Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1912-08-23
Die IN A DEEP WELL
HUNDREDS OF MEXICAN REBELS
PERISH IN HORRIBLE MANNER.
Scene Probably Never Before Wit
messed In the World Follows Battle
Of Cuatro CIenegas When Orozco's
Forces Meet Awful Fate.

Los Angeles, Cal.-Details of the re-
cent battle of Cuatro Cienegas, which
was characterized by horrors even
surprising General Sherman's famous
characterization Of war, filtered
through the strict censorship main
tained by the Mexican rebels and
reached this city the other day.
According to these advices, corro-
borated in measure by the official
report of the battle, the army Of Or
ozco reverted to a state of savagery
uneQualled in the annals of modern
warfare.
Driven from the city in which they
had committed the most unspeakable
atrocities, his forces became lost in
the desert of Bolson de Mapimi. and
more than 600 terrified soldiers per-
ished from thirst and exposure to the
elements.
Before the army was driven from
the city by the arrival Of the federals
we could hear the clamor of the VIC
tins who were being mistreated before
their sufferings were ended by the
bestial executioners," says the report
Private houses and stores were soon
in criminal hands and were horribly
sacked by the crazed soldiers, many
OF whom were half dead with hunger
and thirst.
I'm the midst Of this jubilee OF
'rapine. the federals under General
Aubert and Colonel Gonzales, arrived
on the scene made desolate by the
rebels and soon restored order among
the survivors"
"The fugitive rebels divided into
two parties and In the confusion that
followed the arrival of the federals, in.
stead of taking the road which led
to the rebel headquarters at Escalon
the men were soon lost In the desert.
In their precipitate flight, all provi.
sions were abandoned and few days
later the vanguard discovered that 1t
was In the very center OF the Mexican
arsenal. surrounded on all sides by
desolate sand hills. and men were fall
ing like flies when the leaders sud
denly came upon an old well known
as the Noria de los Americanos.
After satisfying their thirst. the
fugitives decided that the federal
army was still in pursuit and 1t was
decided to destroy the pump 80 that
the regulars would be unable to slack
thei" thirst Six hours later the Sec
ond division, following the tracks OF
its predecessor. staggered into the lit
tie valley in hopes of obtaining life.
giving water and the leaders were
horror-struck to find that the pump
had been destroyed and that there was
no means at hand to raise the water
from the well, forty feet below.
i unable to withstand the pangs OF
thirst which already had crazed more
than half of the division, one of the
terrified leaders threw himself head |
long into the watery depths below
Then followed a scene such as was
never witnessed before, as the craze6
rebels fought with each other for the
privilege Of jumping into the gapins
shaft, in utter disregard Of the orde,
of their superior officers"
The report states that five minutes
later the entire we'll was filled with
struggling men, all Of whom sue
cumbed before their comrades were
able to extend aid in pulling them ou
of the hole. OF 400 men In the sec
ond caravan only few more than 4OC
resumed their sorrowful march across
the sandy plain.
The valley henceforth will be known
in Mexican history as the "Lianura dc
Muerte." or Plain of Death.