The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-03


Ell Paso. Tex. February 2.-Ciudad
Juarez. across the Rio Grande river
from here, Is practically depopulated
tonight. the residents having fled to
this city in fear of an attack today
from the insurrectos. which is expected
before daylight tomorrow
The Mexican postoffice and two
branch banks in Juarez were closed
tonight after all the money and rec
ords had been brought here for safety.
Federal soldiers acting under orders
took desperate measures today to
check the approach of the insurgents,
who tonight were reported within 20
miles of Juarez. The Fourteenth cavalry
was sent cut to dynamite the tracks
of the Mexican Sentral railway, over
which a train was travelling northward
toward Juarez, foaded with rebels.
The. train bearing the insurrectos
ran over a mine of dynamite which
exploded, shatterfng one of the coaches
but 1t is not known just how many
persons were killed The coal passer
on the engine was blown to pieces. but
the engineer. seeing danger, jumped
and was only slightly hurt. The engine
passed over the charge of explosives
and was not badly damaged.
A battle between the Fourteenth cav
airy and the insurrectos ragged Tor
several hours. Thirty-two federal cav
alrymen are believed to have been
killed. the estimate being based upon
the number of riderless horses which
strayed into Juarez today. Six insur-
rectos were killed. Many were wound
ed on both sides.
Residents of this city and the few
who are left in Juarez were aroused
tonight by heavy detonation and inn
mediately the attack on Juarez was
being proclaimed.
Investigation developed the fact that
the Henry Soggerman powder house 21a
miles south of Juarez, containing guam
titles of powder and dynamite, was ex-
ploded by Mexican officers to keep the
insurrectos from capturing it. Two Amer
leans, who were walking along the Mex
lean Central tracks to join the rebels are
believed to have been killed.
To ascertain the whereabouts OF the
rebels a party of four newspaper men,
from Ell Paso made a trip this afternoon
&c the scene of today's battle In automo-
biles. The party consisted of William p.
Carases, Mason Hole, Yazobel Conterls
anu "A. f. INOihOs
Describing. the scene tonight Carases
said:
1--WE foud two insurrectos, one FEDERAL
soldier and the coal passer of the
wrecked engine dead. We saw one hui
man heart, several human arms and a
number of fragments of human bodies
scattered around the wrecked train.
1.-The train had slowed down before
striking the dynamite and the rebels,
aboard, suspecting a trap, began to dis
embark All had left the train before
the explosion and not one of them was
killed by the dynamite.
There was not a living person in sight
when we reached the scene this after
noon, but in aefew minutes another train
carrying fighting men came up. The
men greeted us In friendly manner.
Capt Manuel r. Andana was in
charge of the insurrectos, $50 men from
Crozco's command Captain Andana said
Orozco with 600 men was just two miles
behind and that 500 more men were COM
ing from the west and would join Oroz-
CO tonight. An advance on Juarez would
follow Immediately.
Captain Andana told us that on Tues
day the federal and insurrectos engaged
in a battle at La Molina in which SO fed
erals were killed and 2 wounded left on
the field
I'VE did not see a single federal soldier
on the entire trip except some rurales
who were watching the horse races Ia
Juarez.'