Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1914-05-06
WOMAN TELLS Of
HER NARROW
ESCAPE
(From Fridays Daily


ror which prevails over that sum,
land, a tale of a hair-breadth es
cape to the border and the uncer
tainty of what might happen thc
next hour" are all wildly portray
ed in an interview yesterday giver
by Mrs. Will Solomon and Mrs
Anna Roberts, two of the Ameri-
can refugees who arrived at the
home of Mrs. Solomon's sister, Mrs
Z. A. Kastner in Mount Vernon
street after escaping from Sonora
together with 800 other Americans
who were told to either get out
or suffer the consequences"
While there was no actual out
break" declared Mrs. Solomon yes
terday, 1--WE realized what was COM
ing. The three of four thousand
Mexicans who were employed at
the Phelps-Dodge plant, were in an
ugly mood and continuously sound
ed note of warning.
"Were it not for three or four
Mexicans who held prominent posi-
tions in the company and who ex-
erted their influence over the rank
and file of the laboring class, it is
doubtful whether many of us would
be here now to tell the tale. They
held in check the mob until they
finally told Mr.. Williams, the sup
erintendent that it was impossible
to vouch for our safety any long
er. Then in rush, we all packed
our valises with our common neces-
sites and valuables and headed for
the train"
The Phelps-Dodge plant is locat-
ed at Necozari in Sonora and about
seventy-fve miles from Douglas on
the border. The principal mine is
located at Pilaris, five miles farther
inland. All of the 800 or more
American attaches of the company,
resided at Necozari where the main
Offices were located. A number of
other Americans connected with
divers mines located between Ne
cozari and Pilaris were keut in daily
touch with the situation.
1--WE realized that our lives were
in danger from the time the re-
lations between the two nations
were severed The Mexicans gath
cred around in groups and scowled
when an American walked by on
the street. The Mexican young
sters were instructed to shout
"Gringo coward" every time an
American was sighted. To have re-
scented the remark would have
meant an outbreak.
THE tension was awful. We could
see that the Mexicans were looking
for the slightest provocation to
start a riot. The Americans, how
ever, were instructed to disregard
all slurs for the sake of discretion"
Recently when a break with Mexi-
co was considered very probable, a
station was installed at
the plant. Mr.. Solomon was the
only wireless operator at the sta
ton. Up until Thursday morning,
Mr.. Solomon operated the appara-
tus, receiving messages from many
points along the border and the
ships il. the gulf The American
colony was kept posted as to every
little detail.
TIE Mexicans who were practi-
caily playing a waiting war game
finally discovered the source by
which the Americans received their
news from the outside and Mr.. Sol
onion was given the hint to keep in
sight every hour OF the day.
Disregarding the threat, Mr.. Solo
mon made for the wireless station
Thursday morning of last week and
tried to enter from the front door.
Fifteen Mexicans formed a barrier.
He disregarded them. didn't speak
a word and made for the rear side
OF the building. Another guard
was stationed there.
This move by the Mexicans wa.
regarded as critical one and a
forerunner to what might be ex-
pected later. The three or four
Mexicans who had been US
ing their influence over their coun-
trymen TO restrain them from VIC
lence, arrived a few minutes later
and announced that the strikers had
delivered their ultimatum-"the
Gringos must leave the camp at
once or suffer the consequences"
'Of course, the Americans in the
camp were aroused and determined
to stay and fight it out" said Mrs.
Solomon, "but when the cooler
heads pointed out that we were out
fifty to one, it was decid-