Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1911-07-27
Among the Mexican
Revolutionists
By EDWIN v. CHASE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.
Bv EDWIN v. CHASE

be properly armed with an introduc
ton 10 whoulsoever needed to con
suit | was given letter addressed 10
whom il may concern" stating that
was an official of the United States
sent 10 Mexico TO gather Information
on the political condition OF the
country thai would serve as basis
for any acrion the government inleh'
take ~ tue premises
Since an American WAS liable To be-
hated ana suspected. especially by tue
revuurlouIsIS. nad no desire 10 ran
INTO their hands with such a docu'
mpnt GU my person. had asked 10
have IL written OF thin paper and oc-
cupying no great space In order that
| might the better conceal it In case or
necessity thought over many places
Of keeping ii. but finally decided to
put II III one OF the little chest pockets
OF my waiStcoat
entered the state or province OF
Chihuahua which was In the hands
of the revoIutionists. pretending TO "a
vor their cause After learning all
could m rms district entered the
next on thu east, Coahuila, which !
found neither In the possession OF the
Mexican government nor the rebels,
but In state OF anarchy Failing into
the hands nt small band OF 'nsur,
rectos. | was arrested as an American
resident ana spy ! managed to save
my neck 10y rOufessing that ! was in
the secret service not OF the United
States government but OF Madero
This secured me excellent treatment
and was suffered to depart for Nuevo
Leon. the next eastern province and
in the hands OF the Diaz forces. In
this province is Monterey, where the
battle OF thnt name was fought dur
ing our war with Mexico
AZ Monterey presented my letter to
whomsopvpr thought would aid me
and received information THAT was at
least reliable From Monterey, NOV
ing southwark | entered San Luis Pc
| toSi IN the same state of disorder as
| COahuila Here was H. constant
dread of being known or considered as
q spy of the United States government
hy rowing bands OF nSurrectos.
Entering the mousse Of a leader of
| one of these bands. | found ii neces
Sary to pre;rhd 10 be an ardent rebel
sympathizer This pleased Signor Mo.
| lima. in whose house | was and he
treated me royalty till along came
| man whom ! had met IN Monterey
This man was rebel and evidently
| remembered me and that | was, when
he first met me, conserving with the
Diaz people
Outwardly Molina did not change
his treatment OF me except to be more
scrupulously polite but knew was
! under suspicion. and this In a prov
ince where there was no law was dan
| gerous At any rate. felt that if the
letter bore were found | would be
treated as Il spy on the revolutionary
| forces and according to the fancy of
those in whose hands | happened to
| be
| told Molina that thought ! would
20 on. but he invited me to remain
longer with him IN such pressing
| terms that | knew he would not suffer
me to depart without being better sat.
isfed concerning me. began to con.
slider myself In great danger If the
letter carried were found on me
would surely be considered as a spy
on the movements Of the revolution
lists
tried to get rid Of Molina long
enough to destroy it. but he would not
suffer me to go out OF his sight. Not
caring TO let him see that / understood
his purpose. ! made no opposition to
his keeping me with him.
Realizing that was in for a serious
| business, | concluded to play a bold
game began to tell my Taller host
real or imaginary happenings to con.
vince him that was not only a sym
pathizer with the revolution. but was
engaged in secret service work for the
revolutionists. Such information as |
could give him without breach Of con
hdence concerning the government
forces told him as a great secret
The ruse evidently had no effect upon
Him
Indeed. it seemed to make him an
the more suspicious of me AT last
throwing of all disguise. he looked me
steadily in the eye and said. "Who
you are don't know, except tina. YOU
are an American, and the Americans
who live here we hate One thing
know-you have been at Monterey
hand 10 glove with the Diaz forces.
| laughed outright "Of course Al
have been hand in glove with them
Why should not have been? How
can get their secrets without FIRST
gaining their conhdeucef Come. ii
gnor Molnia. let us have a smoke"
Producing cigar. handed II "a
him He accepted it. and for the mo.
ment | had restored confidence "Hays
you matchT" ! asked. He had not
match II he had ! should have baan
shot for a spy.
arose from my chair and looked
about for light It was the sprinp
season. and since a norther was blow