Evening star., 1914-02-08
MANY WERE EMPLOYEES
OF MEXICAN N. w. R. r.
Secretary Bryan Demands Train of
Soldiers Be Sent Ahead Of
Rescue Party.
cAsTILLO'S DEED CRUEL ONE
Failed to Send Back Warning of
Having Fired Cumbre Passage, and
Passenger Engine and Coaches
Drew on to Death.

JCAREZ. Mex. February s.
The nine Americans and forty or
fifty MeNicans, whose fate has
been mystery since the destruc-
tion OF the Cumbre tunnel and a
train within it last Wednesday,
were suffocated.
This information was received
here this evening at the head
quarters OF the Mexico North
western railroad.
The tragedy is laid at the doors
OF Maximo Castillo. the bandit
leader.
Bryan Demands Protection.
\ special train carrying twenty
Americans, led by w. J.. Farragut
OF the Mexico Northwestern rail-
road. fifty cofins and a rescue out
fit, left here tonight for the scene.
Departure of the rescue train
was delayed by a telegram from
Secretary of State Bryan to
American Consul Edwards de-
manding that a train OF soldiers be
dispatched ahead to prevent at
tack by Castillo on the Americans.
The consul's order was acceded
to at once by Gen. Benavides and
the task of getting togethe-
another train to run in advance
was begun 1t will carry 800 rebel
soldiers.
Cruel and Murderous Act.
Castillo's failure to send back warn
ings of his deed is regarded as the most
cruel and murderous act of his career
of outlawry. and there is a disposition
here to criticise Gen. Francisco Villa for
not having crushed him long ago.
The missing Americans, all employees
of the railroad are NJ ]. Gilnartin, su-
perintendent of the Chihuahua division
Bernard Schoiield. superintendent OF
terminals at Juarez: Lee Williams assist
ant manager of commissary; III. +. Mar
ders. express agent. L. J. Mc'utcheon.
engineer. L. +. Webster. conductor: Ed
ward Morris. roadmaster: Thomas kells
conductor. and James Burgess. The three
latter We're travelling as passengers. Mr..
Gilmartin came here recently from Buff
falo. \. Y. Mr.. Schofield came here from
Brazil Ind. and was taking his first trip
over the road Burgess was to have left
the train at Cumbre Station. but evi-
IDENTIFY did not do 50.
The exact number of persons aboard
the passenger train. which WAS today
ascertained to be in the tunnel. and which
consisted of one first class. two second
class coaches. a baggage and express ear
and freight car. is not known. First
put the number at thirty-five.
while a request for collins asked for
persons. This evidently was
only an estimate. however. rs search
ing party. led BY Or. T. e Herr OF
was unable TO penefrate far
enough into the tunnel to count the dead
Fell Trying to Escape.
These, it is expected. will be found
strewn along the poisonous reaches OF
the tunnel. where they fell in attempt
ing to escape. DR.. Herr reached a BODY
within 800 feet of the north entrance
to the tunnel. It was that Of Juan
Fernandez, rear brakeman Of the train.
AS the passenger train did not stop
until within a few hundred feet OF the
freight train with which Castillo had
set fire to the tunnel seven 0ours be-
fore Fernandez must have staggered
and crawied nearly three quarters OF
mile before he succumbed to the fumes
of the smoke In his trail, il is be
Iieved. the others will be found. unless
there was a stampede in the train to
escape, and some were crushed in the
attempt to crowd through the narrow
aisles and doors.
22 Bandits Were Executed.
are furious 4 castillos act. Tuesday
twenty-five of his men were captured
and executed by the rebels and the
next day apparently In revenge, he
captured the ght train. ran IL into
he south end of the tunnel about 900
feet and there set fire to il.
The engineer of the passenger tram
evidently entered the death trap from
he north unsuspectinely, probably trav-
cling at the usual rate of about fifteen
niles an hour. Doubtless when the en-
.ineer discovered the trap il was too late
lust what his actions We're VIII be known
,nly after an examination OF the locono-
i've has been made.
Two Mexican cowboys were responsible
'or a report that all had escaped and that
he Americans were being held for
som Ther. was reioicing at this, but
he juhilation was short lived. for soon
Ifter bulletins from DR.. Herr's search
ng party began to arrive.