The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-05-01
PEN PICTURE OF VILLA.
A Brute Every Inch of Him and Build
ing Freedom Structure on
CorpSes.

His name is properly pronounced
I"Vee-yah," and his hair in kinky, re-
ports Alexander Powell in an article
in the New York Times, after an in
terview with the man who is making
so much news in Mexico. Stockily
built, of medium height--not over five
feet, ten, perhaps-with the chest and
shoulders of prize fighter and the
most perfect bullet-shaped head
have even seen.
smoked meerschaum, small black
moustache serves to mask a mouth
which is cruel, even when it is smil-
ing. The most attractive feature is
the eyes, which are large and bril-
liant and extraordinary piercing; Gin
deed, they are not really eyes at
all, but gimlets, which seem to bore
into your very soul. After | had look
ed into them ] began to understand
the deadly fear in which his subor-
dinates stand of him." His methods
in this particular had been illustrated
only the day before:
Villa had ridden over to the railway
station to superintend the departure
of a punitive expedition which he
was rushing south to MADEIRA to
check the depredations of Maximo
Castillo's bandits. Owing, to some
mishap to the engine the train was
late in starting. After taking a few
angry turns up and down the station
platform Villa strode to his chief of
transportation, and jerking loose his
heavy automatic, showed the muzzle
OF the weapon in that startled off,
cial's face.
"f that train isn't out of the sta
ton In five minutes" he snarled, "I'n
blow your head off,"
"But, general" epostulated the
trembling official, "I'm not RESPONSE
BILE for the delay. The engine is brok-
en- down."
"That doesn't concern me-" said
villa, coldly. ct am not an engineer
I'm a soldier. If that train doesn't
move In five minutes you'll be dead"
The train moved.
Lined against the wall of the room
IN which Villa received the journal
ISL was a row of canvas sacks each
marked 1000" There were thirty
OF these. A dozen Mauser rifles, two
or three cavalry saddles, a half
empty case of ammunition, baby's
CHAIR and sewing machine were
other objects that caught the eva.
and on the table were Villas pistol
in easy reach, and his field glasses
Sitting timidly on the edge of a chair
III the back OF the room was s,Ia;pS !
facec little woman with black shawl
drawn over her head, peasant-fash-
ion-Vil!a's wife, an iliterate woman,
dressed IN cheap stuffs, splendid rings
olazing from every finger.
All sorts of men were found in the
encourage of the constitutionalist SOL
dier; Jewlsh-looking American ar
tineryman, Prussian baron, son of
the German field-marshal who trained
the turkish army; young Garibaldi,
grandson of the liberator of ItaIv'
Villas advisers, cultivated, polished
men, Tor the most part, many of them
educated at Harvard and Oxford and
the Sorbonne, sat home in the best
society OF the worlds capitals" stand
nat In hand like messenger bows in
the presence of This disagreeable
colored person.
The correspondent told Villa that
his casual habit of CAUSING funerals
was not setting the best with sympa-
thlzers in the United States, and that
II ne would keep it up little longer
ne would achieve unanimous unpop-
ularlty in this country. Villa said all
that he had killed needed killing and
badly; but he had attended to most
OF these, and from that on would be
more circumspect. That was the dav
before ne ordered Diaz's messenger
shot. ut made a most unpleasant
mess In the garden" adds Mr.. Powell
HE hts the dark hour. The occasion
seems to call for blood-letting; very
well, Villa will let blood cheerfully
as squeeze grape.
Well, so have men struggled else
Where IN the world, and at other
times-building freedom and c;v;l;za.
tIon and enlightenment and peace.
upon a structure of corpses, and ap,
ony, and blood-soaked soil, as that of
Torreon.
hut at this hour of the worlds adj
vance it seems terrible price to paw.
even for the greatest blessings. And
Mexico's day of blessing is apparent
ly far in the future.