Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-20
DEXTER BOY IS
HOME FROM THE
MEXICO CAPITAL
Ivan Skillings Says
British Flag Only
Protection for
Americans e
U. S. Citizens Are Subjected to
Awful Insults by MexicanS

Awful Insults by MexlCanS
Dexter, Me-, May 19.-That the Brit
ish flag is the only protection that
Americans have in Mexico is the dec
laration of Ivan Skillngs, a former
Dexter boy, who returned to this town
Saturday direct from Mexico City aft
er passing three years in the unhappy
republic. Young Skillings has been
employed as an electrician at a big
mine at Ell ORC, which is located about
100 miles from Mexico City and he
talks in an interesting manned regard
ing things and conditions in Mexico
and of things that have occurred
there during the past two years since
the uprising against the Madero ad-
ministration started.
Sklilings Is not particularly proud of
the attitude that his native country
has assumed in handling the Mexi-
can situation and he states that
majority of the refugees from Mex
ico are bitter against the admins
tration's Mexican policy. He left the
country May l, boarding the U. 5.
transport Hancock at Vera Cruz and
later being transferred to the Ward
Line steamer Monterey which brought
him to New Orleans, where the ref
ugees were allowed to land and make
their way to their homes by rail.
Skillings states that the average
American citizen has no idea OF the
cruelties and insults to American cit
liens by Mexicans during the past
few months. His idea is that the only
good Mexican is a dead Mexican. He
states that he knows OF an instance
where one American mining man fell
into the hands of Mexican soldiers
who proceeded to amputate his ankle
after which he was compelled to run
a short distance, after which he was
shot dead by the soldiers.
Braa of His Death
He states that it is common knowl-
edge in Mexico City that Private
Parks of the United States Infantry.
who wandered into the Mexican lines
while mentally. deranged. was shot
to pieces. after which kerosine or gas
oline was turned on his remains and
burned.
Mexicans in Mexico City are. he
claims, Dragging about this AFFAIR ana
seem to consider it joke on the Yam
KEGS
In Mexico City, according to Skill
lings, the bootblacks in the streets
are using small American flags to
black shoes while the entire Mexican
population miss no opportunity to Of
fer insult or injury to the Stars and
Stripes or to anyone who offers sym
pathy to Americans. While in Mex
leo City he with other refugees stop
ped at the Geneve hotel which is run
under the British flag. To save them
selves from injury when. appearing on
the streets they wore British flags.
On the train from Ell Orc to Mexico
City they were held up several times
while Mexicans searched the train for
Americans whom they proposed to
shoot Every person on the train
claimed to be British subjects and
therefore avoided injury.
Skillings relates a half-dozen incl
dents where Americans have been ar
rested by the Mexican authorities and
relieved of every cent of money they
possessed Appeals to the American
consuls brought no results.
Meant to Fight
The mining men at FL Orc had de-
cided to remain In the country and
shortly before the American troops
landed at Vera Cruz they armed them
selves with rifles and prepared to
stand off all Mexicans expecting that
the troops would proceed from Vera
Cruz toward Mexico City and take
possession of that city and the sur
rounding country. Learning that no
move toward Mexico City was to be
made, the mining men surrendered
their arms to the Mexican authorities
and started to leave the country. In
Mexico City they were obliged to
wait several days before a train to
| Vera Cruz could be chartered.
In Vera Cruz things are in a more
civilized state since the Americans
landed and took possession of the city.
Skillings states that the American
marines when they landed in the city
had no ammunition for their guns and
| were at the mercy of the snipers who
| fred from the houset0ps and around
corners. One squad of Mexican SOL
| diers were stationed on the roof Of
the Red Cross hospital and fired upon
the marines who were powerless to
return the fire.
! Unrest at Vera Cruz
Sl1illings states that there Is great
and pronounced feeling of unrest
among the American soldiers and
sailors at Vera Cruz who are DESTROYS
of getting at the Mexicans after hear
/ ing the tales of insult and injury to
/ Americans. They are disappointed
and are not at all in sympathy with
| things at Washington.
Mr.. Skillings went to Guilford and
| Sangerville Monday, where he has.rel-
atives. He plans on passing the great
er part of the summer in this vicin-
! ity and has no inclination to return
/ to Mexico until conditions change.