Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1920-03-06
COL. BERMEA IS
DEADFOLLOWINC
WEEKS ILLNESS
Matamoros Commander Sue
cumbs to Pneumonia; Held
in High Regard

Colonel Manuel Bermea. for the
past two years commanding officer
of the Matamoros garrison, died las;
night at his quarters in Matamoros
from pneumonia. Colonel Bermes.
had been i'll for a week. but his CON
dition was not thought serious. Fri
day afternoon Major Palmer ana
Captain Simpson of the u. :. army
medical department visited Colonel
Bermea and conferred with his at
tending physician, and reported his
condition a. improving. lie took y
turn for the worse last night, how
ever, and death came at ? 30 o'clock
this morning, Mexican time.
Colonel Bermca was one Of the
best-known commanders Ill the repub-
lie. Formerly stockman in the
state Of Coahuila, he early Identified
himself with the cause Of Francisco
|. Madero and fought with him a q
junior officer until his revolution
was successful. Following the mur-
der of President Madero in Mexico
J
lutionary movement launched by
Governor Neuustiano CarranZa, and
had worked up from heutenancy
in the Carranza army 10 his present
grade.
When General Jesus Carranza,
brother Of the president, was coni-
manding officer in Matamoros, in
1913, Colonel Bermea made his first
visit To this section of the border as
secretary, and later chief of staff to
tion Of General Carranza. he was at
tached 10 the staff Of General Al
fredo Ricaut and served with him un-
I'll sent To Matamoros as command
ing officer. Colonel Bermea was IL
years old and is survived by his wife
and six children.
Both civil and military authorities
in Brownsville received the news OF
Colonel Bermea's death with much
regret. All Of them pronounce hin.
to be an exceptionally good officer,
and say that his cooperation given
the American authorities in preser~-
ing the peace if this border was ex-
ceptional. During Colonel Bermea's
tenure of office, official co-opera>
tion by the representatives Of both
governments has been more perfect
than at any time since the overthrow
Of Madero.
Colonel Farrand Il. Sayre and Cap
tain Sterling. intelligence officer at
Fort Brown, who have had many in
innate official dealings with Colonel
Bermea. this morning expressed the.r
keenest regret and feeling Of per
sonal loss IN the death Of the Mexi-
can commander.
Funeral arrangements have nor Hc'
been announced, but il is expected
that the body will be sent back to
Coahuila for lnterment.
Until General Rieaut, commanding
officer Of the division, details com
manding officer to the garrison, j
is expected that Major Julian :.
Flores, second in command of the
district between Brownsville and
Reynosa, viii assume the command
of the district. Major Flores Is at
present nj Camargo, and the garri-
son is temporarily in charge Of Cap
tain Gregorio CARA. chief of staff "
Colonel Bermea.
Colonel Bermea assumed the com
mand Of the MatamoroS district foi-
lowing "A season of greater or less
border turmoil Of the usual kind.
which other commanders had been
unable to control. His first edict
was III the form Of warning tc
criminals that infest the border,
smurglerS. thieves. cattle thieves and
others. Following that, the snug
glers took on hone and several crimes
occurred. resulting in Bermea max
ing clean sweep Of the bandit nests
along the river. followed by the sum
mary execution of a number of men
snid to have exceeded thirty. Snc-
that time practically normal ccndi-
tions have maintained on this garl
of the border.