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It was in the year 1913 I received the first orders to vacate my prosperous home and business in Chamal, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Having had a reign of enjoyable life and prosperity continuously for eight to ten years, having first visited and bought land in 1903 -- again in 1904, and in the early part of 1905 moved my family and belongings to Chamal, with the intent of making a life time home. My family carried with me, consisted of wife and three children, Flossie, James and Edward; also three girls by my first wife, Bertha, Lake and Robbie. Each of these have since married and have families.
In 1910, we had some news of an uprising, the first that had been noticed since our advent into Mexico. The whole of Mexico seemed at peace. All American Colonies in Mexico were prosperious and ours, of course, no exception and with us prosperity was but little marred by the Revolution until February 23, 1913, when Madero and Suarez were murdered in Mexico City. Rumors of terrible happenings were continually coming to us and were causing an unrest amongst all Colonies, for there was more or less trouble with the Mexicans, both soldiers and civilians. I had in the latter part of 1912, suffered a jail sentence and fine for keeping a vicious drunk Mexican off of me for which he lyingly reported the matter and I was taken in by heavy armed force of troops and hied away to jail at Ocampo and held for the ransom of near $250.00 (blood money.) The case proved a farce. Times with us seemed more and more critical as the various posts of the Government changed hands and especially when President Wilson refused to recognize any faction then claiming power in Mexico. In the month of May 1913, it was seriously talked in the Colony as to what would be the outcome of existing affairs in Mexico and what would likely be our part in the affair. Soon we been a series of correspondnce with Clarence Miller, then American Consul at Tampico, who promised to warn us in time to get out of trouble, if possible. Our first orders came about the 1st of August and read something like this: "Get Women and children to places of safety -- to Tampico under shelter of American Battleshps and U. S. Consul" those who cared to do so would be sent out to the U. S. and quite a number of families availed themselves of passage rather than risk it there. My family all went out, at least wife and children, except two boys, Jim and Ed, who remained with me in Chamal until the next order came. That came in the last of August. Prior to its coming, we had a flash news that the then Dictator of the Federal forces was going to quit Provisional Presidency and leave the matter to some one more suited to the people. His policy was not liked by any one and on the strength of such news, we all felt good and began to think of happy times once more and I to the extent, of ordering $1,500.00 worth of goods for my store, thinking also of sending for my family to return; when lo, here comes the order suddenly on the last of August for us to vacate. Everybody, presuming it dangerous to longer remain, took up all conveyances Chamal afforded (but generally without baggage) for the station and thence to Tampico. There we were taken in tow by a friend; Consul Clarance Miller, who fed and bedded us as best he could and sent us all by detachments to Laredo; there to fall into that noble old Friends hands -- Consul Alonzo P. Garrett, known as the Refugees' friend and he, in turn, took us on his knee and found where it would please us best to go (Chamal Mexico excluded) and sprung the Government funds sufficient to set us down in various parts of the U. S., the greater part of us were penniless and otherwise destitute, we were considered safe from the scourge of the Mexico Revolution. Next we hear of capers cut by Sr. Huerta and his following, which would indicate that it possibly was the best thing for us that we were taken out.
The encampment of 20,000 U.S. soldiers on the Rio Grande in October, and Huerta's Generals conduct was more evidence that something would suddenly Happen. He, yet declaring, himself Provisional President and the U.S. still refusing recognition of any terms he saw fit to offer. The 1st of November, found two U.S. Battleships sent to Mexico by the request of the French Minister (thus you may begin to see how easy it is for the U.S. to hear the appeals made to it by other nations). Later I may show you how deaf it has been to the cries of its own subjects. There and out of there, November 16, vessels were stationed on the East Coast of Mexico. Nothing doing yet. Huerta, yet unrecognized, depredations committed on American property and persons who yet remained. In January 1914, Villa defeated the Federals at Opisaja and caused some 5,000 soldiers, woman and children, together with all their belongings to cross over into the U.S. and lay themselves down at the feet of him who is all merciful to a Refugee Mexican -- to any except his own Refugee subjects. Then and there they were taken and cared for tenderly, even to their burros, by the Great U.S. at the tune of $55,000 per month -- but that was only a Christian act, eh! Francisco Villa, about that time, seemed to become prominent and it looked for a time that he might become the pet of U.S. Huerta. Huerta, yet unrecognized, as much as says "to Hades with your recognition, I am It anyway". President Wilson as much as says "we will fix him" and he did for on Feburary 3, 1914, he lifted the embargo on arms, giving all his own people who had an arsenal full of arms and rusting ammunition to deliver themselves of such and more than that, every warlike or thieving Mexican, then desirous of deviltry could arm himself to such an extent that in the event of a war coming up between the two Governments, they would be prepared, at least in that line. In April some of the U.S. soldiers were sent ashore at Tampico for the amil and to buy candies. They were arrested and put in prison. Admiral Moyo demanded their release, formal formal apology and an official salute to the. Huerta, yet recognize, by the U.S. agreed to the 2 former requests, but sensibly decline the third -- unrecognized, how could he officially? Then it was that the U.S. seemed to be getting busy. she had had all classes of insults heaped on her subjects -- property destroyed, men imprisoned, illed, women ravished and homes despoiled but now the real thing had happened. The U.S. Marines had been misused by the unrecognized acting President of Mexico or his troops and now he positively refused to apologize -- to give an official salute and then our U.S. Soldiers were ordered to charge, which they did, as you know, on Vera Cruz. Then American property began to suffer in earnest. Then it was the final strokes of robbery fell to my share. My store, which I had left full of goods, $7,500.00 suffered for near all its worth. Crops, stock, improvements, all went alike. My family, who had preceded, me out of Mexico, went to Cedar Hill, Dallas County, Texas. I, of course, followed and found them with bare existence and but little work for me to do, I needed dollars to exist on and went to El Campo, for a balance I had remitted to those Bankers in 1913, which never did reach them and to my dismay, I found that instead of them owing me $98.85, I was actually in the red $125.55, which my good and noble son Eck paid for me. I returned to Cedar Hill, crestfallen. Had I had the, Dollars I would have tried to get back to Chamal to have saved some books that were very necessary to my financial welfare. Couldn't go and thus, that much the poorer, was pinched on every side seemingly. I had a very sick boy on my return to Cedar Hill, which cost me Dollars and a lot of time and attention to save. I foresaw that we would be unable to survive the cold winter with but little bedding, scarcely any clothes and a sorry house to live in and moved to San Benito, Texas; it being near the boundary line and a much warmer climate. There we took up our adobe in one of the cheapest houses we could find, which of course, was a little sorry one and proceeded to do any job that presented itself, that was honorable, big or little the pay. I hoed, plowed, cut weeds, fished and finally converged into a store for two months as general roustabout; then five weeks at a cotton gin, Weighing, markng, and tumbling the fleecy staple. All the while, living harder than I had since the Rebellion of the U.S. During all this time, I was not idle for I corresponded with the various Consuls, who seemingly knew how things were going in Mexico. I even went to see Consul J.H. Johnson at Matamoros, and was generally advised to go back and look after what I might have left and it was thought best to sell if anything, was left in my store and thereby try and save as much as possible, showing to both Governments that It was not my fault -- the loss.
An Invoice showed I had of former stock left in odds and ends, $3,039.43. I cited along the barrel and found that it took several dollars more of war money to equal $1.00 gold, while the goods left me were of cost just $2.00. Mexican for $1.00 of gold. Then I raised my prices to suit the then circulating currency and sold goods. First Dollars I received went dead. Second I was forced to take went dead. Third, likewise. Then I got a permit by the then acting officers to close by business which I did, April 10, 1915, and have been anything but a store man since. After closing, I looked about me for a chance to live. The only thought I had for past was, I had wasted from August 15, 1914 to the 10th of April 1915, in time and quite a lot of goods for nothing but worthless paper with some printing on it.
Farming was next in my mind, so choosing the best I had of what was left, Ed Shafer and I cleaned, off a patch of twenty-two acres and with two well ridden, poor ponies, I half gotten from the ranks of the braves, we proceeded without tools or feed to crop it. Everything was gone to waste in that line. We had some grass but our stock had but little chance to eat it and never unless we were on watch for the soldiers preferred stealing horses to buying them (always). Will say, however, that I never raised a more valuable crop taking the times into consideration, than I ever raised in all my life before. We made corn for the hogs to wallow on; filling all the space for such and everything fat. I landed my family back on Chamal, January 6th, 1916 and started into business right, enjoying what Ed and I had made. While he and busied ourselves making a bigger crop and one equally as good, if possible. All things seemed to be passing along quietly, nothing more serious happening than the occasional loss of a horse. We had all kinds of stuff one would care for on a farm; cane, ready for syrup; corn in silk and tassel; vegetables galore; with scads of melons and fruit ripening at hand when it seemed that dark clouds began to rise aainst us and the mumblings of trouble that was likely to come between the two Governments, brought about an uneasiness not felt before. For rumors were afloat that we must get our women and children to places of safety; which began coming in about the last of May. Some proceeded to get out to the U.S., some to Tampico and a few to the Mountains, who were not able to do the former. Again on June 5, an order came signed by Councul Cart Dawson, Tampico, to get all women and children to places of safety at once. On June 6th Ed Shafer and I proceeded to carry hurriedly, our families into the Mountains -- 15 of us in number mostly children with three pack animals and one saddle and water animal for there were two little girls three years old who could not foot it. On the 8th we landed in Lonesome Cove, 7500 feet above sea level. Rather a sudden cool change for we lived 750 feet above sea level. Slight colds and tough times with rain was our portion, while there. The teams went immediately back after supplies and on the 14th, I went down with Ed Shafer and my boy Jim and had arranged for them to freight and stay with the family and I would stay at home (if I could) and work and look after crops, etc. Had planted one more piece of corn and planned out work for the ensuing week. It being Sunday the 18th and all very quiet with no bad news for several days; when all of a sudden we were taken into custody by the so-called Pure Carranzistas, who claimed they had orders to disarm us, after which they proceeded to finish up their orders by taking all horses and money on our persons; robbing houses of everything they could. Taking all the chickens and beeves and what corn and fodder they needed that night; kept us under heavy guard all that night except J.P. Shafer and wife, there being one woman and 12 men taken captive. During a lull in their business, the Captain, one Rodriguez, informed us that it required $1,000.00 to save us from being shot at 3 A.M. -- On the 19th, we, like so many fools, proceeded to get it up but fell short about $250.00 and was not shot either. The scoundrel seemed to be satisfied with what he had gotten off our persons and the $750.00. At 3:30 A.M., He said we could 'vamoose", for we were not needed in Mexico. They had informed us that intervention was on to have an excuse to rob us to a finish. Most of us did "Vamoose" and that to th@ mountains, for we had nothing left to stay with, for what we had that was not taken by the soldiers, had an embarge on it and was taken by the civilians -- our growing crops as well. On the 20th footsore and with another man's clothes on (mine having been taken) J.W. Rose and myself landed in camp with those in hiding. We received orders twice from the Carranzistas to come to Gomez Farias and surrender guns and animals and they would take care of us. in the meantime, General laras had been in their wake and had his headquarters at Ocampo, near our ranch. He sent a similar order but we answered all orders alike that we were there to protect the lives and honor of our families, had no stock in the war, for or against, and were keeping out of the way of trouble by coming there and would stay there at the expense of trouble -- they an order from the Lavistas to join them and help hold back the Carranzistas and again we told them we were not seeking trouble. Then orders from both factions to go to our homes and we would be protected. We took advantage of it, and on July 27, our bunch of Fifteen left camp on their afoot journey out of the mountains to Station Osorio, where we took the train for Laredo Via Monterrey. Our tickets were procured by that noble American, H.K Merriam, who sent us to Laredo, C/O Alonzo P. Garrett, Consul for that part of the State of Tamaulipas, and right here let me state that a more woebegone set has never crossed the border, going or coming, than those who crossed it on August 4, 1916. We were received by Counsul Garrett, sized up and for notes given we were ticketed, and tagged for various places selected in Texas - for all who came out as I did, except for one family - stopped in Texas. My wife, daughter and little Sue went on to Dee Matthews, in Dallas County. Myself and five boys from 13 years down, landed at Oscecola, Hill County, Texas, August 7th, with forty cents in my pocket and a very sick boy who was still sick on August 30th. I was instructed by Consul to write Department of State, at Washington to tell exactly how all this last trouble came about and ask for aid, which I did and was promptly informed that there were no funds set aside to help American Refugees. Now you see that I have been reduced to penury by the pranks of the United States and Mexico and am almost ready to renounce my faith in this once beloved Government. I am no beggar, but I need aid. Just give me all the work you can at living wages, will you and I will not complain at you, partner. |
