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The Colony contract having been fulfilled (the buyers being George E. Blalock and others of the Colony) they who had been in the Mangum Organization, began to locate and farm new homes on the purchase, Hacienda de Chamal, Mexico. In November 1903, the second detachment of Colonists emigrated to the new possessions. I, knowing some of them, decided to visit and see for myself what they had found that they were making so much fuss about. In company with Dee Matthews he living at Hillsboro and I at El Campo, Texas. We agreed to go with the colony into their new home; or the second detachment of them as it were. There were 150 Americans then on the ranch farm, the first detachment who had built houses and cultivated some lands. We got together (the 2nd detachment, Dee Mattews and myself) at San Antonio. We traveled on to Eagel Pass with the Colonists and there held for a few days, subjecting themselves to the customs between the two govern ments. Then it was decided it would be better to send me and Mr. Matthews as forerunners to inform the First Detachment of what was delaying them and inform at what time to be at the station with wagons, etc.
Mr. Matthews and myself journeyed on to the Rio Frio and there, footsore and having met several of the Colonists to impart to them the messages sent, felt relieved of that obligation to the extent of being at liberty to rest up a few days. We had stopped then at the camp of Charley White, C. C. Rodgers and a Mr. Rose, a man who was then digging an irrigation ditch for a company locating on the Frio River. We stayed over, rested and killed deer, etc., until the President sent after us. We landed in Chamal with the first wagons in with the Second Detachment of Colonists. We were welcomed at the house of G. E. Blalock and from there as headquarters, we began a scrutinizing survey of Chamal Ranch; just so far as one could walk out with a deer or turkey per day each, soiiequizing that we had come to a good country and all it needed was development. We had, in the meantime hereto mentioned, attached ourselves to an old tried and true side partner, Capt.W. R. Long, he having a son-in-law John Reidy, as a colonist in the crowd. We walked around and took notes and the conclusion was to procure an interest in the colony. Will here say that the colony had been purchased by shares and each and every stock holder was to own 20 shares drawn thus allowing no man to mon opolize the proposition; one of the laws of the colony but here let me make mention that there was no rule whereby a stockholder had to stop purchasing; even If he did stop buying at a drawing of 20 shares, the laws of trade were not let down on him and some had more than they needed and others more dollars than shares and we found that some of the First Detachment had three or four times their alloted shares and we found also where we could purchase ten shares from a Mr. Turner, who had up to the present a town lot and a double room house built of logs and covered with native shingles (Palm leaves); also a 20-acre block near the town site which he had the brush nearly all cut off of; his drawing for farm lands had not yet taken place, tho it was beings surveyed and classified, the drawing for which came off later. Myself, Dee Matthews and Capt.W. E. Long bought this 10 share proposition, equal partners, for $775.50 Gold, or its equivalent in Mexico money. We took a Vertificate of our stock and waited with the balance for the general drawing to come off. Right here will say that a 20 share stock entitled holder to a lst class quarter Section, 2nd class and 1--3rd class quarter section; also, one 20 acre block, and a building site in town. While one could make the half drawing and get the 20 acre lot by getting a quarter section, 25 acres short. The Colonists continued to come and others like myself continued to flock to the standard until Chamal soon was to be a City seemingly.
In December 1904, another trip had to be made and then Rebecca Mathews was one of us also; S. Jackson, Bernard Frasier, Dr. Woody, J. B. Anderson, Rufus Stanley, and about three others -- all of which took Chamal to our hearts. Content, we moved into the already purchased Turner house and from there held forth regularly for two and one half months for myself, most of the other visitors having already gone back, but of the number will mention Mr. & Mrs. Matthews who had not their stay completed as yet. In the meantime, trading was on and Mr. Matthews and I bought another ten shares, the drawing soon to take place. This 10-shares cost us a smooth $1,000 Gold. Soon the drawing took place and every man knew where luck had handed him. Then trading commenced in earnest, each man trying to trade so as to block his land - many of whom succeeded, while others did not. I, having stayed until I saw fit to go back to my family and having before leaving purchased a house and lot in town, also contracted to have a store house put up for as you may surmise, I, by this time was in love with Chamal. At El Campo, Texas, I began to arrange for emigrating and on the 20th of November 1905, we left for Chamal, the family as passengers, and I came through with the car of stuff for Chamal. It took me nearly all the time busy to get ready to open up business by the 24th of April, which I did on that day formally and by the laws of the Republic - a continuous thrifty business mexed with the best of health; gave me prosperity as well. We enjoyed life, health and prosperity untrammeled until the effects of the Madero Revolution began to be felt. One present could see that the natives from the beginning of the disturbance were daily changing and becoming less servicable and which has continued with them until today.
In January 1906, we had a heavy frost that did quite a lot of damage to orchards and any green and growing vegetation - a seldom occurrence - there having been nothing its equal since, the ice then being 1/4 inch thick in places exposed. The farmers and those who pretended to farm, made where they tried. Two crops yearly of corn, and most anything planted and attended to, seemed to thrive. Labor, such as it was, was cheap and many concluded to be lillies, to neither toil or spin, but instead would let Mr. Mexican do the work and they do the gassing and trading; both of which seemed to continue until the Revolution got so rife as to make trading uncertain and gassing unprofitable. Diaz seemed to be the American's friend and the contract he had made with the Americans had stuck so long as he was President and all Americans had had peace and plenty with the fairest prospects but as soon as he relinquished his position, trouble to many has been our birth right, it seems. Troubles continued to come until it began to look to the Americans authorities unsafe for us to remain longer in Mexico and possibly as late as the lst day of September 1913, we received orders to vacate at once our former peaceful homes and get to places of safety; for it was thought to be both dangerous and foolish for us to remain any longer. Most all Americans of our Colony left; a few old, sturdy old fellows stayed back as a rear guard and I do not think there was, during that scare, a time without an American on the ranch -- I having left and was then suffering in Texas. I first went to Cedar Hill. Dallas County, Texas and from there back as near Mexico as I could get and not be there-- in Cameron County. My family suffered there just two years, from January 1914 to January 1, 1916. In the meantime, we had corresponded with the Consuls and got advice as to returning to Mexico and to my house and home; to try to save and protect what I might have left and make all I could. I opened up the stock to find a mess of my former business as my share. I found that more than one/half of my cattle were no more and 1/3,of my stock likewise; found houses and burned fences and orchards destroyed, and in every way despoiled. I proceeded to Invoice and found just 2/5 of my leavings, for a stock in trade and being advised to sell and get all I could out of said stock remaining. I proceeded to size up the exchange to put a price on and sold right along when all of a sudden, news came of the death sentence being passed on the circulating currency. A new issue was then handed out to us and we were compelled to take that and let it die. Likewise others followed and I saw, as a reward for my labor and goods sold; I had quite a lot of soured dough on my hands and of different classes. Then I got a permit to quit as I had all the dead Dollars I cared to handle, if I could helo it. Farming was my next move and I started in a way. Had I been anywhere except in Mexico, I would not have hoped for results but being in a country where the God's smile on commonest laborer, we were blessed with one of the best crops and in January 1 to 6th, 1916 found me on the road from San Benito to Chamal, Mexico, with my family; hoping against hope that we were making our last move; when the past troubulous times were again removed and we had seemingly to flee for our lives, the flight being recorded in other memories. Enough to say we were again routed from our homes and who sould bear the blame? We are suffering and are destitute and who sould be responsible for our condition? For having been robbed and put out without any money, not even a change of clothes and set down as it were to say - take your medicine and die, for it is all we can do for you. Don't condemn me harshly when I say, when the U.S. President with a gristle even for a backbone, he would have seen to it that his children who were colonized under the aforesaid treaties made with Mexico and signed by the only - ruler Mexico has ever had, Diaz, that they had protection even in a foreign country, or in the event they had (on account of local strife) to leave their homes, they would have been treated at least as well as the Ojinaja Refugee Barons were. |
