The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-05-19
RELATIVE
Of Knox County Man Goes
On PerilOuS Trip
To TampiCO, Mexico, On A
Business Trip

Mr. Archie Wilson, q Newark bog
and a relative of Mr.. Foster Tulioss
of Clinton township, Knox county. has
just departed on a perilous trip to
Tampico, Mexico. The following from
the Newark Americans Tribune tells
of his proposed trip:
Mr.. Archie Wilson. q Newark boy
who has been following his profession
as civil and railway engineer in vari-
Gus parts of the North American con-
tinent, spent yesterday and the time
up until this afternoon in this city,
visiting his aunt, Mrs. Georgiana
Franklin, at her home lin the Jutlew
flats.
Mr.. Wilson is enroute from New
crk City to Tampico, Mexico. where
he goes on an exceedingly perilous
mission to look after the interests of
the United States Asphalt company,
which has large holdings in that city.
In speaking with the writer last
evening, Mr.. Wilson told that he had
spent 10 years in Mexico and had
many friends among the Mexicans,
and felt sure that he would be able
to accomplish the mission which he
is setting out to do.
Going from here to Galveston,
Texas, he expects to embark from
there on some outgoing steamer
Perhaps / will have to ship as cook
OF a commisary or in most any kind OF
position that will be practically be
the only means | will have of getting
through. Once on Mexican soil, how
ever, with my acquaintance with the
natives, have little fear but what
will get through to my destination.
There has been much said of an
uncomplimentary nature about the
Mexicans, that they will stab a per-
son in the back, and that they are
incapable of being loyal to any prop
csition, but l have found them diff
ferent True they will lie, they are
lazy and totally incompetent TO carry
oD business themselves, but they
won't steal have driven pack mules
loaded down with payroll money
across the mountains on many oc-
casions and the natives know that the
trip was weekly event, yet [ have
never been moIested in any wag.
THE Mexican will work hard for
an American or in fact any other man,
who is in business, but ne does not
seem to be able to conduct the busi.
ness himself. The most successful
thing he does is farming in a small
way.
"The Spaniard, however. is the
shrewd man in that country, and the
Mexicans fear him.
During the reign of Porfirio Diaz
the country prospered, but when he
reached the age where he could nc
longer command his men an dthe army
deserted him, and the whole force
gave way to younger generation, he
left the country and since then things
have been/in a turmoil. What makes
the Mexican sore is that he has nc
ability to carry on business and he
must work for somebody else. There
are very few, might say only three
or four people in the country who
might be considered rich, and they are
wealthy only III a land-owning way
They have no money.
when l first went down there
was in the employ of an English
syndicate and they loaned me to the
Mexican government as q railway
engineer to assist in the directing
of the young Mexican boys who
wanted to do the engineering on tht
Mexican Central Railway, which wa:
then building some additional tracks
"The city of Tampico is situated
12 miles back from the sea coast ant
is on a fiat sandy coast. The tide
actually comes up into the prison o
Tampico.
81 may be greatly surprised witt
the situation when | arrive there, bu
feel certain that all will be well, ant
that the natives will treat me with thu
same courtesy that they did durini
the IL years l was among them. l
they don't will be surprised evel
though the country is in state o
war with the United States. I can
say how long it will take me to maxi
the trip. 1t may be ten days, it ma.
be month, can't make plans unit
| get there.
my employer, the president o
the United States Asphalt company
merely said to me: Be careful an
don't get hurt while you are down il
that country, and don't run any risk
in getting there, but get there"
---.-.ffs-----