The Daily Missoulian., 1910-12-19
LACK OF REAL NEWS FROM
CHlll-CON-CARN LAND
STARTS WILD STORIES.
MORE BLUFF THAN BLOOD
Reports From Front, Barring Bold
imaeininos, Are Vague, But indica-
tions Are That Government Has
Rebels by the Throat-Soldiers Are
Moved on Northwestern Railroad.

Chihuahua, Dec. II, by mail to El
Paso, Textile widest rumors are
current here today, no doubt ex-
aggerated, in the absence of communi-
cation with the front. The runlors, as
usual, relate insurrecto success, but
there is no confirmation nor any way
of securing it.
The last authentic news came in over
the railroad wire from San Antonio
late yesterday afternoon. The operator
said he could heas the booming Of
cannon. but could not see fighting,
owing to the lay of the land. The fir
ing was distant.
The passenger train which was due
here Thursday night ana which was
detained near Pedernales has not yet
arrived. The passengers, owing to the
lack of food in the disaffected district
and cold nights have undoubtedly been
extremely uncomfortable, even II left
unmolested by soldiers or insurrectos.
Tho telegraph wire over the Mexico
Northwestern railroad Is still down
west Of San Antonio, for which reason
it is impossible to ascertain the true
condition of affairs. An official re-
port yesterday stated that fighting at
San Andreas last Thursday was of
minor Importance. being merely a
skirmish. General Hernandez, COM
mander of this military zone, took
virtual control Of the Northwestern
railroad today, when, for the first
time in month soldiers were put
aboard train bound for the front.
The greatest difficulty was. expert
enced in securing crew. Americans
who ordinarily run the trains declined
flatly to take the risk. despite the Of
fer of bonuses running as high as
$1,000 in gold. Mexicans who declined
to work yesterday are reported to have
been placed in Jail, which measure re-
suited in obtaining native crews today.
Soldiers Entrained.
-Four hundred soldiers were loaded
into seven passenger coaches. There
was also a carload of women and sew
eral stock cars loaded with horses and
mules. The soldiers. 1t was stated. will
be used to guard the road, In order
that other troops may be moved swift
ly into the disturbed district. The gov
ernment realizes the seriousness of the
situation and this move is the begin
ming of the campaign by which Presi-
dent Diaz intends to crush the revOlu-
tion by sheer weight OF numbers
The train travelled in two sections
leaving here, preceded by a handcar
to test the track, as the insurgents
have declared they will wreck the road
If it attempts to handle government
troops. Great anxiety is felt for the
safety of the train, which moved slow
ly and which was last reported about
80 miles west Of here.
The brush at San Andreas Is said
to have been between the bandit
Pancho Villa, with % followers, and a
detachment OF Navarro's troops num-
bering 100. The bandits fled, leaving
two dead, it is reported. A few rifles
and saddles were captured by the fed
erals, also a camera belonging to r. A.
Sommerfeld. Sommerfeld accompanied
the Associated Press correspondent to
the front a week ago and remained
behind to cover the situation when
the correspondent returned to Chihua-
hua to file dispatches. His camera and
pair of field glasses We're stolen by
Villas men and he was marooned when
trains were stopped.
The reported detection Of Castula
Herrera, one of the revolutionary
leaders, appears to have been a miscon-
struction of his acts. He appeared
near Terrazas, baout 20 miles north OF
here yesterday. when he changed some
large bills to secure pesos, with which
! he proceeded to pay his men.
He paid cash for coffee, flour and
sugar. which he took from the mining
company's store at that place. Wher
he heard OF fighting at San Andreas
he exchanged his jaded nags for frest
| horses and started west again. He sait
he was on recruiting duty. He started
he said, with 40 men. At Terrazas he
had over hundred, all mounted an6
| most of them armed.
Hold up Myth.
| The reported holding up of Enrique
Gamoros, son of one of the riches
| men in Chihuahua, for ransom. is no
| confirmed. When Gamoros started 70
| his ranch at Santa Clara in all auto
| mobile he was accompanied by l.. r
! Wohlhem of New York. The two wer,
| college chums at Cornell.
! Reports that General Hernandez !:
leading column in the field are un
true. The general is still here direct
| ing operations.
| Peaceful.
Laredo. Tex, Dec. 1S.-With the ex