Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-01-14
RECOVERY OF BODIES
OF SLAIN AMERICANS
Story of Newspaper Man Who Was
on the Relief Train.


Ell Paso. Tex. Jan. 13.-This story
Is Americans slain near Chihuahua
was told here today by a newspaper
man who was on the relief train:
almost the whole foreign popula-
ton of Chihuahua City assembled at
the Mexico Northwestern terminal
Monday evening to await the return of
the train which had left the same
morning to take the officials and men
out to start work in the mines. I'm
confirmed reports had been received of
the fate that had befallen them and
the Mexicans who were allowed to re-
turn unmolested had fully verified the
sad news.
Some Ran. But They Are All Dead.
1--WE saw them ordered off the cars
and then the shooting began they
said. Some ran, but they are all dead
The Villistas told us to go back home
and tell the Carranzistas to send some
troops out for them to get to work
on
THE foreigners FASTENED back to the
club to await the result of an inter-
view between Captain sScoville, the
British consul, at present representing
American interests, in the absence Of
Mr.. Letcher, and General Trevino.
Foreigners Given Permission to Arm.
troop train early in the morning. He
gave permission for all foreigners who
cared to go along to carry arms to as
sist in recovering the bodies. A num-
Der volunteered and later assembled
at the Mexico Northwestern depot
1--WE waited from a. m. to a. m.
Tuesday for the soldiers to entrain
their horses and then go into a small
following train of three box cars and
caboose. 1t took US six hours to get
to Santa ISABEL, about IS miles, and
five miles short Of the scene of the
massacre.
Ten Soldiers on Relief Train.
The sun was getting low and we
realized that if we did not complete our
task we might not get the bodies away.
We finally got Colonel Garcie, in COM
mand OF the troops, to put ten soldiers
In our train and permit US to, go
ahead. A mile from the scene of the
tragedy we were stopped by two ex-
cited Mexicans who urged the crew
to reverse the engine, and we moved
back to Santa Ysabel
Bandits Were Awaiting.
1--WE there found that the two men
had been part of the train crew of
Watsen's train and had been held pris-
oners, and that the troops, presumably
bandits, were just over the hill await
ing us.
Presently their advance guard top
ped the rise and waited there, leisure
" counting our force.
1--WE finally persuaded the colonel
to give us so mounted men to go with
US abreast Of the train. on which we
had now moved two machine guns.
Bodies Were Stripped.
I'VE got to the scene of the tragedy
just as the sun went down. AS the
train came to a standstill we could
dimly see the wrecked train that had
halted the Watson train, and then our
eyes fell upon a patch of white that
showed up against the rocky cut.
Heaped in a pile were IA bodies, strip
ped Of all clothing but their under
shirts Some of them were punctured
with many holes, while without excep-
ton the features were SO disf1gured by
close shooting that Identification was
difficult. Without speech we ran for
blankets to carry the dead into the
car.
when they were all loaded our es-
cort started back. We only moved a
few yards when the engine left the
track; nearly an hour later we had it
back on.
Found All Wired Down.
1--WE got to Santa Ysabel about 9
o'clock that night, to find all wires
down. We feared that they had been
cut by Villa, who might be planning
an attack upon US. We had a con-
sultat1on and finally secured permis-
sion to proceed to Chihuahua City,
where early in the morning commit
tee took charge of the bodies.
Train Looted Of $4,000 in Silver.
1.-THE train had been looted of $780,
600 in silver and currency apart from
the personal belongings of the men. It
was rumored in Chihuahua City that
the bandits had been advised of the
departure of the train with the money.
Sixteen thousand dollars Of the cash
had belonged to Watson"