The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-23
FOrty-Six Americans Reach
Galveston From Mexico.
Tell of Murder and Robbery of
u. S. Citizens.
LOST ALL Their MONEY
Forced to Leave What They
Had Left Behind.
Says People Are i'm a State of
Terror.

Galveston, April 23-Forty-seven pas
| sengers all but one citizens of the
United States, who arrived today from
Vera Cruz on the steamer Texas, tell
of alleged torture and assassination of
Americans in Mexico. All the refugees
left their lands, homes, furniture and
everything they possessed except enough
money to pay their passage and the
clothes on their backs.
M. H. Ish. one of the refugees, told
of the murder of an American citizen
named Wait. Mr. Wait was a neigh
Dor of mine," said Ish He had sold
several head of cattle and hidden the
money. Desperadoes came to his
hacienda and demanded money. Failing
to get it they deliberately beheaded him
with their machettes, herded his cat
tie together and drove them off. There
are many instances just like this.
I'VE lived in a little settlement where
colony of eleven American families
had founded the town of Sanburn. All
departed because we were afraid to re-
main longer knowing we would be
killed or tortured.
Il went to Mexico one year ago, put
all I had, $1,650 in land and improve
ments there and today have only my
two hands and the clothes on my back.
damages with the American consul in
Mexico City
He Lost $4,000.
John T. MeGee, a wealthy planter
went to Mexico two years ago, re-
turned to America minus more than
$40, 600 and left behind land and live
stock. Mr.. MCGEE tells of alleged
crueltieS practiced on an American
woman. Mrs. Shay now in the hos
pital at Mexico City.
What has been true of the Shay
family" said Mr.. McGee, has been
likewise true of scores of other Amer
leans and by staying there we took our
lives in our hands. The bandits are
everywhere. The Mexican government
is not able to quiet them. Many
Americans believe the Madero forces
SO dislike the Americans that they
would rather permit the brigandage
than try to stop it. Whenever rurales
are near, the bandits disperse, but
thererarely is a shot fired
Practically every man on board the
Texas had a similar story to tell of
experiences in Mexico. Two men who
rode horseback into Vera Cruz after
abandoning everything they owned
tell of meeting armed bandits in a
narrow pass. The only reason we are
here said one is because we were lucky
enough to beat them to it. Every
where you go except right in the larg-
est cities, you will see deserted farms.
houses burned, live stock stolen and
in many instances the decaying and
headless bodies of their owners are
left lying about.
"The bandits are in such large num-
bers and so scattered over the interior
that to resist them is useless. We
Americans had to give up everything
to them when they came to the settle
ments, no matter how we'll armed we
might be-
Sanburn. the place where the refu-
gees say some of the alleged atrocities
took place, is in the state of Vera Cruz
13 miles northwest of Santa Lucretia.
1t is on the Vera Cruz and Isthmus
railway across the Isthmus of Tehuan-
tepec and is listed as a railway and
telegraph station.