El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-07-25
REBELS SHOOT HOLES
IN AMERICAN FLAG
Refugee From Durango Walks 165 Miles
and Tells of Attack on Ameri-
cans There.


and Tells of Attack on Ameri-
cans There.
Showing their disrespect for an
American flag by shooting it full Of
holes and then splitting on it, was an
incident of the taking Of Durango by
the rebels, under command OF Tomas
Urbina on the early morning of June
II. The lOOting and burning of %
stores in the place, entailing loss Of
many thousands of dollars was another
incident of the capture of the city as
told by Ben Agufrre, living at Oil East
NeVa4a, who was one of the 30 per
sons who walked IS miles in order to
escape to American soil.
The flag shot full of holes, he said.
hung suspended over one of the win
dOws of the American Grocery COM
pany'S store, his father, S. n. Aguirre's
place Of business The rebels, ne said,
looted his fathers store, after they had
agreed TO be bought off with a number
OF sacks of corn and beans After the
flag was shot into il was then SpaC on.
Like other American and foreign citi-
zenS, Aguirre said that his father was
compelled to seek refuge in the head
quarters Of the American consulate at
The rebels under Urbina entered Du-
range early IN the morning and before
the federal garrison was aware of their
presence IN the town -Four hundred
volunteers that had been organized.
Aguirre said. as soon as the rebels
took possession of the place, threw
away their arms and concealed them
selves.
The doors Of DonaId's institute were
dynamited by the rebels who were
seeking to kill Americans taking refuge
In the institute Officers Of the men
finally persuaded the rebels to spare
the lives of the Americans
One Englshman. Howard Palmer. ac-
cording to Aguirre, was killed by the
rebels. Palmer was employed as
Waterman II the railway station and
was commanded to open the safe
Before the wholesale lOoting began,
Aguirre declared every saloon in Du-
range was broken into and the liquor
consumed. After getting thoroughly in
tOXicated the lOOung and burning Of
Durango began The peniJentary was
broken open and all prisoners liberated
After that all criminal records were de-
stroyed.
Mr.. Aguirre is associated with the
MADEIRA Lumber. company, and on the
morning following the taking Of the
town, that company ran special log
glng train from its camp to Durango.
The train carried the employees of the
company. There were II Americans
aboard. When the train reached Du-
leans, together with the Mexicans. were
compelled TO take off their hats and
shout, Viva MaderO."
On June p q party Of IS Americans,
escorted by p rebels, left on a train
Tor the journey to MaZatlan- There
were four American women in the
party. Mrs. Dan BOlger and her Il
months old baby; Mrs. J. ROlffs. Mrs.
T. Matthews and Mrs st. Hours. Reach
ing LlanO GranCes the terminus OF the
road, the party was compelled to de-
train Pack animals and horses were
secured for the women and those who
were not able 10 walk. and the journey
was begun to Mazatlan. 165 miles dis
tant Thirty of the party had to walk
NJ A. Leech, general manager OF the
lumber company. was in command OF ]
the party, 1t took 10 days to complete /
the march on the outskirts of Ma
zatlan the party was held up BY fed
erals and their arms and ammunition
They
turned later boat was secured by 4
the American consul at Mazatlan, and I
the voyage made to san Francisco. tax /
Ing three weeks.