El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-04-19
NDBS FORCE THE
FIGHT At PARRAL
Carranza Troops Compelled
to Fight the Americans,
Though Friendly.

What occurred at Parral as viewed
by Mexican who was compelled to
enter into an attack upon the Ameri-
can soldiers, was told Wednesday morn
ing at local mining company office
by messenger who had been sent 20
Santa Barbara, and who was at Par
raj during the trouble between the
American troops and the Parral popu-
lace. The account Of what happened
as told by the messenger who arrived
Tuesday night from ParraI. follows:
when the people became very ex-
cited at the presence Of the soldiers
the mayor Of the municipality, Jose de
Ia Luz Herrera tried TO quell the dis
tUrbance and the commanders Of the ,
military talked with their soldiers and
instructed them that there should be no
hostilities
THE people of Parral then said to the
mayor and the soldiers. This Is our
country and It does not belong to you !
nor to CarranZa, but to US and we shalIN
Kill these gringOes
Crowds Force Soldiers 10 Join.
Then continued the messenger,
the crowds began to gather and all Of +,
the men had guns and the women had !
stones The American soldiers had I
moved to the outskirts of the town. To /
some of the Mexican soldiers the mob /
said: If you do not join with US in /
killing these gringoes, then we viii 1
XIII you Compelled to join the mob, /
this is how the Constitutionalist SOL !
diers got into the running fight with ]
the American soldiers.
"One Of the leaders of the mob saw
me standing IN doorway and said:
You come and join in killing the grin
goes crossed my fingers and said:
I have no gun
we viii get you a gun one said TO
me, ana taking a gun from a Consti-
tutionalist sentry, he handed it to me
and I was compelled to go with the
mob. The battle that occurred outside
OF town was a running one and there
were not so many killed as reported.
7 should say that there were not more
than 20 to %.
Threatened with Death.
after it was all over I was told that
7 might go but II told Of what hap
pened in Parral at Ell Paso 1 would be
executed IL 1 returned: and because Of
this / am afraid to go back.
IT was present also when several
men from the mob pointed pistols at
the stomachs OF the mayor and two OF
the commanding officers and told them
that II they interfered with the attack
upon the gringoes they would be killed.
only those COnstitutlonalist SOL
1iers who were in the barracks near
The plaza where the mob gathered :
we're compelled to join the mob; the
'thers remained in town, but when the
PEOPLE demanded guns and rifles from (
protest The mayor and the officers
we're powerless TO meet the situation" .
Americans Story Of Fight. I
a second account Of the engagement ! =
It Psrral was given by A. G. Urquhart,
Who arrived IN FL Paso Tuesday night
rom Parral, coming to FL Paso by way :
f Chihuahua Mr.. Uruuhart stated y
hat the Americans had ridden into \
'arral without warning to the people +
hough there may have been warning =
o the military and that the troops q
lere welcomed in friendly manner by T
he Carranza officials. He also bears h
mt the statement OF the mine messen- n
,er that mob of 200O persons intimf- L
lated the Constitutionalst soldiers and S
compelled them to enter into the en- N
-agement The first American soldier Is
o be killed. Mr.. Uruuhart stated, was s.,
hot by a civilian after the throwing It
Z stones began. The shot was returned Il
nd a Mexican artillery officer fell. n
his began the engagement and marked Il
he withdrawal Of the American troops. 4 q
Texas Mexienns Mean. Il
Mr.. Urquhart attributes much OF the I
u feeling to the influence Of -dexicans in
rom Texas and New Mexico, who are is
ar bitterer in their feeling against the u
United States than the Mexicans Of A
arraL m
Il know that Maj. Theodore velas-
uez was killed in the engagement"
aid Mr. Uruuhart, "and that Col -,
rocco lost q finger in the fight I do >,
OF know the extent Of the other cas-. -
alties. =
I'VE had a report in Parral that Villa Il
'as dead and buried. but il came to Us h
econd hand and we do not know from a,
ny official source that this Is fact V,