Weekly journal-miner., 1910-11-16
POISONED FOOD KILLS TWO
 MEX|CANS
From Tuesdays Daily)

Saturday night, at the old James Hamilton ranch, in Peoples Valley, one of the saddest and most unfor- tunate occurrences took place, when three Mexican wanderers were pOis- oned, two dying and one escaping. The men were en route from Ash Fork to Phoenix, and all were trav- cling on foot, without food or shelter. Reaching the ranch, which was abandoned over three years ago, the men entered the building and began an investigation of the premises. In the corner of an old room they found a box containing some flour, and a can partially filled with lard. Without endeavoring to ascertain whether the food was wholesome or not, and all being hungry, they be- gan to make up dish of their fav- Orite food, tOrtillas. This was done and the food was cooked in a prim- tive way, no utensils being in the building. As each began to eat all complained of feeling i'll, and after a few mouthfuls were consumed they desisted in taking more.
 Francisco Mendez was the first to show symptoms of serious illness, and later, one wose given name was Hosea, fell into eOnvulsions and be- gan vomiting. The last to become stricken was Elrique Delgado. In this pitiable condition all three of the men walked to well near by, and each began drinking heavily of the water. In a few minutes the first two named became seriously ill., and Delgado followed later, all lying on floor of the room and complaining of intense intestinal pains, together with severe headaches.
 Knowing that it was useless to re- main in that condition longer, after a few hours of suffering, DelgadO, with almost superhuman strength, left, and made his way up the road. He was seen staggering along by Mrs. Genung, and after informing her what had transpired, and point ing to his head and saying he was "lOco," he was provided with raw eggs and several cupfuls of black coffee. In a few minutes ne was revived and word telephoned to this city lor assistance. Judge McLane was notified and repaired to the scene hastily, one of the men suecumbing early Sunday morning.
 After Justice McLane reached the ranch, and just after concluding the inquest, the second man passed away from the same cause.
 In the meantime DelgadO had ma terially improved, and attributes his escape from an awful death due to Mrs. Genung's generous and prompt action in providing the antidotes.
 After the two men died an inves- tigation was made of the interior of the room where the articles were found and used in the preparation of the food. Nothing was in evi- dence to indicate that they contain ed poison, other than two empty bot ties were found that had contained strychnine at some time long ago.
 The supposition is that the flour had been purposely poisoned to be administered to gopners on the land, and as there was but a small amount left in the box unused, it was probably intended for the con- sumption of rodents or other like ami mals when the place was abandoned.
 Delgado was brought to the city yesterday, and shows the effects of his close call. He will be taken to the county hospital for treatment. With his companions, he was en route to Phoenix for the winter, and had been working on the Santa Fe. He says the agOnies of his two friends were frightful.