Daily Archives: September 17, 2014

Monday September 17, 1934

Carsey family 1953: From left: Alan, Norman       Elizabeth, Tommy,  Arnold, Frank
Carsey family 1953: From left: Alan, Norman Elizabeth, Tommy,
Arnold, Frank

No Post today..but my Uncle Norman (second from left) submitted this message in response to the Escape from Mexico page.   Imagine what these two woman talked about!

Many years back during one of my visits with Mom in Flagstaff she began telling me a story that happened when the Lancasters were traveling across Mexico by train, and were stopped in Chihuahua for several days due to the street fighting associated with the Mexican Revolution.

Mom said “from the hotel room she heard the popping sounds of gun shots, and from the window of their room she could see machine gun emplacements on rooftops of adjacent buildings.”

 

Wedding photo of  Pancho Villa and Austreberta Rentería 1921
Wedding photo of Pancho Villa and Austreberta Rentería 1921

During the short stay she met the wife of (the late) Pancho Villa, who was also staying in the same hotel, I might add that Pancho Villa had several wives, this wife was the last one. Mom said that she spent some time with the late Pancho Villa’s wife, they talked a lot (no details) and she escorted Mom down to the garage and showed her the car Pancho Villa was riding in when he was killed. Mom said the car was riddled with bullet holes, and blood was visible on the seats.

Frost Dodge, with bullet holes Erica Asmus-Otero, New Mexico State Parks
Frost Dodge, with bullet holes
Erica Asmus-Otero, New Mexico State Parks

I think that Mom was not the only Lancaster child that befriended Villas wife, but I can’t remember who else was involved, also Mom said that the Villa’s wife did not seem very old, possibly late teen or early 20s.
This is all I can remember. Norm
Has anyone else heard this tale?

*note- Officially Villa was married twice although 5 woman showed up at the funeral claiming to be his wife another website claims he was married 26 times.  Only Austreberta Renteria pictured above and Villa’s first wife Maria Luz Corral received widows pensions.

 

Here is what else was happening 80-years-ago today.

Clovis News-Journal Sept 17, 1934
Clovis News-Journal Sept 17, 1934