Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-07-26
WAR IN MEXICO
or SAVAGE TYPE
Rowing Bands Rob and Tor
lure Many Foreigners.
ATROCITIES ARE TERRIBLE.

At One Place Train Was Held Up and
> Passengers Finger Severed to OBJ
tain . Ring More Quickly-Rsfusse
Suffer Many Hardships - Huerta's
Cabinets Instructions.
With the gradual spreading Of reyo-
lutipnary activity 20 parts of Mexico
hitherto more or less unaffected. tales
Of atrocities and indignities to for
eigners filter into Mexico City In in
creasing number. Early IN July these
had become so common that whereas
a year ago they would have caused
great indignation and possibly prompt
representations by foreign govern
ments. it is doubtful il they receive
now more than inclusion in possible
claim for damages, in due time. upon
the Mexican government.
An experience related by passengers
on train proceeding northward from
Torreon appears to place certain con
tingent Of the northern rebels III d class
with the followers of Zapata OF the
south on the score of barhmrous treat
ment Of their victims. Tlie train was
stopped near Bernejillo by a burned
bridge. a band of intoxicated rebels or
bandits swooped down upon the pas
sengers, robbed them of everything. in.
Guiding clothing. not sparing even the
women victims. Of whom there were
half a dozen. Americans aud English.
An American Shot.
An American detected trying to hide
revolver. was taken out ana shot
He fell severely wounded An Eng
lishman, of whom was demanded a
diamond ring he wore and which he
had difficulty in removing. was assisted
by means Of a knife. The finger was
chopncd away SO that the ring could
be obtained The passengers were
eventually allowed to 60 and walked
miles into TolTeon.
Another experience growing out of
an effort to escape a worse fate was
that of 4 group of Americans. refugees
from a mining camp near Topolobam.
20, Sinaloa There were three women
in tile party. which made its way to
the coast town. 10 catch coasting
steamer due at an uncertain date, the
refugees had 70 put out TO an island,
sun scorehed and without house or
tree Its only Inhabitants were shark
fishers and the stencil OF decayIng
shark fish WAS next to unbcarable, For
two days the refugees endured great
hardship and discomfort: then an
American gunboat appeared
A boat was sent off. but the officer
In charge had orders to take only EN-
ployees of n certain mining company
Nine We're accordingly taken ahoard
and the rest, including the three won
en-, waited two days longer when. al
most in despair. they We're picked up
by the coasting steamer. described rs
a filthy affair. already overloaded
which landed them in Mazatlan.
President Huerta's instructions.
President Huerta. it is said, has
great confidence in the ability Of his
new cabinet to aid him In his work
of qualification, but he expects them TO
devote their attention to the work of
their respective departments and not
let their covetous eyes dwell upon his
seat This he made quite clear TO them
at the first formal gathering of the
new administrators To them IIuerfa
said after the usual Fluctuations, that
he expected each minister to be su-
preme in his own post. so far as pos
sible and that they would experience
little interference from him But; on
the other hand, he warned them to
"Cuidarse Con La Pintura," legend
often seen on new edilices in Mexico,
meaning watch ont for paint"
TO his puzzled ministers, who asked
him to explain. the president said, pat.
ting the back of tile chair he custom
arily occupies at his cabinet meetings:
II mean that this old chair suits me
very we'll and for the present You
should not try to improve 1t. Pay at
tention strictly to the duties of your
offices, and shall manage to look after
mine"