The Washington times., 1923-02-24
DIED
FORWOMEN
AND GOLD
S. c. Lewis, Here for Oregon,
Bares Fatal Romance in
Staying of Dictator.

His love for eighty pretty women
and 80 minutes delay in loading $76,-
100000 in gold on special train to
take him to Vera Cruz from Mexico
City on the night Of February 8, 1920.
cost Carranza, deposed dictator" and
former president of Mexico. his life.
his followers and his gold.
The story Of how the former presi-
dent Of Mexico lost in his race to the
port OF debarkation with the train.
load OF beautiful Mexican senoritas
and half q baggage car OF precious
yellow metal bullion was told today
by 8. G. Lewis, millionaire oil mag.
nate, who has made three and lost
two fortunes in Mexico and Texas
with ''liquid gold
Mexico, who began life and his climb
to wealth as q law student in the
University OF Texas, working his way
through college. 10 in Washington at.
tending the newly formed American
Institute Of Law and TO urge the
recognition Of Mexico by this country.
Romance, oil and rebellion are
the chief products Of the country"
Lewis declares, land 1t was to all
three OF these products that Carranza
lost his power and life.
on Base OF Romance.
with the royalties collected from
the oil wealth Of the country he
financed his romance and rebellion, .
Lewis continued.
After It became apparent that he
would be deposed by the Obregon
Naw Ia MA aH
the surplus gold In the treasury of
his country-more than 10000, 900
and laid careful plans for his es.
cape TO France.
A boat had been ordered to Vera
Cruz and q train with practically ali
OF the gold aboard was waiting to
take Carranza and his followers,
almost all beautiful women, opera
stars and close personal friends OF
the president, to the seaport.
The train was to have left at
midnight. CarranzA arrived at the
appointed time, but several OF his
favored ladies had not reached the
station. ana CarrAnza ordered the
train delayed while courters went In
search.
1.-The delay ct thirty minutes be.
fore the train started gave an oppor.
tunity for the fleeing presidents
enemies to get on the train just as II
departed, and 40 the caravan of gold
and women nearsd the Seaport the
presidents special was stopped by
armed forces. CarranzA and his party
fled through the , cactus.covered
plains, and later his body, riddled
with more than q score of bullets,
was found In an adobe hut.
Discusses Present Conditions.
Had the train gotten under way
thirty minutes sooner and barring
railroad accident, the fleeing party
would have made Vera Cruz and
escaped.
In discussing present conditions
in Mexico. Lewis declares that the
outstanding need in that country is
the recognition Of Obregon's regime
by this Government In order that
farm credits may be extendAd to the
farmers. Millions OF acres Of the
most fertile soil IN the world are lying
idle because farmers have no nipple
ments and no credit.
The only way that goods can be
sold ana shipped into the country is
cash against bill of fading in New
York. resulting in almost complete
isolation Of the Industrial resources
OF Mexico, to the expense OF many
millions annually Of American manu-.
facturers," Lewis declares.
During the Mexican revolution,
under the regime Of Carranza, Lewis
acted az the Mexican representative
or various oil interests in this courl.
try, and after Carranza's overthrow
he codified the oil laws OF Mexico,
receiving as his compensation oil con.
cessions, and was an. adviser in form.
ing Obregon's first cabinet.
Like q fiction plot. the Mexican
Coal Oil Johnny's" rise to wealth
from the comparatively obscure posi-.
ton OF struggling young attorney
began four years ago, and in the
interim he has amassed three for.
tunes and lost two in the flow of
liquid gold that has made million
aires out Of thousands of lucky oil
strikers.