El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-07-25
SAYS PEOPLE
IN MADEIRA
ARE SAFE
Man Claiming to Be United
States Secret Service
Agent Reaches Here.
REFUGEES DECLARE
DANGER Is GREAT

a MERICANS in MADEIRA are in no
~ danger and have not been, &C
= cording to Frank Hustead, OF
Albany, n. Y, who was in FL PasO to-
day and said that he was secret agent
of the United States government. He
left at noon for Washington and de-
clared before leaving that his report
would 90 direct to president Wilson.
de declared that the Americans IN
MADEIRA are sitting about their homes
IN perfect safety, awaiting the reOpening
of the railroad, and that the men are
willing away the time playing cards.
Hustead said that he made the trip to
MADEIRA and back with two MeXicans, but
did not disclose the method by which
he had gone. The AleXicans acted as
guides
Refugees Say Danger.
Officials of the Pearson Lumber COM
pany in Ell Paso and refugees from Pear
son.. 100 miles from MADEIRA, tell a diff
terent story, and stoutly maintain that
the American colony Is in great danger.
Travelling in a mule drawn coach since
Tuesday night, three Americans, two
men and a woman, arrived IN Columbus
n. NJ, at 10:15 Thursday night and
came to FL PasO Friday morning, from
Pearson They say the bandits are in
control there. They came through As
cencion, spending the night at Villas
camp, and talked with Villa while there
When they left Pearson Tuesday even
ing Tor the overland trip BY way of
Casas Grandes, Ascension and Columbus.
the Americans say that the bandits were
IN the town in day time, but left at
night Tor fear Villas men would come
IN and repeat the executions which oc-
CURED at Casas Grandes, when Villas
forces killed a number of the bandits.
There were II there a few DAYS before
and had been as many as 25 in the
hills near the lumber camp. These ban
dts, the American refugees say, had
looted the company store at Pearson.
taking silks, wOmen's shoes. laees and
other goods which they could not use,
and had sold them TO the Mexicans in
the. native quarter for whatever they
could get for them.
Chinese Boy Killed.
The Americans told of the killing of
Chinese. boy because he refused to an
sWer their questions when the rebels
went to collect a head tax of $40 each
from the so Chinese in the settlement.
The bandits afterwards said that they
had ridden up to the Chinese restaurant
to demand the SO ransom, but that the
boy ran and was killed. The Chinese
said that because the Chinese bow did
not understand Spanish and appeared
stupid one OF the bandits shot him where
he stood They were sober when this
was done.
Dave SpiIlsbury Ransomed.
The Americans also gave the details
OF the ransom Of Dave lSpillsbury He
was arrested, they say, one week AGO
Sunday and taken from his store. the
bandits saying that thew intended to
shoot him Spillsbury was accused of
informing Villa Of their presence in the
colonies and he was to be executed for
this, they said He was taken to CoIonia
Juarez and later sent back an order upon
the plant manager for 5000 with which
to buy his release. A number of Nor
mons mons, including man named Taylor, at
Colonis JUarez, Skousen and Others had
been held up, the Americans say, for 5000
or more for their liberty. The colonies
had been looted of everything which
could be, carried away, and there had
settlements. -'''-'
MADEIRA Refugees Reach Pearson