The Washington herald., 1920-01-16
US. WOMEN
HIDE TN CANE
TOSAVELIVES
Raiders of Both Factions
In Mexico Lay Siege to
Refugees.
LET GERMANS co FREE
Release Men Of Teutonic
Nationality-Committee
Hears Widows.

San Antonio, Texas, Jan I5-Ameri-
can women were obliged to hide in
the canebrakes of San Luis Potosi
for days and weeks at a time to es-
cape being ravished by Mexican raid
ers-Carranzistas and rebels alike.
They crouched in caves. through
days and nights of suspense. with in
sufficient provisions and covering.
waiting until the marauders should go
their way and allow a few days for
recuperation before the next band
came along. They had seen American
girls and native girls between Is and
II years of age rounded up like cattle
and taken OF by the Mexicans.
Most of Them widow.
This was the substance OF the testi-
mony coming from the women them
selves who had undergone these ex-
Pcriences as it was heard by the Fall
subcommittee today. And these were
not selected witnesses brought from a
distance to testify. but are residents
of San Antonio. Most of these women
are widows whose husbands are
buried somewhere in Mexico" They
say their cases are typical.
The only persons in these rural
communities from which today's
witnesses came which did not suf-
fer similar treatment are the Ger
mans. The sole survivors OF the
Itascador colony. according to the
testimony of its founder, are Ger
mans This colony had more than
800 families a few years ago. The
same condition is true of the col
onies in the plantations of Salina
Cruz, it was testified.
The German consul at the city of
Salina Cruz even advised B. F.
POOrmzugh. an American plantation
owner there, to present himself as
either a British or German subject
when he passed through with .
small party on a visit to his hold
ings a short distance in the IN
terror. Mr.. Poormaugh said.
Wanted Ten Dollars.
Their guns had been taken from
the party, he stated. upon their ar
rival in the city by boat, but the
German consul offered to have them
returned IL he were paid SO. In
making the offer he told them they
would be fools to enter the interior
without arms
Subsequent developments showed
that he was right. the witness stat
ed. After two encounters with BAN
dts, within a few days. the entire
party. with the exception of one
member. returned to the United
States. The one remaining-a law
yer from Houston. Texas. named
Porter-has never been heard from
since. He had a wife and a family
in Houston.
On the first visit OF the bandits
to Mr.. Poormaugh's plantation. a ter
rified native woman implored him to
make a break for the river as the
hand was seen surrounding the
house. This. she said. would start
tSem on a chase after the American.
. and afford her an opportunity to es-
cape with her children. AS the
chances seemed about equal between
remaining ana fleeing Mr.. Poormaugh
complied with the woman's request
ard struck out for the river with
the pack at his heels. He succeeded
in throwing or pursuit by taking
to the tall grass and brush and
remained concealed until the party
had gone. The following day the
bandits returned and were bought
of for $50 in money and six pairs
OF boots.
Never Seen since.
Mrs. Willis told Of her search for
her husband at Aguas Calientes.
where they had stopped on. their
way to the United States after flee
ing from their home near Vallea,
in the state OF San Luis PotosL
They had reached this border town
on their way out, she said. She
was ill., almost past walking. In
company with another man, her hus-
band started out to the depot for a
carriage to conNeV her to the train.
The two men disappeared as though
suddenly swallowed up by the earth
and neither has ever been heard
from since Willis had about 800
on his person. His wife remained
f,,