Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-05-15
GRAVE ALARM IS
FELT FOR CONSUL
JOHN S|LL|MAN
Assurances Of His Release by
Dictator Not Given Much
Credence
FEAR THAT HE
HAS BEEN KILLED
Strong Tension Created by
Inability to Find Private
Parks and Others
By John Edwin Neyin.

Washington, May l5-John Silliman,
United States consul at Saltillo, was
still missing today aud the administra-
tion was gravely alarmed concerning
him.
The strongest assurances were re-
ceived that he had been released from
the prison in which it was finally ad-
mitted he had been held at Saltillo,
and it was stated that he was on his
way to Mexico City, whence President
Huerta promised that every facility
would be furnished him for reaching
Vera Cruz.
Had this story been true, however,
it was pointed out that he would have
been at the capital today. His failure
to arrive, taken in connection with the
Huerta government . shuffling and
evasions relating to his case, led to
serious fears that he had been killed.
The administration inability to
find Silliman, the disappearance and
probable death Of Private Parks Of the
American force at Vera Cruz, the fact
that Photographer A. 8. Sutton Of the
Washington Post was still unaccounted
for,fthough he was understood TO have
been released from arrest at Mexico
City, and the circumstances that a cor
respondent named Doster, another
Washingtonian, was missing, was ere
ating a feeling of strong tension.
In some quarters it was believed the
government planned another ultima
tum, and in connection with this view
the movement of army supplies toward
Galveston was deemed significant.
1t was hoped the mediation conferees
would get down to work by Monday.
The American ENJOYS were under or
ders to consider no proposition which
did not contemplate Huerta 3 elimina-
ton.
A report was current that it had
been decided to allow the rebels to
import arms through Tampico and
that the border embargo, too, might be
lifted.
DR.. Edward Ryan, the state depart
ment and Red Cross agent who was ar
rested at Zacatecas as q spy, was said
to have had u narrow escape from ex-
ecution and was only released on the
urgent demand of the Washington
government, arrived in New Orleans
yesterday, and was due here tomor-
row.
Before the federals who held him
prisoner would release him, they forced
him to sign n pledge not to reveal his
experiences, and all he would say, on
his arrival, was that he had been SUBJ
| iaatad IN cartnuo fnI;un,k,oa
The state department was consider
ing whether a pledge such as he sign
ed, extorted under threats, was bind.
ing. 1t was considered likely that the
doctor would be instructed to disre.
gard it and make full report.
'tRequests" for information having
developed nothing, the Washington ad
ministration today peremptorily ode
manded' of President Huerta full de
tails concerning the fate Of John Sill
imam, last heard of as prisoner il
Saltillo, where he was United States
consul, and of Private Parks of the
! American force at Vera Cruz, reported
to have wandered through the Mexican
lines and been executed.
The demand went by way of tn,
Brazilian legation in Mexico City ant
was couched in the most emphati,
language.
The gravity of the situation due t,
the uncertainty concerning Silliman an,
Parks was admitted. The matter wa
thoroughly canvassed at the cabine
meeting this forenoon, and the stat
/ department 8 stern summons on tn
Mexico City government followed.
John Silliman, American consul a
Saltillo, Mexico, ard Private Parks
the stray from Vera Cruz, being still
unaceounted for, the Washington ad
ministration peremptorily demande
. that President Huerta reveal their fate
The "a. B. c." mediators said good
} bye to President Wilson and then post
poned starting on Sheir deliberation
at Niagara Falls until Wednesday.
Some said this was because the n
bells were coming into the conference
i others that the envoys had not agree
t among themselves what they wanted
1t was reported tat the ADMINISTERS
| tion was considering completely raisin
| the embargo on arms and ammunitio
: for the rebels use.
: Huerta said ne was satisfied wit
5 \he explanation that Americans ha
t not seized the Mexican island Of Lobe