Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-29
Carranza Forces Trevino to
Iiberate Soldiers Held
at Chihuahua.
NOTIFIED
Special Agent Rodgers Ad-
wise Capital of Official
Release of Men. =

S~t ASAsS julio Zoe
Twenty-three negro troop
ers of the Tenth cavalry
and Lem Spillsbury, Nor
mon scout, captured by
the Mexicans at Carrizal
and subsequently confined
in the Chihuahua peniten-
tiary, were brought to the
border at noon today and a
short time later turned
over to the American mill
tary authorities.
A shout Of laughter rose from
the thousands of Juarez Mexicans
who had gathered to witness the
arrival as the negroes filed from
the special train. The prisoners
were dressed in the scantiest and
most nOndescript garb. Some had
on only trousers. One wore
shirt while a towel encircled his
waist. Other heads were decorated
with handanas.
Salisbury was dressed In a
white duck suit.ssfe appeared
= anxious. All tho -freepers were
worn and drawn from their exper-
fence and all were serious save
one who wore a broad smile.
This one made himself the i'm
pr0mptu spokesman OF his fellows.
Eve sure are glad to get back
he said.
General Francisco Gonzales, Juarez
and Andres Garcia, Mex
can consul, in Ell Paso, met the train.
General Gonzales boarded the train.
A minute later he reappeared, followed
by the guard that had escorted the
prisoners from Chihuahua
The guard, dressed in uniform Of
bright yellow, pushed back the crowd,
lane through which Spills
bury and the troopers marched down
he railway tracks. They were taken
20 the disinfecting plant and there
stripped and treated before being es-
corted to the communicate.
Soldiers Keep Mum.
At the communicate the troopers
refused to discuss the Carrizal fight,
heir Imprisonment or their return to
he border.
I'VE are soldiers, not plain citizens,
they said. I'VE will have to report to
our superior officers and receive their
Spillsbury was not so uncommuni-
cative, however
Spillsbury Is Talkative.
He entered the private Office of Cen
eral Gonzales and there gave out a
brief interview in which he repeated
statements he had been credited with
making at Chihuahua by General ia
cinto Trevino. These statements were
to the effect that Captain Boyd, com.
mander of the Americans at Carrizal
persisted in advancing toward Villa
Ahumada to recover negro desertel
after General Felix Gomez had warned
him to turn back, and after Spillsbury
had urged him to accept this advice.
Places Blame On Boyd.
This interview was arranged at ths
solicitation of the Mexican officials
While Spillsbury was talking. Genera
Gonzales sent out for food for tbs
prisoners who had had nothing to ea'
since leaving Chihuahua.
Spillsbury declared he did not know
who fired the first shot at Carrizal.
He said that after the second con
ference between Captain Boyd ans
General Gomez, when he advised turn
ing back Captain Boyd said:
Il am the commander and it is TO
you to obey"
Spillsbury declared there were hu
rs Americans in Captain Boyd
force.
Spillsbury said he advised Boyd tina
he at least should wait until the Mex
leans fired on him.
After the battle Spillsbury said h
and the other prisoners were taken Il
Villa Ahumada. where their hand
were tied and they were placed aboar,
a train.
Prisoners We're Stoned.
They were stoned, he said, Will
this was being done.
At Chihuahua, where they arrive
minus the greater part of their wear
ing apparel, which had been Stripe
from them. they were assaulted an
stoned again. He denied, however
that at any time were the prisoner
put to work cleaning the streets.
One terrifying moment came to hin
he said in Chihuahua penitentiar
when he was threatened with bein
hanged He had been mistaken for
Texas Mexican and had been dubbe
traitor. When 1t was found that h
was a white man and attached to Ger