El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-03
Mining Man Says
Villa Tells Men
To Get Revenge
Donald c. Best Prepares A
Statement Telling of Con-
ditions IN Mining Camps.


Dead silence has reigned- as far as
Pancho villa. the rebel chief Of Chi
huahua. is concerned. since he was
driven out Of Juarez. June Il, by
American soldiers. except the news
brought from Villa Ahumada by Don
aid B. Best, q British subject.
Best had gone back TO Villa Anu
mazda on June q and on his return 10
FL Paso last Monday by auto brought
reports Of what the Mexicans there
told him regarding the resentment
villa had expressed toward Ameri-
cans. saying that Villa had told his
men to get Americans and not bother
him about what to 90 with them
Best's Story.
Mr.. Best has, prepared 3 statement
on WnaI ne learned on his return 10
villa Ahumada. where he found his
store and the Erupcion Mining com
Dany's warehouse looted by Villa on
the latter's retreat 70 that place after
the Juarez incident Mr.. Bests's state
menr follows:
With A NJ. Tenny. an American. /
left Villa Ahumada on June - for the
border after Villa had looted my store
and home. / returned to Villa Anu
amda on June y. after Villa left there
for san Lorenzo, and was told by my
native storekeeper. the municipal
presidente, Manuel Ortega. ana num-
her of townspeopIe that Villa sent a
guard to kill Tenney and me and later
went to my house in person appar-
emily for the same purpose he Or
dsred my Mexican stOrekeeper to stop
working for me, thinking I was an
American. and threatened to XII MN
if he continued in my employ. II was
hlr "a nn gong
hang all Of the Americans he caught,
and was looking for me TO make the
first example of what he INTENDED
doing to all Americans VIVA also
told the storekeeoer Iennes anq
knew the Americans intended 1irlnS
on his troops and had left for the Dor
der 10 escape him. This seemed 70
anger him all the more That was
on June Il. and he ordered ali ms
chiefs TO kin Americans as soon as
captured: not TO bring them before
him. but to hang them to the nearest
telegraph pole
Villas men. ra aged. without ammu-
milton and sullen after retiring oe1ore
the Americans at Juarez, held & meet
inc at Villa Ahumada-s Mexican f-lellCs
foid me. They voted TO depose Villa
in favor Of Angeles who then was AZ
Samavaluca tearing up the railroad 10
prevent American troops from purs.ai-
ing them south, Villa Ahumaoa OH
cials told me- 81, :
federal force-2000 Yaqui Indians and
other troops=arrived at O1o CaienJe'
having come from the south ma
sent Martin Lopez TO engage tnem
south of villa Ahumada. Lopez vas
defeated. villa withdrew from me
town. the natives say. reorSa ntzea h5s
demoralized forces, which mad osen
reduced from 1000 TO 400 by DEANS
wounds and desertions. and sent Lo-
pez against the Yaouis second tiII me
Defeated again. Villa retired 70 ~
Santo Domingo ranch. leaving -
wounded behind. There Martin Lopez
denounced villa according 10 the
statements OF Witnesses
.Out For SELF
T.ouez pulled his pistol. covered
villa and called him liar, AlsNl-
! can who was present told ne bes'
said. ..s Re
Lopez was apparently ans -
{ cause villa had madel a speech 70 u
men before attacking Juarez tetlins
then the Americans We're Ifle!us u
+ himself and Angeles, that the Arlell-
can Red Cross would care Tor thsll
{ wounded and everything would %
fine for them after they had taAsn
.he Tuarez port Lopez announces -
vas through with Villa, cursed hl.i
and said he was going 10 'loek eut lol
/ himself in the future and would nave
/ nothing more 10 do with VIVA.
villa sent for Angeles al ss.I.le- :
ruca. hut villa left for san Lore NO -
domingo. but Lopez stopper hinn- Me-
! Jeans told ne