The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1916-01-21
LINED
UP AND SHOT

Ell Paso. ''Gringoes get off here"
That was the command that rang out
in the train on which seventeen
American mining men were journey |
ing from Chihuahua to the mining |
according to Thos b. Holmes, |
only survivor Of the party. 1t was
the signal for the Dutchery of all the
Americans present. Shots accompan-
led the command.
Some Americans ran from the cars.
They were shot down as they fled.
Those who stood under the guns OF
men in the Villa uniforms were liqed
up beside the train, ordered to I'M
dress, and bullet was sent into the
head of each. Holmes arrived here SO
exhausted that only the barest details
of the massacre could be given by
him.
After the Americans were taken off
the train, lined up alongside the track
they were ordered to disrobe. Real
izing what was about to occur, he
said, he made a break for liberty, to-
gether with c. r.. Watson, Tom Evans
and r. MacHatton. They were pur-
sued by about l5 bandits who one af-
ter the other shot his companions in
the dash for life, but missed Holmes
He said he ran about three miles
when, noticing he was no longer pur-
sued, he stopped, exhausted Some
raDchmen came to his assistance and
loaned him a mule on which he reach
ed Chihuahua City the night Of Jan.
! 10.
Holmes SAID Watson's head was
blown off and that after the bodies
were brought to Chihuahua City it
was found that they had been riddled
with bullets and otherwise mutilated.
Holmes declared he did not know
who led the bandits.
Holmes reported further details t.
state department officials here.
"The train left Chihuahua City al
IL O'clock he said. "A bout , p. m
when we were just outside OF Santa
Ysabel, the train stopped and shout
from the right-of way came to us
'All Gringoes get of here,
tom Evans went to the door o
the coach, out on the platform anC
down the steps | heard a shot Wat
son, who was behind Evans, rushed q
the platform to see what had happen
ed. was behind him. Watson
caught sight Of the bandits and swun
to the right-of-way and ran along tn
car. / saw him fall under volle
, of bullets.
! Il started down the steps Som
one pushed me from behind. fell o
my face. A volley Of shots went oYc
my head. l fell into heap OF bruS
on the right-of-way and stayed theI
trying to gather my wits. Meanwhi
, there was firing going on all arour
me, some bullets tearing through Il
brush where | was lying. manage
!. to crawl on my stomach in the bru,
for some little distance unobserve
;. and then ! got 10 my feet and ran {
:. ward Chihuahua City. Back Al u
= train the shooting was ConUnuou
By and 10y / came 10 a ranch huus
, where they gave me a mule, and
reached Chihuahua City"
: +. Ben ottestad, who arrived be
: with Holmes, stated that be 10
= Holmes when he reached Chihuan
City.
Holmes was badly scared, he sal
'and feared 10 enter the city at tr
*. He had an old blanket over his Shot
or ders aud no hat. lie thought the bs
IN dts were laying for Watson, parti,
g. larly. When the bodies reached {
-. capital II was noted each had been 81
n through the forehead.
"All Americans in Chihuahua ",
prepared TO come to the border wf
nd | left when it was uncertain whetl
ed the garrison was for or against c
rama"