The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-08
THRILLING STORY
OF Escape Of Refugees From
Mexico.
C. M. Butlin Is I'm Topeka After
His Adventures.

A thrilling story of the escape of an
English factory owner and his family
from Mexico City and Vera Cruz dur
ing the opening of the American en-
gagements IL told today in Topeka by
the Britfsher himself, Claude Marsh
Butlin. president and general manager
of woodwork plant employing 700
men In the Mexican capital. Mr.. But.
lin Is here with Mrs. But1in and three
children visiting at the ]. C. Wilson
home. SIG Topeka avenue.
The Butlin family, hearing through
the German embassy, rumors of pos
sible American Intervention, took a
train out of Mexico City the day be-
fore the marines and blue jackets
landed at Vera Cruz.
Il felt rather worried about my
| family" Mr.. Butlin said today, "and
We decided we would take our vaca-
| ton at this Opportune time in To-
peka.''
The family arrived in Vera Cruz in
time to see the United States marines
land at Vera Cruz and watch q days
fighting from the German hotel. ME-.
! Butlin took several photographs Of
| the days fighting in the streets aud
from the second story of the hotel. di-
rectly opposite the main ranks of the
American machine guns, he and his
| family watched the battle. They saw
several Americans and Mexicans
killed.
ION the roof Of our hotel the Amer
| leans established a rapid fire gun, =
he said. IAN day the booming Of this
gun shook the hotel and the return
fire Of the Mexfcans pelted the roof.
Beneath this fusillade Of bullets the
hotel was as quiet and peaceful AS q
summer resort, apparently. Children
| were frolicking around the halls and
the lobbies and windows were filled
with spectators.
"I took several pictures along this
street.
I'm the evening we ran down the
street directly in line with tho return
! fire of the Mexicans and took a small
boat out to our vessel In the harbor.
In going out to this ship 1t was recess
sary for US to lie down flat in the bot
tom of the boats to escape the cross
water fire from both sides.
"Paul Hudson. publisher of the
Mexican Daily Herald and formerly Of
Topeka. left Mexico City with his son
Donald just after I. left. About the
| only thing that he could take away
with him was the stereotype heading
of the paper. With this in hand he
made arrangements with a local Vera
Cruz printing office to print a paper,
which he issued within IS hours after
he left Mexico City. The paper OF
course had an immense sale among
the United States marines. Funston
had not yet landed when 1 left.
'Mr. Hudson was unable to. print
enough papers for the demand and
would take no subscriptions. In fact,
he announced in one part Of the pa
per. The only paper in the world
which will not take subscriptions
Mr.. Butlin received q telegram today
| from his factory superintendent in Mexico
City. 1t state that the mill was running
on a half day schedule, that many win
dows had been broken and that conditions
were quieting down.
Like most refugees from Mexico Mr..
Butlin was rather surprised at the feeble
attempts of the United States to bring
order out Of chaos in the troubled terri
tory. He did not think that the present
policy of simply holding Vera Cruz would
have much effect upon the Mexicans. He
states that he will return soon and con-
tinue his work in Mexico City.