The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-11
Ex|LED FROM MEXICO.
ofANIARDS DRIVEN FROM TOR.
REON REACH ED PASO.
"eh. villa Forces all Spanish Resi-
"ehts to Leave MexicO-Many OF
Ahem are Large Property Owners
anu They Have Been Permitted TO
Take Little With Them.


and They Have Been Permitted TO
Take Little With Them.
Ell Paso, Texas, April s-Eight
hundred members of the Torreon
spanish colony, expelled by Gen.
Villa, found a haven in the United
States today. They had been stripped
OF their property temporarily at least
but supplied with temporary funds.
They had refused to leave the train
in which they and their baggage had
come from Torreon to Juarez until
American Consular Agent Carothers
arrived to advise them.
Carothers was unable to assure any
that they would be restored to their
homes, his interview with Gen. Car
rama yesterday having met with The
fiat statement that expulsion Of Span
iards from Mexico was a settled policy
of the rebels and would be modified
only in the cases of individuals who
had not been involved in politics.
I'VE have money enough for the
present" said Joaquin Fernandez, an
exile. Some Of us will return to
Spain; many will go to Mexico City
and others to the United States and
Europe"
Did Villa tell you specifically that
Spanish property would be confis-
?" he was asked.
Not specifically" he replied, "but
that is pretty we'll taken for granted
in Mexico. I have personal knowl-
edge that no one in this party did
anything inimical to the rebel cause.
We are not rebels or Huertistas.
Mexico is our home and we can not
but hope that some day we will be
left to dwell in peace and security
there
Rafael Arozena, wealthiest resident
of the Laguna district and reported
to be the most extensive grower Of
sea island cotton in the world, was
one of the Spanish refugees who rode
to the border in a second class coach,
) with only his personal possessions to
show for his lifetime Of struggle in
the Coahuila cotton country.
ArOzena is to the Coahuila Spanish
colony what Luis Terrazas is to the
Chihuahua refugee colony Of Mexi-
cans. He is the leader in commercial
activities Of the Laguna district, owns
a number Of the largest haciendas In
the district and his wealth is esti-
mated at $17.O00.O0O Mexican cur
rency.
Arozena carried today only a
leather satchel, big steamer rug and
a bag filled with his personal belong
ings. which he hastily gathered when
the order was given by Villa for the
Spaniards to leave the country. The
Spanish millionaire is striking look
ing man with heavy white beard,
shock Of white hair and pair of gold
trimmed glasses over which he looked
sharply when parrying the questions
OF reporters.
Il am alone. My relatives and my
possessions are all in the Laguna dis
tdict," he said. Il hope to be able
to return, for / have had no part in
the internal politics Of the country.
For that reason 1 prefer not to say
anything for fear it will be misunder-
stood. I was not mistreated by any
one at Torreon and have no plans for
the immediate present"
The most important property left
behind the Spaniards was cotton said
10 be valued at s15,O0O,OOO. Word
was received from Torreon today that
S1,000.0O0 worth of cotton was being
loaded on trains for shipment to Ell
Paso by Villa.
1t is said the Spanish owners can
not touch the property if it arrives
here in bond, as is frequently the
case. If it comes bonded for transit
through the United States for ship
ment abroad it can not be recovered,
it is said. 1t is said the only way the
original owners have Of getting their
cotton back is in a coure Of equity in
case the consignment is released from
bond in the United States.
Among the refugees today were
three priests