Tales from the Morgue

ORDER TO BATHE STARTS NEAR RIOT AMONG JUAREZ WOMEN

January 29, 1917

AUBURN-HAIRED AMAZON AT SANTA FE STREET BRIDGE LEADS FEMININE OUTBREAK

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Rumor Among Servant Girls That Quarantine Officers Photographed Bathers in the Altogether Responsible for Wild Scenes.

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Luckless Laborer Mistakes Character of Demonstration, Shouts “Viva Villa,” and His Career is Promptly Ended by Bullets From Carranza Cavalry.

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Street Cars Seized and Detained for Hours and Conductors and Motormen, One With a Black Eye, Are Escorted Back to El Paso

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Juarez women, incensed at the American quarantine regulations, led a riot yesterday morning at the Santa Fe bridge. From the time the street cars began to run until the middle of the afternoon thousands of Mexicans thronged the Juarez side of the river and pushed out to the tollgate on the bridge. Women ringleaders of the mob hurled stones at American civilians, both on the bridge and on the streets of Juarez. Four street cars which crossed into Juarez early in the morning were sealed, and the eight members of the crew sent, afoot, back to El Paso, one of them brining a black eye and bruised face as a memento. A Villa sympathizer who started a diversion during the excitement by shouting “Death to Carranza! Viva Villa!” was promptly shot by a Carranza soldier. Four bullets took effect, killing him instantly.

Mounted Men Disperse Crowd

Toward the middle of the afternoon, when the excitement had died down somewhat, mounted men dispersed the crowd on the Juarez side of the bridge. American soldiers also forced back the Mexicans on the bridge to the international line at the middle of the river, the Mexicans having previously pushed as far as the tollgate, where they hung over the railing to jeer their compatriots who entered the bathhouse to comply with the regulations.

Street Car Traffic Interrupted

The street cars which had been stopped in Juarez were brought back about 2 o’clock, but after one car made the trip it was discontinued for the rest of the day.

False Reports Responsible for Trouble

When women were ordered to get off the street cars and submit to being bathed and disinfected before passing to the American side the rioting started. Reports were circulated that the women were being insulted in the bathhouse and photographed while nude. The greater part of them refused to go to the bath and became indignant when they were ordered off the street cars, after having paid their fares, and could not have their nickel refunded.

Carmilita Torres Leads Demonstration

When refused permission to enter El Paso without complying with the regulations the women collected in an angry crowd at the center of the bridge. By 8 o’clock the throng, consisting in large part of servant girls employed in El Paso, had grown until it packed the bridge half way across. Led by Carmelita Torres, an auburn-haired young woman of 17, they kept up a continuous volley of language aimed at the immigration and health officers, civilians, sentries and any other visible American. Small stones were thrown, but the missiles were little more dangerous than the language. Some few automobiles which braved their fury and pushed through to the other side were showered with mud and stones.

Motorman’s Grotesque Escape

One of the street car motormen, finally making his way back to the American side, emerged from the mob with half a dozen women clinging to him, endeavoring to drag him down. The controllers of the street cars were carried away by the women and used for weapons or thrown into the river.

Carranza cavalrymen were unable during the morning to make any headway against the crowd, although they drew their sabers threateningly. Women laughingly caught their bridles and turned their horses aside, holding the soldiers’ sabers and whips.

American sentries had to be placed under the bridge to prevent Mexicans from jumping off upon the sand and reaching the American side in that manner. These sentries were exposed to the marksmanship of a gang of small Mexican boys, who threw sticks and mud.

Carranza Cavalry Active

One of the significant incidents of the disturbances across the river yesterday morning was the action of the Mexican military authorities in parading their forces on Juarez avenue. Not only was the civil population of Juarez permitted to make a disgusting exhibition, but the Mexican soldiers were turned out as though to encourage the civilians in their anti-cleanup demonstration.

A surprisingly large number of soldiers were revealed when the Mexican commander marshaled his forces on the avenue. With the famous skull and crossbones flag of the Murgia division flying and a band playing, the forces of General Murgia made a picturesque showing. Just why they were placed on parade could not be fathomed by the few Americans who happened to see them.

At the American end of the bridge quiet efficiency prevailed. The handful of American soldiers who patrolled the grounds around the customs house continued to walk their beats just as though a seething Latin mob scene was not being enacted a few feet away.

Girls Attack Automobiles

Those who witnessed the actions of the Mexican mob at the end of the bridge will never forget it. Composed largely of young girls, the mob seemed bent on destroying anything that came from the American side. As soon as an automobile would cross the line the girls would absolutely cover it. The scene reminded one of bees swarming. The hands of the feminine mob would claw and tear at the tops of the cars. The glass rear windows of the autos were torn out, the tops torn to pieces and parts of the fittings, such as lamps and horns, were torn away. All of this happened in view of Mexican military, who had a sufficient force at hand to stop any kind of difficulty. But the commanders and the soldiers seemed in sympathy with the mob. The impulse was to injure and insult Americans as much as possible without actually committing murder.

Jose Maria Sanchez Stops Bullets

Later in the morning, when the crowd had grown to several thousand, including a large percentage of men, the Villa sympathizer above mentioned made his unfortunate outbreak, and received the four bullets. His name was given as Jose Maria Sanchez, a laborer.

Consul General Garcia Appeals to Crowd

About 10 o’clock Andres G. Garcia, Mexican consul general, drove out upon the bridge in his automobile and succeeded to some extent, in quieting the mob. When he started back to the American side the crowd seized the wheels of his car, endeavoring to keep him on the Mexican side. An automobile carrying mail was turned back when it tried to cross into Juarez, the crowd refusing to give way and ordering the driver’s return to El Paso.

Mexicans Survive Bath

Early in the afternoon, as Mexicans continued to come out of the bathhouse without appreciable injury, the crowd began to break up. Mounted Mexican soldiers drove them away from the river bank and cleared the end of the bridge, allowing none to pass the custom house except those who washed to enter El Paso. Similar restrictions had been earlier put into affect on the American side. Crowds of spectators had gathered near the El Paso end of the bridge to watch the excitement, and groups were strung for some distance along the bank.

Bad Day for Americans

There were few Americans visiting in Juarez yesterday, as the early developments caused immigration officials to warn all who attempted to cross. Dozens turned back every hour on being informed that it was a “bad day for Americans.” Some Americans who went to the race track made their return without being interfered with. Others had to run the gauntlet of rocks and abuse, and there were rumors of several Americans resenting insults and being jailed, but these reports were not confirmed. Consul General Garcia, after a trip through Juarez in the afternoon, said there had been no disturbance of consequence except at the bridge. He said no Americans had been arrested, and declared that the report of the Villista killed was untrue. He said four shots were fired to frighten rioters.

Amusement Resorts Closed

The race track, gambling houses and amusement places of Juarez were closed all day.

In spite of protest made by so many there were enough Mexicans who submitted to the orders of the immigration officers to keep the bathhouse and disinfection equipment busy. Each individual who crossed the bridge was questioned and inspected, and the greater part of them ordered to the cleansing house. They came out with clothes wrinkled from the steam sterilizer, hair wet and faces shining, generally laughing and in good humor. The immigration men predict that as soon as the Mexicans become familiar with the bathing process they will not only submit to it, but welcome it.

At least one “professional bather” has already been developed by the quarantine. A man of about 60 years was found to be taking his fifth cleansing of the day, with the object of selling the certificates to his countrymen.

Certificates Required of Travelers

The certificates read “United Stated Public Health Service, Mexican Border Quarantine. The bearer, …………, has been this day deloused, bathed, vaccinated, clothing and baggage disinfected.”

No railroad tickets will be issued out of the city to Mexicans unless such certificates are presented. Many Mexicans were refused transportation yesterday for this reason.

The owner of a bathhouse in Juarez was among the instigators of the riot and was seen inciting the women through the morning.

Many laughable incidents were reported by the health officers, quoting their conversations with Mexicans ordered to the baths. One argues eloquently that he had bathed well in July. Another put up a logical debate with the officers, alleging there was more typhus in El Paso than in Juarez, proving American methods wrong.

SENSATIONAL ASSAULT

June 13, 1888

“Take that for talking about me,” were the words of warning that greeted County Assessor Kahn’s ears as he was going along the north side of San Antonio street, just east of Oregon, yesterday afternoon about 2 o’clock. The speaker was Mrs. Watson, who was recently granted a divorce from her husband, William Watson, the blacksmith. The words were hardly uttered before she began playing about Kahn’s head with a small rattan riding whip. Kahn was carrying a sun umbrella which prevented the woman from inflicting any serious damage on his facial anatomy. Kahn turned and a sort of Kilkenny cat struggle was the next act. Wm. Watson, the late husband of the irate woman, came along either accidentally or purposely and proceeded to assist his late wife. A hackman also engaged in the melee and the fight bade fair to become general when marshal White came along and with his usual neatness and dispatch surrounded the entire force of combatants and placed Kahn and Watson under arrest, but without imprisoning them.

Assessor Kahn proceeded to the court house. But the news of his exploit had preceded him and when he appeared before the board of equalization he met with an ovation that can be more easily imagined than described.

“Had you talked about Mrs. Watson as she alleges?” said a TIMES reporter to Mr. Kahn later.

“No, only what I said” – and Mr. Kahn proceeded to make explanations not proper to print.

The TIMES reporter also sought Mrs. Watson at her home on Florence street. She is a comely woman about 35 years old. She showed no anger and even smiled at some episodes in the affray. She said that “Kahn had scandalized her” and she knew of no other way to call him to account. She said that Mr. Watson, her former husband, had called on her the previous evening and told her things which he said Kahn had told him, and she had then said that she would “blacksnake Kahn.” She intimated that she knew several other women who contemplated following her example.

Sky-high courage

Amigo Airsho photo gallery

May 22, 1981

Woman wingwalker conquers fear with air ‘feet’

Tamara Chapman
El Paso Times

Courage is jampacked into Sandi Pierce Melvin’s petite frame the way customers are crowded into a fast-food restaurant at lunch time.

Make that courage fueled by twin engines of pure energy.

As executive director of Amigo Airsho ’81. Ms. Melvin has had her hands more than full booking and coordinating acts. But she has an enthusiasm for air shows born of experience – experience as a participant as well as an organizer.

She started flying in 1966, and since 1968 she’s performed in air shows from Oshkosh to Milwaukee to Dallas.

In 1969, she first presented one of her most daring acts – wingwalking.

Though she had performed as an aerobatic pilot the previous year, wingwalking was a new experience for Ms. Melvin. Supported by a back brace and protective clothing, she rode atop the wing of a 450 Stearman aircraft, a large biplane. Not content just to ride in a normal fashion, Ms. Melvin also rode aboard the plane as it turned upside down and sideways.

“It’s not like you expect,” she says of her experiences. “It’s not fun. It’s very very windy. If you can imagine riding on the hood of a car at 160 miles per hour. …You feel very alone.”

She shrugs off comments about her daring. “It was a job, and you did it,” she says with a slight Texas twang.

“Anyone can ride the wing. It takes no ability.” Rather, Ms. Melvin describes wingriding as nothing more than the ability to conquer fear.

However, wingriding is not a fitting sport for the queasy or nervous. At landing, wingriders are especially vulnerable because there’s a chance the plane might tip or overturn.

Of this danger, Ms. Melvin says she just never worried.

At the time she initially attempted the feat, Ms. Melvin was the only woman wingrider and one of only five women air-show pilots, she says. She now holds the unofficial wingriding record for accumulated hours.

Though she was a woman in what was then a traditionally male field, Ms. Melvin says that discrimination was the exception. Aviators, she says, welcome kindred spirits into their fold.

Ms. Melvin’s aeronautical interests first took wing when she worked as a flight school secretary. After a year of lessons she became a regular on the air-show circuit.

“It’s a way of life,” she says, bouncing in her seat. “You go from show to show.

During her air-show years, Ms. Melvin appeared on various television shows, including the “Mike Douglas Show” and “What’s My Line.”

Since that fateful first year at the flight school, Ms. Melvin has clocked more than 5,000 flight hours in 65 types of planes. She also has accumulated enough Federal Aviation Administration licenses to fill a DC-10.

In addition, she has a mechanic’s license because she believes air-show performers should know the business inside and out.

These days, she’s still a kinetic bundle of energy, but her feet spend more time firmly on the ground. She works in investment real estate for Macatee-Smith Inc. and contents herself with occasional flights. But mention of the aeronautical worked still stirs her blood and causes her spirits to soar.

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SMOKED A CIGARETTE

July 3, 1905

EL PASO MAN DIDN’T KNOW IT WAS UNLAWFUL

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But, he was in Indianapolis and the Hoosier State Recently Enacted a Statue Against the Use of Them

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If you are a cigarette smoker from the border of Mexico, where the homemade cigarette now generally used in the United States had its origin, and have occasion to visit the state of Indiana it would be well for you to learn how to temporarily subsist on a pipe or cigars. This is the substance of a bit of advice that G.A. Miller, transfer man for the street car company, who recently paid a visit to the Hoosier state and had an experience that hundreds of strangers not cognizant of the stringent anti-cigarette law in that state have had recently, is giving his friends.

The last legislature in Indiana passed a law making it unlawful not only to sell cigarettes in the state but subjecting the man who smokes one of them or even has the “makin’s” in his possession, to a fine of not less than $25. Mr. Miller recently passed through Indianapolis on his way to his old home in Ohio and stopped off in the capital of the Hoosier state for a few hours. Before leaving El Paso he had placed in his grip a supply of Mexican cigarettes to take back to his friends. He also carried a few loose packages in his pockets and smoked one occasionally. While strolling down Washington street in Indianapolis a few days ago Mr. Miller mechanically drew from his pocket one of his Mexican cigarettes, lit it and proceeded to mingle the smoke of Mexican tobacco with other smoke that he saw floating about him. In a few minutes he was tapped on the shoulder by a six-foot Hoosier in police uniform and informed that he was under arrest. Miller’s mind ran over his past history in a twinkling and he could think of nothing that he had ever done for which he was liable to arrest and he informed the officer that he must be mistaken in his man.

“No, I’m not,” said the policeman, keeping a firm grip on Miller’s arm.

“Well, what do you want me for?” pleaded Miller.

“For smoking cigarettes,” was the curt reply of the blue-coat and Miller was still as much puzzled as ever, for he had been all over the country and had blown cigarette smoke into the four corners of the globe but had never before known that it was an offense against the law.

The officer asked Miller how long he had been in Indiana and Miller replied that he had just come into the state from Louisville. The officer then explained that smoking or having in our possession cigarettes or the material for making them was a grievous offense in that state and that a man may as well try to get away with a murder as to be guilty of violating the anticigarette law in Indiana and escape the officers.

Miller explained to the officer how he came to be smoking the obnoxious cigarette and the officer seeing that he was ignorant of the law and that was not intentionally violating it promised to release him provided he would turn over to him the cigarettes that he had in his pockets and not to take any more out of his grip.

Miller promised to do this and took the next train out of Indianapolis for Ohio.