The decision to send all of the women and children of the Mormon colonies out of Mexico to a place of safety within the boundaries of the United States was a wise one. The colonies were now in the possession of the rebel forces whose leaders were swearing vengeance against the colonists "because of the embargo levied against them by the United States." A strict neutrality had been maintained by the Mormons during the entire period of the revolution, in fact, it had been their policy from the founding of the settlements to keep themselves aloof from the quarrels and factional strife of their neighbors. Very few if any of the Mormon population in Mexico ever took a decided interest in Mexican politics. They were content to be left alone to look after their own affairs, their chief aim being to build up and beautify their homes and subdue the wilderness that their children and unborn generations might come into inheritances of which they could be proud. At the time of the exodus their aim had been well nigh achieved and the thought of being permanently uprooted and the earnings of a life time left to others had never entered the minds of these industrious and frugal people. Always, they had indulged the belief that Mexico was to be their permanent abode and with that thought in view they had built well.

A brief summary of the conditions in the Mexican colonies at the time of the exodus appeared in an issue of a leading western newspaper of July, 1912, a portion of which I submit to my readers: "The Mormon settlers in Mexico number about 4,000 people. They are generally thought to be among the most well-to-do people in the Church, possessing large tracts of the finest agricultural land in the entire country. Their farms have been improved and stocked with cattle and machinery; residences have been built, and irrigation projects and canal systems have been completed, making the property value reach into the millions of dollars. The 4,000 settlers comprise between seven and eight hundred families and a conservative estimate places an average individual property of each family, including improvements, water rights and stocks at $10,000, or a total of between $7,000,000 and $8,000,000 for the entire number of settlers. It has been ascertained that the Church properties in the colonies amount to $145,000 including ward meeting houses and other buildings valued at $50,000, stake buildings and academies worth $75,000 and office buildings worth $20,000."

Although the decision had been made to send the women and children to El Paso it was felt by most of us at least that their absence from home would be of short duration. Now that Colonia Juarez had determined on an exodus, President Junius Romney felt that the other Chihuahua colonies should likewise prepare to get their families out of danger. He accordingly, on July 28, sent a letter to each of the following colonies: Chuichupa, Garcia, Pacheco, Dublan, Guadalupe and Diaz, informing them of the demands made by Salazar for the surrender of our arms and ammunition and the decision of Dublan and Juarez to accede to his demand and also of the decision of Juarez to send their women and children to the United States. Upon receipt of these letters the several colonies prepared to carry out the instructions of the President. The people of Colonia Diaz were instructed not to go to El Paso, but to go by team to Dog Springs just over the boundary line into the United States.

July 28 was the date set for our firearms to be delivered to the Rebels. As was the case at Dublan, a central place was designated to which owners of arms and ammunition were to make their deposits. Many years have passed since then but I recall vividly the melancholy expression on the faces of scores of men as they made their way toward the public park with guns on their shoulders or in their hands to turn them over to men whom they felt could not be trusted, but who without just provocation would use these firearms against their lawful owners.

But as many dramatic scenes in life are accompanied by bits of humor, so this one, somber as was the picture, was enlivened with tints of humor that even now seem most refreshing. What a collection of firearms this was. Some of them hoary with age, others with hammers gone and still others whose barrels were rusty, indicative of long disuse. I remember with what reluctance I brought forth my own good rifle from its hiding place. It was all I had but it was a beauty and only recently I had made the purchase. As I was on my way to give it up, I met my brother who was on a similar errand but instead of a brand new gun, his was one whose years could not be numbered. Truly it was an antique. Addressing me, my brother said, "Where are you going with that new rifle?" "To the same place you are bound with that old flint lock," I replied. "Let's trade," said he, "mine will serve the purpose just as well as yours." We swapped, he to return my new rifle to his own home as a permanent possession, I to place his antique rifle in the hands of the Captain of the rebel troop. As I gave it to him, he eyed the gun rather quizically and then looking up at me asked, "How do you work the thing?" For my life I couldn't have explained, and as I stood there stammering, not knowing what to say, a native, to my great relief, stepped up and showed him the combination.

While the guns were being collected the rebels were looting the homes of the colonists and at least one of the stores. An old widow lady who was gathering together a few of her personal effects to take with her on a long journey from which she was never to return, was robbed of $40.00, all the money that she had. The rebel had forced his way into her home while she stood helplessly looking on. Teamsters on their way to Pearson with the trunks and bedding of the refugees, who were to entrain for El Paso, were held up in some instances and robbed of their personal belongings and one old gentleman, a veteran of the Civil War, was poked in the ribs with the barrel of a gun and threatened with death by a demon incarnate. "They could call us the vilest of names," remarked an eye witness, and "they hurled calumny at our wives and children that I did not believe before that a man could possibly endure."

With the report of such outrages pouring in, Mr. Romney informed Mr. Ponce, the rebel leader, that if such things continued, the collecting of firearms would cease. In the meantime one of the teamsters came to me with the information that he had been held up and robbed and that others had shared the same fate. He led me down to the tithing yard where a band of the rebels were camped and pointed out one of the thieves. I reported the matter to the Colonel and he sent an armed posse to bring the culprit to him. The fellow stoutly denied the theft, but a search of his person revealed unmistakable evidence of his guilt. That night as the sun was about to sink from view beyond the Sierra Madre range, the thief was borne to the summit of an elevated plateau overlooking the colony from the east and was shot to death on the order of the rebel chief.

The collection of guns continued. It is well to observe, however, that none of the community arms imported from the United States fell into the hands of the rebels. All were safely hidden away.

The seriousness of the situation was reported to Salazar at Casas Grandes, resulting in his issuing the following order to Mr. Ponce:

"When you shall have terminated the work which I commissioned you to do, you will designate, from the troops under your command, a captain with ten men, in whom you have absolute confidence as to their discipline and honor, who will be left as a garrison in Colonia Juarez, with the most severe and careful instructions to conduct themselves properly, energetically opposing any attempted abuse against the residents of the colony referred to or against their property. You will also see that your own soldiers do not appropriate any of the property or supplies of the colony referred to without first presenting an order from this headquarters.

"The head of the colony will furnish to you quarters and supplies sufficient for the needs of the garrison during occupancy."

Reform, Liberty and Justice,
Casas Grandes, July 28, 1912,
The General in Chief of the First Revolutionary Zone,
(signed) Inez Salazar.

July 28 and 29,1912 were busy and exciting days at Colonia Juarez. As indicated above, while the firearms were being turned over to the rebels, the women and children were being rushed to the nearest point on the railroad (Pearson), seven miles distant from Colonia Juarez. There was little time or inclination to gather together many personal effects for the journey. Usually they consisted merely of a trunk or two for each family, containing a change of clothing for the different members of the family, a few heirlooms and a roll or two of bedding. In most instances rugs and carpets were left on the floors, pictures were left hanging on the walls and the furniture much in the same position as usual. In my own case, all I got out of the colony was one trunk full of clothing for a wife and five children and a role of bedding.

We packed another trunk with some of my wife's choicest things and bound it with a rope but we could find no means for its conveyance to the Railroad station. It was therefore left in our house with our other things to be made use of by those who took a fancy to them. After the family left I gathered up some of our choicest dishes and hid them away in the attic and at the same time, dug a hole in our garden where I deposited a quantity of our bottled fruit and sugar. The sugar I placed in five gallon tin cans to protect it from the dampness. Up to the present I have never brought forth from their hiding places either the dishes or the eatables--the rebels may have done so.

While the last group of colonists were waiting for the train at Pearson, which was four hours late, a band of about twenty armed rebels came dashing up to them and with profane and abusive language threatened them and stole articles of wearing apparel. It thus seemed evident that Salazar was either powerless to protect the colonists or he had no desire to do so.

Similtaneous with the departure of the women and children from colonies Juarez and Dublan, the families of the colonists living in the mountain settlements, Pacheco, Garcia and Chuichupa, were deserting their homes and fleeing for safety. It was a big day's travel by team from these colonies to Pearson where they were to entrain for El Paso. In all there were about 450 from these settlements and since railroad cars were not plentiful, these poor exiles were crowded together almost to the point of suffocation, and to add to their suffering, they were not provided with any water to drink, and when night came on they were left in total darkness for the remainder of their trip. A resident of Garcia writing of the affair July 30, 1912, had this to say: "On this memorable day a sad procession of about thirty-five wagons moved away from Garcia, including the women and children of the settlement and a few men to drive the teams. We left everything behind but a few trunks and rolls of bedding."

On July 28, at 4 a. m., Levi L. Tenney came from Dublan with a letter from President Junius Romney addressed to Bishop Ernest Romney at Colonia Diaz advising the colonists to leave for the States. Bishop Romney called the men together and in consultation with them it was decided to take the women and children to Hachita, New Mexico. By 11 a. m. of the same day eighty-six wagons were loaded and ready to move. The company reached the United States in the evening and on the following day pitched camp at Dog Springs where it remained until August 1, when the colonists moved on toward Hachita. This little settlement was reached on August 3, and was the abiding place of the refugees until November 1, 1912, when they split up and as small groups or individually sought new homes somewhere within the boundaries of the United States and Canada. To return to their homes in Diaz was impossible since the rebels, after looting the place, literally destroyed it with fire.

A telegram sent by Apostle Anthony W. Ivins from El Paso to the General Authorities of the Church at Salt Lake City and dated July 29, bore the following message: "350 refugees reached here at midnight from the colonies. Expect two trains today with probably 1,000 persons. There has been no personal violence but many threats have been made. It appears to be the policy of the rebels to bring on intervention."

Another special report of the same date referred to the driving of the colonists from western Chihuahua under threats of violence by the rebels under General Salazar.

1912 Exodus of Women and Children from Mormon Colonies in Mexico

The report stated that "350 colonists reached El Paso early today. More than 400 more arrived this afternoon on special trains and all women and children will come during the next twenty-four hours if trains can be secured to bring them. Refugees from the colonies tell of the threatening conditions there. All colonists were yesterday deprived of all arms and ammunition by the rebels. Houses were searched and colonists warned that resistance would result in severe treatment. Stores in the colonies were relieved of all arms and ammunition, and supplies."

The care of all these penniless refugees was a matter of no small moment, but the government and the people of El Paso were solicitous of their welfare, and while the shelters provided them on the spur of the moment were anything but comfortable, they at least furnished a partial protection from the heavy rains that were not infrequent during this period of the year. A special dispatch of July 29, stated that "Preparations have been made in El Paso to care for the colonists. An effort has been made to secure tents from the war department to establish a tent colony near Fort Bliss but Colonel T. Z. Stevens, commanding forces here, is unable to give the tents without authority from the war department. Until that authority can be secured, the colonists will be cared for the best way possible in hotels, boarding houses and private homes in El Paso."

But the majority of the exiles were not to enjoy the luxury of hotels, boarding houses or even private houses, but rather were housed in sheds at a deserted lumber yard [belonging to Walter Long] with no shelter from violent thunder storms save the roof overhead and a rough board floor beneath. Here the larger group was quartered while the balance were housed in the upper floor of an old building. This building had as its covering corrugated iron that became almost red hot under the burning rays of a southern sun. Imagine if you can the distress of the refugees crowded together as they were in such a sweat box. I confess that the sights which met my gaze both here and at the lumber yard were such as to cause me to stand aside and weep.

The shed at the lumber yard was just a big open space, and when I arrived in company with Professor Guy C. Wilson, with whom I had been sent from the colonies to look after the refugees, it was filled to capacity with human beings destitute of practically everything but a hope that such appalling conditions would soon end and they would be permitted to return to their comfortable homes in the colonies. There was no privacy, each family being apportioned a few square feet of space on which to eat and sleep and when the beds were laid, there was literally not one foot of space between them. But most distressing of all was the humiliation of our mothers and wives in being subjected to the gaze of the curious as they stood or reclined, gowned in calico, the balance of their ample wardrobes having been left behind in the hurried flight.

At this stage, Orin P. Miller's report of conditions in the refugee camp will be enlightening. Mr. Miller was a member of the presiding Bishopric of the Church and in this capacity was sent by the Church to give material aid to the colonists. The following were his observations: "I arrived at El Paso at 5:12 last evening and found Elder Anthony W. Ivins somewhat improved in health but very busy. * * * I visited the refugees late in the evening and found a condition that was most appalling. Quite a number of women and children were ill; several infants had been born en route and since the arrival at El Paso. The committee was successful in getting 150 moved last evening to the St. Joseph Stake." Other companies, he reported, would leave for other parts at once. "The government is purchasing some supplies and the people of El Paso have been very liberal with their means and have rendered very valuable assistance. * * * The sight presented to my view is one of the most heartrending I have ever witnessed to see over 2,000 people, mostly women and children, driven from their homes without time to gather even their personal effects and most of them without a dollar to assist themselves with. We shall have to draw upon the Church for relief. We are expecting 500 tents from the government today which will be sent to the different settlements where we expect the refuges to locate."

Elder Ivins, on August 15, reported that "All the colonies have been looted. Heavy rains make conditions at refugee camps distressing. Friends in the North are assisting with funds which are thankfully received."

It was thought by the leading men of the colonies that following the exodus of the women and children conditions would become more settled and in a short time the refugees could with safety return to their homes. All of the adult male members of the several colonies save a few of the older ones, therefore, remained behind to look after their property. However, conditions continued to become more turbulent. "Insults and epithets from the Rebels," said President Romney, "were the rule, and the whole attitude of the Rebel forces was rapidly becoming unbearable."

Accordingly, Mr. Romney called for representatives of the different colonies to meet in a conference at Colonia Juarez to determine a future course of action. It was evident to all present at the conference that the removal of the women and children had not "solved the problem with the Rebels, of whom there were between two and three thousand in the neighborhood of the colonies, whereas there were only 250 available male colonists, hopeless odds in view of our lamentable shortness of arms and ammunition, and that, therefore, further measures would in the more or less near future have to be taken."

Even before the conference was held leading men of the colonies had begun to feel that there would be no peace or safety in the near future. Men of the colonies would be forced to fight the Rebels or desert their homes. With that thought in mind, a movement was on foot both in Juarez and Dublan to concentrate at a central point, the arms and ammunition of the colonists, as well as a supply of provisions. Considerable difficulty was encountered as a result of the Rebels patrolling the streets, but eventually substantial deposits of these materials were collected.

On August 1, a rebel leader claiming to be "Cavaro" entered Colonia Juarez at the head of 75 men. Their first inquiry was if the Mormons had killed any more of their men. It developed that the Mexican thief executed at the command of Ponce belonged to their band and these men had come intending to take vengeance on the Americans for the deed. They demanded quarters and were given the Redd home at the north of town. That night they posted guards around the colony. Things were taking on a very serious aspect resulting in another "secret" conference. At this meeting it was determined to evacuate the colony immediately. To that end it was decided that all the men of Colonia Juarez should meet at the place where the firearms and provisions had been deposited, and with that accomplished the next step in the program would be considered.

The journey to the rendezvous must be made at night and the greatest secrecy must be maintained. The town was, therefore, divided into two territorial districts and over each was placed a captain whose responsibility was to see that all of the men in his district were notified and then to lead them to the place appointed, in the cliffs north of town. Through some misunderstanding there was a hitch in the program resulting in a delay but finally the first step in the plan was completed.

Meanwhile, President Romney "sat down under the shadow of the mountain about midnight and by the light of a lantern" he wrote orders to the leaders of the various colonies in Chihuahua, giving careful directions as to the manner of evacuation and the place of general rendezvous. This was to be an almost inaccessible place in the mountains known as "the Stairs" and located about seven miles from Colonia Juarez. These instructions were carried to Dublan and the mountain colonies by two heroic couriers who set out at once.

The flight of the colonists from Dublan proved to be a thrilling affair. The Rebels, finding that they had gone, went in hot pursuit and when within range opened fire upon the fleeing men, assuming that they were unarmed. One of the rebel bullets struck the leg of a young fellow, William Smith. At this juncture the Captain of the Colonist band, Bishop Thurber, ordered ten men to fall back and open fire on the enemy with their long range guns. The order was obeyed and the rebels were halted in their pursuit. The company pushed on and in due time were at the "Stairs" with the company from Colonia Juarez. Here they remained until the arrival of the men from the mountain colonies of Garcia and Pacheco. The men from Chuichupa were somewhat delayed and sent word that they would overtake the main company en route to the United States. A military organization of the entire group was effected while encamped at the "Stairs." Bishop A. D. Thurber was given chief command, Gaskell Romney was made Quartermaster General with S. E. McClellan and Ernest Hatch as his aides and A. B. Call Chief Sanitary Master. O.P. Brown was scout and column leader. The whole body was then divided into companies of tens over each of which a captain was chosen to preside. In all there were 235 men and 500 horses.

Photo and caption found in "Ordeal in Mexico" by Karl E. Young, 1968. Page58.

The mental and physical strain was beginning to tell on the men for, as yet, they had received no word from their families who had been sent to El Paso. Some of the colonists wished to return and fight the Rebels but the calmer heads felt it would be suicidal for a handful of men to attack many times their number. One of the band, John Allen, became mentally deranged, temporarily, and leaving the camp under cover of darkness, he made his way back to his home at Colonia Juarez where he was found the next day by volunteers, who went in search of him. Arrangements were made to have him cared for by friendly Mexicans until he should recover from his misfortune.

On August 7, the march toward the border began. The first night and the following day were spent at Tapacitas waiting for an attachment from Chuichupa. When on the march, the caravan was protected against a surprise attack by a strong rear guard and a vanguard thrown out several miles in advance. On August 9 two Rebels were seized by the rear guard and brought into camp. One of the Mexicans was riding an animal belonging to a colonist and both men were well armed. From these men informa­tion was received that a few miles back there were nine other armed Mexicans and these, a few hours later, were brought to camp. Their firearms were taken from them and they were compelled to march under a heavy guard. The Janos River was reached on the 9th of August, the colonists having traveled about sixty miles during the day.

On August 10, they "passed through Colonia Seco and watered at Palotada. Here the eleven Rebels were released with the promise that if they met any Americans they would not molest them. They were permitted to leave on mounts and were given ample provisions to last them until they could reach the forces of General Blanco which they expected to join. "They had been very apprehensive that we would execute them," observed President Romney, "and were much relieved when they learned that such was not our intention." The international boundary line was crossed about sundown on August 10, and soon thereafter the men reached Dog Springs where fifteen American soldiers had been stationed to protect the ranch from the depredations of Mexican rebels. As the colonists entered a rock corral at Dog Springs they narrowly escaped being fired upon by the American soldiers who were crouched behind a hill awaiting the approach of the rebels who were reported to be after a supply of horses. Luckily the colonists were recognized in time to avert a dreadful tragedy. From Dog Springs the column pushed onto Alamo Hueco. By this time the men and horses were greatly fatigued, for the journey had been a trying one for both. Many of the animals had become too tired to travel farther and their dead bodies were left by the wayside. A number of colts were also killed, it being impossible for them to keep up with the company. Soon the men were with their families, many of whom were in El Paso, and a happier meeting cannot well be imagined. I was present in El Paso when the dust-covered, bedraggled column entered the city and I shall always remember the affectionate welcome tendered them by their families and friends and by the people of El Paso in general.

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