The Detroit times., 1914-04-25
AMERIC ANS HELD
HOSTAGES IN
MEXICAN TOWNS
tcontinued IRON Page opel.

mitted 10 accompany the fleeina
party. Col Ramon CarOna, assigned
ay Huerta TO escort 'Shaughne-sy
rom the city, fatty refused
Before the departure lluerta sent
200 soldiers 10 the embassy Go seize
the 275 rifles and guns which were
stored there for the defense OF the
American citizens The American
volunteer guards were prepared 10 de-
fend their arms, but on The advice
OF Shaughnessy they surrendered
the weapons without resistance.
Then began the trip for Vera Cruz
during which the hearts OF every one
in the diplomatic party seemed to be
touched by the appeals 10 country
men for aid AT the towns OF Orizaba,
Cordoya and Jalapa, Americans we're
crowded about the stations. They
pleaded with the American charge
TO be taken aboard his train
0 Shaughnessy was helpless. These
stranded Americans had been taken
from trains bound for Vera Cruz.
AT Cordova an American wearing a
British flag, sneaked TO the side OF
the train and handed note 10 one
OF the consulate employees. This note
read:
"Blisser, Erford, Whitcomb and a
good many other Americans are be-
ing held In jail here. They We're
taken off a train and are being held
as hostages i'm case Americans attack
the town. They want 20 know II you
can't help"
AT Tejeria. the last station be
fore reaching the American lines
o Shaughnessy saw several Ameri;
cans who had been taken OF trains.
They pleaded piteously to be carried
the remaining 80 miles TO safety They
told O'Shaughnessy they had been on
refugee train which left Mexico
City Thursday morning. Some OF the
party had been sent clear back TO the
capital Their train had passed
O'Shaughnessy during the night.
When O'Shaughnessy left the cap
ftal, Huerta had ordered that no more
Americans should be permitted 10 de
part or enter the city This. order
prevents unprotected Americans in
- q, ~ a. - go.
little refage there may be in-the cap.
ital II also makes II. possible for
every small town TO hold the Ameri
can civilians as hostages.
Huerta ordered that the homes oil
all Americans be searched for arms
and Thursday night the American
residents. of all hotels were stripped
OF arms. The protectorate established
by Sir Lionel Garden. the British am
bassador, was unavailing in this mat
ter, as the vlndictive dictator was de
termined Americans shohld have nc
means of defense in case of an upris
ing against them, which he will &C
cept as a demonstration OF sympathy
and support for him.
The newspapers of the capital have
issued the widest extras One ad
yised the "chopping up OF the Digs
On a railroad embankment running
through tropic swamp and With the
skyline marked by cocoanut trees, the
transfer or the Shaughnessy parts
from the Huerta train TO the Ameri
can lines was made. last night. A
mile of uptorn track separated the
American train from the Mexican,
Capt. n. Mel p. Huse, carrying &
flag OF truce, proceeded across the
open space alone. AS he approached
the Mexicans he waved his white flag
as well as a Mexican flag which he
carried. Col Carona lad gone out &c
meet him and half way between the
lines they met.
Col Carona and Capt Huse shooB
hands in friendly fashion and the
Mexican officer said:
II deliver by the order OF my presi
dent, the American charge d'affaires
the American consul and their stats
Capt. Huse shaking hands with
'Shaughnessy and Shanklin, thanked
Carona and then said:
II have brought 10 the line on my
train a large number OF Mexicans
who desire TO leave Vera Cruz. Ad
miral Fletcher desires me TO say he
understands many Americans are in
the capital who wish TO depart. He
would be pleased TO open passenger
traffic both ways between the two
cities. AS an earnest Of his wish he
desires me 10 turn over TO you the
wife and daughter of Gen. Mas
At this point Col Carona greeted
Huerta Carona had been especially
ordered by the dictator TO secure
them in trade for O Shaughnessy and
other members OF the diplomatic stan
Huse then permitted $50 Mexican
refugees 20 cross the American line.
Perhaps you can now make ar.
rangements for the departure OF
Americans from Mexico said
o'Shaughnessy, addressing Col Ca
roma
Carona smiled and bowed politely
but replied
II have no authority to discuss any
other matter than the delivery Of the
American representatives.
Carona's attitude changed entirely
after he reached the Mexican train
with the Mas women. He held the
train only long enough TO permit the
removal of Mrs. 'Shaughnessy. her
son, their baggage and one automo-
bile. He then said he must hurry and
departed with two automobiles be-
longing TO the embassy still on the
train. Carona promised TO send the
automobiles TO the American lines
Saturday. Two hours had elapsed
from the time the Mexican train ar.
rived. when Col. Carona ordered his
train 10 start the return trip TO Mex
leo City and the American party was
being bundled aboard the train VIII Al
bore them 10 Vera Cruz and safety.
BY BERNAR D RUCKER
(Cgohs CorreeuoUdeBt United proSs