Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1880
No. 468.
Mr. Weill
to Mr. Evarts.
Mexico, April 2, 1880. (Received April 19.)
Sir: On the 16th ultimo information reached this legation to the effect that three Americans had been murdered at or near Anganqueo, a mining town in the State of Michoacan, and within a few minutes thereafter a telegram was placed in my hands which confirmed the above report.
Without waiting for further information than that contained in the said telegram, which was sent by a prudent and reliable person, I addressed a note, of which I inclose a copy, to the secretary of foreign affairs, transcribing the telegram, and stating that I felt assured the Mexican Government would act in the premises with due energy. The day following I received a note from the department of foreign affairs, of which a translation is herewith transmitted, inclosing copies of telegrams exchanged between the federal authorities in this city and the federal and local authorities in the State of Michoacan in relation to the occurrence at Anganqueo, the secretary stating that the government expected further details. Subsequently I have received a communication from Messrs. Stephens and Fagan, the only survivors of the Americans engaged in mining at Anganqueo, and a statement of the whole occurrence by Mr. Arthur Kitchener, the director of the Trojes Mining Company for which the Americans were boring a tunnel. I inclose copies of these communications. Mr. Kitchener’s statement is accompanied by legal documents proving the fact of the death of John Connolly, Henry Toumans, and George Arnold, all three, it is asserted, being natives of the State of New York.
As will be seen by the documents furnished by the department of foreign affairs, the government acted with all possible promptness, although, so far as I am informed, the only arrests made up to the present time are the two referred to by Mr. Kitchener.
* * * * * * *
I am, &c.,
Mr. Neill to Mr. Ruelas.
Mexico, March 16, 1880.
Sir: It is my painful duty to inform your excellency that a telegram has been received in this city announcing the murder at or near the Trojes Mines, Anganqueo, Michoacan, of three American citizens. The telegram referred to is as follows:
“Three of our Americans killed. Great disturbance. Troops on the road to our assistance. Communicate to consul. Particulars to-morrow.”
[Page 740]I make this communication to your excellency, fully assured that such prompt and energetic measures will be taken by your government as the circumstances of the case may require.
I embrace, &c.,
Mr. Ruelas to Mr. Neill.
Mexico, March 17, 1880.
Sir: I had the honor to receive your honor’s note of yesterday, in which you are pleased to transcribe a telegram from Anganqueo, State of Michoacan, in which is announced the murder of three American citizens, and you ask that the government dictate such prompt and energetic measures as the circumstances of the case require.
Even before receiving your honor’s note, immediately upon receipt of intelligence of that unfortunate event, the President had earnestly recommended, through this department of government, the governor of that State to take, with the greatest activity, all the measures within his power to discover the culprits, for the purpose of inflicting upon them prompt and exemplary punishment, as your honor may see by the inclosed copy, numbered 1.
According to Nos. 2 and 3, which I also inclose, it appears that the tumult was caused by several Americans having killed a Mexican operative. The goverement expects soon to receive an exact statement of the occurrence at Anganqueo.
Upon replying with the foregoing to your honor’s note, I improve, &c.
(Copy, No. 1.)
The governor of the State of Michoacan, in a telegram of yesterday, says:
“The prefect of Zitácuaro says to me: ‘Yesterday there was a tumult between the operatives and the Americans of the mining district of Anganqueo. Of the former two were killed and one wounded; and of the latter, three were killed; a house was hurt.’ The prefect is already en route to that point with a force. I take measures. I will communicate details when they are received.
“In the same manner I replied to said governor the following: ‘Your telegram of yesterday, relating to a tumult, which occurred on the 13th in Zitacuaro, between operatives and Americans of the mining district of Anganqueo, has been received. By direction of the President, I recommend you to be pleased to dictate with the greatest activity the measures which you may deem necessary in order to discover the persons responsible for such a serious crime, consigning them to the proper authorities, with a special recommendation to hasten the proceedings so as to secure prompt and exemplary punishment.’ And I have the honor to transcribe it to you for your information.”
Liberty in the Constitution.
To the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
(Copy, No. 2.)
Mexican Republic, Department of War and Marine, Section 1.
General Abraham Plata telegraphs me the following from Morella:
“To-day, the colonel of the second corps of auxiliaries communicated to me from Maravatio the following: ‘Captain Ocanas reports from Zitácuaro a mutiny in Anganqueo. There were five persons killed, I have ordered forces to that point. I go with 50 cavalry.’
“I asked information and the major of the same corps replied to me with the following: ‘The colonel has marched with 55 men. The detachment from Zitácuaro has marched. A. servant of the house of Murga, who left Anganqueo this morning, reports that the miners mutinied against the company on account of the killing of an operative, [Page 741] and burnt a house, and that four foreigners were killed. Nothing unusual on this line.’”
And I transcribe it to you for your information.
Liberty in the Constitution.
To the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Present.
(Copy, No. 3.)
Mexican Republic, Department of War and Marine, Section 1.
General Abraham Plata reports to this department to-day, by telegraph, the following: “In a telegram, which I received last night, the colonel of the second corps of auxiliaries reports to me the following from Anganqueo: ‘Order restored; tumult between operatives and American company, the result being three Americans and five operatives killed. I will give you a detailed report by mail. I await your orders.”
“I directed said officer to remain at that point until further orders.”
And I inclose it to you for your information.
Liberty in the Constitution.
By order of the minister.
To the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Present.
Messrs. Stephens and Fagan to Mr. Neill.
Sir: We are the two men mentioned by Mr. Kitchener as being the only ones of our party of five who escaped from the Mexicans who attacked us on Sunday last. He has read his letter over to us, and we wish to state that his description of the disturbance, as far as evidence will allow at present, is correct.
As citizens of America we appeal to you as the representative of our country, and we feel confident that you will do all in your power to obtain compensation to us for our losses, and protection for our lives; also protection for the company, which, through their officers here, have made such heroic efforts to deliver us, and to whom we owe our safety at this moment.
As soon as possible we shall inform you as to the extent of our losses, which we cannot clearly estimate at present, as the authorities have yet in their keeping the goods saved from the wreck.
We are, &c.,
- CLINTON STEPHENS.
- ANSEL FAGAN.
Mr. Kitchner to Mr. Robert Geddes.
Anganqueo, March 16, 1880.
Dear Sir: I have to inform you of a very painful occurrence which happened to three of the Americans who were engaged in mining operations for the Trojes Mining and Smelting Company, which I represent, and I must request you to place the following information before the proper American officials in Mexico, to enable them to take any steps that their government may think advisable for obtaining compensation for the loss of life and property.
First of May, 1879, Messrs. Sullivan and Fagan signed in the city of New York the inclosed contract with the Trojes Mining and Smelting Company. In the month of November they commenced work on a large scale under the immediate direction of [Page 742] Mr. Clinton Stephens. He was accompanied by Ansel Fagan, one of the parties to the contract, Mr. Arnold, son of a gentleman who was directly interested in the undertaking, Mr. Connolly, managing engineer under Mr. Stephens, and Mr. Henry Youmans, machinist, all of them American born citizens. Since their arrival the work has been in constant progress, native labor being largely employed by them, but until the late disturbance we saw no serious signs of any outbreak amongst them. It is true that several times the lives of all us Protestants have been threatened, and some little time before the Americans arrived printed notices had been posted on the walls of the houses stating that the foreigners in the company’s employ would all be killed. Later on it seems that Mr. Connolly, one of the deceased, had received notices that he would be one of the sufferers, but like the rest of us took little notice of their repeated threats; indeed, we were all under the impression that he was one of the most popular foreigners amongst us, being a good Roman Catholic, strict in his attendance at chapel, and a great friend with the priest of the village.
Our company had their smelting works and chief offices, &c., situated at Trojes, a distance of about 5 miles from the village of Anganqueo. The American contractors hired the use of a house situated near the mouth of the San Hilario tunnel, on the road to Trojes, and about three-fourths of a mile from the village of Anganqueo.
On the evening of Saturday, the 13th, I left Anganqueo to spend the Sunday at Trojes, as was my custom. The following day being Sunday and a general holiday, my manager, Mr. Tregoning, an Englishman, and Mr. Fagan, one of the American contractors, came over to spend the day at Trojes, with the intention of returning to Anganqueo that same evening. This was quite a rare occurrence, that both my manager and myself should be absent from Anganqueo at the same time. About 6.20 p.m. Don Emilio, Mexican, brother-in-law of my manager, appeared at Trojes, having ridden in great haste. He informed us that he had met Mr. Clinton Stephens walking in the midst of an excited crowd towards the Casa Municipal. He accompanied him to the office and there stated to the authorities that a man had been killed by the Americans in self-defense, and that a large crowd was attacking the house, begging them to take soldiers and use their influence to stop further outrage. The crowd which accompanied Mr. Stephens being still much excited, the authorities took Mr. Stephens into the Casa Municipal for protection. In about fifteen minutes after their arrival the troops, numbering eight men, started for the scene of disturbance. Mr. Stephens remained under the charge of the authorities whilst Don Emilio started off for the scene of disturbance, arriving there about the same time as the soldiers. He described to us that there was an excited crowd of fully a thousand men surrounding the building which Connolly, Arnold, and Youmans had shut themselves into; he heard many shots fired, and attempts were being made to fire on the building lighted fagots to burn the house down. The soldiers on arrival did not in any way better matters, but seemed to Don Emilio to mix with the crowd and rather increase the excitement. We have several witnesses who saw the soldiers later on fire on the Americans. Don Emilio tried to pass the crowd on the road to Trojes, but was finally turned back; he managed, however, in the excitement, to make his way by a small bridle track past the crowd, and as mentioned brought the first notice of the disturbance to us at Trojes. No other notice from the authorities or otherwise reached Trojes either then or later in the evening.
In a few minutes I and three men were in the saddle and galloped as fast as the horses could go to the scene of disturbance. Mr. Hillegust remained in charge of the smelter and arranged to collect further forces to follow us as soon as possible. On our arrival we found the contractor’s house still burning, and the dead bodies of Conolly, Arnold, and Youmans distributed about and so mutilated they were scarcely to be recognized. There were several small crowds of excited people about, but no attack was made on us, nor were there any signs of any soldiers or authorities to protect the bodies or property. As there was still doubt as to Mr. Stephens’s safety, and also, as I fully expected an attack might be made on the company’s house in Anganqueo, we followed on into the town, which was crowded with excited people, mostly collected around the Casa Municipal, in which Mr. Stephens was lodged. Being only a small party, we thought it better to remain in charge of the house until a superior force arrived. In the haste of our departure from Trojes I was quite unaware that Mr. Fagan intended coming to Anganqueo. I learned, however, after arriving that he had started a few minutes later than we; his horse, however, would not keep up, and he had been left behind by himself. Knowing, however, that a superior force would follow as speedily as possible, and that Mr. Fagan would naturally turn back to meet them, we remained in the house and received a communication from the authorities to say that Mr. Stephens was still unhurt, but that a large mob was still surrounding the building.
In about an hour and a half, an extra force in charge of our conductor, Herr Rieckmann, arrived, bringing with them Mr. Fagan, whom they had met waiting for them on the road, not, however, before three shots had been fired at him from the close neighborhood of the burning building. We now had a force of some 12 or 13 men, [Page 743] and the authorities sent word to say they would he glad if we would take charge of Mr. Stephens, as the crowd was still very excited, and liable to break into the Casa Municipal. This I only too gladly agreed to do, if they retained all the responsibility for his life, and in a short time he was handed over to our care. I then requested the authorities to remove the dead bodies, which was effected before morning.
Mr. Stephens then gave me the following account of what he had seen of the disturbance. He, Mr. Stephens, was in the engine-house, about 200 yards from their dwelling-house, when he heard five shots fired in that direction. He at once proceeded down to the house to make inquiries. Before turning the corner, however, he perceived an excited Mexican throwing stones at the house; he then heard another shot, and upon turning the corner he found a man wounded in the street. He next proceeded into the house and found there Connolly, Arnold, and Youmans. Mr. Connolly then gave to Mr. Stephens the following account of the disturbance: That the man wounded outside had in the morning disputed about the payment of an extra real (12½ cents) in his wages; that becoming troublesome, he, Connolly, had ejected him from the house. In the afternoon the same man returned and found Connolly sitting outside the house, and instantly commenced throwing stones at him, breaking the bench he was sitting on. Connolly retired into the house to avoid him; the man, however, commenced to stone the door, and Connolly was obliged to come out to put the man away. The man then attacked Connolly with a sword and drove him back into the house. Connolly then armed himself with a Colt revolver, and fired five shots without effect. This must have been intentional, as the distance was so close he would hardly fail in his aim. The man still persevering in his attack, Connolly, who in the mean time had armed himself with a breech-loading shot-gun, found himself obliged in self-protection to fire on him; the charge took effect in the legs, showing clearly even then that Connolly was trying to spare life.
Mr. Stephens, on hearing this account, told Connolly to accompany him at once to deliver himself up to the authorities. Mr. Stephens started on the road, and at once an excited crowd collected, as Connolly still remained behind in the house. Mr. Stephens returned for him, and they started together in the direction of the village, telling the crowd as they went that they were on their way to deliver themselves up to the authorities. For several hundred yards no violence was offered them, though the crowd increased in numbers and continued to insult them. Mr. Stephens then saw a man called Pedro Mondragon, gefe de Mangano, one of the authorities in the district, and who had previously expressed considerable friendship for Connolly, coming forward to meet them, and at once told Connolly to ask his friend to proceed with him to the authorities. Pedro Mondragon, however, drew his sword and rushed forward to strike Connolly, who avoided the blow by springing to one side, drew his pistol and shouted to the man to wait. Still, however, the man came on with his sword, and Connolly, wishing to prevent bloodshed, and seeing an opening in the crowd, turned to escape towards the house, when Pedro Mondragon gave him a blow with his sword. Mr. Stephens saw Connolly followed by Mondragon, and the crowd reached the house and closed the doors.
Mr. Stephens being unable to return to the house on account of the crowd, and wishful to seek assistance, proceeded on his way to the Casa Municipal, about three-fourths of a mile distant, followed the whole way by an excited crowd insulting him, whilst one man on horseback threw his lasso at him, luckily without success. He then met Don Emilio and proceeded to the authorities and gave himself into their charge as before mentioned.
On the same night (Sunday) the authorities took up the bodies to the Casa Municipal and also some of the goods saved from the burning building. Ail that evening-there was an excited crowd around the house containing the bodies, but only one shot was fired; in the morning Achilos Arinas, gefe de Policia de Ocampo, and Leon Torres arrived with an armed force of some 40 well-armed men, to our assistance. Being anxious to take Messrs. Stephens and Fagan to a place of safety, we notified the authorities of our intention to proceed to Trojes, after Mr. Stephens had given his declaration before the authorities. We started with the guard. On the way, part of our guard seized Pedro Mondragon, and took him to prison.
Owing to the probable excitement which might be caused by a foreign burial under such painful circumstances, we determined to bring the bodies to Trojes, for burial in the company’s vault. For this purpose I proceeded back to Anganqueo to take the bodies, but was detained several hours, through their having to await the arrival of officials from Zitácuaro, the capital of the district. They arrived late with a force of about 90 men and we started with the bodies on mules about half past six in the morning, arriving at Trojes about nine o’clock. When I read, over the bodies, the English burial service, several natives informed me that they saw the soldiers fire on the Americans. The inclosed letter from the doctor will show you the frightful death our friends were subjected to. Several of those present described the fearful madness of the people in mutilating the bodies, before and after death. One boy, by order of his father, lassoed poor Connolly when he was in a dying condition and dragged him about. By the first report we heard that six Mexicans were killed and many more wounded, but [Page 744] subsequently we heard that only two are dead and four wounded dangerously. As the Mexican bodies were at once removed, we had no means of judging the number. It is an important fact to note, that upon the authorities wishing to send a telegram for assistance Flaviano Arguillo, telegrafisto, refused to forward the message because it was Sunday and not office hours. The authorities did not enforce it.
The only men implicated in this affair that are yet taken are Pedro Mondragon and the boy who lassoed poor Connolly.
During the trouble, Mr. Hillegust in the company’s name applied to the inhabitants of Ocampo village, near Trojes. These responded to his call most promptly, and more-men than were required instantly offered their services. We wish especially that Achilos Arinas and Leon Torres might be officially thanked for the prompt manner in which they brought their forces to their assistance. We trust that when the excitement is somewhat less to give you more full details, and also to send you the certificates of death. I thought it advisable to at once stop all workings at the mines so long as this excitement lasts.
I trust you will represent these sad details to the representative of the American Government, as Messrs. Stephens and Fagan, as well as the company, are heavy losers-by the late disturbance, and we have every confidence that the American Government will do all that is fitting to obtain compensation for the loss of life and property and for the protection of all foreigners in the district. The goods saved from the burning house are still in the hands of the authorities, so that we are unable as yet to form an estimate of the losses.
Your obedient servant,
Director of Trojes Mining Company.