The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-08-02

MADERIO CHIH, Mex, July 25.-In
the mill yard of the MADEIRA Lumber
feet high, on the top of which is a
'crow's nest" and above that a pow
erful search light, the rays of which
can be directed at the will of the OPP
orator, who operates it from his
perch in the nest" from sunset to
sunrise every day in the year. When
the idea of the light was conceived it
was hoped that petty pilfering of ma
terial from the yards from which the
company had suffered would be stop
ped or minimized and that the smoke
Of snouldering fires which might be
famed into disastrous CONGREGATIONS
might be discovered before the embers
burst into flames. There was no
thought then that the brilliant beacon
might be used to save not only the
companys property but the whole
town from pillage by armed bands of
irresponsible marauders.
There is no question now in the
minds of those whe were on the alert
on Saturday night that were it not
for the ability of the operator to keep
the raiders in sight as soon as he
was warned that they were holding up
and robbing pedestrians and breaking
into houses, the loss by looting would
have been much heavier than it was.
Prevents Theft of Stock.
After the first raid the robbers
moved toward Mexican town and it
was hoped they would stay there. The
raid was made so quickly and SO bold
ly that there was no time to telephone
the searchlight tower if it were even
thought of. When the night riders
came back the second time, however,
and directed the tower man where to
throw the rays of the revealing lamp.
The raiders were soon picked up
They were evidently trying to open
locked pasture gate in the Ma
huarachie (Hearst) ranch fence about
mile away from the hospital. The
light was held" upon them and the
raiders evidently became nervous, as
after enduring it for two or three
minutes those who had dismounted to
manipulate the gate, climbed into
their saddles and the whole party
rode toward the timber. The light
followed them, keeping them in plain
view and making them excellent tar
gets had. there been any disposition
to fire at them. The light followed
them into the timber some of the par
ty always being in sight of the search
light man and of those who were
watching from the threatened houses
Finally seeing that they could not es
cape the vigilant tower man the would
be looters rode across the plain to
ward their camp and were kept in
view until lost in the maze of the
crooked streets Of the Mexican quar-
ter.
Safeguarded Against Outbreaks.
Since that night the light has been
more skillfully or carefully used than
ever before and undoubtedly has beer
more potent in preventive outbreak.
of banditry than would have been 81
watchmen working in the dark. What
ever may have been the cost of the
saved to the citizens of MADEIRA during
the past 10 days.
Removal of Women Is a Help.
The sending out of the women ant
children last Sunday had double eff
feet for good in the opinion of those
responsible for the issuance of the
order for their removal 1t was fear
ed by some who opposed the move
that the sending out of the women
would be regarded by the lawless
and irresponsible elemen. among the
rebel commands in the camp as al
evidence of weakness. The real effect
produced was decidedly to the contra
ry. especially as few men went GU,
with the women, as il was interpreted
as a resolve upon the part of the mex
who remained in camp to be free te
put up determined and organized
fight en- masse which would have beer
utterly impossible with the women ir
camp. each requiring to be defended
separately in widely scattered sec
tons OF tho American quarter
The absence from the danger ION,
had the effect, too. to relieve the me,
OF strain born Of apprehension o
what might befail the women in cas-,
OF an uprising and made them free
to fight for the common cause shoult
they be called upon to suppress o
Try 20 suppress an outbreak.
MADEIRA Club Closes Bar.
The members OF the MADEIRA clul
set coed example for the inhabitant
OF the Mexican quarter, az well as 70
tho soldiers In camp. by closing tn
club bar when the rebels under Gen
Rojas nrst came into the town ant
keeping II closed during the entir
period OF rebel occupancy. They .sc