Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-28
MEXICO'S REVOLT.
Statement Of Fact by an Editor
Of the Border.
STORY OF SOME BLOODY BATTLES

F"aEht Over . Year Ago, hut Inscrestiue
Reading-The Trouble Caused by Re-
Asious Zeal That Would Not Obey m OBJ
"cxious Law. snd Fighting Precipitssea
by Mexican Cussetiness-An Infamous
and Devel:sh Finale,
CHICAGO, Dec. 2S.-Juan s. Hart. OF FL
Paso. Tex, editor Of the FL Paso Times.
which has been prescribed by the Mexican
authorities because Of news regarding the
Chihuahua revolution which had appeared
in its columns. Is in Chicago, and in an in
'erview gave the causes Of and the devel-
opments thus far in the revolution now in
Progress in Chihuahua. .'Tbe number Of
rcvoiutionists." said Mr.. Hart, ''is small,
there not having been over 100 in the field
at any time. hut they have fought ficrce!y,
and government troops havcso far suffered
to the number Of go soldiers and thirty Of
ficers. while ninety of the revolutionists
nnd ninety-fOur Of their women and chill
dren have 80 far met death at the hands of
the soldiers.
Has Nothing tn Do with l:arxs.
"The general impression that the revolu-
tion Is continuation Of the border trouble
along the Rio Grande, which was led by
Cara, - incorrect. The beginning of the
present outbreak took place about two
years ago in the central part of the state.
.At the little village Of Tomochic in the fall
oi 1871 the villagers who were all Catholics
desired Ia celebrate certain saints tiay
by carrying the image Of their saint from
their church 10 the mountains near by
"a hsayss sfs.t-
spent. They knew that such an act was a
violation of the laws Of Mexico and that
by paying a fine permits for such celebra-
ton could be secured. They went to the
town authorities. called on the presidente.
who refused the permit. A meeting Of the
villagers was held. The prcsidentc was in
formed that the celebration would be held
despite his refusal, and the festivities took
place.
An Outrage by the soldiers
"The prcsidentc became alarmed and noti-
fed the conductor of the monthly bullion
train, then en- route from the mining
camps. that the men at Tomochic had rc-
volted and were likely Ia rob the train.
Officials Of the city Of Guerrero with an
escort Of soldiery Immediately set out for
Tomochic. The villagers heard of the aJ,-
proach of the government forces and the
men left FOR the mountains, leaving the
women and children nj home. The latter
barred the doors of their adobe houses,
but the soldiers fired through the walls,
killing two small children and an old man
The judge OF letters. who was with the
party, was charged with outraging a
maiden. After a few days in the village
the forces returned to Guerrero and the
Tonnochics came back from the mountains
sx-n.-
They buried their dead with oaths of
vengeance and thus began the revolution.
What money they had was invested in
WiDchcsters and ammunition and for
months they quietly awaited revenge
President Diaz after time declared them
rebels and sen; troops ON an errand of ex-
termination. AT the first encounter there
Were but thirty-eight TOmochicans on the
field and the federal troops numbered over
100. 1nthe encounter twenty-four soldiers
and four officers were killed, while the vii
layers escaped without wound.