Evening star., 1915-03-22
WHY YzAPAT|STAS
KILLED M'MANUS
Letter From American, Since
Murdered, Tells of Clash
With Mexicans.
HAD DRIVEN THEM OFF
IN A SHARP BATTLE
Trouble Started Over Looting Of
Ranch by Peon Soldiers of South
ern Indian Chief.
Copyright. 1915 \

| Copyright. 1918
| John 3. McManus' own story of how
he incurred the ennity of the Zapa-
tistas which is said to be the reason
why he was murdered in his home, in
Mexico City, March II. while the Stars
and Stripes were waving over the house,
is told in letter to Prof. g. II. Ben
kendorf of the University of Wisconsin.
This is supposed to be the last letter
written by McManus. It is dated Casa
de ids. Mexico City. February T. Prof.
Benkendorf had for a long time been
a close friend of the murdered man.
In this letter McManus says he ex-
pecteJ more trouble and wished the
United States would realize that these
people are mentally. morally and physi-
ca1ly unfit to maintain an honest and
permanent government" He expressed
a desire to dispose of his interests in
Mexico AMI invest In some proposition
in the United States. His letter fol-
lows:
II suppose that you think that have
entirely forgotten our little group of
friends In far-away Madison, Wis. but
such is not the case, as / frequently
recall the pleasant times that l had
while at the University Club, and
many times wish that I could be with
little dinners.
Il presume that the Chicago papers
have kept you more or less posted on
the various political troubles which
through. but you cannot imagine the
uncertainty and lack of protection that
the various administrations offer for a
government.
Sometimes it is really Iaughable,
were 1t not so serious for foreigners
who are heavily interested here and
cannot sell out and leave.
When Carranza Retreated.
TO give you an idea what transpires
I mention an experience which trans
pired on November % last, on which
date you Will remember that the Car
rama government beat 1t out of the
City Of Mexica for Vera Cruz, after
making sure that tho American troops
had departed.
"Carranza took all of the money in
the treasury. also most everything OF
value In the government palace. He
even took all of the government auto
mobiles. the horses of the postal de-
and for a joke removed all of the cleo
tric globes from the public buildings
The last day they were here the SOL
diers stopped all Of the fine carriages
that they met on the street and swiped
the horses. many Of them very nne
American-bred animals.
.As soon as they were out Of town
the Zapatistas swarmed into the city
and started in looting stores. dwellings
and the nearby ranches. This force is
simply a few thousand half-naked and
starved mob Of Indians. some armed and
quite few mounted After they get
through sacking u house there IS little
left outside Of the paint and floor. Any
thing that can be carried off and pawned
or sold is good business for them.
Stole His Horses.
MY dairy was honored with visit on
the morning OF November 2e. About
eighty or one hundred rode into the
front gate, shooting off their guns and
demanding horses AS there were too
many to offer a resistance. and as / Was
entirely alone at the time (the Mexican
help are useless in such case) 1 let
them alone and rode away to another
part Of the plant. They got away with
about ten horses and twelve mules.
They also looted some rooms of the
house and some of the employees houses
also, taking blankets, etc.
II filed claim with the officials and
secured an order to search for the
stock. and, In fact. l located some of
the horses with detachment sta
toned about ten kilometers away. /
got an order on the colonel In charge
Of the force to let me pick out my
stock, and l went out there in the ma
chine to serve 1T on him.
IT hunted up the official and found a
common peon of man. without any
semblance Of uniform. who acknowl-
edged to the title of colonel. pre-
sented the order. which he rried to read
upside down for a while, then he hand
ed II back, saying that he could not
read that kind of writing with a ma
chine and that he only obeyed verbal
orders from a superior. Fortunately
a week afterward some Of his men got
drunk in town and were put in the jug.
A friend Of mine put me wise. so I
| beat y .ver to the station and claimed
two Of my mules. also another one
that looked good to me and would help
some on my place.
For a few months afterward we had
| things reasonably quiet and orderly.
They elected. or rather appointed,
provisional president. Gen. Eulalfo
Gutierrez. who selected cabinet and
started to get things in order. He last
ed less than two months, then he got
a severe case of cold feet, and one dark
night he beat 1t out OF town, taking
about $6.o00,000 in cash and about
5000 troops. He went to a place called
north. lie is still going. I believe.
Looted the City.
When the troops here found that the
government officials had departed they
started in to loot stores and steal horses
again My dairy was again favored with
a call. but this time had received word
from friends in town to look out. SO I
had my two Krag United States Army
rifles placed on the roof Of the house
with about 500 cartridges. The house at
| the dairy is a very old one, one story, oc-
cupying three or four hundred feet
| frontage and inclosing a large patio or
garden in the center. The walls OF the
| house are of stone and three feet thick
extending above the level Of the roof
| about four feet. This afforded an ex-
cellent protection from any one attack
| ing the front entrance.
about II in the morning I heard a
racket at the front door and noticed
that my portero. or doorman, was
sure that the door was locked and that
| the bunch of eight or ten were Zapa-
| tistas. and then l went up on the roof.
| from which place I asked them what
| they wanted. They said they wanted
| TO get in and promised to take nothing
| / refused to let them in and said II
you try to climb over the wall you will
get shot This made them peevish.
| and. sure enough. one geezer was boost
| ed up and succeeded in mounting the
wall, saying Quiro media hora en- su
| casa eve Just want half hour in
your houseO.