We are free, truly free, when
we don’t need to rent our arms to anybody
in order to be able to lift
a piece of bread to our mouths.
-Ricardo Flores Magón
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hellraisers Journal – Saturday June 9, 1906
Report from Bisbee, Arizona: “Agitators” Threatened with Arrest
From today’s Salt Lake Tribune:
AMERICAN MINERS FLEE
FROM MEXICO
—–Mexican Authorities Threaten Agitators
of the Strike With Arrest.
—–
WESTERN FEDERATION OF MINERS IS BLAMED
—–
Those Killed in Recent Riots Have Been
Buried Without identification.
—–BISBEE, Ariz., June 8.-As a result of the strike at Cananea, Mexico, mines of Colonel W. C. Greene, last week, the American miners in the camp will be very few in number in the future, it is believed. They are crossing the line in droves, and several hundred have arrived in Bisbee during the last forty-eight hours.
Threatened With Arrest.
On Thursday the Mexican authorities sent a man through the mines notifying all American miners that those who were under suspicion of having agitated the trouble at Cananea and had openly sympathized with the striking Mexicans would on the following day be placed under arrest. The result was a general exodus of Americans.
Western Federation Blamed.
It can be reliably stated that the American authorities believe that members of the Western Federation of Miners at Cananea secretly encouraged and abetted the strike and members of this organization were the first to receive the notice to leave.
Denies Increased Wage.
Colonel W. C. Greene denies the report that the wages of the Mexican miners have been increased. In a signed statement issued this afternoon he says that all men resumed work under exactly the same conditions as before, and furthermore, no change in wages would be made under any circumstances.
Many Unknown Dead.
The number killed in the riots will probably never be known. The Mexican authorities buried the dead on Saturday and Sunday night without any attempt at identification.
The Governor of Arizona and Mexican officers have been requested to send official reports to their respective governments concerning the taking of armed forces of American volunteers to Cananea Saturday morning by governor Ysabel.
Statement of Trouble.
The Associated Press correspondent, after a personal investigation of the matter and interviews with officials of both sides of the line, submits the following as a correct version of the incident, which is now under investigation by both governments:
Governor Ysabel arrived at Naco at 6:30 a. m. on the second day of June, traveling in a special train. The train stopped as usual within American territory. A number of armed Americans were gathered at this point where the train stopped. Somebody who was known to Governor Ysabel approached him and introduced several men as employees of the Bisbee and Douglass Mining company among them being doctors, lawyers and others.
Governor Was Hurried.
These men manifested a will to accompany Governor Ysabel to Cananea. The latter answered that he was on urgent business, that he would cross the boundary line and on the Mexican side would speak to them. Governor Ysabel crossed the line on foot and spoke to the custom house collectors, who informed him of the trouble of the previous night. Governor Ysabel went to the telegraph office and inquired for instructions from Mexico City.
Situation Was Alarming.
There he communicated with Cananea and received direct from Colonel Greene the most alarming news about the situation. Fears were entertained at Cananea that the police were insufficient, etc. In view of this Governor Ysabel asked the Mexican customs officers to allow the armed Americans to pass the line, which was agreed to. These Americans numbered about 200.
Exceeded Regular Authority.
Gov. Ysabel told the Americans that he had no authority to allow the passing of armed men from American to Mexican soil, but that in view of the very alarming reports from Cananea he was willing to take upon himself the responsibility of bringing the Americans to Mexico. But before that he wanted to know whether they were soldiers, irregular troops, or what. To this reply was made that the Americans were not soldiers, but citizens employed at the mining camps of Bisbee and Douglass, that the arms they carried were their personal property, and all of them came with the proper permission of their chiefs.
Under Mexican Orders.
Governor Ysabel then stated that while on Mexican soil they were under his immediate orders and subject to Mexican law. All agreed to this. It is known that Governor Ysabel has praised to the Mexican government the excellent behavior of these men, who fulfilled their promise of returning home when their presence was no longer needed in Cananea.
[Emphasis added.]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCE
The Salt Lake Tribune
(Salt Lake City, Utah)
-June 9, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/76376487/
IMAGE
Cananea Copper Strike of 1906, Strikers confront Am possemen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cananea_strike
See also:
Cananea Strike of 1906
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cananea_strike
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Balada de Cananea – Linda Ronstadt