The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-05-01
MEXICANS Use
A BAD drink
Cactus Plant Brew is a
Curse to Nation.
Mexican lails Have a Way OF
Remaining Closed for
a Long Time.

A sergeant who served three years
and nine months under the Stkrs and
S.,fpes along the border line of old
Mexico, tells the following interesting
narrative of his experiences with the
"greasers." For various reasons the
sergeant does not wish to have his
name made public.
. Early in May, 1911, detachment
of American troops were sent to Fl
Paso, Tex, which Is Just across the
Rio Grande, within q stones throw
of Juarez. This was a short time
after Gen. Madep had begun his
revolution. The sergeant In question
was a,so present when Huerta took
Juarez and was doing patrol duty
during two battles which took place
on Mexican soil Within earshot Of the
American camp.
According to the sergeant. on three
occasions, one of the strict Mexican
ruleA was made known. A Mexican
law holds all accidents to be the
fault of the railroad company. On thret
occasions American. conductors on
trains crossed the Internatioal bridge
which spans the Rio Grande in safety
and a short time after reaching the
49,. = - y 1919 a. 80
Mexican side were unfortunate enough
to strike q Mexican by pure accident.
In each case the American conductor
had to retrace the distance across the
bridge as fast as he could to seek
safety of the American border. In
some instances railroad men are put
to death because of an accident to
q Mexican which couU have been
proven accidental. Mexicans do not
wait on trials or Ceremony.
One day the sregeant with three or
four other American soldiers crossed
the Rio Grande In uniform, and, thk-
ing In the sights of JMarez. walked
by the big Kid" Saloon. famous in
Juarez, and one OF the lounging
places for American tourists. An Ann
erican was standing in the door OF
the cafe and Mexican. In a drunken
stupor insuked the American. The
American naturally resented the in
suit, and in true American style
painted q haymaker ON the Jaw Of
the Mexican, knocking him down for
the cuont. Mexican police quickly
placed the American under arrest, ait
the American consul used his In
fluence In vain to have the American
given his freedom. The American who
was 80 handy at defending himself
had the, unpleasant experience Of
spending fourteen months in q Mex
lean prison, I'D might have been there
today were 1t not Tor the fact that
Madero took the city and freed the
American.
American. soldiers cay that when
anyone is arrested in q Mexican city
the Mexican police take the key and
tie it TO the tail Of jack rabbit and
then turn the rabbit loose.
The sergeant described the Mex
lean nation in general as not caring
for sanitary conditions. He said that
seven or eight Mexican people live
in one room and seem to thrive on
being huddied together like cattle
or livestock. Another thing that i'm
pressed dte sergeant was that nearly
every Mexican owns from one to fif-
teen logs, and q mandolin or a
guitar, regardless of I-e faaN that
their wives and childrne are wearing
rags
Mescal is the curse Of the Mexican
nation, according to the sergant. II
Is a typical Mexican beverage made
from the cactus plant. aud u = sort
OF whitish flun. This drink il said
TO be more detrimental 70 Aiexicens
than the fire water ID 20 the Indian.
According TO soidirw who have seen
much service along the border. mes
cal wiz trsnsform an ordinary Mex
lean into = fighting man.
The Mexiczan's love for his burro
Is IKE che mothers love Tor the new
born babe. An old raib I d man who
worked rs q brakeman along the hor'
der told the writer thak there were
several casss shat he knew OF whers
u railroad man hsd accidently kiilts
q burr VII that Aexlcaes bad turn