Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-12
STRIP and line
UP IS AMERICANS
And EMPTY GUNS
Taken from Train in Mexico and
Stood Before Firing Squad
and But One Remains to
Tell of II.
OTHERS FATE is sURMIsED
He Hears Rifles Of Executioners
Ring Out as He Makes Dash
for Safety.
BLACKLIST OF BANDIT CRIMES

Ell PASO, Tex, Jan. 11.-SiNteen
Americans returning to their mining
camp in chihuahua were taken from
a train fifty miles west of Chihua-
hua City by bandits. supposedly led
by General Jose Rodriguez, stood
naked along the track and only one
escaped to tell in surmise what hap
poned to the others.
The men were employees OF the
Cusihuiriachic Mining company trav-
cling under promised military pro
lection of the de facto Mexican gov
erument with trainload of supplies
and thousands of dollars in currency.
The first intimation of the raid came
In a brief telegram from Thomas NJ.
Holmes, the only known survivor, to Of
fictals Of the American Smelling and Re-
filming company here. Almost immedi-
ately censorship was imposed on the
wires between chihuahua and Juarez by
the Carranza officials until the story
could he verified from official Mexican
sources"
One of Worst Outrages.
According TO local mining men Holmes
brief message contained enough to
brand the raid as one of the most afro
cious In the last four years OF revolution
in Mexico. II was pointed out that the
raid occurred fifty miles west of Chi
huahua City yesterday, where, presuma-
bly,, there We're thousands of troops OF
tho Carranza government. In addition 10
hordes of unkcmpt lately surrendered
Villa forces
Mining men here pierced togther the
scant outline contained In Holmes
cryptic telegram. According 10 this in
formation the train was stopped at Kilo-
meter 6S. The American mining men were
compelled to descend and lined up along
the cars. Holmes was at the extreme left
end. \ firing squad took position OPP
posite and as they raised their rifles.
Holmes started n race for his life toward
Chihuahua City. He could hear shooting
and bullets swishing past and ran until
out of sound of the firing
News Of the raid caused consternat ton
among the families of the mining men
supposed to have been on the train, most
Of whom reside here.
Eighteen Names In List.
A verified list of American mining men
in Chihuahua was prepared here from
the records of Mexican passports issued.
This list contains eighteen names, and
as Holmes message placed the number
taken from the train at sixteen 1t was
presumed that two had remained in Chs
huahua City. The list follows:
{. r, Watson. manager and large stock
holder. El Paso.
w ]. Wallace. FL Paso,
T. NJ Evans, lei paso.
w. NJ. Romero, El Paso.
G; A., Pringle, San Francisco
Maurice Anderson, El Paso.
r. p. McHatton, El Paso.
Alexander a; Hall, Douglas, Ariz,
y. J.. Robinson, ~ Paso.
- Blomb, El Paso.
3, IT, simmons, -
j. Adams. .
j. Jones, -.
Thomas NJ Holmes. FL Paso.
Thinks OF wife.
Last night Holmes reached Chihuahua
City. His only thought, apparently, was
OF his wife, presuming the news OF the
affair had reached the border.
Whether he could send no more infor-
nation, or whether he believed the news
OF the raid had reached FL Paso through
the de facto government cannot be ascer-
tained, but he sent message to the
mining company requesting that Mrs.
Holmes be advised that he was at tho
capital and safe,
The message was brought to the office
OF the American Smelling and Refining
company and caused anxiety. for 1t was
known Holmes had been on the train
scheduled to leave Chihuahua City yester-
morning for the camp. Before the tele-
graphic censorship was imposed COM
munication was established with other
mining men in Chihuahua city and the
report there that the Americans on the
train had been killed reached this city.