The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-01-19
Safety Assurance Given to Miners.

Safety Assurance Given to Miners.
Washington, Jan. 17.-Blame for
the massacre of seventeen Americans
at Santa Ysabel a week ago to-day
was placed squarely on the heads of
Carranza border officials. In a de-
tailed statement to the State Depart
ment of the conditions under which
the American party entered Mexico,
Collector of Customs Cobb at Ell Paso
finds that the American party did not
start for the Cusi mines until assur-
ances had been received from de fac
to officials that military garrison
had been sent there and that "every-
thing was quiet"
Whether the Watson party asked
for military escort is still undeter-
mined. In regard to this, Collector
Cobb telegraphed as follows:
''It is reported that a person con-
nected with one of the companies op-
Grating in Chihuahua on the day the
Americans started had conversation
with Watson and asked him if a Mex
lean escort was to accompany his par
ty. He replied that such an escort
would not accompany them, as he had
talked with the authorities and they
had told him it was not necessary"
Collector Cobb's report follows:
Collectors Report.
"Holmes, the only survivor of the
massacre, has no knowledge as to
whether Watson and companions re-
quested a military escort or guard
for their trip from Chihuahua to
Cusi. He states that if they did so
the authorities declined to furnish an
an escort or guard. Holmes says
that all the members of the party felt
safe in making the trip.
asked as to what assurances, if
any, Watson and his companions had
received from Mexican authorities
that it would be safe to resume oper-
ations at Cusi, Holmes said:
Knowing that the Cusi mines
were situated at Cusi and that the
purpose of the return of Watson and
companions to Mexico was to resume
the operations of these mines, the
immigration authorities in Juarez,
upon application of the Ell Paso agent
of the company, gave general pass
port to the party.
THE Governor of Chihuahua also
gave personal passport to Watson.
Three Troop Trains Sent.
"Watson went to Chihuahua and
was there on January to ascertain
if it would be safe to resume opera
tions. While there he got the de facto
authorities to send garrison to and
maintain it at Cusi. On that day three
trains of troops of twenty cars each
supposed to carry total force of l.
100 troops, in charge of General Jose
Cabacos, of the de factor govern
ment, left Chihuahua for Cusi at 9
a. M, l: 80 and p. M, respectively.
"On January the Chihuahua
agent of the Cusi company, with
whom I had just talked in my office,
telegraphed Watson at Ell Paso in
reference to the above-named civil
ian passengers on the second military
train, information received by him
from Cusi by phone, as follows:
Boys arrived Cusi safely last night.
They found everything quiet there
"As this telegram mentioned the
boys without mentioning the troops,
Watson on the same day, to make
certain that a garrison was estab-
lished at Cusi, telegraphed the Chi
huahua agent:
"'Wire if troops arrived at Cusi
and trains running northwestern.
"To which the Chihuahua agent re-
piled on the same day: Troops ar
rived Cusi. Since yesterday evening
Northwestern train suspended indefi-
nitely, account no fuel
"On the same day the Chihuahua
agent also telegraphed Watson at Ell
Paso: 'Cusi office again reports
everything quiet, and Lopez tele-
phones we have just located two bags
missing and we are now receiving