The Washington herald., 1912-08-25
Beautiful Girl Describes Her
Life IN Fortified Harem of
Leader of Mexican Bandits
Dolores Escandon Her Home Becomes One of the
Wives of Head of death Legion'-United in Marriage
by sake" Ceremony but Learns to Love Husband

I another house was able to see the sort
| of place to which / had been brought.
/ She Sees Her Prison.
| Around an area Of about a hectare ran
stone wall some fifteen feet high and
evidently three or four feet thick at the
base. At each of the four corners was
round tower. also of stone. with door
which gave into the courtyard. On the
top of the wall. which was nat, black
clad men, who l afterward learned were
members of Zapata's death Legion,
each carrying a rifle and with machetes
and revolvers in their belts. were walk
| ing up and down.
I saw the big bolt-studded gates
through which l had passed. and then
looking behind me, saw a one-story build
| ing about 100 feet long, with a fiat roof,
on which armed men also were walking
up and down. Several children were play
ing in front of this building, which evil
IDENTIFY was divided into several rooms
similar to the one had left, as this was
| the building In which i had been kept
all night. In each of the doors Of the
| rooms / could see a woman sitting. All
were young, some Of them apparently
| free to come and go into the yard, others
with old women seated on the door
| sill of their rooms
Ahead of me was another building. also
| of one story, but higher than the other
and with a sort of low tower or super
| structure, also of stone, crowning the
| roof In this tower there was a small
| door. but no windows. only seven small
openings on each side, which / afterward
/ learned were portfolios for machine guns
and rifles.
Below on the main building was
wide ornately built porch leading up TO
two large windows and another heavy
| door, which was closed and on which
was a brass plate bearing the name
Emiliano Zapata. All at once felt as
II 1 were face to face with the end of
my life. tried to lag back, I fell on the
arms of the old women. / longed to fly
at the high stone wall about fifty feet
to my left: / felt that l could climb IL,
that l could beat down the black guards,
that I could escape If / could only get
away from the old women.
Led to Her Cuptor.
But all my struggles were useless.
With surprising strength they held me
and forced me to enter the great door:
TO pass into small hall elaborately fur
nished, but with rack of rifles stand
ing in the center of the floor. From this
hall another door, not so heavy as the
one on the outside. led into another room.
sat short. stout man, who I have since
learned was Jose Mora, one of the worst
bandits in Mexico. One of the old women
spoke to him; he opened the door, I was
led inside and for the first time In my
l:fe 1 stood before Emiliano Zapata.
Taller than the average man, slender
and finely built. but with a small, repul-
covered with a film like those OF a
snake, the man who is now in control OF
three states. then apparently a harmless
haciendado. at first terrified and then at
tracted my glrlish mind. He was dressed
in a tight-fitting charro suit. coal black,
and he was unarmed. Seated at a heavy
mahogany table a few papers spread
in front of him. he had evidently been
making out some accounts. but as 1
entered he raised his eyes and fixed them
on me for fully a minute
This is the girl from Santa Rita"
said one of the old women. and as she
paused ! heard the door close behind me.
There were no windows in the room
but Zapata rose, walked to the wall and
turned key, which flooded the room
with electric light from a globe in the
ceiling. As he sat down again he looked
NE over critically. I shrank to the floor.
tried to cover my face with my hands,
With my long hair which flowed uncomb-
cd half way from my waist to my feet.
sun Zapata gazed at me. At length,
after what seemed an age of shame and
sOrro~, he opened his mouth
Hears of Her Wedding.
She will do" he said Take her
back" Suddenly desperation seemed to
overcome me. thought of my home. of
my father and mother, and my brothers
and sisters. II they only knew where II
was / felt sure they would wreck this
yan md lrflr 80,
me AS the old woman turned me to-
ward the door 1 whiried upon him, a
despair in my heart which amounted to
a determination to make him kill me il
l could.
You black fiend.'' I shouted WHY
have you insulted me this way? Why
have you brought me here? What are
you going to do with me?"
And then my words seemed stopped in
my mouth, for he turned his snakelike
eyes upon me, and it seemed as If SIM
ply had to wait for him to speak. And
l waited, it seemed long time, until
again the hard mouth opened.
What am 1 going to do with you?"
he repeated, and then a sort of smile
seemed to cross his face. Why, marry
YOU, of course
One of the old women smothered a
laugh, and / flared back at him.
Then you should have done this first |
since you have me in your power" |
cried. You should have married me, |
and not subjected me TO this insult Oh. |
I could kill you, and my father will kill !
YOU, when he finds OUT
4 Marriage Ceremony.
Then I will marry you right now" he1
replied. with a slow smile, and again his \
eyes fell on me. Jose, Jose" he called |
and man at the door responded. Call I
Father Abraham Zapata continued, in |
an even voice, land tell him I would be
married Immediately"
He placed chairs for myself and for the |
old woman in front of his table. and as
he passed me he put his arm around my
shoulders and kissed me.
My little fire cat" sc said. you shall /
be my favorite wife,
/ was so frightened by having his facel
close to mine that did not perceive the
import of his words for some days after
ward.
Presently slender man, with a hard |.
face, but clad In the robes of a priest,
entered. We stood up together. while
the priest mumbled something from
little book.
There, now, are you satisfied, Senorai
Zapata?" he asked, and kissed me afterl
the ceremony.
I admit that ! kissed him in return
! was more satisfied than / had been
since they brought me to Villa Ayala,
for 1 could not help being attracted by
How sadly have i been disillusioned.