Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-18
TELLS Of HORRORS
PREVAILING IN MEXICO
Petersburg Woman, Back From
Southern Capital, Says Hatred of
Americans Is Predominant.


RICHMOND. Va, February 16.-"Peo-
lions as they exist in Mexico will never
be able to judge of them from any
description which has been or ever
will be written" said Mrs. Edward Mil
Ter of Petersburg, who has reached
Richmond after spending six days in
Mexico City. Mrs. Miller went there to
get trace of her husband, Edward Mil
Ter, formerly of Petersburg. who disap-
peared after becoming financially in
volved. 1.-The second night out from
Laredo, Tex, after passing Monterey.
my train was attacked by bandits. They
fired hundreds of shots into the train
and were driven off by soldiers who
were on the train. Several of the ban
dts were killed. Along the line of the
railroad I saw a great many bodies OF
men swinging from the telegraph poles.
The conductor told me they were
bandits executed by order of the Car
rama government.
Mexico City beggars description. The
streets are filled with the vilest of
Observation-Disclosures. looters, thieves,
beggars. Old and young, men and
women, are begging bread. All Mexi-
cans take a keen delight in robbing
Americans, whom they hate with una
nimity. At the hotels the rates for
Americans are s14 to SIS a day, while
the Mexicans pay on an average OF ~
for the same fare. The food is good
from q Mexican point of view. l saw
many boys and girls. ranging from
twelve years down, walking around on
the streets with no semblance OF cloth
ing. The MeXicanS are insulting, inso-
lent and without any regard for clean
illness.
Boys Preparing for War.
All through the city the boys from
ten years of age and up are being made
| ready for war There is no other talk
but war. AT night the roar of rifles
and pistols is almost continuous. Every
time our train stopped it was sur
rounded by beggars. They climbed to
the windows and demanded food OF
| money. They would cling to the trains
as long az possible, even after they got
under way. There are several Ameri'
cans there-those who have been there
| for years.
.They have property, were in bust
ness and they appear to be well salts
| fed to remain. I had read of the hor-
rors of the country. but until L saw
them with my own eyes Qld not rear
ize what the conditions are. Ignorance
filth, crime, poverty, lawlessness. lack
of comfort indifference are the things
| that impress one from the states. The
Mexican money is priced by Americans
as souvenirs. 1t has no value. But
American money is in demand. 1t is
accepted readily.
Blame the Americans.
| "The Mexicans declare that Ameri-
cans are responsible for the conditions
in Mexico. They openly say that if the
United States had taken no sides in the
fractional conflict it would have been
over long ago. They are very bit
ter against everybody from the states
/ spent six days there and 1 am thank
full had money enough to get away
when 1 old. Villa has had printed ano
distributed circulars warning all per
sons to keep off the trains, saying he
will not be responsible for the work
that is being done by the bandits.
visited the American Club while il
Mexico City, and every courtesy was
accorded me by the men and women ir
charge. j am glad to be back in Vir-
ginia."