Tales from the Morgue

1963: President Grover Cleveland’s Visit More Informal

June 06, 1963

By Art Liesbon

A presidential visit to El Paso in the 19th Century was a far more informal event before the secret Service began building an isolation wall separating the Man in the Whit House from the voters.

Mrs. Bessie Shinn, of 2898 Grant Ave., remembers well the red letter day when she marched in a ahead of President Grover Cleveland from Central School, on the site of El Maida Shrine Temple, to the Myar Opera House on South El Paso Street.

She was in the fifth or sixth grade at El Paso’s public school, in either 1894 or 1895, when Cleveland, then in his second term in the White House, made his appearance on the border. He was the only President to be defeated for re-election and then come back to win a second term.

“I carried the flag just head of the President,” Mrs. Shinn recalls. Helping hold it were Lottie Tiget and Josephine Collins, who with Mrs. Shinn were wearing identical dresses made for the occasion. “Everybody was on foot for the parade and there were four Secret Service agents around the President.”

At the opera house the youngsters who were to put on a program for the President followed him to the stage. Mrs. Shinn, then Bessie Kendall, was one of a choir that sang hymns and the Star Spangled Banner to help entertain Cleveland, while others from the school gave recitations. A Miss Williams directed the choir and accompanying the group was a young teacher who later was to become the wife of El Paso mayor, the late Mrs. C.E. (Word) Kelly. She had come to El Paso to teach at Central.

While the youngsters kept their seats, the Presidential party filed out. This time Cleveland did not walk. A carriage with two sparkling horsed pulling it, carried the President north from the opera house.

Does she remember what Cleveland looked like? Very well. He was a “fat fellow, sort of semi-blond and around six feet all.” He was very pleasant and relaxed while the children entertained him, and all El Paso turned out to see him in the parade.

Mrs. Shinn has been retired for the past 12 years. Before that, widowed when her husband, Jay H. Shinn, died in 1935, she worked in cafeterias at Houston, Rusk and Coldwell school cafeterias. She lives with her sister, Mrs. J.W. Warden.

The man who beat Cleveland, although losing the popular vote, only to be in turn defeated by him, also was an El Paso visitor. A clipping from the “International Daily Times” of April 22, 1891, tells the story of “Plucky El Paso’s grand International Reception to President (Benjamin) Harrison.”

SALUTATIONS

“Welcome; farewell!

“El Paso gave both salutations yesterday, and right proudly did she carry herself in the ceremony, so proudly indeed that she captured the hearts and admiration of the entire presidential party.

“Nature conspired to make the international reception tendered the president a brilliant success. The day dawned clear and beautiful and at an early hour the finishing touches were given the handsome decorations in which the entire city was clothed. As early as 7 o’clock the streets were thronged with people, many of whom were visitors who came in the evening before, and all wore happy smiling faces in keeping with their surroundings.”

At “7 o’clock sharp” the Presidential train rolled into the depot. A Mexican band struck up the national air of Mexico, changed to “Hail to the Chief,” when the cannon stationed at the depot thundered out in salute of the president. Then the Ft. Bliss band began its part of the program and “the crowd went wild with enthusiasm.”

The fire department joined in the cheering and the reporter reminded us that “when an El Paso fire laddie yells, he yells all over. He goes at it as he does everything else – to excel.”

It was San Jacinto Day and the welcome to the border was international. The news account listing the parade order that followed, pointed out that the tenth carriage carried press correspondents. They were followed by the Ft. Bliss band, representatives of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Fire Department, and “Colored citizens,” in that order.

The parade that followed to the courthouse was between lines “fairly packed with people and thronged with ladies who waved their handkerchiefs … To all of which, as well as to the throat splitting cheers of the jostling crowd in the streets and on the sidewalks, the president acknowledged with bows and the lifting of his hat. Our distinguished Mexican visitors came in for a liberal share of the cheering.

At the courthouse the party were escorted between two lines of school children “dressed in white and looking as fresh and pretty as young rosebuds on a May morning.”

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1956: Roswell-Hondo Stars Win Little League World Title

August 25, 1956

Special to the El Paso Times

Williamsport, Pa. – The Roswell Lions-Hondo Little League All-Stars of Roswell, N.M., defeated Delaware Township, N.J., 3-1, here Friday to win the world championship of the Little League program.

Hero of the day was Tommy Jordan, who pitched and batted his team to the first world championship held by a New Mexico team. It was his fourth-inning home run over the center-filed scoreboard with two on which put Roswell into a lead which never was threatened.

In addition, Jordan fanned 14 men, walked one, gave up only two hits and hit one batsman. The two hits included a home run by Henry (Sweet Pea) Singleton, tiny Negro first baseman, in the third inning and a single by Fred Shapiro in the second.

It was the second year in arrow that Delaware Township had lost in the World Series finals.

Jordan’s four-baser was one of two hits garnered by Roswell in the game. The other was a single by Ferrell Dunham, who followed Jordan to the plate in the fourth.

Jordan pitched the entire game for the Roswell team while Delaware Township used two hurlers, Roy Hayman started for the New Jerseyites and was relieved after hurling 3 2/3 innings by Wilbur Robinson, who came in from shortstop.

In center field for Delaware Township was Shapiro, who Thursday pitched the only perfect game in the 10-year history of Little League World Series. It was a 2-0 victory over Colton, Calif.

In their battle to attain the World Championship, the Roswell boys first defeated Upp. Darby, Pa., 3-1, Wednesday afternoon behind the two-hit pitching of Jordan. Then came a 6-3 win over Winchester, Mass., Thursday with Dunham on the mound. Dunham gave up five hits.

Prior to World Series competition, the Roswell nine won the district tournament for Southeastern New Mexico, the state meet at Los Alamos, the district tourney at Lubbock, Texas, and the area championship at San Antonio.

Pitching during the tournaments was alternated between Jordan and Dunham, with each boy turning in a creditable performance, every time he appeared.

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1911: Body of Muller Recovered From River

May 7, 1911

French Insurrecto is Drowned Bathing in Rio Grande

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PREVIOUSLY CAUSED TROUBLE
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In the Insurrecto Camp; but Effort Was Made by Colonel Villa’s Men to Rescue Him From Danger
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The body of Jules Muller, a Frenchman and Insurrecto soldier in Madero’s army, who was drowned Thursday afternoon after he had almost caused blood to be shed at the Insurrecto army camp opposite the smelter, was recovered at a late hour the same night and interred in a rude grave in the hills near the camp. According to the story of one of the insurrectos, twenty of the American company were disarmed by order of Colonel Villa, who had become excited when the Frenchman had reported to Villa that the Americans were shooting his men.

The story of the occurrence is that Muller had several days previous to the trouble withdrawn from the American company and had been attached to Col. Villa’s forces. Thursday afternoon he is said to have reported to his commander that the Americans had been taking ammunition away from the camp and selling it. Villa immediately wrote an order to Col. Garibaldi, asking him to disarm the Americans who were suspected.

Muller then took four Americans and six Mexicans to the camp and attempted to disarm the men without delivering the order to Garibaldi. The Americans, of course, objected and Muller left the men whom he had taken with him at the American camp and is said to have met Garibaldi who had come up and inquired the trouble.

When he presented the note from Villa to Garibaldi the latter wrote across the bottom of it an order for Muller’s arrest and sent him to Villa. Instead of delivering the order he reported that the American’s were killing Villa’s men. Villa immediately mounted thirty men and rushed to the scene, meeting Garibaldi at the outskirts of the camp.

Villa immediately ordered that the Americans be disarmed which they refused to allow until requested to do so by Col. Garibaldi, who told them that he would return their arms within a few minutes. The officers then went to headquarters and when they learned the true state of affairs Villa personally returned the arms to their owners.

In the meantime Muller, the Frenchman, had gone down to the river to bathe. While out in the water he is thought to have stepped in a deep hold, and not being able to swim, was drowned. Villa’s men threw him a rope, but were not able to rescue him, as the rope missed the unfortunate man and he never again appeared on the surface until some hours later, when his body was recovered at the dam near Hart’s mill.

1948: Crossing Of Braceros Into El Paso Halted

October 19, 1948

The U.S. Border Patrol in El Paso area began turning back the stragglers in the army of migrating braceros from Mexico at 11 a.m. Monday when Grover C. Wilmoth, local director of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, ordered the border closed to “invading” alien agricultural workers.

The order closing the border gates and stopping the recruiting of Mexican laborers came after 7000 of the braceros had splashed across the river since Wednesday.

Wilmoth said he acted because all orders from the U.S. Employment Service for workers had been filled by the 6000 braceros who had crossed the border since Saturday, when the U.S, Immigration Service lifted the ban on immigration from Mexico to relieve the severe manpower shortage in the cotton fields of the Southwest.

Wilmoth announced the return to previous Immigration Service policy after a morning meeting of Don Larin, head of the farm placement division of the U.S. Employment Service; Fred C. Wendt, manager of the Texas Employment Commission in El Paso; Chief Inspector G.J. McBee of the Border Patrol and Wilmoth.

During the morning conference it was decided that if the braceros were allowed to keep coming, wages in the Southwest would be affected, since the farm labor situation is no longer critical, according to Wilmoth.

Inspector McBee Monday said that the number of [racial epithet] crossing the border was “tapering off all the time,” and that only about 250 were turned back Monday afternoon.

Before the order to close the border to [racial epithet] was given, some 300 farm laborers were processed Monday morning, according to McBee.

More than 2500 braceros had been processed by the Border Patrol since Saturday night, part of at least 7000 men from every state of Mexico who have swarmed across the river since Wednesday after recruiting negotiations between the United States and Mexico over wages to be paid the workers fell through.

Sunday night the rush by employers to obtain workers was about over, according to Wendt, whose office had set up temporary recruiting stations up and down the Valley.

By Monday all of the recruiting stations were closed and apparently all of the labor needs of cotton farmers in the area had been met.

Local recruiting was halted at 11:20 a.m.

“These recruiting stations were set up to relieve the labor shortage in West Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, and the situation has been relieved,” Wendt said.

Apparently abandoning hope of the Juarez labor recruiting office ever being opened, Don Larin, chief of the farm replacement service of the United States Employment Service, Monday boarded a plane on his return trip to Washington.

Will Rogers, Dallas and other USES regional representatives, who arrived here more than a week ago to assist in processing Mexican nationals for work in this country, also have departed for their respective headquarters.

Wilmoth’s office Monday was flooded with long distance calls for Mexican labor. Wilmoth’s reply to each was “the order has been closed against this type of labor.”

Not a single alien was being held Monday by immigration officials on a charge of having entered his country illegally. The last of the alien “army” which “invaded” this country last week, had been returned to Mexico. That is, those who were captured here.

Henry Clifton, who has been doing a rushing business in [racial epithet], ever since he took over a U.S. commissioner last August, Monday had nothing to do but twiddle his thumbs.

Not even one [racial epithet] appeared for a hiring in his court. Federal officials recalled that Monday was the first Monday since 1941 when aliens were not arraigned before the local U.S. Immigration Border Patrolmen.

Lt. Col. Enrique Gonzalez, officer in charge of the Juarez garrison, Monday said Mexican troops would continue to patrol the river to stop illegal exodus of braceros.

A local protest against the lifting of the ban on immigration here Saturday, was voiced Monday by Frank Booth, business agent of El Paso Building and Construction Trades Council.

Booth said that “it would be all right if the braceros would go to the farms, do their work, and then return to Mexico. But everyone knows this won’t happen. Already there are a number of them working on construction jobs at wages under the union scale.”

We in El Paso have been fighting for a long time for a living wage and now these braceros are undermining us, Booth state.

Booth said that he has lodged a protest with the International representative of the A.F.L. in Fort Worth. Booth also is agent for the International Hod Carriers, Building and Construction of the A.F.L.

Wilmoth Monday said that he did not know of nay braceros working at construction jobs in the city, but that if there were they would be taken back to Mexico as soon as possible by the Border Patrol.

Replying to the assertions by Booth, Wilmoth said:

“Union men have been invited to give me information on the score. So far, none has been presented. When it is, we will get on it immediately.”

1995: Ruben Salazar

December 27, 1995

By Ken Flynn
Herald Post Senior Reporter

Ruben’s mom was a little skeptical.

Her son, rookie El Paso Herald-Post reporter Ruben Salazar – usually a meticulous dresser – was wearing rags on that evening in 1955. He had told his mother that he wouldn’t be coming home because he was going to a hobo party with his friends and they would probably camp out.

Salazar was just beginning his career as a journalist. He had posed as a transient to get himself arrested so he could write about the inhumane conditions in the overcrowded city jail.

Friends and family of the late Luz Salazar said she always worried about her son.

Luz McFarland, Ruben’s older sister, said their mother thought something was fishy that night when Ruben left with his new shoes on under the hobo clothes and came home the next day barefoot.

So it was no real surprise when Mom picked up a copy of the El Paso Herald-Post a few days later and saw her son’s picture on Page 1 as part of an expose of inhumane conditions at the old City Jail, Luz McFarland said.

After starting at the Herald-Post Salazar’s journalism career included stints on newspapers in San Francisco, Petaluma and Santa Rosa, Calif., before he joined the staff of the Los Angeles Times. He served as the Times’ Central American bureau chief, Vietnam war correspondent and columnist.

Salazar was killed in Los Angeles on Aug 29, 1970 while covering the Chicano Vietnam War Moratorium for the Los Angeles Times. Police said Salazar was killed accidentally when he was hit by a tear-gas canister.

He will be inducted into the Authors of the Pass; El Paso Herald-Post Writers Hall of Fame on Nov. 4 at the UTEP Tomas Rivera Conference Center.

McFarland, who is now retired and living in Tucson, Ariz., said she remembers well when her brother posed as a bum to get inside the El Paso jail.

“Ruben was always a sharp dresser and my Mom got a little suspicious because he was wearing his new shoes,” she recalled. “Someone stole the shoes when he was in jail. My mom was furious with him when she read the story about the jail in the Herald-Post. Ruben tried to calm her by saying, ‘This is what I do, Mom; I’m a newspaper reporter.’”

Retired police inspector Arturo Islas remembers the incident and meeting Salazar.

“I though he was very intelligent and very streetwise,” said Islas, who was a captain at the time. “We were used to being picked on by (Herald-Post Editor E.M.) Pooley, so we weren’t that surprised by the story.”

Salazar was born in Juarez but became a U.S. citizen. He grew up in El Paso, attended Lamar Elementary School and graduated from El Paso High School and Texas Western College, now UTEP. His father owned his own jewelry store and designed jewelry for shops as far away as New York City.

McFarland said she has fond memories of growing up with her brother in El Paso.

“Ruben liked to read,” she recalled. “He was always getting certificates from school for reading books. He made good grades in school and always liked to write.”

Salazar had first considered studying to be a mechanical engineer, his sister recalled. But the lure of writing was always stronger.

McFarland said her brother was a champion of the underdog. She recalled how he wrote a scathing letter to the editor of the Herald-Post while in high school because a college team with a black player couldn’t play in El Paso because of segregating laws.

At El Paso High, he wrote a number of articles for the school paper, The Tattler, she said. At TWC he was on the staff of the Prospector.

“In Los Angeles, he had been writing some strong commentaries on the brutality of the Los Angeles Police Department right before he was killed,” she said.

Members of the family said they don’t believe Salazar’s death was an accident.

“We cringe a little when we hear Ruben being described as a martyr,” McFarland said. “He was a journalist, covering a story, and he was assassinated.”

When he died, Salazar left a wife and four children between the ages of 6 and 10 at the time.

His children include Lisa Salazar Johnson, 35, of Huntington Beach, Calif.; Stefanie Salazar Cook, 34, of Honolulu; and Johnny Salazar, 31, of Orange County, Calif. Salazar’s wife, the former Sally Robare, never remarried and died in 1993 at age 63.

Salazar’s mother, Luz Salazar, died on April 9, 1979 at the age of 71. His father, Salvador Salazar, 91, lives with the McFarlands in Tucson. He plans to attend the Writers Hall of fame banquet.

Rosa Guerrera, one of the founders of the Ruben Salazar Foundation, a scholarship program for journalist, said many young journalists looked up to Salazar as a role mode.

“He was a trailblazer,” she said. “He was way ahead of his time.”

During the 18 months that Salazar worked on the staff of the Herald-Post, from April 12, 1955 to Oct. 3, 1956, he tried to convince federal officials to tighten up inspections for illegal drugs.

Salazar was one of the few reporters on the border who was able to interview “La Nacha,” a woman who controlled the drug traffic in Juarez in the 1950’s.

Among the many Salazar stories that are told in the newsroom of the Herald-Post was an account of how he walked into the offices of Editor Pooley with a package of marijuana from “La Nacha” to show the boss how easy it was to cross illegal drugs.

Pooley reportedly bawled out Salazar, made him empty the entire contents of the package into the commode and ordered him to flush it.

Lawyer Tom Diamond remembers meeting Salazar during the inaugural run of the Chihuahua-al-Pacifico railroad in 1961. Diamond was a guest of the Mexican government and Salazar was coving the story for the Los Angeles Times.

“Ruben was a tremendous journalist, ahead of his time,” Diamond said. “He was more than just a reporter. He was always in the thick of things.”

Diamond recalled how he, Salazar, the late Wayne McClintock and three others left the Chihuahua-al-Pacifico train in San Blas, Sinaloa, and returned to the United States via Sonora and Arizona because the train was going too slow, stopping at every little town along the way. “We called ourselves the San Blas, No Mas group,” Diamond recalled. “I got to know Ruben very well on that trip. He had a vibrant personality. He was really a great guy.”

1952: First Bank Of Texas Organized To provide Pay For Mexican Soldiers

August 3, 1952

By CLEOFAS CALLEROS

hat it never fails to pay its troops is perhaps one of the finest tributes that can be paid a nation. Spain qualifies unconditionally for the honor. For as long as history records, her men in arms, regardless of how far removed they might be from their homeland, have always been assured that some arrangement was made to meet the payroll. Perhaps he viceroy would settle financial disputes temporarily. Generally the provincial government of the kingdom would request that funds in lieu of the delayed gold and silver shipments be advanced, by the merchants and land-holders, to the troops’ families.

The Spanish and Mexican troops stationed at Provincia de Tejas outpost in 1822 were no exception. Late arrival of the specie, due usually to no means available for its transportation, presented pressing difficulties. The entire economy of the forts was stymied.

Consequently, Gov. Jose Felix Trespalacios, a colonel of the imperial armies of Mexico and the political chief of the Province of Tejas, conceived the idea of a national bank – Banco Nacional de Tejas – to be established by governmental decrees. Its notes would be guaranteed by specie; its officers would be the governor and three members of the City Council of San Antonio; there would be no stockholder, no capital put up, no charter defining the scope of this operations, except as the decree filled that function.

FORMED IN 1822

The bank came into existence on Oct. 21, 1822. Immediately a sufficient amount of currency was created and issued. Interestingly, the notes were “printed” by long hand. This taken itself was staggering. Four men were assigned to the task – Standard Bearer Nabor Villaroel, Ensign Sarazble, Corporal Garza, and Private Cepeda. But they came through with flying colors. According to a day book recently discovered in the University of Texas Archives by the eminent historian, Carlos E. Castaneda, the following bills were made in the following denominations and quantities:

Ten $100.00 (pesos), 10 - $50 (pesos), 50 - $20 (pesos), 100 - $5.00 (pesos), 600 - $1.00 (pesos), 600 – 4 reales (four bits or $0.50), 200 – 2 reales (two bits or $0.25), 100 – 1 real (one bit or $0.125).

These were the first bank notes, to the amount of 11,837 pesos and 4 reales to be issued by the first chartered bank west of the Mississippi River. Opposition from Mexico in the form of rival currency forced its doors closed in less than four months. However, the purpose had been served well.

FACS OBSCURED

S survey of early banking in Texas leads to an investigation of El Paso’ banking history. Few historical studies could prove more unsatisfactory. There is little of authority on which to base conclusions. It is plausible to assume, however, that at least some type of “exchange system” assisted her at a very early date. An enormous number of troops were quartered at both the Presidios of Ciudad Juarez and San Elizario. Some type of banking institution, regardless of how poorly organized, had to execute their affairs. We can only wonder what kind of bank it was.

Oldtimers in El Paso say that the first bank here was a “desk space affair” in the general store. There is a photograph, taken shortly before 1881 from approximately the present location of the Plaza Theater, which shows an old building bearing on it north side the sign, “Bank of El Paso.” The structure was the store, located on the site of the present Blumenthal Building.

No one knows who operated the bank, who was responsible for its establishment, or how long it remained in business. From this lack of knowledge other questions arise. How was business in those early days? What was the dollar worth then? Of one thing we can be sure. It was worth more than it is now!

1939: Pioneer Cavalryman Will Be Honored In Figure To Be Erected Here

November 28, 1939

Governors of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, and officers of Fort Bliss and high ranking officers in Washington will be invited to attend a formal dedication at 2 p.m. March 29 of a granite statue which is being erected a s a tribute to the memory of pioneer cavalrymen of the Southwest, according to Irving Schwartz, chairman of local committee on arrangements.

The statue, which represents that historic and rugged character, will be located on the triangular plot in front of Scottish Rite Temple.

Provided By Pioneer

The statue was made possible through a provision on the will of the late Percival Henderson, pioneer El Paso cattle and mining man. The sum provided was between $15,000 and $20,000.

On the same day the statue is dedicated the Henderson Memorial, a baby clinic in the south part of the city, also made possible through a bequest in Mr. Henderson’s will, also will be dedicated and turned over to the City. This is being built at a cost of between $40,000 and $50,000.

The property on which the statue of cavalryman is to be located will be turned over to the City, which is to take care of both.

Richard H. Eurich, Youngstown, O., administrator of the Henderson estate, will attend the dedication ceremonies.

City Will Accept

Mr. Schwartz and Prcy McGhee, a member of the local committee, Monday called on Mayor J.E. Anderson, who said he would accept the statue and baby clinic for the City.

Dedication of the statue, which was completed by Jose Ruiz de Rivera, internationally known sculptor, was arranged at a time when the Shrine Directors Association of America will be holding a convention here. During he same week, there will be a Scottish Rite Reunion and Shrine ceremonial.

The statue, finished by Mr. Rivera in Coopersburg, Pa, is expected to be shipped here next week and to be set up within two weeks.

The figure of the pioneer cavalryman, holding a saddle with one hand, stands nine feet high. It rests on a six-foot pedestal. The entire piece weighs 14 tons.