New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-07-25
Christian Brothers Escape
from Rebels After Won
ans Plea to Villa.
TWO SHOT. OTHERS
HELD FOR RANSOM
College at Zacatecas Looted and
Teachers Picked for Death I'm.
less They Paid 100000.

exile Of fourteen Christian Brothers
from Mexico and the death Of two
other members OF the Brotherhood at
the hands Of the ConstitutionallstS mas
reached New York in the shape Of an
official report 10 the superior OF the or
der, IN I'd ST.
The fourteen. who finally arrived in
Santa Fc on the verge of nervous pros
tration ~ a result of their narrowing
experiences, escaped death only be
cause the sister of Nillareal, Car
ranza's Minister of Finance, pleaded
with Villa TO exile the Brothers in
stead OF killing them. Her own son
had been educated at the Christian
Brothers College in Monterey, and she
felt. therefore. in debt 20 the Ordcr.
The Brothers lost everything. Tnelr
college at Zacatecas was ransacSed;
even their religious clothing was taken
from them. Days of imprisonment.
with the fear Of death ever before
them. tho news Of the shooting of then
director and another member Of the
order. as well as living through the
siege Of Xscatecas. had weilnlGh
wrecked their nerves by the time they
reached Fl PaSO, whore the Jcsults and
French Consul recommended them 20
seek re ugc IN Santa re.
Paid $1,000 for Lives.
The Brothers in the party say that
the reason the two Of the order met
death was because the group could not
raise 5000 Mexican demanded.
Later. through the generosity OF some
friends. they did raise $4,000 as the
price of the fourteen remaining lives.
Part Of the report (Which - entirely
in French says that on June -, the
day after tho rcvolutionlsts took Ia
catocas. their troops went 10 the
Christian Brothers College and ar
rested INC Brother Director. Adrcn
Marie. and Brother Adolphe Francoii.
Three hours later the other Brothers
were taken before rebel general ana
the following conversation cnSued, ac-
cording to the report:
"Who are you?'
I'VE are French citizens
"Are you priests?
NO: we are professors.
Are you opposed to CONSTITUTIONS
isl ideas ?"
.'Wc are indifferent to politics Of all
kinds; We have nothing to DO WIZ
"Now think and determine among
yourselves the sum you can give me
and 500 70 il that II is not an inslg-
rifcant sum. or we shall employ other
means ,
Eve are separated from our director
and have not any money.
The brothers were imprisoned tcr
three DAYS, looking out OF their cell
windows at the dead in the streets
The French Consul passed the. prison
and they told him their plight, bu'
DESPITE his efforts he could DO MOTH
ing to release them, and they we're
again threatened with death II they
did not pay . price
After giving their word TO remain
in the city, they were permitted 20 re,
turn TO the college, which they iound
sacked. II was then they learned that
the Brother Director and Brother
Adolphe had been shot, and some OF
their friends removed The bodies 10
Catholic cemetery.
Demanded 100000.
"On Sunday we had no mass. he
canse since June % all Of the priests
in the city had been imprisoned, ana ana
they were obliged to S'yo l;ooo'VVV
pcsos S5OO.O 00) If they wished TO DC
liberated. if not they wore all 20 D.
shot" SAYS the report. "Although we
we're in our own home we were not
safe: we were in reign OF terror.
1T is a hell said some good people
and Immediately the people opposing
tho revolutionary movement were
lined up before the firing squad.
The nest day the Brothers were az
rested. taken TO TorreOn IN a military
train. in car half filled with corn,
and thrust into prison. NnHe tnere
an intimate friend of the general VINO
held them in captivity went 10 them
and said: -,
81 have Just been AZ a banquet held
nv officers. and there the decision was
made that all of you be lined up DC
fore the firing squad at 10 O'Clock TO-
night. If you wish TO save YOUR ives
hand out some money.
The Brothers had $1,000 and man
aged TO raise the other $1,000 wheh
thew we're set at liberty, but with H.
functions to leave the country at once
They hid in an old school a. lorreoh
and lived on aims. 1t was during, TINS
time that Villareals sister, who knew
tbev were in Torrcon, pleaded with
Villa. when he dned at her house, TO
marc the Brothers lives. She sue
Cccdcd. and he sent them TO the border
in = coach guarded by two of his on
GERS. .. e
tn. French Consul made report o.
tho whole affair. copy OF winch mas
been transmitted by his government