Arizona republican., 1914-08-23
UMcle Sdm Has Eve Thousand
 Prisoners at Old F0yt Wlmgute

solutely unique rain ceremony known as the snake dance usually per formed annually in August, and at tracts a large number of visitors. We are told that last year one hun dred and sixty-five automobiles load ed with people crossed the desert to witness this strange performance. In Gallup a pleasant surprise
 awaited us. in the form of an invi- tation from MT. and Mrs. Ramon Hubbell to join them in an automo- bile ride to old Fort Wingate, four ! teen miles southeast of Gallup. ! which, after having been abandoned for many years, has been rehabitu | lated and is now the home of the five thousand Mexican refugees for
 mery confined at Fort Bliss, Texas. Wingate is beautifully situated on sloping mountain side with a mag nificent outlook across the valley to the nOrthward. Its isolated position and healthful surroundings make it an ideal place for the care of so large family of these unfortunate people. The American garrison con- oiSto ol Hiilc SOllIpdblcS ol 'iiioheiy and one of cavalry, in command of
 Major Elliott (who kindly permitted
 us to visit the camp, or rather open
 air prison), in company with Cap tain Graham and Lieutenant Gill, to whose courtesy much of the pleasure and instruction of the visit was due. The stockade contains about ten
 acres. enclosed by two barbed wire fences placed few feet apart; with in these. at a distance of about
 twenty feet, smooth wire is stretched This is the dead line and
 none may safely touch or cross it.
 Armed sentinels, placed at short dis tances, with instructions to shoot if necessary guard the enclosure day
 and night The rigid discipline of the camp has created a wholesome
 respect for the military authority.
 and attempts to escape are compar-
 atively rare. Within the enclosure also strict discipline necessarily pre- vails, and although these people are huddled closely together, the saul tary conditions of the camp are all that the circumstances can permit; and we were told that the health of the inmates is excellent Only about half the number here confined are. federal soldiers; the rest are women and children. Families are united and conduct their households much
 as they would do at home. only It 1 is probable that the food and sani- tarv conditions are much better at 1 Wingate. We met and talked with several of the federal officers, in cluding General Castro, who, after
 much formal lowing and assurances I of welcome, told us tthrough MT.
 Hubbell. who interpreted) that his
 people were well cared for and as happy as they could be under the circumstances He said they hoped
 that peace would soon be restored in
 their country so that they might re-
 turn to their homes.
 General Castro is very affable
 gentleman, about sixty years old, short of stature and rather stout. with an iron gray moustache and the complexion Of his race. He was dressed in khaki and appeared to be in the best of health. He is now the
 senior federal officer in the camp.
 since General Salazar, who was in 1 command, is more closely confined Tn
 the post guard-house.
 After a pleasant ride back to Gal
 Inn we thanked our host and hostess
 for a most pleasant afternoon.