New Britain herald., 1914-04-29
Ranch Manager Seized
 By Federal Troops

F. w. Lehmer, a ranch manager. from Tuxtepec whose home is in Omaha and who was on his way to Vera Cruz for visit, not knowing of the developments here, was picked up at Tierra Blanca by federal soldiers.
 1T was placed with ten others in train, which was left standing over night surrounded by mob which continually threatened to attack us," he said. 'The guards ate up every thing available on the train, com polling us to go hungry. At every station up to Cordoba, on the follow ing day, similar crowds footed the train and threatened us. While be- ing taken through the streets of Cor doba a squad of young volunteers who had just been presented with a flag, swept down upon us and tried to run us down. This happened at the cor ner where the municipal palace is located, or otherwise we would not have escaped as we'll as we did. As it was I was rapped over the head with a flagstaff and a man walking beside me was struck on the head with a rock and had his scalp badly cut.
 Ut was due to the fine conduct of the Mexican colonel that we ever made the palace. He rushed from the door with squad of police and soldiers and plunged into the crowd, scattering them.
 "Once in the palace we were lodged upstairs in front of the jefe politico's office, but all night mob continued to yell in the streets, and several times we thought they would r syN trxy %0 ,fe colonel and his men stood by us, though, with guns ready for business.
 Later we were put in the penlten- tiary, which is in the same building, and for six days we slept on the stone Tagging. There were two women in the party, one with little baby. We were allowed to send out and buy blankets and managed to get enough to eat, such as it was.
 Monday we were placed on a train and brought down to Soledad. We spent that night on the tracks. There was one passenger coach left for us, and in this the women and children slept, the rest of us sleeping on the ground.
 About II o'clock Tuesday morning Tweedie's train arrived. The officers were not going to let us board 1t, but Tweedie refused to let the train go without us. When we arrived at the break in the tracks there were punches of Mexican soldiers lying in the bushes, and they certainly would have finished us but for Tweedie and the protection of the British flag, which was carried ahead of us.''
 Business at Standstill.
 As result of the exodus of for eigners and the dispersion of a large part of the native population business in Tampico is at a complete stand still. The only visible signs of activi- ties are along the custom house wharf where three steamers are un- loading.
 While there is very good reason to believe that the rebels Investing Tam pico will reject any proposal to ally themselves with the federals for the purpose of resisting any possible American aggression, there is some uncertainty as to what course the ! federals would pursue in such an eventuality. Gen. Zaragoza, the fed eral commander, has made public an- nouncement of his determination to defend Tampico to the last. On the other hand, he is reported to have said to friend last Friday that op- position to an American advance would be quite hopeless; that he would only make a feeble show of de- fense, sufficient to satisfy the demands of honor, and then evacuate the city. General zaragoza's force is not believed to exceed 1000 men.
 Considering the federal situation from the standpoint of rebel attack, all indications point to their ability, to defend Tampico indefinitely. The federals are we'll supplied with artil- lery but the rebels have none. The rebel attacks hitherto have never been skilfully directed but always have been futile.
 The sanitary conditions at Tampico are bad. The water supply is scant and to a large measure polluted.
 American Exodus Ends.
 Tampico, Mex, Monday, April 27, Via Vera Cruz, April 29.-The Amer ican exodus from Tampico which be- gan last Wednesday, April 22, virtual ly reached it's end today with the de- parture for Vera Cruz of about sixty American refugees on board the tank steamer Canfield. The total number of refugees sent from here to Ameri-, can ports since the movement began is officially given at 2,27O
 There are, however, still number of Americans in Tampico. These amount to a score or more They have all lived here for number of years they are highly thought of by the Mexican population, among whom j pe1xyn r,u r,,, e~;@-As a,,