The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-28
An Uprising in Mexico That Has Cost
the Lives of $50 Soldiers and
1874 Religious Fanatics.
DISASTER In SOUTH AFRICA
Two British Dntachments Said to
Have Been Annihilated.
Captains Wilson and Barrow and Their
Men Slaughtered by the MatabeleS,
According to Private Reports.

CHICAGO, Dec 27-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 it's columns, is in Chicago. and in an in
terview with a reporter to-day gave the
causes of and the developments thus far
in the revolution now in progress in Chi
huahua.
1.-The number of revolutionists," said Mr.
Hart sis small, there not having been over
13O in the field at any time, but they have
fought fiercely, and the government troops
have so far suffered to the number of 600
soldiers and thirty officers. while
nnety of the revolutionistS and
ninety-four of their women and chill
dren have so far met death at the hands
Of the soldiers The general impression
that the revolution is a continuation of the
border troubles along the Rio Grande,
which were led by Cara, is incorrect The
beginning of the present outbreak took
place about two years ago in the central
part of the State. At the little village To-
mochic, in the fall of 1891, the villagers,
who were all Catholics, desired to cele-
brate certain saints day by carrying the
image of their saint from their church to
the mountains near by, where day of re-
ligious festivity to be spent. They
knew that such an act was violation of
the laws of Mexico, and that by paying a
fine permits for such celebration could be
secured. They went to the town authori-
ties and called on the Presidente, who re-
fused the permit meeting of the villag
ers was held, and the Presidente was in
formed that the celebration would be held
despite his refusal The festivities took
place.
"The Presidente became alarmed and no
titled the conductor of the monthly bullion
train, en- route from the mining camps,
that the men of Tomochic had revolted
and were likely to rob the train. Officials
of the city of Guerrero, with an escort of
soldiers Immediately set out for Tomochic,
The villagers heard of the approach of the
government forces and the men went to
the mountains, leaving the women and
children at home. The latter barred the
doors of the adobe houses. but the soldiers
fired through the walls, killing two small
children and an old man. The judge of let
ters, who was with the party, was charged
with outraging a maiden. After a few
| days in the village the soldiers returned to
| Guerrero.
THE Tomochics then came back to the
mountains and buried their dead, with
| oaths Of vengeance Thus began the revo-
| luton. What money the Tomochics had
| was invested in Winchesters and ammuni-
| ton, and for months they quietly awaited
| revenge. President Diaz, after a time, de-
| clared them rebels and sent troops on an
| errand of determination At the first en-
counter there were but thirty-eight Tomo-
| chics in the field, and the fedesal troops
| numbered over a hundred. In the en-
| diers and four officers were killed, while
| the villagers escaped without a wound.
| Then, on Sept. of last year, General
| Rangel, with six hundred soldiers, ap-
peared before the little village. In the en-
| gagement 100 men and nine officers fell in
| the federal ranks and but one Tomochic
was wounded.
'Hostilities ceased for a time but in
| November of that year General Hernandez
| who is still fighting the remnant of the
| TomochicS, aided by General CORES and
| his Pima Indians, of Sonora, the former
| commanding over thousand men and two
| Gatling guns, succeeded, in engagement
| of ten days and nights, in nearly extermin-
| ating the revolutiOnists. The latter had re-
and but twelve or fourteen escaped. on on
| the eighth night Of the fight The others
| were killed, but not until they had almost
| annihiiated regiment of the Mexican
| infantry and strewn the bodies Of the SOL
diers so thickly the ground that no
| effort was made TO bury them On the
! tenth day the victorious soldiers entered
| the village and commanded the women and
| children, who had locked themselves in a
| church, to surrender. Upon their refusal
| the walls were tumbled in upon their heads
| and ninety-four defenseleSS villagers died
in the ruins. 1t was a massacre in every
| sense-boody, brutal and objectionable.
/ News of the various engagements have
| been suppressed by the Mexican govern
ment and stories Of the battles emphat-
| ically denied. The suppression Of the news
| has L think been aided by officials of rail-
| roads in that vicinity, who feared that
| travel would be lessened by stories of the
| little war. There is no reason why this
should be the case, however, as the scene
| Of the revolution is remote from all rail
| road lines. The revolution is prac-
tically ended, and 1t is probable that little
| more will be heard of it, The TomochicS
| were undoubtedly religious fanatics or they
| would not have attempted war under such
| unequal conditions, but they fought brave
! ly and well, with the fierceneSs of despair,
| and caused Mexico no little concern, de-
| spite the numerous and sweeping denials
| of that government.
| KILLED BY MATABELES.