The sun., 1919-06-11
TELLS HOW ZAPATA
WASLURED TO DIE
q. s. Man, Here From Cam
peche, Says Carranzista
Colonel Headed Assassins.

The story Of how the bandit Zapata
was trapped and killed by Carranza's
troops was brought here yesterday, along
with other interesting items of news
from distracted Mexico, by w. NJ. Davis,
hemp planter Of Campeche. who is
staying at the Hotel Pennsylvania while
arranging for the sale of one OF the few
cargoes OF hemp that have come out
OF Mexico In many months
Mr.. Davis used to live in Virginia,
but he acquired $4,000 acres Just out
side Campeche some years ago and
eventually became the sole independent
grower OF hemp on a large scale. He
SAID yesterday that the SisaI Trust of
Mexico, the COmision Regulators, has
stock Of from 100000 to 200, 900 bales
or sisal on hand and is holding 1t for a
price or 15h cents a pound. Sisal used
TO sell for about cents, but the trust
comprehends the present demand and is
holding out for its price.
Il suppose they figure they've got to
get more money" said Mr.. Davis, be-
cause the cost of living In Mexico has
gone awhooping. The advance has been
400 per cent. In Campeche and Yucatan
Labor costs have advanced proportion
ately. We used to pay an able man q
peso day. Now We have to pay 1--WE,
$3.50 In United States money.
Eggs rs Cents Apiece in Mexico.
THE price OF food here isn't a cir
cumstance to what 1t Is in Mexico.
When everything was shut down last
year we had to. pay $40 gold for 100
pounds OF flour. Sugar jumped to 55
cents a pound. Flour is now selling at
10 cents a pound and sugar has got
down to 20 cents. Eggas are selling at
20 cents apiece and butter is $3.50 gold
a pound.
Possibly one Of the reasons that food
Is so dear is that very little money Is
In circulation. This is due to the trou-
BILE between the sisal growers and the
American manufacturers. The latter
are expecting the prices will fall and the
growers simply won't sell until they get
their price. And they will get 1t.
ASIDE from the financial stringency,
Campeche and Yucatan are fiourishing.
There is almost no trouble with bandits
or rebels. The Carranza Government
had affairs we'll in hand. In Yucatan
the peso Is worth SO cents on the dollar,
where it used to be worth only about
cents"
Mr.. Davis exhibited a few samples OF
paper money, bills which bore the pic
ture OF Francisco !. Madero, assassi-
mated in Huerta's dictatorship. Next
cans generally regretted Madero's death,
he said, because they see now that II
Madero had lived and continued in
power conditions would have been more
stable. Mr.. Davis felt convinced, he
said, that the Carranza Government is
developing strength, except in very I'M
settled parts of the country, where ban
ditry is rife. and he told the story OF
the Turing and killing of Emiliano "a
pata, Mexicos most famous guerrilla
chief. except for Villa.
'Carranza had been offering a big re-
ward for Zapata for a long time" said
the planter, but there was little chance
of capturing Zapata. because the country
was favorable to him. Months ago a
certain Carranza Colonel let Zapata
know that he wanted to desert Carranza
and wanted to offer his entire force OF
troops to Zapata-
Zapata Loses Caution and Life.
b THE Colonel kept sending word about
this until finally Zapata bit. A confer
ence was arranged in a certain town in