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THE LAGRANGE REPORTER
FRIDAY MORNING SEPTEMBER 5, 1913.
Horrors of the Mexican Rebellion As
Told By Mrs. Mary McGhee Watson
The following story is an interest
ing desription of the suffering of the
Mexican people and the terrible ef
fects of the guerrilla warfare which
is being waged in that country. Mrs.
Watson was formerly Miss Mary
McGhee <*’ this «ty. Two years
ago she married and moved to Mexi
co where she has lived up until two
months ago. Read her description
of the torn up railroads, th e burned
houses, the suffering of the American
people in that country and of her
exciting escape from the scene by
riding over mountains and plains by
horse.
Jno. C. Carter
DENTIST
Truitt Bldg, LaGrange
If anyone thinks that the day of
savagery and barbarism has past,
that one has but to learn of the deeds
of rebels, Mareristas, Zopetlistas,
Constitutionalist^ or whatever they
may call themselves, now in Mexico
and be convinced that the deeds of
the Gioths and Vandals have a
parallel in this present day.
These rebels are the masses of the
people fighting for a chance in life.
For generation after generation they
have no opportunity for education
and not even a chance to earn homes
and property. The land is owned
by the aristocracy and the govern
ment is in the hands of a few, while
means of education are provided for
the most part by the church. Being
Catholics, the priests keep the people
in ignorance so as to keep them in
submission to their superstitions
practices. These people are awaken
ing and clamoring for their rights.
So ignorant are they that they aim
FOR SALE—
A nice, level, well-improved farm, con
taining plenty of water, pasture, tenant
houses, nice dwelling and barns, about
six miles from town. Only about half
mile to school and church—in good
neighborhood.
Also large, level and well improved
farm having plenty of water, pasture,
tenant houses, dwelling, bam, etc.,
about eleven miles from town in good
neighborhood.
See us for prices on these farms.
V. R. & I. F. O’NEAL
The Real Estate Agents
Phone 131 LaGrange Nat’l Bank Bldg.
To the Automobile
Owners of LaGrange
We make formal announcement
of the opening of an automobile
garage and repair shop on Rid
ley Avenue.
We have rented the upstairs of Ware’s
Stable and are equipped for doing high
class work.
“Kid” Howard will have charge of the
mechanical end of the work and Walter
Atkinson will conduct the business part.
ATKINSON & HOWARD
Sunday Hours from 11 to 12 and 2 to 4.
Watch This Space for Opportunities
in Real Estate.
IT WILL PAY YOU!
J. T. CARTER, Real Estate Agent
Office: LaGrange Bank and Trust Co. Building
only to destroy those who have for
so long oppressed mem.
How Madero led these people in
their revolution three years ago, how
he as a dreamer and spiritualist fail
ed to solve their problems, how his
short rule of president was ended,
all these things are familiar to every
one. But how the masses arc still
at work, trying to gain their rights
is my story. Their war-cry is,
“Down with the rich!” “Viva
Madero!” is but a symbal of their
real purpose.
Since the overthrow of the Madero
government, the me)n, fwho .'fiougjht
with Madero three years ago in the
state of Durango, have been busy
gathering and arming their men.
Other men with their followers have
joined them until they were some
eight thousand strong. These bands
robbed the ranches and mines of
arms, ammunition, horses, provisions,
until now the state is in desolation.
'The railroad has been torn up and
trains robbed to 3uch an extent that
commerce has been paralyized since
February. Since the middle of Fer-
ruary, Durango has been cut off
from the rest of the world, occas
ional telegrams and mail brought
overland being the only means of
communication. As a result provi
sions grew scarce and prices gred
higher. Sugar was so scarce that it
sold for one dollar and twenty-five
cents a pound.
In April an attack was made and
the rebels were driven back. No at
tempt to follow up or disperse them
was made and they continued to rav
age the state until June 17, when
they began an attack on the city once
more. On the morning of the next
day the city fell into their hands.
Some deep treachery was at the bot
tom of it all 'because before the
first fort was taken the federal
general in command had left town.
Some say he sold the city but no
one knows.
The high-class Mexican families
realizing that their lives and homes
werei at stake, formed themselves
into a volunteer band to protect the
city. They usually consider them
selves above any form of work,
especially that of carrying a gun and
in the April attack and succeeded in
keeping the inside element from mob
violence. These volunteers patrolled
the streets while the federals mount
ed the forts.
One American and ^wo German
filibusters were among the rebels.
These taught the rebels how to make
bombs and supplied the nits in many
of their schemes.
With hand bombs a part of the
■ rebel forces made their way up a
hill that over looked the city, driving
out the federal3 in wild confusion.
Commanding this hill the city was
at their mercy. In every fort and
everywhere soldiers and volunteers
were in confusion and terror striken.
Men threw down their guns, tore off
their uniforms and ran and hid.
The daughters were hidden in con
vents and churches, but the wives and
mothers were left at home to face
the mob.
Prom every side, by every street
the rebels rushed in, shooting, shout
ing, throwing bombs. It seemed a3
though all the demons were let loose.
Many of these rebels had never had
a gun until three years ago and none
have had any training, so the shoot
ing was wild and reckless. It is
estimated that for every man killed,
one thousand shots were fired. One
of their first acts was to liberate the
prisoners, of course these 700 joined
in the mob, as well as several thous
and rebel sympathizers in the city.
The rebel leaders had not paid
their followers any wage but had
promised them forty-eight hours of
unlimited loot. This they did with a
vengeance. From house to house
they went, not waiting to open the
doors but blowing them in with
bombs. Foreigners had marked their
houses with their respective flags but
the rebels respected no flag. Every
store and business house was looted
and one German and two French
stores burned, as well as twenty
stores belonging to Mexicans. Priv
ate homes of foreigners v and natives
suffered simular fates. Some of
these rebels had never seen them
selves in a mirror before and coming
upon large ones thought they were
meeting other armed men and shot
unto them. Af course they left
first taken, so we knew that ours
would be one of the first visited.
When we saw them take the h’ll,
we gathered up a little bedding, some
food our valuables and ran to the
McDonell institute, the Methodist
mission school that had been prepared
us a place of refuge for Americans.
About eighty Americans went there
but many felt safe in their own
homes. It proved out that no place
wu3 safe but some suffered more
than others. The American Grocery
store of which my husband was
manager was robbed completely and
the furniture destroyed. Our home
was looted and Mr. Watson was left
without change of clothes. I fared
a little better but our furnishing
were stolen. However the furniture
was not destrdyed.
The Americans at the mission
school decided that it would be worse
than folly to resist them because for
every rebel they might kill, as many
foreigners would massacrede. So
they decided to reason with them if
possible and to give what they de
manded, in this way avoiding as
much troube as plo3sible.
Hardly had they decided upon
this plan when the door was dynamit
ed and a crowd rushed in demanding
arms and ammunition. They search
ed every room and went away leaving
us a paper saying that we had no
more guns. Can you imagine the
terror that filled our hearts, especial
ly those who could not understand
Spanish ?
For forty-eight hours the thrown-
. ing of bombsi, shooting and those
awful yells continued. Add to this,—
burning buildings on every side, and
! the constant coming of crowds de
manding money and provisions and
whatever they wanted, as well as
the fear of the threats that had been
made against the women and you
will know something of how we suf
fered.
The American women staid out
of sight and the men met each crowd
at the doors, paid, and gave up what
they demanded and thus kept them
out of the house
For days no one thought of sleep
ing and such luxuries as tooth brush
es, combs, and mirrors were forgot
ten., Mr. Watson was one of the few
men who could speak Spanish as fast
as the rebels could and he was at
one of the doors almost constantly.
For ten days he did not thinK of
changing his clothes, and for two
weeks he had no rest to speak of.
On the third day the commanders
began to assume control of ftheir
men. They took the principal hotels
and what homes they wanted as
headquarters. Horses were stabled
on hard wood floors and carpets, the
icity coaches were taken over by the
officers of lower rank,, while the
generals appropriated the automo
biles and limousines.
The jgeneirlal-in-command of the
city and kept in jail until they paid
over the money he demanded of them.
The banks were taken over and no
depositor could get any cash. No
money was to be had and there was
nowhere to buy anything. Fortunate
ly most of the Americans had laid
in food supplies and there was no
suffering among them. But the poor
er people who had no hand in the
loot, were without work, then with
out money, and the suffering was ap
palling.
Even the church was not respect
ed. The arch bishop was put in
prison and kept there until he paid
the money demanded. The cathed
ra was looted, even the valuts of
the dead were blown open and robbed
of the rings and other ensigns buried
with them.
In spite of the threats that had
been made the women were not
molested, and there were no sucides
to escape a worse fate than death.
When the commanders had taken
all the money and the soldiers had
taken what they wanted, the main
part of the 8,000 went on to take
Torreon, having put in rebel govern
ment officials.
Had they taken Forreon they
would have run trains that far, so
we wanted a month but still no trains
so we started out over land. To
reach the Texas border or the Gulf
of Mexico ports we would need to
pass through the rebel lines. We
feared being robbed of our horses,
saddles, and ford. So we took the
westward trail, where the mountains
everything open and then the people, afe thorouly popu i a ted and the rebels
of the street came in and helped ^ n£ j n0 j 00 ^ We were fifteen days
themselves. | * n mountains, part the way on
Our house was on the principal j
street, the one leading to the hill] (Continued on Page Twelve)
To the Publics
I have bought the warehouse of
the Troup Company, and will
operate same strictly for storage
of cotton, furniture, vehicles and
general merchandise.
The Patronage of the
Public is Solicited.
MR. R. P. ABRAHAM, Weigher for the
past five years retains that position with
me. Respectfully,
W. A. REEVES
Proprietor Troup Warehouse
MILAM BROTHERS
Real Estate and Insurance.
W. H. MILAM, Manager.
We represent the Best and Strongest
Fire Insurance Companies.
LET US TELL YOU HOW CHEAP
YOU CAN BE PROTECTED
AGAINST LOSS FROM FIRE.
A Wise Business Man
will keep a deposit to draw upon
at all times in a secure bank.
Money draws no interest that is
kept in your strong box, but it
is constantly at work, as are
the bees, when entrusted to wise
and cautious financiers like the
managing officers and directors
of the LaGrange Savings Bank.
We pay \%> On Deposits!
L. H. ADAMS Cashier.
DIRECTORS—Fuller E. Calla .vay, F. M. Longley, C. V. Truitt, J.
G: Truitt, S. H. Truitt.
SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES FOR RENT
r\IT T\fYVI'T BUT ENGRAVING
VJU UUN I PRIMARILY TO
ECONOMIZE' ANYMORE THAN AMAN
SMOKES A TEN CENT CIGAR TO ECONO
MIZE. PRICES OKFZNE' WORK THAT PROP-
ERLY REPRESENTS YOUR PERSONALITY
ARE TOO REASONABLE FORYOU TO USE PUNCHED
LETTERING AND SHODDY WORK.
- &&J5 i/s/r roo ivAjvr to && co/t/uzcr.
The LaGrange Reporter,
LaGrange, Georgia.
HARGOURT&.CO. “ otp ' G EiIGR *' EM
I/OULSVILdriB'. IVY
OPJOIVATED.
I. N. DOZIER R. A. GANDY
Electrical Engineers, Contractors
and Supply Merchants
Electrical Fixtures, Fans, Irons, Bui bs or anything In this line—Also,
we will wire your house the best and CHEAPEST.
Lozier-Gandy Company
33 BULL STREET
PHONE 25
The LaGrange Reporter $1 per year.
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No slack - No dirt — Less ash and d»e £A .
more heat. SUMMER PRICE . . . «P«>-OU per tOIl
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*
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