The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-29
CONFINED in 4
MEXICAN JAIL ON
A MURDER CHARGE
ii. G. Faulkner, an Engineer,
Formerly Of Redwood City,
Being Prosecuted.

the American people to know how our citizens
are treated in foreign country Had been
a British subject the Consul of that country
would have taken action long ago and not
treated me as did ambassador Clayton. But
l think we have Secretary at Washington
who will protect American citizens. l wish
you and all other of my friends in Redwood
would write me. I need announcement while
l compelled TO exist amid such horrible
surroundings. Address your letters to Ell Orc,
Mexico, for if you write me here the Judge
Will open the letters and 1 will never receive
IXtiahuaca, Mexico
p. .S.-Address all letters to Ell Orc. State Of
Mexico, via Tullenango, and my friends there
will send them to me. H. c. F.
In addition to his letter Mr.. Faulkner
sends clipping from the Two Republics,
a newspaper published in Mexico, in
1t had been stated by Mr.. FaulkneTs
prosecutors that the indicator on the
engine showed him plainly that the cage
was from fifteen to twenty feet below the
water line while the truth is, and 1t can
be established by unimpeachable testi-
mony, that the top Of the cage was SUBJ
merged in but six inches of water.
Mr. Lloyd before starting down loosen
ed the needle of the indicator on the en-
CINE that the engineer might set it in the
proper place on the indicator when he
marked a spot on the indicator to which
the engineer with perfect safety might
lower him.
The engineer lowered him inch by inch.
4
reaching the spot on the indicator mark
tirely.
When the night engineer arrived he did
not Immediately hoist the cage, as stated
but they decided to send a man down the
ladder, which is in d chamber parallel to
that III Whlch the cage runs, to see If all
were well, as lie Faulkner) had begun
When the report was brought to the
surface S,., tfat the occupants of the cage
were drowned the engineer did not try
10 70 s9t away, but in company with the
Watcfman went down to the town, a dis
tance of about mile, notified members
ST the company whom he thought should
know of the matter, sent the Waterman
IN search of the proper fsuthoritieS and
himself waited within fifty yards of the
jail until such authorities appeared.
In the clipping sent it is said
In none of the reports is the reason given
to the public why the engineer needed not the
signals or heard them not. Why? Because
that. the engine waA in good running order
the bell rope and bell intact. Verify the en-
glneer himself admits that this time the en-
slne worked all right, and as for the bell rope.
it certainly was intact coied up and thrown on
one OF the timbers of the mine. well out of
reach OF the occupants of the cage when near
the water line, some ten or fifteen feet to
be more specific Why was ii there? Because
on a previous trip it had become entangled in
Mr. Loyd's legs and he himself had thrown the
end Of it over one of the timbers, fact the
engineer did not know till week after the
dCClueHl, anu WHICH MT LiOSu deemed SO I'M
important that apparently he forgot all about
IT.
AS for the engineer not using any judgment
this is all twaddle. An engineer on a hoist
ing machine is not supposed to operate the
cage on his Judgment. Should he make prac-
tce of using Judgment instead of signals
mines would be the scenes of even more acct
dents than they are. His signals are his or
ders and he is expected TO obey them as blindIy
and implicitly the soldier who receives ms
orders from his officer and obeys without ask
ing why. primary law in such matters is
that a cage shall never be lowered nor raised,
once it has been stopped, without the proper
signal8being given.
Mr.. Faulkner is well known at this
place, where he resided before going to
Mexico. He was a very popular young
man and had many friends here. An eff
fort will be made by them to secure his
release