File No. 312.11/4207.
The Secretary of State to the German Ambassador.
Washington, May 11, 1914.
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: Referring to the Department’s note of May 9, in regard to the situation at Hostotpaquillo, Jalisco, Mexico, I beg to inform you that the Department was yesterday morning informed by telephone, by the British Ambassador at this capital, that the British Vice Consul at Guadalajara on May 9 had telegraphed him as follows:—
C. B. Hoedley, American, G. E. Williams, British, killed; Walter Neal, American, Patrick Baird, British, slightly wounded at El Favor Mining Camp near Hostotpaquillo. S. H. A. Green, British, killed at San Marcos. No employees in jail as reported in press.
A second telegram, dated May 10, has been received by the Ambassador from the British Vice Consul at Guadalajara, which reads as follows:—
Yours 10th. Theft silver bars started trouble El Favor. Foreign staff commenced search of native workers and were attacked. Hoedley and Williams surrendered their weapons and were then stabbed to death, being horribly mutilated. Favor foreigners were all jailed but now at liberty. Harrison and Oldfield safe, former at Alcihuatl, latter here. Howard family all safe here. No employees in jail. Still await news Ramsdell. No trouble in Guadalajara.
The father of C. B. Hoedley has appealed to this Department, through United States Senator Frank B. Brandegee, to secure the body of his son, C. B. Hoedley, so that it may be returned to the home of the deceased in Branford, Connecticut.
Notwithstanding the fact that information has now been received with regard to the killing and wounding of Americans at Hostotpaquillo, although lacking in full details, the Department feels the greatest uneasiness regarding those reported wounded, and especially lest Mr. Neal’s wife and two children be in danger. The Department would therefore much appreciate having special messengers sent with the object of learning as much as possible regarding the details of the killing and wounding of each of the persons above mentioned, as well as of learning the place of burial of those that were killed, and, if possible, of recovering their bodies, to the end that the bodies may be delivered to an American shin outside the harbor at, Manznillo.
[Page 687]One of the officials of the Department has suggested that a wealthy German family by the name of Snyder, at Guadalajara, enjoys a very wide acquaintanceship throughout that section of Mexico, and that possibly through that family a messenger might be secured.
Any expenses incurred in connection with this matter will be cheerfully reimbursed by this Government.
I am [etc.]