The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1914-01-29
ZAP A'''I||.A||| BOASTS I } |
. \ .|[:.X|C0 AND ]
Picturesque Rebel Leader For
~ First Time Tells Story
of His Life.


at his mercy the great state of
----- Morelos and has been men
ace to the Mexican capital itself, is
the most dreaded man in Mexico City
today. for if Huerta falls and chaos
follows the bandit chief is expected to
hasten there and loot the city.
Commissioned by the st. Louis Post
Dispatch to interview this man at his
camp in the San Gaspar mountains, on
the border between the states OF Mo-
relos and Mexico, correspondent &C.
complished this mission. after many
difficulties. through the good offices Of
one of Zapata's friends #&j@l
Three Mexican reporters in the last
two years lost their lives in efforts to
obtain interviews with this ''Attila of
the South" as Zapata has been nick.
named by the Mexican press.
Two more were killed when trains
upon which they were travelling into
Morelos were dynamited by Zapata's
order. A third succeeded in getting
into Zapata's camp, but never return
ed. Zapata's resentment against news !!
paper men has, been aroused by un-
lettering articles concerning him and
his deeds, printed in Mexico City news |
papers.
Bedecked With Jewels.
Zapata. writes the Post Dispatch cor
respondent. was the embodiment of
sullen. suspicious, defiant, insolent
brute force. Across his lanky legs,
which were 1ncased in tightly fitting
charro trousers strapped under dusty
tan boots. his red. hairy hands lay
loosely. Three fingers were circled
with rings. One finger from the
knuckle to the first joint was covered
with rings, four or five had diamonds,
a ruby and an emerald. Bigger dia
monds were on. other fingers. A gold
watch was strapped around his wrist
Every man in his encourage was sim
ilarly decked out with gaudy but val
liable jewelry, Over soiled. rumpled
blue silk shirt Zapata wore short
charro jacket, embroidered in gold bull
lion. almost hiding the fabric of which
the jacket was made The buttons
were of gold So was a double row
of buttons OIL the outside of his tight
trousers. lis we'll as tiny chains that
connected up the buttons two by two.
Knotted under the bandit chiefs low
collar was red silk tie with long ends
that Jared down to the waist In the
tie was a diamond as big as the butt
of SO Mauser cartridge.
Two automatic revolvers. resembling
young cannons, Struggled in stamped
leather holsters at his hips. In gold on
each holster were monogrammed his
initials, Close by stood his rifle. The
steel of the barrel. lock and magazine
were cunningly inlaid with gold. while
Zapata's name was spelled out in gold
en- script on the polished hardwood
stock. "Emiliano" OH one side and
,"Zapata" on the other.
Loves His Stomach.
Tactful endeavor on the reporters
part to kindle spark Of recollection
in Zapata's mind that he had talked
with him once before in Mexico City
fell upon apparently deaf ears until he
had eaten his supper. This consisted
OF boiled goat meat. baked sweet pota-
toes. fried bananas. frijoles. tOrtillas.
coffee and beer.
The meal finished. the bandit chief
signifed that he would talk. ASK mt
what you wish." he said. Il do moi
have to answer unless | choose. SCI
that you tell no lies. Put no words
into my mouth. But ask me nothing
OF my fights or my plans, for shall b.
silent"
Brutality, ruthessness and cunning
but nothing Of real cleverness, i'll pro
portioned ambition. vanity and othe
qualities akin to these. forced them
selves upon the writer us the rebe
leaders, dominant characteristics. II
is illiterate. although able to read an
write Or Mexican history he know
little or nothing.
Before be revuIted against DiaZ
1910 Zapata was II peddler Of chea
wares through the countryside Eli
jack Of all trades is an ex-schoolma:
ter who writes his high sounding pr
nunciamentos. supplies such schola
tic veneer as Zapata requires. con
poses the tlorid appeals to the peopl
of Mexico reciting their wrongs an
promising redresses which are sent 0,
in Zapata's name.
Would Keep Out Foreigners.
For what are you lighting. VII,
are your aims?" was one Of the que
tons asked him 4
I'm fighting for the people OF Me1
co against the aristocrats." he reptile
II want to give them back the lal
that has been stolen from them. Tn
have been robbed for long time Y,
Americans have robbed them: 4
foreigners have robbed them ha
taken care of all thieving Gatchul
nas-Mexican nickname for Spaniar
in Morelos. have killed them
excepting those who ran away a.
have taken their property. .-.....
when l become president sh