The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1916-01-14
MExICANS KILL
IS AMERICANS
Victims Taken From Gar and
Slain by Rodriguez.
ONE ESCAPES, SENDS MESSAGE

Bandits, Followers of Villa, Rob Train
After Murder-Atrocity Fifty Miles
from Chihuahua-Carranza Had
Guaranteed Party, Who Were Min
ing Men, Military Protection.
Ell PASO = Fifteen Americans
were murdered, robbed and stripped
OF clothing and train load of provi
siOns and money was looted by bandits
under General Jose Rodriguez at kilo-
meter 6S of the Mexico Northwestern
railroad. west of Chihuahua, according
to one American On the train who es-
capped. reached MADEIRA and wired to
the American Smelter and Refining
company representatives. here
One Man Escapes.
The American who escaped the ven
geance of the Mexicans was Thomas
Holmes
The first intimation of the raid came
in a brief telegram from Holmes, the
only known survivor to officials of the
American Smelling and Refining com
pany here. Almost Immediately a cen
sOrship was imposed on the wires be-
tween Chihuahua and JuareZ by the
Carranza officials until the story
could be verified from official Mexican
sources"
It was pointed out that the raid oc-
cured fifty miles west of Chihuahua
city, where, presumably. there were
thousands of troops of the Carranza
government in addition to hordes OF
unkempt, lately surrendered Villa
forces
Men Face Firing Squad.
Mining men here pieced together
the scant outline cor tanned in Holmes
cryptic telegram. According to this in
formation the train was stopped at
F<ilometre 68.
The American men were compelled
to descend and lined up along the
cars Holmes was at the extreme left
end. A firing squad took position OPP
posite, and as they raised their rifles
Holmes started a race for his life to-
ward Chihuahua City. He could hear
shooting and bullets swishing past,
and ran out Of sound of the firing.
News of the raid caused consterna-
ton among the families of the mining
men supposed to have been on the
train, most of whom reside here
The names of Americans on the
train, as compiled here. follow:
G. L. Watson, w. j. Wallace, M. B..
Romero, C. NJ Evans, C. A. Bimble,
M. Anderson, r. E. Mediation, E. L..
Robinson, R. H. Seamons and the FOL-
lowing, whose initials were not known
here:
Coy, Hall, Watleigh, Newman. Hand,
Blomb or Blum and Anders
This list contains sixteen names of
Americans on the train. AS one of the
men escaped it leaves fifteen victims.
Watson Mine Owner.
c. L. Watson is the general man
ager and principal owner of the Cusi
huirachio Mining company operating
in the district Of that name, which is
in western Chihuahua on the branch
of the Kansas City. Mexico & Orient
line connecting with the Mexico North
western at La Junta
Efforts to secure further information
from the. interior of Chihuahua, off,
Gals of the American Smelling and
Refining company said, were hamper
ed By a censorship at Juarez
Were Promised Military Protection.
All of the Americans were employees
of the Cusihuirachio Mining Co.. one
of the subsidiaries of the American
Smelter and Refining company They
were en- route to open the plant under
the promise of military protection
made by the Mexican government to
the state department.