Albuquerque morning journal., 1920-05-17
EVERYTHING NOT
FASTENED DOWN
HAULED OFF BY
SENIOR CARRANZA
Office Furniture, Records,
Revenue and Postage
Stamps and Other Loot
Carted Away,
CITY OF VERA CRUZ
WAS TO BE CAPITAL
More Than a Dozen Long
Trains Used to Transport
Supplies and Refugees
Fate Of Latter Unknown.

lsv MORNING JOURNAL spscIkt LEAseo wiesI
Mexico City, May IL, via El Paso
junction, May 16 (by the Associat-
ed Press. )-The evacuation of
Mexico City by the Carranza ad-
ministration was both dramatic and
iudicrous. 1t would have been de-
scribed by military critics as a
"disorderly flight" but by ordinary
Americans as a quick getaway. !"
1ndescribable confusion prevailed
at the railway stations where the
rolling stock had been concentrated
for several days preparatory for
the flight
While it was attempted before
May to keep the intended depart
ure a secret, apparently every one
was notified and told his particular
friend so that within a few hours
the entire capital and every revolu-
Zionist was aware of the govern
ment's plans.
Made Hurried Get -Aaway.
1t was generally said that Car
rama hoped to remain in Mexico
City until May 10 to collect several
million pesos in government reve-
nue. due that day. The close ap-
proach of the revolutionary forces
from Puebla and Morelos, however,
made quick departure imperative.
About 10000 troops sailed forth
on May Q to guard the route to
Vera Cruz. These forces, under
General Francisco Murguia, were to
cooperate with the forces under
General Candido Aguilar in the
state Of Vera Cruz. Aguilar had
left the capital more than week
before to prepare the route.
The city of Vera Cruz was to be
turned into tto c.,;i'a' of tho ra-
puoHc and those dosiflng TO ac-
company the president to the sea
port were to be taken aboard more
than a dozen long trains which
were parked in the railroad yards.
1t seemed as though thousands
took advantage of the opportunity.
Excited as though they were fleeing
from burning homes, members Of
the government bureaus as we'll as|
leading civilians supporters of the
government, headed for the trains
carrying food, assorted bundles of
clothing, trunks, crying children,
dogs and various other impedi-
menta.
Railway officials led scores ofI
porters carrying records. Officials
of government departments shep-
herded long lines of expressmen
carrying government records and
office furniture, all of which was
dumped aboard passenger coaches
or flat cars between pieces of ar
tillery. Other porters were seen,
bound not for the trains but for
the humble parts of the city, loaded
with costly office fixtures which
later probably will be sold to sec
ond hand dealers.
Trains damned With Mixture.
Before the trains started moving
they were iammed with a mixture
of soldiers with their women, camp
followers and minor officials, to-
gether with office furniture, va'u-
able records, boxes containing mill
ions of pesos in revenue and post
age stamps, dies from the gov
ernment printing offices, extra |
arms and ammunition, and numer-
Gus pieces of artillery. When the |,
trains finally moved, a great tumult
of shouts. shrieks and walls arose
from those left behind who desired
to leave the city and others bidding !
goodbye to friends and relatives.
The fate of these thousands OF
refugees Tuesday remained mat
ter of doubt and anxiety, 1t is
known that at least dozen Ameri-
cans departed on these trains, hop
ing to reach Vera, Cruz and leave
the country, regardless of the fact
that they sacrificed all guarantees
by riding on military trains. Sew
eral Americans were known to have
fled from the last two trains which
met disaster at Guadalupe, Hidal-
go, a suburb, when an engine from
the last train ran into the rear of
the preceding one. causing more
than two score deaths.
CONTINUED on Page Four.)