Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-04-21
REPORT BRINGS
MEN TO ARMS


pitch of excitement ever aroused in
Lordsburg, was manifest Sunday
evening about 8 o'clock when a
eelegram was received here from
Separ, eighteen miles east, telling
of the approach of a band of sew
enty-five armed Mexicans, who
we're alleged to have been seen by
a party of tourists, who were
unching near Separ. Simultane-
ously the word was received by
the operator in Deming and a posse
organized there to protect No. 8,
on the Southern Pacific, which was
about due to leave.
According to all accounts the
true version of the affair was
two women and a man travelling
eastward in an automobile rushe,
into the telegraph office at Separ
Sunday night, telling the tele-
grapher that they had been eating
lunch about two miles west of Sc
par, on the Borderland route, and
had seen a band of armed, mount
ed Mexicans, numbering about sew
enty-five, moving westward. The
names of the parties were not Sc
cured nor could their destination
be traced. Immediately the news
was spread broadcast.
1t was announced throughout
.Lordsburg and the men brought
forward all the arms contained in
the town, supplying those not
equipped and preparing for any
thing that might arise. 1t "
announced in all the churches and
messengers visited all the homes,
telling of the report from Separ.
The women and children were ad-
vised to go to the schoolhouse,
where lights were dimmed and
guards stationed. Patrols were
organized and the borders of the
town carefully watched.
Constable Oscar Allen and a
mounted posse left at once for S
par and secured the country where
the Mexicans were alleged to have
been seen. The place where the
auto party lunched was found but
no trace of horses could be found
at any place in the country. No
l.persons had seen any Mexicans
and no news of any character was
lSscertained.
| Meanwhile in Lordsburg the
citizens armed themselves and
were prepared for any attack. II
is estimated that over 800 armed
men and boys gathered in the
streets ready to meet whatever
might come. The crowd was or.
derly and every man kept cool
Some took various stands on the
east side, while everyone was ready
for protecting the town.
Number 9 was held up an hour
at Deming, where railroad Off
GERS, and attaches of the sheriff.
office organized a posse of 30 mer
who accompanied the train tc
Lordsburg. Two machine guns
were mounted on the train. Mum
Der 9 arrived here at 1 o'clock a
m. with all lights dimmed. The
Deming men mounted their ma
chine gun at points most suited in
town and offered their aid to the
Lordsburg men. By 3 o'clock the
excitement had subsidized and the
Deming people returned home OF
No. 102 at a o'clock.
During the rest of the morning
the Lordsburg men kept vigil anC
did not leave their posts until
and 8 o'clock.
To further the excitement there
were rumors circulated that tht
Mexicans at the So Mine were act
ing suspiciously and that "trou
BILE was brewing" Men from
Lordsburg went up to the mine anC
found that conditions there were
peaceful and the camp void of an!
disturbance. Sundry reports wer,
told of how the men were sending
their women folks to Lordsburi
during the evening and how the.
had gathered together about
o'clock. However, all was we'll a
the camp.
II, While the affair of Sunday nigh
did not necessitate the action o
the organized force, it gave the pee
pie an idea of what would be don
in case of trouble. Our men ar
prepared and were given an oppoI
tunity to show their colors.
III