The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-18
VISITORS SEE PRISON CAMP,
FEDERAL GENERAL SALAZAR
UNEASY LEAST HE BE SHOT.
Five Thousand Prisoners Held at Fort
Bliss by Gen. ScOtt.--Fcdcral Com
mander Has no Desire to Escape.


! Ell Paso, Texas, Feb. 15.-Hundreds
of visitors today went to Fort Bliss
10 view the prison camp where Gen.
Hugh L. Scott Is caring for more than
5000 Mexican men, women and chill
oren, who fed after the federals were
defeated at Ojinaga a month ago.
Meanwhile Gen. Jose Inez Salazar,
prisoner. was uneasy and sulked with
In his tent. Gen. Scott has him con-
fined in a special barbed wire stock
aie away from the other prisoners
aid recently informed him that If An
attempt was made to rescue him he
would be the first person shot Today
Sillazar sent word to Gen. Scott that
he feared the rebels at Juarez would
take advantage Of the order and make
false demonstration from the rail-
road tracks nearby, probably firing a
few shots in the air, and before the
ruse was discovered the guard would
have carried out the instruction with
reference to himself.
Il have no more desire to escape
than a 10-year-old boy" was the mes
sage Salazar sent. Gen. Scott said he
might enter the post guardhouse If
he wished. Here he would be In q cell,
oul safe, and the Mexican may try the
experiment for week.
IN the camp there are So wounded
federal officers and 1877 wounded men
AMI 21S federal officers and $3.50
men who are physically flt. There
! are 1889 women and 556 children. or
the children 400 are of school age,
and as soon as possible Gen. Scott will
inaugurate a school, at which some Of
the educated officers will be the in
strlctors. There are four cases OF
smallpox and this has delayed tn,
school period.
The prisoners live in tents, brown
like the whole verdureless landscape.
1t costs 18 cents a day to feed each
prisoner. or about 5000 for the camp.
while the cost of subsistence for an
American soldier is 23 1-2 cents. The
prison rations consist of Mexican
beans, chilli peppers. corn meal, PC
tatoy,s, onion, bread, fresh meat and
coffee. A guard today detected one of
The prisoners giving away some Of his
coffee to a fellow countryman on the
outside.
Most of the prisoners are far bet
ter off than when in the field. They
are noused and fed regularly and by
dint OF much urging the Americans
have trained them to police their
camp and take proper sanitary pre-
raunons The prison is of about 40
acres, surrounded by a barbed wire
! fence. The sentries do not enter the
amp except for special purposes. but
patrol II on the outside Visitors are
kept at a distance from the fence and
the prisoners themselves are kept
way from 1t.
In the crowds today were many
Mex.cans from Ell Paso. who brought
gifts Of tobacco, cigarettes, bananas,
apples oranges and other delicacies.
Visiting priests today celebrated
mass and there was a concert In the
afternoon by the band Of 40 pieces,
sent by President Huerta to inspire
mis- soldiers at chihuahua and Oil
naga.
The prisoners are we'll clothed
Huerta recently provided all with
shoes, hose. underwear. hats and
Overalls or dresses. Officers also re-
ceive IS a month and privates 81
They are permitted to make purchase
at the resimental store at the same
r.ces paid by American soldiers.
A special permit not easily obtain,
ed is required for visitor to go with.
in the camp. This Is due largely tc
the cases Of smallpox. Americans
who have enjoyed the privilege and
the guards say the prisoners generally
are sullen in tho presence Of their
jailers.
At Ysleta today soldiers discovered
IA rifles and 5000 rounds of ammuni-
tion hidden away. They probably were
left behind Wednesday night by Mex
lean recruits who fed across the Rio
Grande.
Rumors reached Gen. Scott that at
tempts to run more recruits across
would be made. but details OF the
plot were lacking.