The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-05-14
FORCED TO BUY PROTECTION
Refugees Arriving at Vera Cruz Tell
OF Paying Money to Huerta's
Soldiers.

Vera Cruz.-Sixty-thre members OF
the Medina colony in the state OF
oaxaca are among the refugees who
have arrived here. They were held
two days in Cordoba and report they
we're well treated, except that they
were Obliged TO sleep on the floors OF
the barracks. They were relieved OF
guns, but not OF the scanty belongings
which they were able TO bring with
them.
j. w. Elliott, a locomotive engineer.
was in TERRA Blanca when news of
the occupation OF Vera C.uz reached
him. With his wife and children he
started for Cordoba under guard OF
Mexican soldiers. At Cordoba the
guards said they were hungry and de.
manded so pesos on the threat TO sur
render Elliott and his family 10 a
bowling mob which surrounded the
station and filled the streets.
The money was paid and Elliott and
his family were marched more than a
mile through the streets to the bar.
racks, bounded all TIE way by the
mobs. They were kert in the barracks
six deys, during the first two OF which
crowds surrounded i've place demand
Ing their lives. On two occasions
members of the mob forced their way
into the barracks and except for the
efforts OF the colonel and two other
officers Elliott and his family would
undoubtedly have been killed. Toward
the end OF their stay the demonstra-
tions ceased to large extent.
Manager Boyd OF the Motzorongo
Hacienda, when he arrived at Cordo.
ba, Was forced by the federal guards
10 pay l,050 pesos for protection
through the streets TO the Jail
Circulars containing the words" Kill
the Gringoes' and uIgir=s the people
to rise and massacre the prisoners
were posted about Cordoba.
One OF the refugees who have ar.
rsved here from the interior is r. w.
Lehmer, a ranch manager from Tux
terec, whose home is in Omaha aud
who was on his way to Vera Cruz for
a visit, not knowing OF the develop
ments here. he was picked up at
TERRA Bianca by federal soldiers.
Il was placed with ten others in u
train which was standing overnight.
surrounded by. a mob which contiup-
ally threatened to attack Us he said.
The guards ate up everything avail.
able on the train, cor pc, ing US to go
hungry. AT every station up to Cor.
doha, on the following day. similar
crowds looted the train and threatened
US
While being taken through tie
streets OF Cordoba a squad OF young
volunteers who had JUS been pre-
scented with flag swept down upon
US and tried TO run US down. This hap
pened at the corner where the ma
nicipal palace " located or otherwise
We would not have ESCAPED as well a.
We did As II Nas. ] va hit on the
head with flagstaff and a man walk
ing beside me was struck on the mead
with a rock His scalp was badly cut
1t Ms due to the fine conduct o.
the Mexican colonel that We ever
reached the palace lie rushed from
the door with a squad Of police and
soldiers and plunged into the crowd. |
scattering them and SURROUNDING Us.
Later We were put 81 The peniten.
tiary. aud for six days - siept on the |
stone Tagging There WeTe two won |
en- 10 the party, one with little baby !
We we're allowed to send out and buy |
blankets. and mauageJ 90 &c, enough /
TO eat. such IS u vss
~Moassy we we're placed on
train and brought down rs Soledsd /
We spent that aiEhi on the tracks 4
There was one passenger coach left 4
for as and IN this the women and 4
children slept. the rest Of Ne sleeping /
on the ground