The state herald., 1914-05-08
FORCED TO BUY PROTECTION
Refugees Arriving at Vera Cruz Tell
Of Paying Money to huerta's
Soldiers.

Vera Cruz.-Sixty-three members Of
the Medina colony in the state of
Oaxaca are among the refugees who
have arrived here. They were held
two days In Cordoba and report they
were well treated. except that they
were obliged to sleep on the floors Of
the barracks. They were relieved OF
guns. but not Of the scanty belongings
which they were able to bring with
them.
J. w Elliott, a locomotive engineer.
was in TERRA Blanca when news Of
the occupation OF Vera Cruz reached
him. With his wife and children he
started for Cordoba under guard Of
Mexican soldiers. At Cordoba the
guards said they were hungry and d.
manded 80 pesos on the threat TO sur
render Elliott and his family to
bowling mob which surrounded the
station and filled the streets.
The money was paid and Elliott and
mile through the streets to the bar
racks. bounded all the way by the
mobs. They were kept In the barracks
six days. during the first two Of which
crowds surrounded the place demand.
Ing their lives. On two occasions
members Of the mob forced their way
into the barracks and except for the
efforts Of the colonel and two other
officers Elliott and his family would
undoubtedly have been killed. Toward
the end OF their stay the demonstr&
tions ceased to large extent
Manager Boyd OF the Motzorongc
Hacienda. when he arrived Mt Cordo
ba. was forced by the federal guards
TO pay 1850 pesos for protection
through the streets to the Jail.
Circulars containing the words"Kill
the Gringoes' and urging the people
to rise and massacre the prisoners
were posted about Cordoba.
One OF the refugees who have ar
rived here from the interior In y. W.
Lehmer. n ranch manager from TUX.
tepec. whose home is in Omaha and
who was on his way to Vera Cruz for
visit, not knowing OF the develop
msnts' here, He was picked up At
TERRA Blanca by federal soldiers.
Il was placed with ten others In =
train which was standing overnight.
surrounded by mob which continu.
ally threatened TO attack u.s." he ssid.
The guards ate up everything avail.
abio on the train. compelling US TO 10
hungry. Al every station up TO Cor
doba. on the following day. similar
crowds looted the train and threatened
Us.
while being taken through the
streets OF Cordoba n squad OF young
volunteers who had Just been pre-
sented with = nag swept down upon
US and tried to run US down. This hap
pencd at the corner where the mu.
nicipsi palace Ia located or otherwise
We would not have escaped m well ~
ws did. A. II was. was hit on tho
head with n nagstan and man walk
ing beside me was struck on tho head
with a rock. His scalp was badly cut.
1T was due 10 III. ln. conduct OF
tho Mexican colonel that Wa ever
reached the palace. lie rushed from
the door with squad OF police and
soldiers and plunged Into tho crowd.
scattering them and surrounding US.
Later We were put In tho ponitcn'
tiary. and for SIX days va slept on tho
stone Tagging. There were two WON
ON In the party. one with little baby,
We were allowed TO send out and buy
blankets. and managed to get enough
to eat. such M II was.
Monday va woro placed on
train and brought down TO solcdad
We spent that night on tho tracks
There was one passenger coach left
for US and In this the women and
children slept. tho res, OF us sleeping
on the ground"