Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-28
Mrs. Watson, Of LaGrange, Says
the President Should Provide
Means Of Refugees Leaving
the RebeIIion-Stirred Republic.
Journey on Horseback Over Noun
tains and Sea Trip to United
States Is VividIy Described by
Woman Fleeing for Refuge.

The story OF a daring flight across
the Rocky Mountains to escape Mex
lean revolutlonists was told yester-
day to The Sunday American by Mrs.
Tom Watson. of No. North Park
avenue, LAGRANGE. The story is one
Of thrilling details, Of adventures as
perilous, of hardships as trying as
any in BiJou meIodrsma.
Mrs. Watson and her husband. ar
ter several prosperous years resi-
dence in Durango, Mexico, were driv-
en- to the States by fear of the revo-
lutionists. They made their way
across the Rocky Mountains on horse
back and came up the west coast to
San Diego. Cal, landing there August
II. Now they are safe at home in
LAGRANGE.
The old Adventures OF 40 prob
ably went through no greater hard
ships or accepted no greater hazard
than did this Georgia woman and her
husband. The story as Mrs. Wat
son tells it is dramatic.
TTopiem OF Getting Back
1T is all very simple for advice
to be sent out from Washington, tell
ing Americans to return from Mex
leo" she said. when Americans
ind their business gone and their
property destroyed by the revolution.
they need no order from President
Wilson to come back to the United
States. But the question comes as
to how they will get back.
After the city of Durango was
taken we, with the other Americans
there, faced that problem There were
no trains. In fact, there had been
none since February To 20 overland
to the Texas border meant to go
through the rebel lines and be robbed
OF horses. saddles, food, clothing ana
shoes.
More than one American reached
El Paso without shoes and on foot
TO attempt to reach the railroads
operating trains In the South was
equally perilous, while the onlv re-
naming way-across the mountains
to the west coast-was hazardou
even to consider Two weeks on
horseback over treacherous mountain
trails with the added dscomforts of
daily rains and swollen streams, were
prospects not calculated to inspire
enthusiasm.
However, we, with some other
Americans, feeling that anything
were better than the suspense and
alarm caused by the exaggerated re-
ports brought in from all sides, chose
this westward way.
Reach MazatIan at Last.
Tn spite of the tiredness and sore
ness from the long ride, the weari-
ness and worn feet from walking over
places too perilous to ride, the dis
gust and evaporation at the slownesS
and delays as a result OF animals
straying away at night and waiting
for streams to run down. the sleepless
nights caused by f1eas. bedbugs, mos
quitoes-yes, in spite Of all these
Mazatlan, the town on the west
coast, was finally reached.
There bath, the first since leav-
ing Durango. q bed and a square
meal made life seem entirely worth
while and the States very near.
But how quickly this fond delu-
sion vanished on finding that no
passage could be obtained on an
American boat for the next 80 days,
everything having been taken by the
refugees further south
Then came the weary days of
trips to the American Consuls and
to the steamboat officials, in the eff
fort to obtain any class of passage
on any kind of boat
AT last by buying a third class
ticket and paying just first-clsss
prices we secured passage on a Meu-
can coast boat.
100 Americans Aboard.
with no other accommodations
than the deck and dining room, the
ship was boarded and there twas
found that 100 others had done just
the same thing. Than WerA ARRAs