The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-12-19

CHIHUAHUA. Dec. 17.-(By mail to
Ell Paso. Dec. 1S)-The widest ru-
nors are current here today. no doubt
exaggerated In the absence OF commu-
nication with the front. The rumors,
as usual, relate to insurrecto success,
hut there is no confirmation nor no
way of securing It,
The last authentic news came in
over the railroad wire from san An.
tonic late yesterday afternoon. The
operator said he could hear the boom
ing of cannon but could not see fight
ing owing to the lay OF the land The
firing was distant
Railroad Having Great Trouble.
The passenger train which was due
here Thursday night and which was
detained near PedernalleS. has not yet
arrived. The passengers. owing TO the
lack Of food in the disaffectcd district
and the cold nights, have undoubtedly
been extremely uncomfortable, even If
left unmolested by soldiers or insur-
rectoS. The telegraph wire ovor the
Mexican Northwestern railroad is still
down west Of San Antonio. for which
reason 1t is impossible to ascertain the
true condition Of affairs. An official
report yesterday stated that fighting
at San Andres last Thursday WAS OF
minor Importance, being merely skir.
mish. General Hernandez. commander
OF this military zone, took virtual con-
troll of the Northwestern railroad to-
day, when. for the first time In
month, soldiers were put aboard
train bound or the front The great
est difficulty was experienced in secur-
ing a crew. Americans who ordinarily
run the trains declined fatty to take
the risk, despite the offer of bonuses
running as high as a thousand dollars
gold. NeXlcans who declined to work
yesterday are reported TO have been
placed in Jail, which measure resulted
In obtaining native crews today.
Oiaz Intends to Crush Rebels.
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
government realizes the seriousness OF
the situation and this move is the be-
ginning of the movement by which
President Diaz intends to crush the
revolution by sheer weight of num-
bers
The train travelled in two sections
leaving here, preceded by q hand car
to test the track, as the insurgents
! have declared they will wreck the
road If 1t attempts to handle govern
TIent troops. Great anxiety is felt for
the safety Of the train, which moved
slowly and was reported about thirty
miles west OF here. The brush at San
Andres is said TO have been between
the bandit Villa and a detachment OF
Nayarro's troops. numbering 100. The
bandits fed leaving two dead, 1t is
reported. A few rifles and saddles
were captured by the federals, also a
camera belonging to F. A Somerfield.
Somerheld accompanied the Associa-
ted Press correspondent to the front
week ago and remained behind 20
cover the situation when the CORE
| spondent returned to chihuahua to file
dispatches, His camera and pair Of
| field glasses were stolen by Villas
men and he was marooned when trains
were stopped.
otOTleS OF SonUTHncO.
The reported detection of CaStula
| Herrera, one of the revolutionary lead
ers, appears TO have been a m.scon-
! slruction OF his acts. He appeared
near Terrezas, about twenty 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. When
he heard OF fighting at San Andres. he
exchanged his jaded nags for fresh
horses and started west again He
said he was on recruiting duty. He
started, he said. with forty men. At
| Terrezas he had over hundred. all
mounted and most OF them armed.
The reported holding of Enrique
| GameroS, son OF one of the richest
men In chihuahua, for ransom, is not
confirmed. When Gamaros started for
his ranch in Santa Clara in an auto
mobile he was accompanied by l.. K.
| Wholecom OF New York The two
were college chums at Cornell.
Reports that General Hernandez Is
leading column in the field are un-
true. The general Is still here direct
| ing operations.