FATHER'S PATHETIC PLEA

Evening Star, Issue 15477, 27 April 1914, Page 5

FATHER'S PATHETIC PLEA

A WILLING SACRIFICE FOR HIS SON.

One of the most pathetic incidents of the Mexican revolution is the offer of the aged General Terrazas to sacrifice his own life to save that of his son. The son is a prisoner in the hands of Villa, who has demanded a ransom of £IOO,OOO, otherwise he will execute young Terrazas. The latter's father, who is 80 years of ape, was until recently one of the richest men in Mexico—his wealth having been jstimated at over £B,ooo,ooo—but his ?states have all been confiscated, and be is now comparatively a poor man. In deep anguish at the fate of his son be has been moving heaven and earth \o raise the ransom, without success. At the last moment he has been trying to borrow £30,000 in the hope that it nill appease General Villa's greed. He las now begged permission to subrtitute himself for his son. "I. will gladly allow Villa to kill me if he will only let my son go free. My son has a number of children who need him." —A Vendetta.— The affair is said to be the outcome of a vendetta. Terrazas formerly lived in a magnificent marble palace, and was a great power in Mexico during the regime of Diaz, but ho was subsequently outlawed by the rebels. The women of Terrazas's family are very beautiful, and they have pleaded almost on their knees with Villa to show mercy. When Villa's men took uossession of the palace, he tortured ferrazas's son by putting a rope round his neck, and threatened to execute him unless he revealed the whereabouts of £130,000 worth of treasure. General Luis Terrazas, who could not raise £IOO,OOO to save the life of his son, was once three times as rich as any other man in Mexico, and owned the biggest farm in the world before his property was confiscated by the rebel forces. On his estate in the State of Chihuahua, which measured 8,000,000--acres, roamed 1,000,000 head j of cattle, 700,000 sheep, and 100,000 j horses. The " farmhouse " itself cost £320,000 to build, and contained accommodation for 500 guests. The cowpunchers, shepherds, hunters, and other emplovees on this vast ranch numbered 2,000. Every year 150,000 head of cattle and' 100,000 sheep were slaughtered, dressed, and packed. Four big reservoirs were installed on the farm at a cost of £IOO.OOO, and there were also 300 wells, which cost another £IOO,OOO.