Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-04-09
SPANISH REFUGEES. FROM
TORREON. REACH Ell PASO


Eel Paso. Tex. April s.-Eight hun
dred members of the Spanish colony of
Torreon, expelled from that town
after having passed through the recent
great battle in fear and trembling and
afterward facing the wrath of General
Villa. stood today beneath the stars
and stripes.
They We're refugees truly. stripped
of their property for the time being at
least. but supplied with temporary
funds, and expression. of great relief
came from them a. they crossed the
muddy little stream known as the Rio
Grandc (Great River) flows. and found
themselves on American soil at last
How desperately they chung to the
fact that Spain had left their interests
in the hands Of the United State. was
shown by the fact that although the
| train into which they and their bag
gage had been crowded for &c hours.
arrived hours before dawn. they reso-
lutely declined to leave it until George
G. Carothers, special agent Of the de-
partment OF state arrived
a newspaper reporter vas the first
visible evidence ~ the proximity Of the
land Of safety 10 dawn on them, and
to him they appealed to notify Car
others at once of their arrival
Carothcrs to Heseue.
We are under American protection" :"
they explained eagerly, and the report
er promptly notified thu American rep
resentative. who at once deserted his
half-finisled breakfast and .ped 10
their relief.
| Garothers was unable to comfort
them with any assurances that they
WOULD be restored to their homes his
interviews with General Carranzn yes
terday having mot with the fiat state
inent that expulsion of Spaniards from
| nN~ {1--l
| program. which VIII be modified only
In the cases of individuals who might
upon investigation by commission
De found Innocent of having mixed in
! politics.
We have money enough for the
present" Joakuin Fernandez. one Of
| the colony said Some OF us will re-
OF Mexico and other win visit friends
and relatives in the United States and
Europe. For myself l will make a
Visit TO my daughter I'm Alabama and
then go to Ell Paso."
Have Little Hope.
Did Villa notify you specifically
that Spanish property would be con-
| hscatec?' he was asked
/ don't know; certainly not speci-
fcally, but that sort Of thing is pretty
wen taken for granted In Mexico I
can state that J. have personal knowl-
edge however, that no ons in this party
did anything inimical to the rebel
cause. We are not rebels nor Husr-
tistas either. just farmers and business
mon Mexico is our home and We can
not but hope that some day ne will
ba left to dwell in peace and security
there"
4 All sorts of vehioles wagons donkey
carts. automobiles sightseeing cars,
burros, wheel barrows and toy wagons
were called into service to transport
the refugees and their belongings. Into
these We're piled trunks wash boilers
stuffed with bedding and clothes.
clocks. profane parrot in cage,
kitchen utensils and what not. all show,
ing the haste with which they were
gotten together after the order OF ex-
pu1sion.
The goods were taken up town for
examination, while the immigration Of
ficials. deeply sympathetic made their
examinations as quickly and consider
ately as possible. 1t has been said by
some observers that the hotel business
is the principal industry of Ell Paso,
which. II true. was fortunate In this
case. for the sudden influx Of visitors
found the city we'll able to provide food
and shelter.