Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-05-08
FORCED TO BUY PROTECTION
Refugees Arriving at Vera Cruz Tell
Of Paying Money to Huerta's
Soldiers.

Vera Cruz-Sixty-thre members of
the Medina colony In the state of
Oaxaca are among the refugees who
have arrived here. They were held
two days in Cordoba and report they
we're well treated, except that they
were obliged to sleep on the floors of
the barracks. They were relieved Of
guns, but not OF the scanty belongings
which they were able to bring with
them.
]. W. Elliott, locomotive engineer,
was in TERRA Blanca when news of
the occupation of Vera Cruz reached
him. With his wife and children he
started for Cordoba under guard Of
Mexican soldiers. At Cordoba the
guards said they were hungry and de-
manded SO pesos on the threat to sur
render Elliott and his family to a
bowling mob which surrounded the
station and filled the streets.
The money was paid and Elliott and
his family we're marched more than
mile through the streets to the bar
racks, bounded all TIE way by the
mobs. They were kept in the barracks
six days, during the first two Of which
crowds surrounded Ire place demand
ing their lives. On two occasions
members of the mob forced their way
into the barracks and except for the
efforts Of the colonel and two other
officers Elliott and his family would
undoubtedly have been killed. Toward
the end Of their stay the demonstra-
tions ceased to a large extent
Manager Boyd of the Motzorongo
Hacienda, when he arrived at Cordo-
ba, was forced by the federal guards
to pay 1,05O pesos for protection
through the streets to the jail.
Circulars containing the words" XIII
the Gringoes' and urging the people
to rise and massacre the prisoners
were posted about Cordoba.
One of the refugees who have ar
rived here from the interior is F. w.
Lehmer, a ranch manager from Tux.
tepec, whose home is in Omaha and
who was on his way to Vera Cruz for
visit, not knowing Of the develop
ments here. He was picked up at
TERRA Blanca by federal soldiers.
Il was placed with ten others in .
train which was standing overnight,
surrounded by mob which continu.
ally threatened to attack us" he said
1.-THE guards ate up everything avail
able on the train, competing us to &c
hungry. At every station up to Cor
doha, on the following day, similar
crowds looted the train and threatened
us.
while being taken through this
streets of Cordoba a squad of young
volunteers who had just been pre-
scented with flag swept down upor
US and tried to run us down. This hap
pened at the corner where the mu
nicipal palace is located or otherwise
we would not have escaped as we'll al
we did. AS 1t was. waAs hit on tn,
head with Flagstaff and a man walk
ing beside me was struck on the heas
with rock His scalp was badly cut
ut was due to the fine conduct 0
the Mexican colonel that we eve
reached the palace. He rushed from
the door with squad of police an.
soldiers and plunged into the crowd
scattering them and surrounding US.
r Later we we're put IN the peniten
tiary. and for six days W. slept on tn
stone tagging. There were two won
en- in the party, one with little baby
. We we're allowed to send out and blu
, blankets. and managed TO get enougl
to eat, such as it was.
Q Monday we were placed on
: train and brought down to Soledac
E We spent that night on the tracks
: There was one passenger coach lef
r for us and in this the women an
! children slept, the rest of US sleepin
/ on the ground"