlOllal Banu In cOnVer-
| satiOn touching on Mexican matters. EVERY
one went wild after us as though we were
the representatives of the military of Mex
icO," he continued, spitefully biting the
end of cigarette. 'The papers speak of
US as soldiers belonging to the sth cavalry
1t is true that we belong to the Sth cavalry,
Carlo we are not cavalry soldiers of Mexi-
| CO."
"Then what does your uniform indicate?"
| I'VE are employed as musicians under
| contract with the government, some for two
years, others for more, just as it might be-
We decidedly object to being classed with
the regular soldiers"
whats the objection?'
| "Objection enough The soldiers of the
regiment, like all other federal soldiers, are,
Is Q rule,
NOTHING BUT CoNvICTs.
| They are sentenced by the several courts to
terms of Imprisonment, varying in duration,
or, as an alternative, have to serve as SOL
diers in the army"
| "Do you mean to say that the Mexican
government employs as national defenders
| the convicted criminals?'
| Certainly. These convicts constitute the
| greater part Of the regular army. Out of
| the whole lot they select the best behaved
and most intelligent, appoint them cor
porals and sergeants and under officers of
the regiment. In the large 'plazas' of such
cities as Chihuahua, Leon, Aguas Calientas
and the City of Mexico itself, these men can
be seen at times brought out into the plazas
| for exercise, while the nOncOmmissioned Of
| ficers form square around them and see
that they don't stray out of bounds. These
| TRUSTEES, as you would call them here, are
armed. The others never have more at best
than their side arms"
The musician here left to report to the
band and the conversation was taken up by
an American, long time resident of Mexi.
co, who volunteered the information
There is no such thing as a regular enlist
ment in the Mexican army. There is con-
scription, but the conscription laws are only
enforced in times of war, when larger
number of soldiers than the standard is
wanted. In point Of fact, as long as there
are
THIEVES AND CONvICTs
enough there is no outside demand. Never
theless it should be said in justice to the
Mexican people that they are most patriotic
that at any time the national safety is
threatened they are ready at once to join
not the national OF federal army, but the
provincial columns, which are the militia be-
/ fn ha wa
would call them here, and which embOdy the
real military spirit of the country. This
military is under the charge of the jefe pO-
litico.'"
"And what is the jefe pOiticO?'
"An officer which holds the same position
i'm Mexican canton as our sheriff of cOun.
ty, with the addition that the former has ju.
dicial functions, such as are exercised by a
Justice of the peace, and is eX-OfficiO com
mander of the local militia. He is the local
government in himself, the sheriff and the
chief magistrate"
Compared with our own government
what regard is paid to public safety in Mex.
icop'
"In the large cities a man is safer in Mexi!
co than in the United States-that is fact
The large cities are better pOliced than ours
and then the criminal tendency in Mexico is
comparatively little against property, but is
directed toward the obtaining OF vengeance
for personal injuries and affrOnts; the larger
| cities have an excellent and adequate supply
of police protection. The almighty dollar
of course, is as powerful factor as rule
with their police as with those elsewhere.
. Intemperance is rarely noticed among pub
| lie servants"
"COmng back to the question of the Mex.
ican army, how are they paid"'
THE MEXICAN SOLDIER
gets about thirteen cents day and sup
| hot ha ic
Ing out sentence of punishment, this can
hardly be considered poor pay in that coun
try. The general term to which these meT
| are sentenced is five years, the duration Oi
an enlistment in the United States. Promo
tiOn from the ranks is rare, although a sim
on-pure Indian has risen to the rank OF gen
erat. In a regiment where there are vOlun
teers there is little chance to rise, and there
are. as a rule, in every regiment a few vol
unteers, mere adventurers.
"These men, as in the case of the Mexican
Rand. are allowed reasonable opportunities
for the turning of an honest penny outside
| of their pay"
what part of the army" was asked
"are the workers from? That is, the mer
who stand the brunt of battle with the In
NEARLY always" was the answer, ''they
are the local militia OF the various towns
excepting in the case Of the Yaqui valley
Where the regular troops have been mainly
employed. With that exception the lOca
militia have generally done all the work
and for the reason that the local troops, es
neciaily i'm the Sierra Madres, where tn,
Trouble now is, have all lost members o.
their families at the hands of the Indians
and are actuated more by
A DESIRE FOR VENGEANCE
than by any other motive Why, in the lit
lie town of Janos, which nestles in the foo
hills of the Sierra Madres on the Westerl
slope. families are found In which the sol
representatves are the widow and orphane'
children. without either father, brother o
son. whole families left without male rela
"The best Indian fighters in the Mexical
army are Gen. Don Luis Trassas, formerl
lieutenant governor of the State OF Chlhau
4 hua: Gen. Gucarra, Of San Buenayentura
8 Lieut.. Gov. Emile Gallardo; Col. Guellel
: mo linda, on the staff of Gen. Fuero, an
Gen. Ramon Regara. commanding the sec
7 ond military zone These are all eXperlent
ed Indian fighters, and have been at it neal
1 ly all their lives"
what we might well initiate" said tn
i Gentleman. warmly. ''There are no Mex
r, can reservations to nurse natural Dor
r marauder and encourage his contempt fC
authority. An Indian who preserves h
C tribal affiliations is considered and treate
- asan outlaw The government provide
II them no blankets, no food and no ammur
Is tion. The only exception IS IN the case
o the Yadui Indians, who approach close
4 our own Navaj0es, cultivate the soil, raj
their own 1ocks, and are absolutely to