Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-09-20
.BARBAROUS MASSACRE
coLD-BLoopED SLAUGHTER HAs
oTlRRED ALL MEXICO,
More Than Two Hundred Rebel su,-
poets Are Lined Up Against Adob.
Wall and Shot to Death Without ,
Trial. ~. ......

Mexico City.-Proofs Of one Of ths
most horrible massacres of innocents
ever recorded in any country pre.
tending to the usages Of civilization
we're received ut the ONCE of the
ministry Of war the other day when
the announcement was officially made
that PA human beings had been
ruthlessly slaughtered in the name Of
the law at Puruandiro, State Of
Michoacan, in revenge for an attack
made on the city by rebels q few
weeks ago.
Although every effort was made to
keep the facts from the public as well
as from the government, letters and
kilograms of protest we're received
by President Madero indicating that
the Project of Puruandiro, Angel
Loza, had been crazed by thirst Of
blood and at his orders all the pris
oners suspected Of rebellious ten.
denotes had been herded in a corral
and shot down in cold blood. Orders
instantly were given by President Ma.
dero, that rigid investigation Of the
facts be made at once and that all
persons responsible for the massacre
should be arrested and held for trial,
According to the information receiv.
ed at the War Office the carnage was
the result Of denunciations made by
former rebels, who for a considera.
ton agreed to point out the culprits
who were engaged in looting the city,
the details of which were published
exclusively in the Times, a few days
later. Irregular soldiers acting under
the orders of Project Loza were sent
in every direction looking for the
criminals and those who were unable
to prove their innocence Of all com.
plicity were Immediately thrust into
the city Jail which as result soon
became overcrowded with suspects.
With no provision for the accommo-
dation Of such a large number Of
prisoners. the unfortunates became
desperate with hunger and enforced
servitude until their cries Of anguish
are said to have irritate the Project
until his wrath was changed into 4
form Of frenzy.
Almost without warning, twenty
two of the most noisy prisoners were
marched into the patio and at sig
nal from the official in charge all
were shot down in cold blood before
they had chance to either escape or
fight for their lives. It is admitted as
a fact that the blood Of these victims
trickled under the doorways and
threw the populace into state of
panic that almost resulted in riot In
front of the prison.
Unable to appease the indignant
citizens, the Project is alleged to
have then ordered the massacre Of
every person suspected Of sympathiz'
ing with the uprising and company at.
ter company OF helpless prisoners
were led before their executioners
and shot down without further cere-
mony. It has been established as q
fact that the butchery was not en-.
tirely confined to men alone and at
least two bootblacks believed to have
stolen a few trinkets when the city
was raided. also were killed. Sew
eral prominent residents Of the city
called upon the Project and attempt
ed to dissuade him from following
such bloody course but without
avail and the callers were told to
make themselves scarce If they did
not wish to court similar fate. A
few hours later, 1t is claimed by eye
witnesses, many of the relatives OF
the professionals we're taken prisoners
and subsequently lined up against
the dobe wall.
Overcome by fear the populace kept
silence and the affair probably would
never have been made public had
not a public-spirited citizen sent
letter to the government asking for
an investigation. In order to make
the massacre still more horrible, 1t
is charged that Loza ordered a llst
OF victims printed and placed at the
portals of the cemetery, where all
might read.