Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-10
FRANCISCO VILLA.
The Mexican Adventurer Who Fills
the Public Eye.

his shirt collar open at the throat, was
kicking mules. Just outside OF Chl-
huahua City a troop train stood on
siding, loading animals, guns and SOL
diers for the advance on Torreon.
Ragged men with big sombrerors ana
cartridge belts crossed over their
breasts. climbed to the roof of the
freight car carrying their blankets ana
rifles. vaqueros herded punches OF
ponies between the tracks, shouting
and whirling their lassoes Dust rose
in thick clouds. The soldiers called to
one another, grinning. "Oyga, COM
paneros, now we are going to knock
down a few colaroditos! POGO tempo
California;"
Hundreds Of peddlers, selling pine
nuts, cigarettes, boiled sweet potatoes,
bottles Of goats milk, colored hand
kerchiefs, whined their raucus cries.
The Jam, the heat, the dust were ter
rible 1 had just come from the splen-
did ante-room of the governors pal
ace, where I had stood, hat in hand,
with many officials, promoters ana
generals, for some hours in the vain
hope of seeing Governor Francisco
Villa.
I watched the big man as he drove
the mules into the stock car. A big
hat sat on the extreme rear Of his
head. His mouth hung open gener-
ously, and from it issued a perfect
stream of mule drivers maledictions.
He was covered with dirt. The sweat
poured down his face. He would head
a mule up the gang plank-and the
mule would invariably balk.
"Chingado! Vamos, hijo de la!" the
big man would below, kicking the
mule violently in the stomach. The
animal would snort and gallop up the
runway. Finally all the mules were
loaded in the car. The driver put his
shoulder to the door and crashed 1t
shut. Then he wiped his forehead.
"Amigo!" yelled he to a passing SOL
der. "Giye us little drag" The man
produced canteen, which the other
opened.
Hey" cried the soldier. You
needn't drink it ALI" The big man
finished the last drop and handed it
back, grinning. Go over to the river
and say you have my permission to fill
it up again"
His forehead and turned-up nose
were so boyish and his grin so good
natured that spoke to him.
They're sending good many
troops" I said. 1T looks as If Villas
going to attack Torreon right away"
He turned around and was looking
into a pair of hard, staring, round
brown eyes set in whites slightly
bloodshot from much exposure to the
wind and sun.
What do you think about it?" he
said,
Well" l answered, Il think that
there won't be much fighting after you
fellows take Torreon."
"Oja-la!" he calculated, suddenly Sc
rious Let's hope So" He looked
around at the preparations for a min
ute without speaking. "Oyga amigo!"
he shouted to a soldier who stood SEN
tinel with his rifle at the end Of the
train. Say, friend, go and tell Cen
eral Natera to come here for min
ute" The man shouldered his gun and
slouched out Of sight. 1 said to myself,
This is either joke or that fellows
got his nerve. Imagine an American
private soldier sending for a general in
that way!"
In few minutes the young, slender
figure of General Netera, in a khaki
uniform, swung around the corner Of
the car. He marched right up to the
big, dirty man, saluted and said, What
did you wish, my General Villa?"
Villa had been governor Of Chihua-
luton burst out under Canaura a year
ago. Exactly eight months before, on
April 20, he had crossed the Rio
Grande with two men, a pound Of salt,
two pounds Of sugar. and kilo Of cof-
fee as his entire outfit with which to
attempt the conquest Of Mexico.
Villa recruited in the mountains
near San Andreas. Hundreds flocked
to his standard. His personal follow
ing in the north was tremendous Dur
ing the long years Of his outlawry,
half mythical, wholly heroic legend
had grown up around his name. The
night sang around their fires interim
nable ballads about the romantic deeds
o. Pancho Villa, friend Of the poor.
He was the Mexican Robin Hood, and
they are sticking to him today.
Even in the field among hundreds of
men who would die for him, Villa
trusted nobody His desperate years
o. flight had taught him that, and the
with a price on his head, travelling half
the night with one faithful companion
and riding until morning to get away
from him. He never told soul in the
army his plans until he gave the order
a the last minute.
No one knows what Villa will do
next. At night when the army arrived
at Il camping place, Villa has been in
the habit of throwing the reins Of his
horse to a soldier, taking his serape on
his arm and going off to sleep alone in
some hidden place in the hills. In the
middle Of the night he would suddenly
appear to some outpost in exactly the
opposite direction, miles away. And q
sentinel caught mapping he killed on
the spot with his revolver.-New York
World.
Forearmed.-Mr Cooke was a trav-
cling man and was slightly injured in
a railroad accident. One of the Off
cials of the road went to his home to
breaL; tho nawS paptlv IN MrS Cooke