The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-19
SOCIETY AND HOME TOPICS FOR WOMEN
Mr. Charles Dd0id Harris Resident of Mexico
 for Thirteen Years Tells of His Escdpel
By DOLLY pALnYMPLn

| Among the interesting visitors to Br-
 mingham just now is MT. Charles David
 Harris, who has spent the past 13 years in Mexico. and who probably knows that
 country as well, if not better, than he does his native state-Georgia.
 During his visit here, which consists of business and pleasure combined MT liar ris has told of many interesting personal incidents growing out of the present sit- uation in Mexico.
 MT Harris is related to several of Bir- minghams most prominent and influential families. among them being MT. and
 Mrs. Thomas H. Motion. MT. and Mrs. Charles J. Smith, Mrs. J. c. Henley and others, and he has been the recipient of many delightful attentions since his ar | rival.
 | l had the pleasure of a little chat with Mir. Harris a few days ago and enjoyed hearing his recital of his escape from the Mexican border and the circumstances surrounding it.
 | "Of course, the most important fact ? l suggested. lis how you effected your escape, but before you tell me of that should like to know how you happened
 
 | MT. Harris smiled and said My profession is that of a civil and mining engineer, and for sometime be- fore l ever thought of going to Mexico l lived in South Africa. Later, 1 lived | in Ecuador, and I was making that coun- | try my home when 1 was offered the opportunity to go to Mexico, which &C., l cepted. That was IS years ago, but may say that practically the greater part of my life has been spent in South Africa and South and Central America. In fact my family and friends call be the trop- 1cal tramp l suppose I am as well ac- | quainted with Mexico and It's natural re- | sources, mining, agriculture and oil as anybody, prospecting as I have out there for so long a time, spending six and eight l months at time on horseback all | through the country from one end to the other"
 What place in Mexico did you make | your home in frst?" l asked I went straight to the Isthmus of Te- | huantepec as locating engineer for the Tehuantepec National railway from Ecua- | dor, where l had been the engineer for the Guayaquil railway. 1 spent quite long time in Oaxaca. which is an ideal | place as far as climate is concerned, and | 1t Is where most of the tourists stop. l It Is near one of the most famous old ruins in Mexico-the Ruins of Mitla'-of ancient fame. and or> of the most noted ruins in that country l also spent some | Of my time In the state of Guerrero as mining engineer for one of the largest copper mines in that county. Guerrero Is | located near the capital of Chilpancingo From there went as engineer to the Ma tional railway lines of Mexico, making their final location for what is known as the Tampico Short Line, from Mexico City to Tampico."
 Were the railroads not affected by the upheaval and unusual conditions in Mex ico?" l asked. "and your work?'' Shortly after the bombardment of Mex leo and Madero's assassination" said MT Harris. "the National railways suspended construction work. which of course caused the suspension of practically all | the camps. The railroads operated wher-
 sver 1t was possible. but with the sus pension of my work I was led into the oil fields. securing a position with the l standard oil company as civil engineer and scout The scout you understand. Is the man who reports on the oil situa- ton and leases the properties After the | first bombardment of Tampico~ Git was twice attacked, you know). and conditions became more quiet I went up into the l1uasteco country, leasing and reporting throughout that section. My aequaint- ance and association with the hacindados | Qarge property owners) and the rancheros renters) placed me In a position to un- derstand the situation and cope with it., 1 My first few days out from Tampieo." | MT. Harris continued, lied me between the lines of the federals and oonstitu- | tionallsts, which soon caused me to make my way toward Ozuluama, I was arrested as I approached that town, but having known one of the prominent mer- chants or Ozuluama, my speedy release was effected, my acquaintance with the merchant proving a fortunate incident for mo-"
 Alter my release' MT. Harris said, l "I continued my trip on through the | south, through the oil fields of the great English company. known as the Aguila oil company, and I reported on the oil output of that immediate section, going