The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1916-05-11
Ell Paso, Texas.
May 5, 1916


the United States had in Mexico until
we threw him down"
villa was always very kind and
considerate of the poor and was very
charitable"
"Villa was and is a butcher with
practically no regard for human life."
These are the estimates placed on
the late hero of northern Mexico
now out-lawed bandit-by man who
was close to the throne during Villas
brief reign.
This man was superintendent of
equipment for Villa for a year, follow
ing his capture of JuareZ. He quit
the service about nine months ago.
He was with Villa, on his private
train, during the year of his great
triumph. Like conquering Napoleon,
Villa won battle after battle-captur-
ing every city between Juarez and
the City of Mexico. My friend fol-
lowed him to Mexico City and back.
Last night visited with this man
for four hours and encouraged him
to talk of Villa and the business side
of that spectacular campaign. Some
things he told may interest you. The
facts are his; / have merely put
long talk into short story.
After Villa captured Juarez he be-
gan to appreciate his own ability and
planned his campaign South on a
larger scale than anything before at
tempted. 1t was necessary to equip
an army and to gather about himself
men who could get this equipment to-
Americans who could speak Spanish
and knew local conditions.
You remember that Villa came from
the mountain peon class. He was a
bandit. Had no doubt killed many
people. PERHAPS had served in jail.
Anyway he was an outlaw under the
Diaz administration, with large re-
ward offered for his capture.
When Madero started his revolution
Villa gathered small band and join
ed the Madero forces. He succeeded
well and climbed up to be a general.
But it was in the next revolution
to overthrow Huerta that Villa made
his wonderful campaign, thru Northern
Mexico
Never Used {. Fork.
Villa probably never used a fork or
had on decent suit of clothes, or
had a bath except out in the open
streams, until he was well along rast
early manhood. He was a primitive
man.
But with all, my friend says, he
had noble instincts and picked up
good deal of culture during the last
few years of his career. He was al
ways watchful of others and tried to
prepare himself for a higher station
in life by gathering all the refine
ment he could.
Villa could not read or write He
could make only scrawl for his name.
But he had a remarkable memory for
people. details and figures. He usually
knew how much money he had in the
banks.
So when he began to gather a suite
about him, the members of this new
suite, no doubt a motley crowd of
adventurers, began the process of
bringing up father" Culture was soon
abundant about the court.
Villa had plenty of money at this
time, and during the next year money
flowed freely into the treasure car
of the most successful land pirate
of the age.
Villa must have a private car-so
the best Pullman obtainable was
secured. The official train included
private car for Villa, another Pull
man for officers and suite, new box
car was fitted up for diner, with a
stove and two Chinese cooks.
The rest of the train was made up
OF cattle cars and fiat cars, like this
one on the other side of the river
used by Gen. Obregon.
Shower Bath Arranqed
Villa had heard of shower baths.
so they fitted one up for him on the
outside platform of his car. A shower
was put in at the top and rubber cur
tains provided to cut off the view OF
the curious.
The best automobile was urehased
for Villa, and several for the officers.
Five aeroplanes. good auto trucks,
thousands Of dollars worth of tires,
blacksmith shop; even plano were
bought
Villa provided his army with Ameri
can shoes and shirts, something most