Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-05-19
TRAVELLETTE
Former Defiance Postmaster, c. ].
Thompson Invades Mexican Terri
tOry-The Boundary Line A Barb
ed Wire Fence-GambIlng and
Politics.

May oIn, IN an automobile, with
body-guard Frank Birdsell, former
ly of Hicksville, | invaded Baja; or,
Lower California-the peninsular pro-
vince of Old Mexico. Examination
by a Mexican Custom House official
was first in order after crossing the
line. Near the point at which we
entered the Southern Republic stands
a granite shaft abuot fifteen feet
high, three feet square at base and
tapering to something like foot
and a half at the top. 1t is pro-
tected on all sides by an iron fence
about twelve feet on each side. On
are the words
Boundary of the United States
Treaty of 1853
Re-established by the Conventions OF
1882--1889
The destruction or displacement OF
this monument
is a misdemeanor punishable by the
United States or Mexico.
On the Mexican side is the same
inscription in Spanish starting out
with the words
Limite Della Republica
Rratado de 1853
Restablecido Por Las Convenciones de
La Destruction disleacion de ests
Monumento es un delito
Punible por Mexico
o Los Estados Unidos
The line dividing the Mexican from
the American California is not en-
tirely immaginary. AS far as the
eye can reach the two political di
visions are separated by a barbeC
wire fence erected by the Department
of Agriculture of the United State
Government to keep Mexican cattI
out of the United States territor,
and thus prevent infection of ou
own stock. The fence also serve
other useful purpose.
AS l left the territory of my ow
| United States and set foot in thi
revolution torn land l realized tn
utter helplesshess of our situatio
should either Mr.. Birdsell or mysel
be apprehended on any pretex
There are no races at the race cours
on Monday so we drove acros sove
the Tia Juana river on an improvis
ed bridge made necessary by tn
great floods of January last. A
we entered the Old Mexican town c
Tia Juana ((pronounced Tee-af
waugh-nah), we saw the bull pc
where bull fights are held; also tn
barracks where a company of govern
or Cantau's Mexican soldiers are Ell
camped to police the border at thi
Ipoint. They are uniformed in Khal
and are conceited, bluffy little chap
many being part Indian and pal
Spanish. Going over the bridge "
permitted a Jap to ride with US frol
the Mexican custom house into tl
town. Returning we brought owe
the river one of the uniformed Mex
can soldiers from the barracks. H
l could not speak a word of Englis
but for our courtesy attempted
thank US profusely and as near as
can judge made a good job of it,
Spanish.
Upper Lower California is said I
be sparsely settled, but to contai
valuable mineralized mountains al
some fertile valleys. 1t is divide
into two provinces each one havir
capital. The capital of the Lo1
er province is La Pas a sea port. II
capital of the Upper province is E
senada. a town of about a thousal
population, seventy-five miles sou
of San Diego. The preesnt, or m
itary capital of the state is Mexica
with a population of about thr
thousand one hundred twenty-fi
miles east, opposite Calexico, Califo
MIA. Governor E. Cantau lives the
at present and is thought to be d
ing his best to preserve order al
thus enjoy "Aake-off" on t
"doings" at Tia Juana. He is sa
J to have recently made a thirty thou
: and dollar investment at Riversic
J California. 1t seems to pay to
| a beneficiary of horse racing. b.
, fights, and gambling, with a contin
Gus performance of revolutiona
politics thrown in. At Tia Jua
l walked about some but was n
. pleased with the looks of the inha
itants, Mexican soldiers, plug-ugli,
: cut throats, etc. etc. I saw nume
Gus gambling devices and gam
running wide open. 1t is said tn
the son of the reformed gambl
Mason Long, is at the head of sy
! ! dicate enjoying a concession or gra
l from the Mexican government to c
= crate gambling devices at Tia Jual
4 The employees who conduct the gal
r are said to be paid literally, each
t per day by the syndicate. Big wae
+ are paid to assure efficient serv
1 and an honest accounting for ca
= handled. 1t is not unusual to he
a of American lambs that stray acre
the international border and retu
fieeced good and proper. I visit
the Mexican post office and from t
Mexican postmaster personally l pl
= chased some Mexican stamps a
mailed some post cards to my fol
: and the Defiance newspaper as a n
mento that l was here for a few hol
on Mexican soil, outside the limi
but in sight of American territory
o the extreme southwest point of |
j. mexican Union.
g | Tic T1ono MoUioo Mo-, oh 1O1 G