MEXICO IN WAR TIME.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1879, 13 October 1913, Page 8

MEXICO IN WAR TIME.

INTERVIEW ON S.S. MOANA.

IMPRESSIONS OF A RESIDENT.

: Mr. G. A. Laird, mine manager from i Caiulola, north-east Mexico, was a through passenger to Sydney by the Moana, which sailed on Friday in continuance of her voyage from San Francisco. With his wide-brimmed "sombrero," clean-shaven sunburnt face, and curiously direct manner, lie is a typical Texan, and "acts as sich." Being from a country where there is plenty of troublo, Mr. Laird was interviewed yesterday on the Moana as sho lay at the Queen's Wharf. "How long liavo I been in Mexico?" said Mr. Laird. "Well, maybo sixteen years. In tho mining business all tho time. See that? (ho showed a small silver medallion) that is the badge of tho Miners' Metallurgical Society—had to work eight long years as mino manager to get that, so I guess I know my business." Where were you located? "Last at Candela, San Pedro, 110 miles from the New Mexican border. There I liad about 1500 Mexican greasers and 40 high-grade whites to keep them in their But that's some time ago." "If You Can Call It a War." "We closed down (added the speaker) two years seven months ago—nothing doing since!" Owing to the war? "Wail, yes; if you can call It a war." Men desert ? "Nope—coal gave out." Where was the.supply obtained from!" "Dawson, New Mexico, by rail." What happened ? "The rebels only happened to destroy fifty-seven bridges and ripped up all tho roads. That was what sort of upset things in Candela, so we paused for breath. It's all guerrilla warfare round our way—no such thing as pitched battles, but it ain't at all healthy noways." . What is going to happen? "Dunno. These greasers dunno what fh'oy'ro fighting for—only there's a streak of Hastiness in them, and it's more exciting than raising potatoes. There's only one thing that will end ii all—intervention by tTio United States Government." United States Will Stand Off. What is tho international position? "A delegation representing American capital in Mexico called on Mr. W. J. Bryan not so long ago, to see if they could not raiso Uncle Jonathan's dander. What do you think ho told them? Why,_ that he would sooner see all the /Tmericau money invested in Mexico lost than he would see the life of ono soldier sacrificed. What do you think? Why, if ho had said the wort), wo could have cleaned them up ourselves, and presented the Republic of Mexico to the States. It was only by anticipating a little as, sooner or later, the American drums will be rolling down the Bio Grande." Mexican Mining. Speaking about his mining interests, , Mr. Laird said that thrqe years ago he would liavo been accounted a well-to-do man,- but the troublo had cleaned him out, as' it had hundreds of other whites. ■ They mined gold, lead, copper, and sil- i ver out of the quartz at Candela. It : was underground mining for tho most : part, and there was on his mino pro- I bably tho biggest pumping outfit in tho world. It was capable of pumping - 10,000 gallons per minute, and could do u nigiit and day if required. Tho Mexican greasers employed in and about the mines received wages equivalent to 6s. per day, and tho white men—mechanics and overseers —received from 16s. '■to 245. per day. Tho Mexicans : gave no trouble when properly handled, but had a "dirty" turn when tlioy woro , badly annoyed.