The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-17
STANHOPE WANTS
 PERSONAL DAMAGES
Rebel Band Amuse Them
 selves With Captives

Mexico City, May 1s.-Claude Stanhope, leo mines at Salinas, state of San Luis Potosi, will present claims against the Mexican government through the British legation for personal damages and dam ages sustained by the company during the rebel raid last week, according to infcr- nation brought here today. It was dur ing the occupation of Salinas that a train carrying among its passengers nine Amer icans was backed into the place and the passengers held captive for more than 4s hours. The train was stopped by rebels at Kilometer, on the San Luis Potosi- Aguas Calientes branch of the National railway.
 ) According to John BbPhelan, one of the passengers who arrived here tonight the passengers were robbed of guns. watches and money, and from one man several pairs of socks were taken by one of the more fastidious members of the band.
 While one detachment of rebels was robbing the passengers another visited the station house and took from the till 41 pesos, which was 47 pesos short of what
  Disappointed at their luck they returned to the passengers and told Phelan and ,, J. D. Rowe, also of this city. that they h&ould consider it favor If they would supply the missing amount The Amer ic6ns protested. They were told to march, and, accompanied by squad of rebels heavily armed, they were taken to a lone- ly spot out of sight of the others. The commander of the squad asked them if they wished to leave messages for their relatives since they were to pay with their lives for failure to produce the Amount of the shortage" Phelan ad- knitted having $650, and this amount Sfinally was agreed upon as the prices oi #the lives of the two. Phelan asked the rebel to lend him a pesos. This the rebel did--one of Phelans own coins-and then trdered them to return to their murooned companionr. The passengers were told by Nicolas Torres the rebel leader, not to leave the riCht-of-way, and that he want ed them to serve as bait for the federals and also ' Was his wish that they wit ness gefHi.ne battle. While they waited I&he rebels footed. rt-was during this that | portion of the band entered the home of Mr Stanhope They demanded 5000 pesos. Stanhope had only 300. The rebels amused themselves for time by operating the Englishman's gramaphone, after which they marched Stanhope into the street. placed their bayonets at his back and compelled him to race, about the plaza until, worn out themselves they. permit j ted him to find refuge in the warehouse of the railroad sta ton.
 That night the nine Americans were ouartered in an adobe building near\ the railroad! They were given little chance to sleep. Scarcely would they close theiY eyes when one of the mounted rebels would spur his horse through the open door
 The following day, Saturday. it was dis covered that the treasurer of the rebels had eloped with a woman of the. village. taking with him all the loot secured from the passengers, including the contra ban hosiery. His flight preclpitated a general pursuit leaving the Americans free to escape. A push car was secured and on this half the party, ridlng at intervals ftwhile the remainder pushed, they arrived at San Luis Potosi Sunday. They had covered 60 miles.