DINING WITH CUT-THROATS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3232, 31 May 1911, Page 8

DINING WITH CUT-THROATS

A ROMANTIC EXPERIENCE. STORY OF THE MEXICAN REVOLT. BRITISH LADY AND BANDINTS. FREMANTLE, May 26. Writing; from Sinalva, on the Pacific Coast, Mexico, to her brother-in-law at [Fremantle, who is also a mining man, the wife of a mining official tells of her experiences among the Mexican insurgents.

“About a mnoth ago/’ she says, “we received warning that a terrible desperado named Banderos was on his way with 150 men to attack us all at the mine. Suddenly one afternoon at about S o’clock 40 of them rushetl into the mill at Zapote. They were all drunk, mad with tequila (their native drink). Our people who were all quietly working, were completely taken by. surprise. The bandits demanded all their arms land cartridges, and prodded 1 them about their bodies with loaded 1 revolvers, [threatening them will all sorts of terrible things.

“The three German mechanics showed themselves great cowards. They ; handed over everything at once without making any defence. “One of our people managed to get to the telephone, and warned us at the mine, which is situated on a hill far above the mill, standing in the valley below, that the bandits were on their way up to the mine, and intended to 'shoot us on sight. We all slept in the office that night, the men taking turns to keep watch. The bandits sent up several messages, telling us to surrender, and hand over everything, but we took no notice, and for two nights we stayed in the office. “At last S (the writer’s husband) isaid he would go down to the leaders himself and interview them. The men said he was mad —they were threatening to shoot him on sight; but he and Mr R. — started off. When they got to Zapote they found that the mob had left on the previous night to take Guadelupe de Laskeyes. They were just starting off to follow the bandits when the whole band rode down the side of a. ravine. They had succeeded in taking Guadalupe de Laskeyes, where they had bad a fierce fight, killing two soldiers and •wounding others. They had taken all the Government money away from the post-office, and had appointed a new judge. As they rode past S — they waved their hands.

“Soon after they sent over from the village, and said that Antonio Franco, their leader, would like to speak with him. *9— simply asked them straight when he went across what they meant by attacking a British company. Franco listened to all he had to say, then he said he thought S — was quite right in looking .after his company’s interests. He sent back all the rifles and ammunition, and promised that they would not molest us any more provided we left them alone, and gave- no information about their movements. He even would shoot any man himself who worried Its.

“Yesterday morning we received word tliat another band, led by the famous Banderos, whom we expected! a month ago, arrived in Zapote and joined forces with Antonio Franco’s men. S—thought he.had better go down and see what it meant. He asked me if I would like to ride down with him. I jumped at the chance of seeing such terrible rnen as the Banderos and Franco. “About 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon we set out, Mr. Sr—, a young Irishman who had just come to be under-ground manager, Mr. It —, and myself, forming the party, together with our faithful old QMaaud. Well, we got down to Zapote safely, and had lunch at Mess; then at 8 o’clock we went over to the village, and met' those bandit leaders, four of them —Banderos and Franco, and two others who act as lieutenants. It really was a queer experience sitting there in a circle with those men, just bristling with revolvers, rifles, and cartridge belts all over them.

“Banderos seemed quite shy for tiie first few minutes. He has a .very strong face. Sitting beside him there it was hard to realise that he had drilled so many men with his own hands, and had done such terrible things as the burning of whole villages, and so on. Antonio 'Franco is very good-looking, quite like an artist or musician, with hair very thick and curly, jyid parted in the middle. He seems to be quite an educated man, superior to Banderos. “We talked a bit, Mr It — doing most of the interpreting for us all. They told us that another bandit, who had arranged to join them at Zapote, had been surprised by a band of Federal soldiers in the mountain near here, and all his men had’ deserted him. He had taken refuge behind a rock. He had 82 cartridges in his belt, and he killed 81 men before they shot him. “I told them I was going down to Santa Cruz next week, up to the border, having to travel through parts where there was certain to be fighting, and asked them for a passport in case of trouble. They immediately wrote one out for me, and said it would take me safely out of Mexico. “Well, we went back t 0 the. mill after this, and they promised to come over to dine with us in the evening before setting out to take another town in the mountains.

“They were a picturesque lot around that little table at dinner. , I could not help smiling to myself at times. 1 don’t suppose many women have had Such experiences as that. Franco wus sitting on my right. He pretended to know no English. I forgot this, and suddenly asked him the time. He toox out his watch and said ‘Seven-ten.’ I said, £ WKy, do you speak English.’ He laughed and said, ‘Yes, I do a little.’ They were discussing different revolvers i and each on 9 tool? out his to show

"it . The table was just a mass’ of guns, as each man wfre two. Franco neld his out to me and said in a quiet voice, ‘I shot two men with this at Guadalupe last night.’ ft was quite true, as we were told about it before. ‘Well, he had a jolly dinner even though our guests were cut-throats.”