No. 776.
Mr. Bragg
to Mr. Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
Mexico, March 23, 1888.
(Received April 2.)
No. 10.]Sir: Yesterday I received a letter from one B. C. Work, dated on the 1st
instant, at San Carlos, Tamaulipas, copy of which is herewith inclosed, and
in which Mr. Work described his position as one of peril, and besought my
interposition in his behalf.
I represented the case to Mr. Mariscal, and have the honor to inclose copy of
my note to him for your consideration and approval.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 10.]
Mr. Work to Mr.
Bragg.
San
Carlos, Tamaulipas,
March 1, 1888.
Dear Sir: I have been here for the past six
years with my family, my wife and daughter, mining in the San José
mines, 15 miles northwest of this place, our company
[Page 1183]
known and on record as the Linares Land
and Mining Company. I am secretary and general manager of the same, A.
W. Gifford, president, office 712 and 713 Bank of Commerce Building,
Saint Louis, Missouri.
I have the honor to submit to you that for the past two years we—that is,
my family and myself—have had to submit to many persecutions and
attempts to murder us. I have appealed to the loeal authority here, and
they treat me with indifference. We have many thousands invested in
these mines, and it would be a great loss to have to abandon all our
property here. I am now a prisoner in jail here for killing a robber who
attacked me in open day, a few miles from my camp on my way to camp from
the city of Linares with funds. There were three in the gang, the other
two got away, and have presented themselves to the judge here claiming
that I murdered the man without cause.
Last night, after I got to camp with my family, who are Americans, I sent
for the judge and surrendered myself to him and demanded of him to
protect me, as a mob had surrounded my house with arms shouting to burn
us out, at the same time setting the brush fence on fire. Through the
aid of a couple of gentleman from this place and Don Antonio Medenel, I
prevented the mob from murdering and roasting us in our camp. I am here
in jail very unjustly, and the object is to extort money from me. My
partners are in the States, and no other Americans in the district. I am
forced away from my friends, and I dread the result. My wife is the
daughter of the Rev. A. Fitzgerald, of Dalton, Georgia (Baptist).
The local authorities of this place are to blame, and denounce all
Americans and American interests here. I hope that you will lay this
before the proper authority and ask for the legal protection of our
lives and property. I have been the agent of Rubio, now secretary of
state, in 1862 to 1865 in Texas, buying cotton for the company of Rubio,
Madoro, Gonzalez & Co. X also have represented the house of W.
Cunningham & Sons, of 45 and 47 South Front street, Philadelphia, at
Tampico, in this State, in 1870 to 1875.
I am a native of Tennessee, from Roane County, Kinston, the county site.
I have been connected with Mexican business since 1861, have always
conformed to the laws, have never made complaints to my Government
before until now, and the presidente de ayuntamiento, Don R. Valdze, two
years ago, in open court, threatened my blood for presenting a protest
regarding business; he is now aiding and abetting the acts. As he is now
again presidente of the ayuntamiento, I hope you will take immediate
notice of this. They intend here to send me to Victoria, the capital of
the State; when I get there, if they do not murder me before reaching
that place, I will communicate with you by wire.
Hoping you will excuse my hasty communication and my bad English, I
submit, etc.,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 10.]
Mr. Bragg to Mr.
Mariscal.
Legation of the United States,
Mexico, March 22,
1888.
Sir: I have the honor to bring to your
excellency’s notice the complaint of Mr. B. C. Work, an American
citizen, now imprisoned at San Carlos, in the State of Tamaulipas, on
the charge of murder.
Mr. Work declares that the man whom he killed was a robber, and that the
act was done in self-defense, the said robber having attacked him in
open day a few miles from his camp.
On February 29th last, Mr. Work on returning to his camp surrendered
himself voluntarily to the judicial authorities, and claimed their
protection from an excited mob, which set fire to a portion of his
property and threatened the lives of himself and his family.
According to my information Mr. Work is a respectable man, engaged in
mining operations, as secretary and general manager of the Linares Land
and Mining Company, whose property is located some 15 miles northwest of
San Carlos.
Mr. Work believes his life to be in great danger, and that his large
interests are in peril, owing to the unfriendly feeling of the
inhabitants and the indifference of the local authorities.
I beg your excellency’s immediate attention to the case, feeling assured
that you will issue such instructions to the authorities of Tamaulipas
as will lead to the protection of Mr. Work and family, as well as his
speedy trial for the offense with which he is charged.
I would at the same time, renew, etc.,
