The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-30
Case of Two Americans ImpriS-
Oned by Mexico.
Held for Four Days Until Uncle
Sam Acted.
JOHN H. HAMMOND CONCERNED
Men Were Conducting His
Ranch at Esperanto.
Holland Uses Incident to Indi-
cate Sentiment There.

! New York, April 20-It is turmoil in
| Mexico and the danger to Americans
| who are now in that country similar tc
| the recent experience of two New YORK
men not yet reported from Mexico
which have given President Taft and
| his administration grave anxiety leS'
it may be necessary speedily to take
some aggressive protective measures.
About two weeks ago Barrett Jones anu
| Waldo Sheldon were sitting upon the
porch of their farm house at Esperanto,
| Mexico, when a detachment of Mexican
! soldiers, with some ferocity of manner,
| rode across the meadows and to tne
farm house. The officer in command
called the names of Barrett Jones ana
Waldo Sheldon. The two men respond
ed. The officer informed them that
they were under arrest. He gave them
very brief time for preparation for the
long journey to Mexican prison. He
was taciturn and very stern. Two
horses were brought to the porch, and
within half an hour after the arrival
of the detachment Sheldon and Jones
were astride these animals, not know
ing where they were to be taken.
Furthermore, from the manner OF
their captors they were apprehensive
lest wherever the place of destination
was it would also be the place of exc
cution. Yet TO conversation was per-
mitted between the prisoners and the
soldiers, although hardly any would
have been possible since the soldiers did
not speak tie English language.
Day and night for 48 hours these
Americans rode. stopping at rare in
tervals for rest. The end of the jour
ney was a large town, about 60 miles
from EsperanZa. Without any cere-
mony or explanation the Americans
were committed to the prison, but by
means of some diplomacy one of them
was permitted to send a telegraph dis
patch to John Hays Hammond. -Four
days later the Americans were releas-
ed and permitted to return to their
farms.
The Hammond Ranches.
John Hays Hammond has made in
Vestment of some portion of his wealth
in the rich uplands of northwestern
Mexico. AS near as he can estimate
he is the owner of at least half a mill
lion acres. The land is adapted both
to grazing and to agriculture. Esper-
ANA, which is a hamlet, and is the
center of Mr.. Hammonds possessions,
is about so miles from the sea.
Barrett Jones is an egineer and con-
tractor whose home is at Greenwich,
Conn, and was until recently in bust
ness in New York. He is about Is
years of age. Weldo Sheldon is a civil
and mechanical engineer, a graduate
of the scientific department of Yale
and a son of the late George
president of the Phoenix Fire Insurance
of New York.
About a year ago Sheldon and Bar
rett procured from Mr.. Hammond,
either by lease or the option of a pur-
chase, about 1000 acres of land, near
They determined to make,
if it were possible, a career as Mexi-
can farmers Both were young men of
exemplary habits and great industry
who had honorable ambitions to share
proftably in the development of west
ern and northwestern Mexico.
The farm which they began to Guilt
vate upon their arrival a year ago was
titled so as to produce Mexican beans,
alfalfa and other crops suita BILE for that
climate and soil The success of this
venture, even the first year, was most
gratifying. The young American farm
ers believed that a great business future
was before them and were unshaken
in that belief until there came reports