The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-25
Refugee Travelled 500
Miles on Foot.
From the City of Mexico to
Ell PasO, Texas.
WAS ROBBED ON THE BORDER
Bandit Took $4,000 Gold He
Was Carrying.
He Is Owner of a Mine and an
Orange Ranch.

A Treasure Island tale of adventure
and misadventure is told by an Amer
lean refugee from Mexico now staying
at the ProVident association. Claln-
ing to be the owner of rlch golu
mine in Chihuahua and ranch in the
state of Vera Cruz. A. w. Walker tells
how he made the trip from Mexico
CITY on foot to the border carrying on
his person over $4,000 in gold; how
within two hours walk of the border
he was robbed by ten bandits-Niila
men ne supposes- MeXicans and
four Americans.
~ Not satisfied with robbing him of
his gold the bandits took also all or
his clothing save some of his unmen-
tionableS and he made the SIX miles
to the Mexican border under the Mex
lean sun, clad only in his Mexican
substitute for B. v DIS.
Mexicans at the border took up a
collection for him and he was en-
abled to get as far as Wichita on ms
way back to Kansas City, the town he
had left eight years before, with $40
600 to invest in Mexican land. Sub
sequently he drifted on to Topeka an
is now at the Provident association.
Hes rs Years of Age.
Walker is a man of rs years of age
but is strong and hearty, his skin
brown and leathery from eight years
spent in Mexican sunlight. Eight
years ago last November he left KAN
sas City with the idea of investigating
Mexican investments. He bought an
orange ranch in the state of Vera
Cruz and soon was enabled to pur-
chase a gold mine in Chihuahua.
Fortune smiled on him and the
mine PANIED out several hundred
thousands of dollars for him and his
associates.
And then Diaz whom Walker claims
to have been paying revenue to be-
la a
Walker picked Madero as likely man
to pay protection money to, but 1t was
a lost investment Madero was killed,
Walker was then harried for money
successfully by the Huerta gang, the
ZapatistaS and the CarranZistaS. He
tells of paying over $4,000 taxes" to
Carranza. Work on the mine had to
be stopped for as soon a shipment
of gold was made the bandits held up
the train at the next corner. over
100000 was lost in eight successive
robberies.
Six Battles on His Ranch.
Six big battles between the Huerta
and Madero. Moras and the Zapatistas
and Carranzas were fought on his
orange ranch and the country became
too hot for American citizens. Putting
Si4 goo of his profits next to his skin
Walker made his way on foot to Mex
ico city. Uprisings against 'Ameri-
canos'' became the rule and he deter
mined to make for the border.
six hundred miles through noun
tains. over deserts and streams Walker
made in two months. Within sight
of liberty he was stopped by the gane
whom he declares had been trying tC
locate him all the way.
Walker is now looking for work anc
the association has already provided
several jobs for him He has no rela
tiYes in the country having emigrateC
here from Germany fifty years ago
He has one friend in Kansas named
Olson. who lives at Peabody.
His story is consistent and unfalt
tering and told without excitement
But mention the American MexicaI
policy to him and the air turns hazy
Walker declares he will remain
here until it clears up sufficiently II
return to Mexico, his gold mine an(
500 acre orange ranch.