The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-07-31
REFUGEES IN WOEFUL
PLIGHT AT Ell PASO
Mormon Exiles in Exodus From Mexico on Sixty
fifth Anniversary of the Hegira of
Saints From the States
By Viii r. Winch

III tney can be cared for by friends
In the other colonies Of Arizona and
Ctah. Babies cried coustan ntly from
exhaustion and the strain of the long
Trip The mothers were almost as
1atigued but they busIed themselves
getting meager meals over improvised
cainpfires. which were kindled in the
open Of cactus and mesquite brush.
One little Mormon girl mothered
her cracked doll while her older sis
ter played little mother TO wee bit
OF a baby too sick to cry. Rolls Of
bedding were spread on the ground
where boards could not be procured.
Quilts were stretched for make shift
curtains There was no effort at pro-
vding for more than the most pri-
mary wants.
The refugees of 1912 retired for the
night, while portion of the police
force patroled outside the enclosure
to prevent the Mexican providers from
stealing what little the unfortunates
had saved,
City Employees Help.
City employees worked late into the
night installing temporary sanitary
arrangements. water pipes and cleo
trio lights for the huddled mass OF
humanity under the abandoned lum-
ber sheds. Soldiers from the nearby
border camp assisted in the work Of
making the unfortunates more CON-
Portable. while the business men un-
dertook TO provide food for break
fast.
Before the restless children had
been asleep long another delegation
OF 200 refugees arrived from the union
station and provision was made for
them. They too, had come without
notice and many had nothing, not
even bedding such as the first refu-
gees brought with them. There fol-
lowed a general sharing of the scanty
supply OF bedding and food which the
first expedition had brought and by
overcrowding all were provided with
makeshft sleeping places for the
night.
Moro Mormon refugees are expected
from the colonies daily and they Will
be cared for as they arrive This as
the church, who Is official represent
ative at this time of trouble,
Red Tape Prevents Aid.
Red tape prevented the use OF the
tents and equipment OF the soldiers
at Fort Bliss for tho convenience of
the colonists. These were asked for
by the citizens at the first call for
assistance. Now they are not need
ed, although Senator A. B. Fall New
MeNico's senator, a former Ell Paso-
an. has succeeded In having a resoIu-
ton passed through congress cutting
This same red tape in the name Of hu-
manlty.
Mayor Kelly and the committee
which Is caring for the Mormon suf-
ferers. say they are able to cone
with any contingency which may
arise Governor o. B. Colouitt of
Texas wired offering any state, as
sistance that might be needed, This.
too. was refused by the mayor. who
said the people of FL Paso we're able
to cope with the situation and would
care for their neighbors in distress.
e Sc'SiSsS, tiiiohbU the ACTIVITY OF
Senator Fall, has arranged for funds
with which these people may be cared
for until their friends can assist
them They are appreciative. are
these Mormops who are founding u
colony in the southern republic.
There has been no time for verbal
expression Of these deep feelings.
and the sterner necessities OF life
have occupied their attention. But
they have shown in hundred ways
their appreciation OF the assistance
which Is being given by warm
hearted people.