The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-07
AMERICAN BRINGS
STORIES Of MANY
MEXICAN HORRORS
First Authentic Accounts Reach
Bryan--Senate to Hear
Them Read Today
REVOLT CONFINED
TO ONE DISTRICT
Bandits and Outlaws Hold
Sway in Others, Killing
and Pillaging at Will
Intervention Needed

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.--The first
authentic account Of what happened
when Mexican rebels sacked the city
of Durango. and an Illuminating eN-
position of the state of affairs in Mex
leo, today was laid before Secretary
of State Bryan. II will be placed be
fore the senate committee on foreign
relations tomorrow by its writer
The statement VAS written by M. a.
Leach, of San Francisco, who has been
for the last three years in Chihuahua
and Durango. Having lost everything
he owned but his clothes in the sack
ing Of Durango, OF which ne was a
witness, and not intending TO go BACK
to Mexico, Mr.. Leach has found II pos
sible To speak frankly which would
not have been the case had he any IN
tention of returning to Durango.
The contents of Mr. Leach's account
OF conditions in Mexico are practlcaiiy
identical with hundreds OF othsr sim
liar documents. which have beea re-
ceived at the state department from
csnsuis and Americans in Mexico, nut
which have been withheld from MEM
beers of the house and senate, ana
from the public. His statements veri-
fy those made by Ambassador wilson,
To the effect that there is only one
organized political revolution IN Mex
leo, and that is In the State or sonora,
that the rest OF tEt county 10 t'NN'
mn to handtry and footing by bands
Of rebels. who find II profitable 10
maintain themselves off the country
He maintains that nothing hut assist
ance to the Huerta government from
the outside, or Intervention Will put
stop to the wauton killing OF inho
cent men, women and children. OF al
nationaiities, the almost unlimited
outraging of young girls. and the ire
laS nf Df0DSTtE. re
says in his statement:
Conditions Not Generally Known.
"since my return from Mexico with
some eighty other American refugees,
/ have daily read all the leading pa
pers dwelling on the Mexican situa-
lion. have talked to many prominent
business men. and United states OF
flcers. and have wondered at the
seeming lack of information displayed
BY a large part Of our people, inciuu-
ing the state department. of what Is
really going on In Mexico, and what is
necessary to be done to put an end TO
the wanton killing of innocent men,
women and children. almost unlimited
outraging of young women ana girls,
and tremendous destruction of prop
erty. Living as I have, for the last
three years. In the States or chihua-
hua and Durango the hothed of the
i
through many trying experiences.
The worst however. that l have seen
was what took place at Durango. AFTER
its capture on June 18th, by the rebei
forces under Tomas urbina, ana otn-
ers, numbering some 4,2oo so-caiied
Maderistas.
the city than they began breaking
into ali the saloons. drinking slch
LIQUOR as they found there After
that the footing OF the entire city
began. Not a single store escapei
being completely sacked. and many
vera burned after being sacked, en-
failing n loss of more than $s.ooo,o'o
rold. All prisoners from tails ana
the state penitentiary, some -FOUR nun
dred. were turned loose. and all crimi-
nal and land records burned All
houses were entered and looted AMI
their inhabitants robbed. Scores 81
Mexicans were shot down through Inc
streets OF the city. From the Untte'i
states consulate I saw Mexicans ana
FOREIGNERS dragged through the streets
on the end OF lasso
Americans Seriously Wounded.
"Rodgers Palmer an Englishman,
vas killed because he failed to open
: .sfe' 81 which he did not have TIE
romhination. Carlos Van Brands
and u w. Elder, both Americans.
were seriously wounded by bomb
used to force the door Of the McnnnA-
MA institution. where many OF the
foreigners had taken refuge. They
were then lined UP against the wall
and threatened with execution unless
money and horses and srms and am
,,rnition were delivered, which the
foreigners were forced /, do 70 save
their lives. II. w stepp. an Amer.
can civil engineer. was shot tnroukn
the leg because he did not have the
Ave hundred pesos demanded Of him.
A. W. Laurilant. an Engiishman; Vas
taken out OF his home. two BLOCKS
from Urbina's headquarters, on rne
plaza, and was stripped, beaten. snot
and left for dead. These are but
few Instances OF what personahN
know took place.
"All three banks were looted. Hun-
Areds 81 women and girls were taken
fcontinued On Second PAEeO
II
4 r aselRn1 5000 9fe1ksi6 New Here.