The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-20
MANY REFUGEES ARRIVE.
ONE HUNDRED THIRTY COME
ON BOARD CRUISER BUF.
FALO FROM MEXICO,
Give Reasons for Flight In State.
ment Issued ON Arrival at San
Diego-Left on Receipt of Secrc-
tary Bryan's Message.

San Diego, CAL, Sept ia state.
ment setting forth their reasons for
leaving Mexico was issued today by
those, who arrived here aboard the
cruiser Buffalo from the west coas,
of the southern republic. The Buffalo
brought 1S9 refugees who were land
ed here, the ship proceeding to San
Francisco.
The statement follows
"On Board the U. S. S. Buffalo, Sept
16, 1918.
I'VE, residents of the Yaqui valley
desire to state the following facts
concerning the exodus of the Ameri-
can and other foreign residents from
the Yaqui valley. Sonora, Mexico. on
September, z, 1913.
mo uneasiness was felt by the
American residents until Consul Vail
Of the United States, located at Quay
mas, Sonora, personally visited Yaqui
valley on September 6, 1913, accom-
panied by Lieut.. j. r. Henley OF the
United states marines Tin uniform)
and exhibited telegram dated Wash
ington, d. c., August q, 1913, and
signed by Secretary of State Bryan
which stated that the President
earnestly urged all Americans to leave
Mexico and that the United States
ship Buffalo was then waiting at an
adjacent point called Salinas to en-
bark all those desiring to leave. The
consul added his personal advice that
every one avail themselves of the op-
portunity and conform to the presi-
dents request.
Relying entirely upon these repre-
sentatiOns, we have abandoned our
homes, together with real and per-
sonal property of greater or lesser
value.
Since about March 1, 1918, we
have been without train service-or
mail and for that reason we could
not intelligently judge for ourselves
the necessities of the case. Both con-
tending factions in the present dis
turbance in Mexico have visited the
Yaqui valley but neither side has
committed any overt act toward for
eigners or disturbed our homes or
property. Aside from some wander
ing bands Of Yaqui Indians, tempo
rarily out Of control Of the Mexican
authorities, everything has been peace
full. They hay levied on their own
nationality for necessary sustenance
almost entirely and have only made
requests in few instances on foreign
residents and then in a formal man.
ner to cover supplies not available
elsewhere, particularly hay.
while the continued disturbed con-
dition paralyzed business generally
and made it impossible to realize re-
turns upon any crops, thereby Great
ing temporary financial embarrass-
ment nothing in the attitude of eth
er of the contending parties made
the situation any particular menace
to our lives or property.
Despite these conditions we were
continuing to harvest crops and pre-
pairing land for extensive fall plant
ing. Knowing the aptitude of soma
persons to exaggerate facts for mo-
mentary personal notoriety this state
ment is deemed expedient for all
concerned.
1--WE have left Mexico entirely un-
der the urgency Of the United States
government feeling that they had
complete knowledge of the situation
through the republic of Mexico and
not desiring to in any way embarrass
our government, we have complied
promptly with their request to leave
Mexico, thereby suffering substantial
financial loss and we also feel that
we are therefore justified and are re-
lying upon the United States gov
ernment to protect our Mexican in
terests now and in the future"