1913 – Three exceptional letters from a Southern Pacific machinist in El Paso to his mother providing an account of the Second Battle of Juarez and the blood-thirsty violence of Pancho Villa and his army
El Paso, Texas: 1913. Envelope or Cover. This lot contains three letters, all written between 7 October and 14 December 1913, by Willie Jones, a Southern Pacific machinist in El Paso, to his mother in Rochester, New York. They contain a total of 13 hand written pages. All are in nice shape. Two of the letters are enclosed in their original mailing envelopes.
In Willie’s first letter home, he explains how he was hired by the Southern Pacific Railroad and describes his work in an El Paso machine shop.
His second letter, written on the day of the attack reads in part:
“At a few minutes past two this morning I was awakened by a noise [like an] early morning rocket [on] the 4th of July. . .. I knew that they were rifle and cannon shot [and] concluded that something was happening at Juarez. [Next] an automobile stopped across the street and someone [shouted] “they are nearly to the International Bridge. . .” [to where] the wife of General Villa . . . lives nearly opposite of us. [Together with a man across the hall [I] sallied forth to see the battle [from] an elevated part of the city overlooking Juarez. . ..
“We could see the flash of a rifle now and then [and] the lanterns of people vacating dangerous places. . .. We could follow the progress with some degree of accuracy. . .. We heard a yell and concluded that some soldiers were making a charge. The federals had planted mines about the town [which] exploded. [We went] to the international bridge [where] a crowd was in front of the Hotel Paso Del Norte [including] refugees from Juarez. . .. Two troops of U. S. cavalry . . . stationed themselves near the bridge. [From the refugees] we learned that General Villa had come to town at midnight on a regular train . . . accompanied by about 500 men . The first the federals knew of their presence was when they appeared on the streets. Some federals were scattered about. . .. All grabbed their guns and fled. Later they tried to retake the city and failed. Firing continued until about 6 a.m.
“To day General Villa is executing his prisoners. The second officer in command of the Federals was shot this noon. Mrs Herring [went] over and saw his body in the armory. . .. About sixty have been executed so far . . . and more to follow. Villa’s followers are said to be a low type of blood thirsty individuals and evidently desirous of . . . loot for they raided the gambling halls . . . and did not overlook the saloons. . .. General Castro [the commander of the Federales] was wise enough to flee to Fort Bliss . . . and left his 250 followers to their fate. . .. When prisoners are executed . . . some soldier takes several and shoots them one at a time with a big revolver.
“[If] Pres. Wilson has any back bone he better get busy and put a stop to things. We should not butt in unnecessarily, but there is such a thing as waiting too long. If our neighbor disciplines his child it [is] none of our affair, when in so doing he kills it, it is our duty to intervene. . ..
“It is reported that 5000 more of Villa’s men are expected here and that then they will attack Chihuahua several hundred miles to the south. [They] probably come here first . . . for ammunition. Also the R. R. runs directly from here to that place.
“Everyone . . . on this side [of the border] would be pleased at the change of administration in Juarez were it not for the blood thirsty disposition of Villa and his followers. . ..
“Our chambermaid . . . who lives in Juarez . . . was so scared that she put her trunk against the door and hid under the bed Many women and children were shot in the streets and one girl right at the door of this woman’s house. . .. In excitement they ran [outside] just in time to be shot [by] machine guns that were fired down the streets. . ..
“One prisoner having refused to dig a trench for the burial of his friends in the grave yard was shot to-day. . ..”
A follow-on letter written on 14 December reads in part:
“This morning two Italian boys arrived from Chihuahua. One told us that he was on the train to leave the city with other refugees when Villa came through. The first time he took no one, the second time several and the third time he had a look in his eyes as of a lion and took a great many . . . to be shot. . .. A Spanish gambler who had grown rich [owned] the largest and finest [house] in the city. To day General Villa occupies that house.
“Mr. Jarvis [actually Chavez] another refugee [told us] that when Villa was of boy of 17 he arrived in Chichuachua without a friend [and] man and his wife took him in. When Chavez was imprisoned, this man, who was a friend . . . called upon Villa [to free him.] Villa acknowledged that he was under obligation, but said to ask anything he wanted except the release of [Chavez]. The wife of the man who had befriended Villa . . . called upon the General. She argued, she pleaded, and she wept and the General surrendered [saying] he could stand anything but a womans tears. Hence, [Chavez] is to day a guest in this house. . .. With him is . . . a wealthy landowner. His land has been taken by Villa, and his family held in Mexico, but he escaped. [He had been] lined up with others to be shot when shots were heard in the distance. The firing squad ran to see what was up, whereupon he made his escape. Neither of the men were soldiers. Just civilians. The boys who arrived today [had owned a store.] Villa and his men . . . demanded the keys . . . and then said ‘Now get out this is not your store any more.’ . ..
“Conditions in Mexico to day are much like France during the commune. We were inclined to favor the Rebel cause, but certainly not their methods. . .. Their cause loses sympathy in light of their methods. Mexico has never been a real Republic, but a despotism under the name of a Republic. It is this . . . that the Rebels object to, but the country needs a strong hand and a wise head . . . one that will dispense justice to both sides. The longer the war lasts the worse will conditions in Mexico become. . .. First thing we know some European power will step in and Mr. Wilson will find his task vastly greater than now. . .. His waiting policy is a fool’s dream. . ..
“Were [Villa] and his rabble of different character the welfare of Mexico would be assured. . .. How much the . . . Bull fight may have to do with the bloody disposition of Mexicans we can only conjecture. Ordinarily they are a quiet peaceful lot, but they don’t seem to mind a little blood, unless perhaps it is their own. . ..
“To day several hundred refugees [arrived in] the city and to-morrow another train load is due.”
. Very good. Item #010773Willie’s account of the battle and its aftermath fits hand-in-glove with historical accounts, including the rebels unobserved entry into the middle of the city on what some have referred to as “Villa’s Trojan Train."
At the time of listing, nothing similar is for sale in the trade. The Rare Auction Hub and ASBA record no similar items ever having appeared at auction. OCLC shows no similar items in institutional collections.
An astonishing first-hand account of the battle.
.Price: $2,500.00