The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-30

datory gangs of bandits and variou
other hints of violence. Still in per
feet peace, sharing in no way in thes
disturbances, the young men contin
ued their farming until at last the.
were obliged to use some desperate
means to protect their property IRON
the appearances of bandits. Mr.. Ham
| mond received from them Information
| of this threatened violence and wal
| told, Furthermore, that the danger was
! great, that the attempt at robbery
would be repeated. He therefore bought
within an hour a Calling gun ano
about $4,000 rounds of cartridges. Such
is the celebrity with which Mr.. Ham
mond acts. When notifying the farm
ers that this ammunition had been
| shipped he also cautioned them to make
no other use of it than that necessary
for the protection of the property
against bandits or guerrillas. Under
no circumstances was the gun to De
used against troops, whether marching
under the banner of the Mexican gov
eminent or under the orderly banners
of the revolutionists.
The gun and the ammunition were
shipped to Mexico early in March OF
this year. The cases containing the
battle piece and the ammunition were
marked hardware. They at last
reached the railroad terminal and were
transferred to mules. That cases OF
this kind should be shipped as hard
ware aroused not the slightest suS-
picion, since it had been Mr.. Ham
mond's custom to ship large amounts
of farming apparatus, tools and IKE
equipment under that title.
Less than a days journey from the
railway terminal by mule, one of the
cases packed upon a mules back slip
ped from the ropes, fell to the ground,
broke open and there was were deposit
ed a hundred or more cartridges upon
fI0 h 10 q
the mule team returned to the town
and made reports to the authorities
Examinations revealed the Calling gun
and the rest of the ammunition, and
he government at the city of Mexico
was informed. Telegraphic orders were
received to mount a sufficient force Of
the regular army, which was to go as
rapidly as possible to the Esperanto
ranch and arrest the two Americans
to whom this warlike material was
consigned.
Although there was no explanation
made to the Americans after their ar
rest, and although they were in ignor-
ance at the time of the arrest of the
arrival of the gun and ammunition at
the railway station and of the depar-
ture of these defensive materials for
the ranch, yet they suspected from
some things they overheard that this
consignment had led to their arrest
They were for time somewhat alarm
ed lest they be brought before a, mill
tary court, found guilty by drumhead
proceedings and ordered shot.
Mr. Hammond made haste to COM
municate with the secretary of war,
Henry L. Stimson, as soon as he re-
ceived the telegram, stating that the
young American farmers were confin-
ed in prison. The secretary of war
permitted himself no diplomatic dali
lying. He went Immediately to Presi-
dent Taft, who was in no doubt about
the need of instant action. Within an
hour the American minister to Mexico
received imperative instructions from
Washington, upon which he acted
promptly. Following his interview with
the Mexican authorities, the minister
sought the railway offices at Mexico
and within an hour he had procured
the personal bonds of railway officials
for fifty thousand dollars, twenty-five
thousand for each Of the imprisoned
Americans. ~
When these bonds had been duly ex-
ecuted the Mexican government tele-
graphed to the authorities of the town
where the Americans were confined in
prison. Still with closed lips and a
kind of counterfeit of politeness, the
town officials opened the prison doors,
and by that sign intimated to the
that they were at liberty
Procuring the same horse upon which
they had been brought as prisoners
over the mountain passes to the town, |
the Americans rode back to their ranch
and are still wondering what dispo-
sition is to be made of them. These
have taken place within |
the past two weeks. This particular
incident seemed of especial Importance
to the president, and it is one of the |
reasons for the recent attitude of the |
administration which has been taken |
to impress upon the Mexican authori- |
ties that, while the United States has |
no territorial aggrandizement in view |
neverless the people of the United |
States will not look with Indifference
upon the attacks upon the Americans |
Or their property. and if these are not |
then it may be the duty of |
the government itself to assure Ameri- |
cans that they and their property will |
be protected by such methods as will |
be sufficient HOLLAND