The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-14
Eye-Witnes. Tells Awful De-
tails Of Slaughter of Unarm-
ed Men
BANDITS WRANGLE OVER
EXECUTIONERS' HONORS
sViva Villa and Death to the
Gringoes Slogans of Villa 8
Murderous Crew Who Com
mitted Awful Act

n Pase. Jan. ls.-Joss Maria
sanchez. an employe OF the Amsican
ninss slain by bandits. who was an
eyewitness OF the murders. told q
graphic story today of the shooting.
He said:
I'VE were In two coaches. one oc-
cupied by the Americans and xhs
other twenty Of us Mexican en-
pioyex
mo sooner had the train leen
brought 10 a standstiIl by the wreck
they began to board the coaches
They s~aFned into our car, poked
Mausers into our sides. and told us
10 throw up our hands or they would
kill us.
They riaed our pockets. took our
blankets and baggage, and even our
lunches. Then Colonel Pablo I-opes.
IN charge OF the footing OF our car.
said:
II you want TO see some fun.
watch us Kill these gringoes Come
on. boys he shouted TO his followers
Viva Villa, and Death to the
Kringoes' | hear a volley of rife
shots and looked out Of the window
Manager Watson was running
toward the Santa Qsabel River. n
short distance away. Four other
Americans were running in other d.
rections. the viiiistas shooting az
them. some or the soldiers dropped
TO their knees for better aim. Watson
fell after running about a hundred
yards. He got up limping. when no
threw up his arms and fell forward.
his body rolling down the banks into
the river.
Shot Down As Pastimc
"Of two others running for the
river. one fell midway. ] learned later
/ this was Romero. Four bullets pen
etrated his body. A young fellow.
later Identified as Mediation, got forty
yards from the train when he was
shot
While this was going on other VII
iistas crowded into the Americans
coach. could not see what hap
pened In there. as a frightful panic
broke out in our car. Later / learn
ed that the Americans were unarm-
I'D.
"pearce was ahot as he sat in the
coach. saw waliace's body on the
shot through the back. Another
body was on top OF Wallace. The
other Americans were herded to the
side of shs coach and lined up.
Colonel Lopez selected TIVE of his
soldiers as exeeutioners.' and this
nearly preci plated a fight among tho
bandits over who should have the
privilege OF shooting the Americans
Several Of the Americans in line had
hesn wounded when the Viilistas shot
into the coach.
TOok Turn About
Tho two executioners used MAns-
Ar rifles One would shoot his vic
tina and then the other soldier would
take the next In line. Within few
snomeaats the executioners had gone
4oompletely down the line. Ths
Americans lay on the ground, some
&asping and writhing In the sand and
cinders
s-The suffering of the Americans
xsemed to drive bandits into a frenzy
viva Villa they cried, and Death to
the gringoes,'
'sCoIonei Lopez ordered the mercy
shot given to those who were still
alive. and the soldiers placed the ends
OF their riies at the victims heads
and fired. putting the wounded out OF
misery.
sAli bodies were completely strip
ped OF clothing and shoes. Fourteen
svere piled together In small draw
about yard from the track. they
were srreared with blood After
psckins UP the bodies our train re-
turned 70 chihuahua City"
An Awful Scene
r. e. Stephenson, secretary OF the
Mining and Smelling Mems Associa-
hon OF chihuahua. who organized the
marty. that recovered the bodies. said
khat the heads were almost blown
|00.
ssThey were stripped OF clothing be-
fore being dragged out of the cars
and killed" said Stephenson, when
Ne arrived at the scene OF the, mas
sacre q Carranza guard remained at
santA Ysabel where we found a num-
bar OF the bandits encamped. We re-
burned to the troop train TO get
machine gun, and then proceeded to
kho place where the bodies were
hcaped."
American friends Of the murdered
uiininG men risked their lives when
hey boldly rode into view OF the
1arderers and recovered the bodies.
rhe bandits still lurked in the vicinity,
- the half dozen Americans, armed
the teeth, picked up the corpses
- nlaeAA khAm IN thAA rnacus trAia-