Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-02-16
Officers BIunder Results in
Complete Suspension Of In
terCourSe Between El PaSo
and Mexican Border City,
LIEUTENANT FAILS TO
RECOGNIZE RIO GRANDE
Halted By Customs Guards
and Armed and. Angry Clti-
zenS at Southern End Of Rio
Grande Bridge,

lBy Morning journal Special Leased wireI
El paso, Feb. lh.-Ctudad Juarey
was thrown into a Neritable panic
about / o'clock this morning by the
sudden appearance of q body Of nine
teen American infantrymen, carrying
their arms on board a street ear that
crossed the international bridge. This
panic continued throughout tho day
and resulted in the complete suspen-
sion of all business and communica-
tion between the two cities, including
the postponcment of the races. The
American soldiers are portion OF the
detachment which arrived here Few
days ago from Fort Whipple Arizona
land they crossed To the Mexican side
OF the river under the impression that
they were still on American soil, not
discovering their mistake until held up
by the Mexican customs guard on
the other side of the Rio Grande, the
international line. who were quickly
reinforced by more than one hundred
armed citizens OF Juarez After
much parleying with the Mexican Of
ficials the American soldiers with
their arms and ammunition were al
lowed to return to the United States,
hut that did not abate the excitement
in Juarez, and even women and chill
dren were seen armed ON the streets
for the purpose OF repelling the
American invaders. After the soldiers
were allowed to return, many citizens
held meeting and protested against
the action of the authorities In per-
Uniting them To- cross back over the
river.
AT 10 O'Clock this morning a special
car containing Lieutenant Ben w.
Fields Of Company G, Eighteenth in-
iiantrN and nineteen privates lett Fort
| Blas 90 begin guard duty mt the SAN
ita' Fe street bridge When the car
reached the stanton street bridge the
officer asked II II was the Santa Fe
Iatreet bridge and when told II was not
permitted the car 10 pass over ana
Into Mexico. through ignorance OF the
boundary line.
At the Mexico end of the bridge the
car was Immediately boarded by
half dozen Mexican customs guards,
who became greatly excited at the dis
coVery OF the American soldiers and
La large crowd was Immediately gath
cred, including Santiago Mestas, the
mayor, who brandished a huge pistol
and was much excited. Explanations
were quickly made, however, and the
American soldiers returned to the
American side, but on demand of the
Mexican officials the street car SER
the day and the saloons closed. A
guard of twenty-five men was sent to
the residence of American Consul Ed
wards, but that gentleman insisted
that they were not needed.
United States soldiers guarded the
American ends OF the two bridges
and there was no passing permitted
IN either direction, the remainder OF
the day.
Lieutenant Fields said after the in
cident that he knew the Rio Grande
was the boundary, but did not know
he was crossing the river as he had
only been in El Paso three days and
had never seen the Rio Grande.
Colonel T.. Il. Steevcrs, In command
AT Fort bliss. said tonight that the
incident was the result of mistake,
and that he did not know whether
the officer responsible therefor would
have To answer for the mistake or
not. He has worked with much energy
to quiet all apprehensions over the
incident.