Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-03-28
MEXICAN MEANNESS.'
UNITED STATES OFFICIALS HBLD IN IN,
PRISONMBNT
On Slight Technicahty While Pursuing Train
Robbers Over the BOrdsr-hfamOus
Treatment Received at the
Hands Of MexicanS.

Tucson, ARIZONA, March 27.-Unite6
States Marshal w. K. Mead, has forwarded
to Secretary of State Bayard, the follow
ing account of the arrest of himself and
deputies by Mexican officials, while pur'
suing Southern Pacific train robbers or
Mexican soil:
At about o'clock p. m, on the 22d oi
February, was notified by the Superin-
tendent of the eiSouthern Pacific Railroad
Company at this point that a west
bound train had been stopped by train
robbers a few miles west of STEMS pass
near the line dividing Arizona and New
Mexico; that the United States mail agent
had been fired at three times and the ex
press robbed. summoned posse and at
once proceeded with arms aud horses in a
special car to the scene of the robbery, dis
tant about $50 miles from Tucson. Sc.
cured the services Of four celebrated Pa.
pago Indian trailers, which, with the
others comprising the posse, consisted Of
Sheriff NJ. F. Shaw, Deputy Sheriff c. A
Shibell, Deputy United States Marshal w.
Smith, Mr.. W. G. Whorf and myself. We
arrived at the scene of the robbery soon
after daylight the following morning. The
trail was easily found, and was so fresh that
We anticipated no difficulty in following
and coming up with the robbers and their
booty in comparatively short distance.
Accoutered as we were, with simply arms
and horses, without blankets or provisions,
we started enthusiastically on the trail.
Two days later Mr.. Shaw and Mr.. Whorf
were compelled to return, and two of the
Indian trailers returned with them. We
three, with the two other trailers pushed
on. The trail which we at first supposed
would be short led over the most rugged
mountains AID through almost impenetra-
BILE passes.
INTENSE SUFFERING.
The robbers weie well mounted and pre-
pared for long tramp and as we encoun
tered considerable snow in the mountains
and were without food or blankets our suE-
ferings were intense.
Still we kept on until we found cabin,
food, which temporarily appeased our
rayishing appetiteS. At last we were ap-
preaching the town of Janos, having rap
idly gained upon the robbers, and discov-
ering by the trail that they were OCCASION
ally walking and leading their horses, we
at once abandoned the pursuit temporarily
aud went to Janos to report, that being the
first point where there was custom house,
and this being the first opportunity offered
for presenting ourselves before an officer or
official authority of Mexico Knowing the
peculiar strictness of the Mexican author
tiles in this matter we desired at once to
put them in possession of all the
evidence which We had obtained,
and then request to follow up the culprits,
make the arrest and hold the prisoners for
this being the course invaria-
bly, pursued In such cases. With this view
we reported at Janos to Lieut.. Martinez,
the commanding officer, stated all the
facts, explained fully the object Of our
mission and the reasons which brought Va
there, armed and equipped. We notified
him of our official rank, and as we were at
once identified by several acquaintance he
had no reason to doubt our official charac-
ter. We offered to pay any duties III any
way required, or give up anybody that
might be legally demanded. Werequested
that the pursuit of the robbers be at once
so that they might not escape,
and offered to pay any AMI all expenses
which might be incurred in the accom-
plishment of this purpose, and we offered
to 60 with the officers if necessary to rem
der suck ESsistt:ssacesss Nigh. be required
PLACED UNDER ARRESf-~--~~~.-l
In response TO all this we were at once
placed under arrest, our arms and horses
taken from us and q guard placed over us.
We were thus held for IA days and COM
pelled to pay for our own subsistence at |
exorbitant rates. All our efforts to ascer-
tain the cause of our arrest and the charges |
against US were unsvailiDg. We were told |
that we must remain in arrest until orders |
could be received from the city of Chihua-
nua, 1G0 miles distant. We offered bonds
or our release, but. notwithstanding these |
pliers and the indignation expressed
by the Mexican cit
zens at the outrageous treatment
imposed upon us, the Mexican officials,
with Lieutenant Martinez at Their head,
we're utterly deaf to all appeals to mag
OF official or International cour-
esy. At the expiration of fourteen days
We were discharged, as we understood, BY
'rders from the Governor, and then for the
irst time we were informed that our arrest
vas caused on account of our being an
!rmed posse. We asked for our horses and
rms, and the request was denied.
MEAN MEXICANs.
/ then requested the authorities to give
ne receipt for the property, as had to
for it, and l desired statement to
he effect that we had been held as prison
rs for fourteen days, accompanied by q
tatement OF character, to be used by me
n explanation of my official conduct.
lieutenant Martinez then informed me if
would sign q statement which he had
repaired that lie would give me the receipt
Or the property taken. AS the statement
which he asked me to sign set forth as
act that we had been kindly and courte.
usly treated while under arrest, and as {
uch statement was void of even o sem-
lance of truth, refused TO sign it. Lieu ,
enant Martinez then refused to give me
he desired receipt. Subsequently he
tempted to bribe me to sign his state
lent by various promises, but / refused s
, become party to any such transaction.
We were then released without horses,
or arms, and were com
elled to make our way back rs best we
,uld. {