American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-09-21
FLEEING FROM MEXICO.

To those of us who read in the pap
ers the simple account that "all Amer
leans had been warned to return AZ
soon as possible to the United States,"
the idea of flight from Mexico seems
trifle hazy But to those ON the
spot u presented reality more than
stern. A woman missionary who had
been doing educational work In a
school In Mexico iCty tells In letter
to The Living Church few OF the
experiences which were hers at the
time Ct the general disorder. Perhaps
the newspaper accounts Of the perils
OF American citizens will seem more
real to us when we find this woman
saying:
had lived so long In such state
OF nervous anxiety. and, at times, OF
such real dread OF what might happen.
that can not relixe yet that am out
OF, and far beyond, the danger-zone.
After It was decided not to attempt
to go on with he work OF he school,
returned to Mexico City early In June
with no definite plans and greatly dis
turbed as to my future work. l went
back to the settlement-house to await
developments. II was not long before
political conditions began to cause
fresh alarms. The situation became
acute again for the forty-eleventh
time. Again war with the United
States seemed inevitable. The Mexi-
cans were expecting II and had begun
10 II. A..
many Of whom were already over the
border. We were not kept informed
as to what was really going on In
Washington or near the border. A
subsidized press published everything
but the truth and sought by the most
inflamatory, blood-chllling notices and
editorials to stir up the Mexicans and
to excite an outbreak against the hat
cd Yankees, even those In their nidst
Wild rumors flew like bullets. Men.
women and children Joined In hystsr-
ical Manifestations, marching through
; the principal streets from time 10
time. yelling Death to the Yankees" !"
"On TO the border" "On to wrest from
the Gringo robbers the territory they
stole from Mexico!"
A companion and ! stumbled right
into demonstration being held In
front OF the national palace. Looking
above the crowd we saw a group OF
flrst chiefs, Carranxa. Obregon, and
> others, who stood mt attention to an
:, orator below who was Offering his
: last drop OF blood and the last drops
OF the crowd on the altar OF their be-
loved country TO form river OF blood
In which to drown out the hated foe
We did not tarry to hear what the iirsl
r chiefs had to say about us. but VIZ
q read their speeches In the morning
papers. Many Americans grew pan
y icky and stood not on the order OF theil
going Some In their excitement
q boarded cattle-trains and made theil
|. way solwly and most uncomfortably t,
= Vera Cruz was one OF those who re
: fused to grow panicky, and declared
would moot be driven out again with
! out my baggage. Indeed, ! felt far
y more safe In Mexico City and had mad.
: up my mind to risk II there Will.
longer.
There were many missionaries IL
the city. also loath to leave and de
|, termined TO stand at their posts a,
2 long az possible. All kinds OF excite
!, ments lived and died, and still WI
waited. One day II was reported tina
Intervention had been formally de
J: clared and that vice-Consul Canada
= OF Vera Cruz. had been murdered. W.
= began TO 2hivcr again. but still W,
!. waited. Every one seemed TO be walt
u Ing for some Que to decide what ever
,- ole should do. Bysthls time had de
20 clared would be willing to start witt
n any other missionaries on regula
sr passenger-train TO Vera Cruz. On tn
D morning Of Juno ~ was notified tina
q, @ party OF Methodist workers woul,
s :. be leaving the next morning. cam
- quickly to decision and made read.
=, TO CO. II did not take long TO maxi
4. hurried preparations and at ive o'clocl
X, In the morning, June rs. eight forIorl
N maiden missionaries boarded an over
o. crowded train and bade fearful ado
r to Mexico.
q, The days trip TO the coast was with
" out incident. though we were on ner
- ycus lookout for something TO happen
- Only the day before the train had beel
Q fired upon and three people killed. Blu
g. we were spared any such barrowin
r experiences. We arrived In Yer
n Cruz late in the evening and hoped b
is. be put on the transport the followin
ri day, but II was not there and did NO
d, arrive until the goth. The five hun
r. dred refugees who had preceded u
10 had been put on the battleship Nebras
ka, and they were being held 10
transferred 70 the transport. w
= spent hot, anxious time OF it In Yer
- Cruz The natives OF the place IL
49, 49, us know they resented our being ther
and there was some attempt at den
% onstration before our party left I'd
:" station. "cargadores" tporters) refus
ed IN handle our baggage and the cal