News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-07-29
Missionary Work In Mexico.


We publish below extracts from
letter recently received by Rev. Mr..
HYDE from his son in Mexico, relating
his experience with Mexican mob:
We were in small, but more COM
Portable house than you generally
find among the people here-thanks
to the gospel. 1t had table and a
cot bed in it. About dozen of the
brethren were in the yard. When we
had been there about five minutes, in
came the men, committee from the
mob, sent to invite us to leave town.
A child was to be baptized, and the
village priest had demanded the right
to do it, and so instigated the mob.
They talked loud and angrily in Span
ish, and of course it was terribly try
ing TO me not to understand. Pretty
soon about dozen more crowded in.
A man taller that any of the others
came elbowing his way in, who Rev.
G.. said was a friend. He turned out
to be the chief of police, but with no
arms, and was doing all he could. He
had sent an order to Flaxcale to the
Project, for troops. There we were in
that little hut with five or six native
friends, surrounded by about twenty
fanatics, with fifty more outside. Rev.
u. was trying to keep them quiet and
save a fight, which would have been
the signal for much blood. One by
one saw them draw out long knives
from six to eighteen inches long.
One fiend had an old corn-cutter with
the end broken off. took notice Of
every one and had my men picked.
Rev. G. whispered to me to be ready
for the worst. While he talked I
picked another round of cartridges
from his belt and felt carefully of nv
revolver. They were just on the
point of blows. This was the only
time that really trembled. But it
was horrible place and they were
ten to one, and / couldn't under
stand word. Finally the owner of
the house walked in among them and
told them to quit his house, and we
all went out into the yard. There was
a lull for moment and then it was
worse than ever. 1 went to the chap
ell, building of stone, with tile roof,
no windows and strong door. A
fight seemed unavoidable. They were
trying to drag off one of the breth-
rem. One burly fellow made dive
at me, but seeing my revolver, with
drew. The brethren told us to go in
to the church and defend ourselves
the best we could, while they did their
best outside. We went in and barri-
caded the door with everything in the
house,-seats foot-stool, pulpit, and
took the bible for a wedge, and got
ready for a siege. They made sever
al attacks on the door, but were not
successful. We left small opening
to see from, and shoot from, if neces-
sary. Once several women made
rush for the door. They made ter
rible cry, and we thought they were
friends and wanted to come in for
protection. Rev. e. started to open
the door, when they grabbed him and
almost pulled him out. Then we shut
it entirely, So we waited, waited,
expecting every minute to see the
door come in, smell fire or hear them
on the roof. Once there were blows
and moan, and we thought some one
was hurt, but couldn't see. Finally
all was still. We thought it a trick.
Another waiting, and there was
rap at the door. After good deal
of questioning we found it was
friend, and opened the door. About
twenty-five were in the yard, but the
mob had gone. They had seen the
troops coming at full gallop a mile
and a half away and had fed to the
village church for protection. These
were the best looking Mexican troops
L had ever seen. Indeed, / expe-
rieHoed more pleasure than in seeing
the best drilled and finest dressed reg
iment in the queens army. We were
rescued. The Project came, stationed
a guard, took the names of all in the
mob, sent word to the priest 10 de-
liver up those who had taken part in
the mob or he would take them back
with him to Flaxcale. We had onr SER
vice and baptized the child. After
the service and dinner they sent ma
tive grandee to escort US out of town.
The soldiers arrested and took back
with them ten men and several women.
So we reached home in safety after
being held prisoners for nearly two
hours by a bowling mob of more
than a hundred neonIe.