The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-15
MEXICAN MILLIONAIRES EXILED.
Luis Terr'lzas, With 100000, 900,
One of the DOns villa is Determin-
ed to Crush Out,

we VIII eXpel the DOnS from Mex
ico," the revOlutionists declare. Car
rama Is determined to break up the
vast holdings of lands in a few hands.
villa has been seizing large estates,
driving out or imprisoning their own
ers.
Ihese Dons whom they propose to
exile are the richest men in Mexico
Many are descendants of the Spanish
conquerors and have kept up the old
aristocracy. Others began with small
plantations and have bought. taken up
or seized land until they number their
acres by the hundred thousand.
One group, for instance, have prac-
tically owned the state Of Chihuahua.
In fact, 1t is a saying that Chihuahua
royalty consists Of the Terrazas and
Creel families and their descendants.
The aged Don Luis Terrazas, now in
exile in the United States, and whose
son Luis was held prisoner by Villa,
Is said to be worth $10O,OOO,OOO. His
land holdings are estimated at nearly
nine million acres, an area one-third
as large as New York State. The 9TH
er members of the family and their
connections have estates so large that
the group claims nearly half the area
OF the largest Mexican state.
Though Don Louis, born in 1929, is
descended from the Spanish conuuis-
tadores, he inherited only 5000 pc
SOS. He used the money to establish
q cheap john" store, with Amado
Porvas as his partner. A correspond
ent of the New York Sun tells how
Terrazas, az soon as he had made a
little money, branched into politics
and became the local boss. That was
in the late fifties, just before our own
civil War. He became governor, as
sumed charge Of the state mint, which
coined money for Northern Mexico.
and ne began to gather his vast es-
tate. Indian raids and massacres had
driven most Of the people to the
towns. land was almost worthless,
but shrewd Don Luis bought and took
up whole sections, so that when the
Indians were suppressed he was the
largest landowner in that region.
When cattle raising and farming be-
gan to be developed, the land increas-
ed many fold in value. 1t was Ter
razas who in 1866 drove out Maximil-
lian's men and enabled President Ju-
arez to make Chihuahua his capital.
Juarez made him a general, and Ter
razas became popular hero, the
leader Of the peoples party. But he
never allowed political popularity to
interfere with his money-making.
When Reuben Creel went to Mexico
as American Consul, in the fifties, ne
and Terrazas became great friends
and. married sisters, Paz Guilty and
Caroline Guilty. daughters of a
wealthy family. Later Creel's son
married one Of Terrazas' daughters.
Thus was founded the royal line" in
Chihuahua. But it was not until Diaz
gained possession of the country that
the Terrazas-Creel combination attain!
ed its greatest power. One succeeded
the other as governor and they reign
ed as virtual autocrats. Enrique
Creel became Minister to the United
States and aspired to succeed Diaz as
president. No one dared rebel against
them until Madero started the revolt
in 1910, but even he failed to shake
the hold Of the dons on the country.
The real downfall Of the Terrazas
family came only a few months ago.
When Pancho Villa occupied Chihua-
hua the rebels seized the Terrazas
palaces and property, Villa announc-
ing that he would distribute the land
among the poems. Gen. Luis Terrazas
and most Of the wealthy citizens fled
to Ell PasO. But Villa captured Luis
Terrazas, Jr., demanding 100000
ransom. According to report, he
threatened to kill the son Of the old
general if the money was not paid.
Old Don Luis protested that, with his
estate conf 'ated, he did not have the
mOney He appealed to the United
States Government. Secretary Bryans
action probably saved Luis life, and
induced CarranZa to order the young
Terrazas released from Jail. But
freedom in this case only means
that he can stay in Chihuahua under
guard. He cannot leave.
villa has killed many of the Ter
razas family agents and relatives" the
New York Sun correspondent writes
General Terrazas lawyer was shot
to death after he paid $4,000 for his
freedom. Gen. Luis Terrazas, now