The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-07-28
Miss Mildred Scaife Relates
Thrilling Experiences in Mex
leo Cify-Duing the Bombard-
menf Her Home was in the
Line of Fire and Pieces of
Shell Flew i'm Her Window.
Clinton Chronicle.

Clinton Chronicle.
Mr.. Rowland E. Scaife and his sis
ter, Miss Mildred E. Scaife, arrived
here from Mexico City last Thursday
and are visiting their brother, Mr.. II.
l.. Scaife. With the exception of sew
er&l short trips to the States they
have been in Mexico throughout the
various revolutions which have torn
up that country. During the ten days
bombardment in Mexico City their
home was in the line of fire and a
around their home. Miss Scaife has
pieces of shell and shrapnel which
flew in the window and fell on the
floor of her room.
Mr.. Scaife was formerly from Un-
ion, where for about ten years he
was the head bookkeeper of the Ex-
celsior Knitting Mills. In 1907 he ac-
cepted responsible position in one
of the largest banks in Mexico. Mr..
Scaife is also talented artist and
during his stay in Mexico. his spare
time has been devoted to art. When
conditions resulted in the paralyization
of business, he remained to complete
some paintings of Mexican life on
which he was working. 1t was his
intention to leave for Spain to de-
vote his entire time to art when the
European war started. His sketches
of Mexico scenery have gained him a
reputation and a number of his paint
ings have gone abroad.
Il -. ,.~l
Scaife for the following interesting
article on the Mexican situation:
The need for positive action on
the part of the United States govern
ment in the case of Mexico, has never
been more acute than now. The grim
wolf of starvation is showing its teeth
again, and the writer knows Of actual
cases where old people and young chill
dren sank down in the streets of
Mexico City and died for want of
bread. In normal times one dollar in
Mexican money is worth fifty cents
in ours. You can imagine the suffer-
ing among the poor when sack of
flour is selling at $100.00; butter,
$3.50 per pound; coffee and sugar,
$4.00 and $500 per pound. When the
Ped Cross sent supplies they were
held up by Carranza. The most pitt
full sight saw in Mexico was 2 great
crowd of little children passing along
the street with little empty vessels
crying for something to eat The
"frst chief" Carranza, when bread
riots and looting were going on AMI
constructive craftsmanship was re-
quired, he was concerning himself
about such things as divorce laws and
the upholding of the established laws
of the country and those in authority
under him, were directly to the en-
ployers that the wages of employees
should be raised and that no servant
at all should work on Sundays, and
that work should not begin until $50
a. m. and stop at 7 p. m. This, of
course caused great discomfort and
paved the way for the numerous s,ri-
.ous strikes which followed.
Carranza's first arrival into Mex
leo City with his hordes of bandit
soldiers was followed by reign of
terror. The homes of aristocrats and
of the most wealthy Mexicans were
made targets of the revolutionary
spirit. Obregon, the post commander,
gave carte blanche to his men to loot
as much as they pleased with the
promise that he would mot fire a
shot," while many a private citizen
was shot and made an example of for
petty thieving.
Many nights were made hideous by
repeated rifle shots in the heart of
the city, many innocent men being
killed because their political opinions
differed. The rough, dirty soldiers
took possession of some Of the most
elegant homes in the city for barracks,
the unfortunate owners having fled
the country since Diaz left.
The bandits carried off car loads of
furniture. One house in particular
was brought to our notice. The Ii
brary of this home was considered the
finest in the city. The soldiers not
liking the polished floors, drove nails
into them to insure safer walking, and
seeing the library, threw the books out
on the ground like rubbish, selling
many volumes of priceless value for
~ 'iSHiSaii SSiiIS, VI CeltS Ill our
money. The officers installed them
selves in different elegant, private
homes, Carranza's choice being nota-
bly, beautiful, and the soldiers turned
churches into stables.
Why should dignified government
like ours treat with bandits Why
should it grasp hand, if not person
ally stained with blood, is certainly n
party to it? 1t is impossible in a
. short article to enumerate the horri-