VENGEANCE IN MEXICO.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1020, 22 July 1911, Page 4

VENGEANCE IN MEXICO.

A DETERMINED WOMAN. AVENGES HUSBAND AND SONS. The most thrilling incident of the uprising in Mexico took place after the Federal evacuation of Agua Prieta. The incident was

the seizure of Colonel Chiapas by ] an avenger. At the beginning of 1 the insurrection Colonel Chiapas had command for the Government of the Sonora district, and he quickly became known for his severity. Those even suspected of disloyalty to President Diaz were summarily dealt with, and among others who suffered were a rich resident named Talam antes, who, with his two sons, was arrested on the charge of sympathising with the insurrectors. After a brief hearing the three were condemned to death. Mdme. Talamantes pleaded with Colonel Chiapas for the life of her husband and sons, offering everything they possessed, but the colonel replied to her entreaties only with sneers, refused her request, had the three men taken to the grounds of their own haciendo, forced the woman to remain within hearing of the shots, and had them executed. The widow changed from the retiring undemonstrative woman she had been to a vigorous avenger. Having ample resources, she first offered gold to anyone who would deliver Colonel Chiapas alive into her hands; then she organised a troop of fighters, put herself at the head, and joined the insurgents. She furnished her troops with arms and horses, and it soon became one of the strongest and most effective forces among the rebels. Her avowed purpose was to capture Colonel Chiapas. When the Federals evacuated Agua Prieta the widow ambushed a portion of them on their retreat. That portion was led by Chiapas. He was wounded and delivered to her. Within two hours of the capture the woman compelled him to dig his own grave, he stood at its edge and she personally gave command to fire to her twelve troopers, who faced him. Colonel Chiapas fell into the grave and was buried.