The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-04-27
Warships Remain Idle While
Mobs Loot Property and
Threaten Lives of u. S.
Citizens.
GERMANS ASSET RIVE
Protect American Residents
and Take Them to Safe
Places in Port Seized by
Navy
TBY LEASED WIRE1

GALVESTON, Texas, April a.
The United States immigration OFF,
Gals here have been swamped by the
influx of refugees from Mexico Up
to this forenoon 1854 persons had ar
rived and 1000 more are expected
within the next twenty-four hours.
Among the men and women, many
of whom are on the verge of collapse
from privatfons and narrow escapes
from death, many were penniless,
leaving everything behind in their
flight.
Most of the refugees came from
Mexico City, Vera Cruz and Tampico.
Those who came from the last named
city were bitter in their criticism of
the action of the United States war
ships at that port.
Praise German Captain.
While Americans were being threat
ened and insulted by mobs and their
property looted and destroyed, the
United States warships, carrying
enough guns to blow Tampico- to
atoms, withdrew several miles to sea.
Marines were landed from the German
cruiser Dresden and the Americans
were protected and later carried out
to the refugee ships by the German
sailors. The first thing the Tampico
refugees did upon their arrival here
was to send a cablegram of thanks
and congratulation to the German en-
,peror, praising the work of Captain
Won Koehler, of the Dresden.
Thrilling stories were told by some
OF the exiles. Howard ]. Wells, owner
of a ranch outside of Tampico, told
how a band of prowling Mexicans had
killed Ms Mexican ranch manager
and looted the place.
1.-TWO days before Vera Cruz was
taken three Mexicans drove up to the
ranch house and demanded money,
food and other things" said Mr.. Wells.
THE Mexican manager was the only
man on the place except myself. The
Mexicans threatened to kill me If l
did not furnish them with. strong
drink. After they pillaged the place
and seized all the livestock the want
! ed, they tied up the manager and
prodded him with bayonets until he
fell unconscious. Then they shot him
twice and rode away. The Mexican
died short time later"
Among the women was Mrs. M. G.
Martin, whose husband conducted a
store near Tampico.
Just after the capture of Vera
Cruz my husband left to 60 into Tam
pico for several days and l did not
see him any more" said Mrs. Martin.
81 don't know whether he is dead or
not. Just after my husband left a
party Of Mexicans broke into the
store, seized all the goods they could
carry away and the life savings of my
husband and myself They thought
they ought to have had more money
and they threatened to torture my
five-year-old daughter to death If l
did not reveal the source of a sup
posed hidden treasure. They built a
fire and showed the little girls feet
into it, but they did not carry out
their hideous design"
Refugees told of Mexican Federals
/ firing upon the refugee ship Esparanza
as 1t drew away from the wharf. One
bullet entered a port hole and went
through both legs of J. D. Saunders.
He is in a hospital here in a serious
condition. .'0
R. L. Britton owned a moving pic
ture theatre at Panuco. The Next
cans attacked the place, smashed the
machines and burned. the building,
threatening to kill Britton if he did
not furnish them money.
II was glad to get away with my
life," said Britton. "A number of
Americans remained behind, but l do
not think they will ever get out of
Mexico alive. The entire country is
filled with small parties of bandits,
who claim to be either Federals or
Constitutionalists, but who live by
loot"