The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-16


numerous other insults to the stars
and stripes. tore 1t to ribbons.
From here they went to the estab-
lishment Of Mr.. PaulsOn. wealthy
American baker ar confectioner.
They entered his place of business.
tore up the house inside. damaged the
furniture and broke the glass and
otherwise demolished his home and
store. They then started to look for
| the aPulson family. but they climbed
down a pipe from the roof into the
patio of a friendly Mexican. Here
! Mr.. and Mrs. Pauisoa and four chill
dren were in hiding fer hours against
| the Mexican mob.
Two days later. word came to San
Luis Potosi. where Nr. Smith re-
sided. that Americans had occupied
all of the public buildings of Vera
| Cruz. At that federal sympathixers
in San Luis began to loot all Ameri-
| can concerns. They seized all auto
mobiles belonging to Americans. A
Mr.. Rogarty, an auto agent and i'm
plement dealer. suffered from the
hands OF the fedt1 ais. They conf1s-
Gated two automobiles giving in re-
turn a receipt The next day they
came again to his store and forced
him, at the point of revolvers, to give
back the receipt.
Another TopeIxan There.
Mr.. Stevens. formerly connected
with the store department of the
Santa Fee in Topeka, lived in the city
at the same time. Stevens left San
Luis and his fine team Of horses
along with a carriage. were stolen.
Mr.. Sharpton, the owner of a gro
Gerry store. was forced to remain in
federals. They wanted to hold hfrn
for ransom but he was more quick
witted than his numerous Mexican
enemies and eluded them.
One of the richest smelters in the
world. said to be worth fifty million
dollars and controlled by New York
capitalist, KOwne, was seized by the
federals. The 9otosi and Rio Verde
railroad. owned by the same people,
was also conf1scated by the ruthless
hands of our dark skinned neighbors.
The electric light plant was also
seized. The employees of these three
corporations made their way to the
City Of Mexico as best they could un-
der the circumstances. One young
married woman and her baby, fifteen
days old, were forced to travel over
an uncomfortable route to the city.
She. along with the other Americans.
were forced to go on third class cars,
which were no better than a decrepit
stock car on an American railway.
Upon their arrival in Mexico, they
were not allowed to go on the streets.
but luckily reached Puerto Mexico in
Sa1ety, WnoTc Trey managed TO get a
ship for the United States.
Preparing for War.
Mr.. Smith stin remained in San
Luis Potosi. Four or five thousand
young Mexicans spent most of the
time drilling. preparing for war
against the "gringOes" All OF the
time the talk of killing the Americans
demonstration would be held and pa
rades were formed. headed by a bull
fight band. The Americans were sell
dom seen in public as the natives
made it disagreeable for them.
A party of Americans, consisting Of
three Sharpton brothers. their fami-
lies, and Mr.. Smith and his wife. fled
from the Smith home into the patio
of a Mexican friend. Here they were
concealed from the mob until the
cooled off to some extent. The Amer
leans were allowed to leave, taking
one trunk apiece. The remainder of
their property and furniture, consist
ing of the collections of years, was left
in San Luis Potosi. This was last
month.
Pulled Down Statue of Washington.
Upon his arrival in Mexico City, Mr..
Smith discovered that all Of the Amer
lean stores and other concerns were
closed and in most cases destroyed by
the mobs. A statue of George WASH
lnStOn, presented 10 the lily VI MICA
leo by its American residents, was
pulled from it's base by four autOmO-
biles and ragged through the streets.
Or. SharptOn of San Luis Potosi.
along with a few other Americans,
was taken prisoner by the Mexican
was at a mine and received a wire
from San Luis to return home i'm
mediately At little village, he was
observed by a Mexican colonel The
colonel knocked the ashes off OF his
cigarette and ordered an officer to ar
rest him, saying that he might possibly
shoot him or hang him within a few
hours. For SO hours DR.. Sharpton and
other Americans were locked up in
the courtyard of house without food
or water. After that time they were
allowed food and drink by purchasing
it. At the expiration of six days they
were released and made their way as
fast as possible to the coast.
Mast Invade Country.
When asked of a possible solution
to the Mexican difficulty, Mr.. Smith
said: There is only one thing to be
done to definitely settle the trouble.
The United States must invade the re-
public, make war upon both rebels and
federals sInd whip them. This will
show the Me xicans that this country
idea there now that it will only take a
few men to defeat any invading force
that this country can send. BY con-
quering the country. the United States
can solve the question. After a war.
which would probably be short and
decisive. the Americans could return
to the country and not be disturbed
by the threats of the Mexicans"
will you go back to Mexico when
all is settlsd 20 Mr.. Smith was asked.
The veteran railroad man looked
out of the window on Knasas avenue
Here was the district which had
known him years ago. On the east
coast of Mexico lie the luxurious farm
lands which Smith and his wife have
been familiar with for eighteen years.