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THE CHOWANU 1, CHOWAN COLLEGE, MURFREESBORO, N. C.
Thursdajr, April 24, 1924.
Miss Madge Conwell Describes
Mexican Revolution Incidents
Miss Madge Conwell, graduate of
Chowan in the class of 1912 has writ
ten for publication in the Chowanian
the following very interesting article
on her recent experiences in Mexico,
which she entitles “Scenes from the
Mexican Eevolution.”
Miss Conwell’s father was a medical
missionary in Puebla, and she her
self was reared there. She left as a
refugee during the Mexican revolu
tion in 1914. She had previously
graduated from Chowan, and at this
time she entered Cornell, and waa
graduated in 1915. During 1916-17
she Was a student at the Missionary
Training School in Chicago. In 1917
she returned to Chowan as professor
of Bible, history, and sociology and
remained here until 1920. At present
Miss Conwell is a teacher in a Metho
dist school in Puebla, Mexico.
“Since the fifth of last December,
the thought of all Mexico has been
centered on one thing, the Revolution.
Suddenly life had changed its dull
grey for the vivid red of war inter
est, and soon it was difficult to even
recall the feeling of calm security
which had preceded this colorful ex
istence. A situation growing daily
more tense had given warning of the
possibility of war yet until the last
there was hope among the people that
it might be avoided.
“It would be imprudent at this
tijjjy^t^tteMt to give rgore t:
few^^^^^»(Bf the revo'i^tion, it
has touched Puebla and some of its
inhabitants. From the first day of
fighting, its effects were felt in the
rise in price of all commodities, the
scarcity of various foods, the delay
of mails, and great economic depres
sion. Yes, we have no bananas, be
came an actual experience since that
fruit, as common to all Mexico as the
poor could not be procured in many
places; however, that was the least of
our worries.
“From the first, rumor selected
this city as a storm center and when
airplanes began to glide over us like
giant birds, we realized that rumor
would in all probability become a
truth. A menacing stillness settled
over Puebla, the very spirit of the
city seemed to be waiting with abated
breath for some catastrophe. Finally
the tension was broken in a way very
different from any we had expected.
One afternoon the troops lined up and
evacuated the city while in a short
time the rebel forces marched in and
took possession without a ripple of
disturbance. The expected had hap
pened in a gloriously unexpected
manner. We were cut off from all
communication with the outside
world by letter, telegraph, or train,
but strange to say, though the people
realized that the situation, if pro
longed for any length of time would
become serious, they semed very little
disturbed.
“This time of comparative calm
was very brief, for soon airplanes be
gan to fly over again and rumors of a
great battle were to be heard on all
sides. Once more the streets took on
a breathless quiet, stores were closed
and people began to watch the air
planes with an air of anxious waiting.
The levying of a war tax and the sight
of dead and wounded carried through
the streets brought us the realization
that we were in the midst of real
warfare. The sounds of fighting
came nearer and nearer until at last
there was a battle just outside the
city. From that time the tension
ed unbearable. Abut four o’clock on
unbearable. About four o’clock on
the morning of December 22 contin
uous heavy firing could be heard,
gradually approaching and growing
in intensity. By eight o’clock we
realized that we were to be the scene
of the long expcted “big battle.”
Shells began to literally rain down as
well as whiz by in all directions. The
doors and windows of every Mexican
house are provided with heavy wood
en shutters for just such occasions
and it is needless to say that these
were all closed, giving the city an air
of desertion.
“After some time had passed, the
shouts of the soldiers could be heard
as they entered the city; and hand to
hand fighting began at our very doors.
About two hours later there came a
lull in the firing, and we heard the
beautiful clear victory call of the
bugle. Almost immediately a most
weird sound, somewhat resembling
the American Indian’s tom-tom, could
be heard accompanied by the tramp,
tramp of marching feet. It was the
Yaqui Indian drums beating out their
m^rch of victory, which meant ^at
hat-i^anecd ftgaiiAjtTe
prfce paid for the possession of^he
city had been very great for jioth
sides in dead and wounded. The fear
of looting had been ever greater than
that of the battle itself, but fortun
ately that was not added to other
troubles. Since that time Puebla has
not been the scene of active fighting,
though it has narrowly escaped it at
times.
“Another part of Southern Mexico
now became the storm center and in
volved some of the American resi
dents of Puebla. Three teachers and
a nurse had left this city, December
fourth, for the town of Oaxala which
is near the famous Mitla ruins. Soon
after their arrival, the city came into
the hands of the rebels, thus cutting
off all means of communication with
Puebla. As there seemed no possible
way of return they waited as patient
ly as could be expected for five weeks.
At that time a train was announced
for Tehnacan, a town a few hours’
ride from Puebla and against the ad
vice of everyone, they decided to take
it. Much to their surprise they ar
rived without any difficulty, but
found it necessary to wait for the
town to change hands before they
could hope to get a train for Puebla.
At the end of two days the govern
ment troops gained possession of
Tehnacan which enabled them to re
sume their journey. They left Sun
day afternoon, expecting to reach this
city in a few hours. Just at dusk,
they were greatly startled by the
sound of rapid firing; instantly the
Mexican passengers realized that the
train was being attacked, and flung
themselves on the floor of the car
which action was soon imitated by the
Americans.
“After what seemed to them sev-
(Continued on Page 3)
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