Arizona republican., 1912-08-13
Again the Southern Rebels Ambush a Train in a Can yon; Murder the Guard and Many of the Passen- gers
FIFTY SIX VICTIMS
 OF BRUTAL SAVAGERY
Fingers of the Dying and Dead Were Chopped Off for Rings; Many Wound ed Perished in the Burn ing Train
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPATcHl


 MEXICO CITY. Aug 12-Thirty- six soldiers and more than twenty pas sengers Were slaughtered by Zapatistas in a canyon just north of Ticuman. 110 miles southwest of Mexico City, yesterday, when a passenger train southbound from this city was att tackled from ambush. Only meagre details have reached this city to- night. So far as known only part of the train crew escaped.
 The first news of the attack was sent to Mexico City by Conductor Marine and Collector Dominguez, who although wounded had managed to make their way to Yautepec twelve miles away. They were forced to steal through the Zapatista lines and did not arrive at the telegraph station until this afternoon.
 After the rifle fire ceased the rebels sWarmed down the hillside and set fire to three cars composing the train. A few of the wounded had crawIed out of the right of way, thus escaping the fate of those unable to leave the cars and who were burned.
 According to reports the leader of the rebels made absolutely no effort to restrain his men from acts of brutality greater than any that have yet marked the campaign in the south. The wounded, pleading for their lives. were struck down without pity so the report says, and even footing was held in abeyance until the slaughter was over, it is said.
 The story further relates. that not satisfied with robbing their victims in the ordinary way, the fingers of men and women were chopped off with machetes. that the rings they wore might be the more easily obtained Ornaments were torn from the ears of women and their bodies were oth- erWise mutilated, it is reported
 Among the passengers were two newspapermen and they were among those killed They were on their way to interview Zapata One of these was Strauss, a native of Uruguay and consular agent of that country in this city. He was employed at one time on the New York Herald. it is said. and he was making the trip to see Zapata as a representative of Fl Imparcial. The other correspondent was Ignacio Perreras. of Fl Pais
 The fatal train left Mexico City yes terday morning Most of the passen- gers belonged to the farmer and low CT classes. The soldiers who had been detailed to act as guard, were from the Eleventh battalion.
 By costly experience the troops had learned to be on the alert, but from the time they left the national capital not the least hosiliy had been encoun- tered until the train ran into the can yon.
 1s Here a rail had been loosened and as the locomotive left the track a vol ley of rifle shots was poured into the train It was centered on the coach in which most of the soldiers were rid ing, but it soon became general, the rebels not caring whether they dis tinguished the passengers from the federal soldiers.
 Lieutenant Reyonaza gave orders to reply to the fire and they were carried out by the entrapped soldiers not wthstanding the advantage which the hillsides gave the rebels Pluckilv every man of the guard fought until silenced. A few passengers seizing guns from the fallen soldiers assisted | in the defense, but the unequal battle ] only lasted a short time
 Acting upon information brought I to them by fugitive members of the train crews, the authorities of Yuate- 1 pee notified those at Cuatla who pre- l pared to send punitive expedition from there. This had not got under way until late today Another train was sent from the north toward the scene of the reported massacre to re- cove the bodies and give aid to any wounded that might be found