The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-11-10
CHIEF Threatened DOCTOR.
VILLA TInNCE SFNTINIED -FOUR
AMERICANS TO DEATu.
freed at the Last-.MeXiCan Restrain
ca From Executing Iiusty Sen
tCnCcs by Fear OF Rctniiation.

day hy Gen. Villa, after three times
having been condemned 10 death, ar
rived here today and narrated their
experiences IS Red Cross workers
among Villas wounded on the battle
field Of A8ul Pyicta. The party con-
sisted of Dr. r. H. Thigpcn, Dr.
Charles II. Miller and two chaulrcurs,
~ Wilson and J. y. Pylatt. The two
PHYSICIANS took to their beds upon
their arrival as result of their ex-
pc".enccs after an all night tramp
throuSh the mountains
Cen. Villa flew into a rage, Dr..
Thigpcn said, when he learned that
the Americans could not obtain the
IGsSaGe OF his wounded over Amcri-
can territory TO Juarez.
Treat the Americans as they treat
Us" he is quoted as saying to his
aids DO as you please, turn the
artillery on Douglas and put these
men III front Of the infantry" Inter
cession by Gen. Rafael Naive coupled
with fear Of retaliation upon families
of Villa and his subordinatcs in the
| United States was responsible fer the
safety Of the Americans, DR.. Thigpen
said.
When a subordinate reported to
Villa that CarrGnza troops had been
| permitted to cross American territory
20 aid in defending Aqua Prieta, Villa
again sought vengeance upon the
| americans. in q rage he Ecaped e&-
coriations upon their heads and finally
ordered them killed, they said.
Believing in the efficacy OF prayer,
the four Americans kelt among the
wounded on the battlefield while the
riilcmon were there. The Mcxicans
about US were impressed" said Or.
! ThiGpcn, "anC the intercessiOn once
more of Cen. Naive, who suggested
! Che execution not he carried cut until
families of Villa ana his officers could
be recalled from the United States,
spared us once more.
Il asked Villa ii I might talk to
him. said Or. Thigpen.
III you say word to me, I'll shoot
YOU myself" he replied, according to
the doctor
The four were marched to Villa
! Verde where for the third time they
were condemned to die. Gen. Naive,
who followed them, again interccdcd,
this time with Gen. Rodriguez who
had arrived from Naco. Shortly after
ward they were released, to make
their way as best they could.
Dr. Thigpen's home is in Sanders
Vile. Ga, and Dr. Miller resides at
Hereford, Texas. They left Naco
Tuesday to render what aid they
could to Villa wounded.
''-'''s. .'eE ~
been a time in our whole history
when our duty to tho world more i'm
pcrauvcly demanded sclf-restraint
or carrying a Ciu1. Why reverse our
policy n this timc? The presidcn,
himself admits that there IS no reason
for Change. He says: The country IS
not threatened from any quarter, she
stands in friendly relation with all the
world. Her resources and her self
respect ana capacity to care for her
own citizens and rights are we'll
known And to make the statement
moro emphatic, lie adds: There is no
fear among Us
III we are not threatened by any
nation, il our relations With all ma
tions are friendly, if everybody knows
that were able to defend ourselves
/ ii necessary md if there is no fear
among us, why is this time chosen
/ to rcrolutionizc our national theorie:
! ana to exchange our policy for tho
/ policy Of Europe? why abandon the
! hope that we have 50 long entertained
! 'i setting an example to Europe? ?
! WY encourage the nations Of Europe
4 i'm tncir fatal folly ly Initiating them? ?
! Why impose upon the Western hem
. lsphcrc pol 50 disastrous? Nav
( we not expect tI. Iatm-Amcrica To
: Zee stimulated to preparation if we
cutter uron Il new era Of preparation? =?
And VIII not such policy make con-