The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1912-07-18
MOVING F;-T<trl<3 CAMERA ~
MEXICO SThHTt0 PANIC.
eoIdiers Thought It a Machine Cur
and Were Cvericysd When the
American Photographer Made
Clear Their Mistake.

An American camera man recently
ventured into Mexico to take some
nictures of Mexican scenery, together
with a parade of Mexican regiment.
Mistaking him for an lnsurrecto ABOUT
II start another revolution by turning
n machine gun on them, several nun
drel, Mexican soldiers, comprising the
garrison at Tia Juana, broke RANKS
while on dress parade end ran III
every direction for shelter, says Mo-
Biography.
Officers Joined the priyates in get
ting behind buildings and trenches,
and the regimental bUgier had hardi"
sounded the call to arms to repel the
attack Of the supposed invaders WHeh
the moving picture man, now thor
oughly frightened himself, tucked ms
machine under one arm and started
to run for the boundary line. He had
gained the outskirts OF the town when
q Mexican officer Ventured to snatch
look from his hiding place and, see
ing the ground clear, ordered a charge
with fixed bayonets. 1t took consider
able proGding, however, TO get the
privates back into the ranks and the
military formation.
The frightened operator was over
hauled BY mounted men, dragged back
into town and taken before the com
manding officer. The enraged sol
diers wanted to make a target out OF
him then and there, but the officers
prevailed upon them to let the regular
military law take its course. The m0Y-
ing picture machine was carefully IT,
ken apart and searched for explosives.
The camera man pleaded with the Oh
flcers to let him go. He explained to
the MeXicans that he was not I'LL
buster nor a soldier Of fortune; that
he was only working for a living. lie
went through pantomime with the
aid of a sheet On the wall to show the
soldiers now pictures are taken Tor
the nickelodeons i'll the United States.
Then a great light burst upon the
Intelligence OF the commander in
chief. He rapidly interpreted his dis
covery to his fellow officers and his
privates. The moving picture man
stood distrustfullv by, not quite sure
=
The soldiers were SO overjoyed at
the fact that they we're to have been
sent down into posterity by the NOV
ing picture route that the man was
ordered to take their picture without
fear Of interruption. a brief examine
ton, however, convinced the moyin 9
picture man that he could never &C
cOmplish the fact; but ne feared tC
arouse the ire OF the Mexicars, so he
went through the motions OF taking
q real picture, while the soldiers
marched back and forth within bis
range, drilled, fixed their bayonets
charged upon imaginary foes, pitched
their tents and went through every de
tail OF war life in Mexico.
His arms We're aching from turning
the crank of his broken machine. and
he would have ordinarily used up sew
eral miles OF film, when the regiment
came to attention and the commando!
stepped to the front and proudly d0fTeC
his cap.
That was the end The picture mar
WGs loaded down with cigarettes anc
cigars and presented with silk Gcarl
by one Of The officers He refused az
invitation to dine and hurried with
an escort Of honor to the boundar5
line, the men insisting on carrying his
machine for him.