Evening journal., 1914-05-08
FEAR FOR SAFETY
Of 800 Americans
Held At TANPICO
Refugees Aboard Connect
cut Inform Senator Stone
OF Possible Slaughter
D'ANTIN REPORTED SAFE:
NO REPLY TO HUERTA NOTE


WASHINGTON, May s.-eThere are
fully 800 American women. children
and men in the territory tributary TO
Tampico, whom it was impossible fol
reach in time and consequently we're
unable TO avail themselves of safe
refuge. We feel greatly that ii they
have not already been murdered, their
lives are in the grayest danger"
such was the message from several
hundred American refugees on board
the Connecticut, off Galveston, to Scna-
tor Stone, chairman of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee, received to-
day.
I'm all from the Iampico district"
the petition stated, there are over
$500 American men, women and chill
dren, who have been forced 20 leave
their homes and business for the lack
OF adequate protection from our govern
ment. Had one American gunboat been
allowed to remain in the harbor, 1t
Is believed that there would not have
been any active demonstration or at.
tempt to destroy American property,
notwithstanding the bitter feeling to.
wards Americans.
I'VE feel that conditions making our
I exodus compulsory were brought about
solely by the fact that our government
Jailed TO give us adequate protection at
the critical moment. The properties,
large and small, which we have been
compelled TO abandon will be entirely
lht unless our government see fit
to protect those properties and give us
| immediate relief in order that we may
return to look after them ourselves.
| The great number OF refugees will be
left homeless and destitute and what
is true in this respect of the Iampieo
district is undoubtedly true Of all other
portions Of Mexico.
aThe failure oI our government to
take a definite stand at this critical mo-
ment will make it impossible for US TO
ever hope to return with safety
"When the gunbuats OF Admiral
Mayo's command were ordered out OF
Tampieo no intimatiOn was given 70
Americans Of any danger whatsoever.
After dark manifestations were
made III the shape Of street parades,
principally composed Of the rabble and
the young men yelling Viva Huerta'
and Death to the gringoes Stones
were thrown. brick striking two
Americans at the Southern Hotel. The
captain OF the German war vessel ad-
yised General Zaragoza that the mob
must be dispersed Two hours later am
other mob lilled both streets in front
Of the Southern Hotel, having been in
cited by incendiary anti-American
speeches delivered by prominent MeN-
can lawyers and doctors at the Plaza
Iibertad. The mob made an attack and
attempted TO batter down the front
doors Of the hotel.
"An insistent demand that the Aneri-
can flag be taken down from the build
ing was refused, when their shouts Of
Death to the gringoes' became more
Vociferous.
"While going through the streets to
the Docks continued the petition,
"Americans were hissed and their
women insulted by unspeakable names
and epithets by all classes Of Mexi-
cans. Some local Americans at their
own risk went up the river as far as
Paunce and brought down nearly 400
Americans from there
D'Antin Is Safe.
That Louis D'Antin, hero Of the
American embassy at Mexico City,
has been in danger of his life, but
that he evidently is still defending
the American archives there, was an
nounced by Secretary Bryan today.
II was D'Antin. who was left in charge
of the embassy when Charge
O'Shaughnessy departed. D'Antin
held the embassy against mobs who
tried to set fire TO II, according 70
the stories Of refugees at Vera Cruz.
Bryan's announcement today was the
first official confirmation of DAN
tins predicament
Secretary Bryan said D'Antin was
safe and that the danger which he
faced was eliminated. There We're no
details, however, in the official an
nouncement w. r.. Burns, an Amer
ican refugee, who arrived at Vera
Cruz, on April 25, said that when he
around the embassy, demanding that
D'Antin surrender.
Secretary Bryan today stated be
had not replied 10 the A. B. c. med
iators regarding Huerta's latest note.
He said. however, he planned to do so.
This note was a demand from the
Huerta government that the United
States prevent the Carranzists from
obtaining arms and permit the Huer-
ia government to mobilize its forces
against the rebels. The secretary
would not discuss the incident further
than to say he planned to make
answer.
The Huerta note was the result OF
the mediators' announcement OF Car
ranza's refusal to agree to a truce,
together with the mediators' plan TO
eliminate Carranza from the confer
ence.
Huerta, It is understood, also called
the attention of the mediators to the
fact that it has been reported and
not denied officially, that General
Funston at Vera Cruz. has been given
discretionary orders whereby he can
advance his froces to the Vera Cruz
water works heretofore guarded by
marines exclusively. It is the conten-
tion of Huerta that any such action
on the part of the American forces
would be violation of the implied
understanding that, pending the out
come of mediation, the United States
should not undertake any additional
offensive operations.
Former Charge O'Shaughnessy re
mained within call of the executive
offices throughout the morning. ex-
pecting to be summoned to confer
with President Wilson. After the
cabinet meeting broke up. however. he
was told that the President would not
be ready to confer with him until
Monday and that in the meanwhile he
would continue ON waiting orders.
This precluded o7Shaughnessy max
ing any statement in connection with