El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-04-25
TOWN ATTACKED
WHILE DEFENDERS
ARE At WORSHIP
Rebels Capture Talpalpa;
Loot and Burn Stores;
Seize Citizens.

Cuadalajara, Mex, April 25.-An
early morning mass at the church in
Talpaia, one of the most important
towns Of the Fourth canton Of Jalisco,
proved costly 10 that community. More
than 100 Of the towns residents, VINO
had. been on watch all night with rifles
in their hands, ready to repel a threat
eued attack of rebels. laid their arms
aside when the church bells sent out
their call for wOrshipers at daybreak,
and repaired to the church to hear
mass and give thanks for the towns
safety Bur hardly were they on their
knees when the rebels, who had gath
cred outside the town during the night,
started to close in on It. and before
the service was half over they were
swarming through the narrow streets
and Tapalpa was at their mercy.
When the towns defenders laid asids
their arms and went TO church, they
left eight Of their number on guard
Three Of the eight were killed, making
a futile resistance against the 500 reb-
els that entered the town The rebels
lost two men and had several slightly
Loot and Burn Stores.
The rebels entered the town before Q
o'clock in the morning and left before
noon. During their stay they looted
stores and forced loans to the amount
of several thousand pesos One of the
stores Of the town was Wantoniy burned
and the rebels also fired the jail and
some other buildings. Some of the
rifles and ammunition Of the town de-
tenders were found and confiscated-
When the rebels left Tapalpd they took
with them. as hostages Tor ransom,
several Of the prominent citizens Of the
town. Several young women Of the
town were carried off by the leaders
Try to Capture American.
Before entering Tapalpa the rebels
prepared a list Of men to be captured
and held for ransom, and this list IN
cluded E. P. Sheldon, the American
manager TO the properties Of the Next
car. Iron and Steel company, at FeTre-
ria de Tula Mr.. Sheldon has a house
in Tapalpa and spends some Of his time
there, and he had gone into the town
the day before After the capture OF
the town he attempted to leave, but
found that this was impossible as the
rebels were guarding all the roads, and
TO avoid them he then entered the house
Of an old Mexican woman and re-
NAMED there until they had departed,
when he came to this city.
Wounded Rebel Kills Judge.
HOneratO MOnguia, the civil judge.
was one Of the men taken out Of the
town b. the rebels A short distance
outside OF the town the "cabecilla' in
charge of MOnguia came to rebel who
had been wounded when the town was
taken. and who was resting by the
roadside who shot yOu2' asked the
leader. a man wearing black trOus-
ers," answered the wounded rebel The
'ca becilla" turned and pointed TO Non
gula- This fellow has on black trouS-
ers," he said rs he the one who did
the Shooting Y guess so; at least his
trousers are black" said the other. The
leader handed his revolver TO the man
on the ground. Shoot him. he said,
nodding toward Monguia- The wound
ed rebel raised himself TO a sitting pos
ture and sent five bullets into Mon
guia's body. The Tapalpa judge had
taken no part in the fighting IN the
town
Gabriel Gonzalez. a wei known Ia
palpa man, was strunr up TO tree as
the rebels were leaving town and his
body riddled with bullets
Demand Ransom for Prisoners.
When the rebels reached place
known as Rancho NiejO, about two
hours distant, they sent three Of their
hostages back to the town TO arrange
the ransom for the others Three thou
sand pesos were demanded, the rebels
threatening to shoot all OF their pris-
oners II the money was not produced
A great effort was made TO collect the
money and finally the required amount
was secured. This was sent to the
rebel leaders. Whereupon all Of the Ia
palpa hostages were allowed 10 return
to the town in safety.