The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-01-14
Shot by Bandits Supposed
to be Villa Supporters.
Taken From Train and
Put to Death-One Es-
capes to Tell Story of
Butchery of Mining Men.
Protest to President.

III aoO, lSSdS, ali. ll.-OSNS1lIcSU
persons, all believed to have been
Americans, were killed by Mexican
bandits yesterday after being taken
from a Mexico Northwestern train SO
miles west of chihuahua City, robbed
and stripped of their clothing, accord
ing to a message received here to-
night by H. C. Myles, British vice
consul here, from British Consul
Scovell at Chihuahua City,
Confirmation of the news of the
tragedy tonight was given by officials
here of the Carranza governments.
According to the de facto govern
ment's announcement given to rep
resentatives here of several mining
companies the following Is were re-
ported killed: C. r. Watson, William
J. Wallace, E. L. Robinson, George
w. Newman, M. B. Romero, T. NJ.
Evans, r. T. Mediation, Jack Hase,
Charles Dadleigh, ]. P. Coy, Alexan-
der Hall, J. w. Woom, Charles A.
Pringle, w. D. Pierce, R. H. Sim
mons, Maurice Anderson.
Pringle lived in San Francisco and
Pierce in Los Angeles.
The others are believed to be resi-
dents of Ell Paso.
night stated that the bodies of the
Dispatches from Chihuahua City to-
night stated that the bodies of the
victims were en- route to Juarez, op-
posite here.
+ The train on which the Americans
were travelling from Chihuahua City
to Cusihuiriachic, Chihuahua, carried
thousands of dollars in currency and
a large quantity of supplies sent by
the AsneHicHn Smelling and Refining
company TO its mines in .Cusihuahia-
g 1t is believed here that all the fs
American mining men known 70 have
been in Chihuahua City were on board
the looted train.
Thomas M. Holmes, the only known
survivor, stated, however, in his brief
telegram giving the first news of the
raid that he counted but Is ArIeri-
cans taken from the train.
1t is supposed the bandits belonge1
to the forces of Gen. Jose Rodriguez,
a Villa supporter, known to be op-
Grating in Chihuahua against the de
ldSIo government VI NehlCO.
Almost Immediately after the first
news was received censorship was
imposed on the wires between Juarez
and chihuahua City by the Carranza
officials. This action was taken, it
was said, "until the story could be
verified from official Mexican sources"
According to the brief messages re-
ceived here, the train bearing the
Americans was stopped by the bandits
about SO miles west of Chihuahua
City. The mining men were taken
from the train, robbed, stripped naked
and lined up along the cars for exc
cution. Holmes was said to have been
on the extreme end of the line and as
the firing squad took position, he
broke away and fled into the desert
With feet and body cut and bleeding
from stones and sharp cactus, he ran
until he no longer heard the whistle
of bullets pass him. He succeeded in
reaching friendly Mexicans, it is re-
ported, and was aided to return to
chihuahua City.
The First News.
The first news of the bandit raid
was received here through tele-
gram from Holmes to officials of the
smelling company asking them to
notify his wife that he had reached
Chihuahua City.
His message aroused anxiety con-
cerning the fate of the other men
known to have left Chihuahua City
for Cusihuarlachic, and before the
censorship was imposed they succeed
ed in getting into communication with
mining men in Chihuahua City who
furnished the brief details of the at
tack.
The Americans, it was said, had as
surances of protection given the
smelling company by the Carranza
Onuernmant thronnh the Initial c4n4nn