Omaha daily bee., 1912-05-19
VILE ATROCITIES
ON MEXICAN SOIL
Omaha Man Returns from Madero
Land with Tales Of Bitter
Strife.
WORSE THAN IN DIAz's REIGN
Americans Out of Land OF Tur-
moii, says He WIN Not re-
turn TIL Things Change,

z
f, NJ. II. 1sh, who pIloted band Of thirty
Americans out OF Mexico from the raw
aging hands OF the insurrcctos, comes to
Omaha declaring he win never put foot
on Mexican soil again until ali strife
between the government and rebels has
ceased. Ish has his home at ia2s south
| Twenty street
Ish was assistant to Consul Haskell at
Terra Blanca in Vera Cruz. He says that
the Preparations by the insurrectos and
government troops on Americans In that
section never reached the press In this
country. The ban put on the publication
OF news. he asserts. was either due 10
Msdero's orders or the fault Of tho press
associations
II have lived In Vera cruz for over two
years and have been employed by the
government there a. an attaehe to the
consuls office al Terra Blanca" said
ish. ''1'ho wrongs done Americans In the
rebellion against Madero are doubly
greater than occurred during the regime
Of Diaz. For some reason news OF the
atrocities committed never reach the
pages Of an American newspaper.
Foreigners Pouring ost.
out Of inland points there Is a con-
tinuous stream OF foreigners pouring 10
the coast 10 take steamers for other
ports. An owner OF tangible property,
such as horses. crops and feeding ami
mails. IL In constant danger Of molesta-
ton. II was getting 80 bad when | isft
there that mans life wasn't safe. He
was forced 10 leave the country or take
desperate chances. Nearly three-duarters
Of the Americans and other foreigners
have quit the country. taking away only
their money and the clothes on their
backs"
Ish described his trip from Terra Blanca
to the city Of Vera Cruz, distance Of
sixty-five or seventy kilometers forty
five or fifty miles). The trip was a peril
GUS one through a section harassed by
insurrectos and guerrilla bands. He said:
Twelve men and their families consti-
tuted our little group. We met trouble
twice. but both times we were in luck
At one time ten armed men obstructed
our path. but after few threats we were
allowed to pass on. They had the op
portunity 10 take all We had and we ha4
the chance OF firing at them. Neither
side took the Initiative. however. because
the road was one frequently Travelled.
1T too kus two days TO make the trip
to Vera Cruz. where we boarded boat.
and were two days and half going to
Galveston. On board the ship were many
in the same predieament some coming
from Mexico City and others from the
coast towns.
False Report Given.
Il saw accounts In the Galveston papers
OF w. s. Waite's death, which occurred
about ninety kilometers from Terra
Blanca. They said he was killed during
a quarrel with his hired hands on hts
ranch. That was wrong. Waite had
money, which he refused to give to A
marauding band Of Mexlcans. He was
killed and his body decapltated TO set an
example to other foreigners who dared
to resist their intrusions. II had the de-
sired effect. for several Americans left
the vicinity. The same band that killed
Waite also set upon the Drake family Al
Cordoba and threatened Drake with death
IL he would not give up 500 pesos he was
known to have. While Drake went 10 the
barn. where his money was buried, Mrs.
Drake was strapped down and her fec.
spanked. This is one Of the tortures that
is famous with the Mcxlcans. Several
bones In her feet were broken and she
was badly crippled. We took the family
with us 10 Vera Cruz.
II left about six acres Of pineapple,
orange and ginger going to waste on land
which own near Terra Blanca. The
pineapples will blossom this month and
bulbs will form by August The orange
trees have blossomed and should bear
fruit in July or August This is the wild
orange. which was already growing on
the lanJ. The ginger can be harvested In
July. There is an outlay Of sl.Ooo or more
dollars on which those marauding Mexi-
cans will feed. II would be folly for me
to return there until the warning elements
have subsided. so have considered my
adventure In farming a waste of time and
money
On Verge of Starvation.
The Mexicans all through the country
are on the verge of starvation. he said,
fContiuued on Third Pare1