No post today. She seems to be having a bit of trouble adjusting to her new job as a teacher in Roswell. She admits that her heart is longing to return to her Mexico Summer of 1934. Unfortunately for us, she is not writing nearly as much and is leaving us in a bit of a lull. I decided to skip ahead a year to see what was happening 79-years-ago today. Just to see how she was doing. Luckily she was in the writing mood that night..
September 20, 1935
Letter from Ty-Ty* telling me to have nothing to do with Girls Chorus if possible and to move next year to another job! Rather rare for her to say such a thing. Had another bridge lesson and am beginning to really get some points to contract!
by Ford Madox Ford
Got “Ladies Whose Bright Eyes” at the Library by Ford Maddox Ford – haven’t read much of it but can’t get interested.
*Ty-Ty is her aunt/step-mother. Ty-Ty stepped in to assist with the children after her sister’s (Elizabeth’s mother) sudden death in 1919. Ty-Ty married the Rev. JP Lancaster (Elizabeth’s father) in 1921.
Here is what else was happening 80-years-ago today.
Wrote to Vegas to see about credits for a renewal of certificate- Wrote to Mahota- she is the only one who can listen my hearthrobs! What a relief!
Here is what else was happening 80-years-ago today. ( I find these poitical cartoons amusing – so little has changed – except of course we have to hear it on TV!)
No-Post today. She gets back into the swing of things in October with more posts, more adventures, letters and dates!
Morning Avalanche (Lubbock, TX) on 25 June 1932, page 1
In the meantime, this is an article found by a friend of the family about the death of my grandfather’s , AKA Carsey‘s, first wife. Keep in mind this tragedy happened 2 years before Elizabeth took up her pen and wrote Mexico Summer. It’s hard to imagine the death of a 23-year-old, but then again, where would we be if she lived? I would not be blogging thats for sure. Its the same thought that went through my head as I was reading the Escape from Mexico article for the first time. The entire family was so close to death – a scary thought then – so surreal now. Still, its intriguing that grandpa was married to someone else.
Lucille Carsey Gravesite
I wonder what she looked like or if she had a great personality like my grandmother? I have so many questions about this poor soul who lived such a short time and unfortunately was buried in an unmarked grave. I’m sure his experience with her somehow led him to find Elizabeth. There must be a reason…..
Here is a look at what else was happening 80-years-ago today.
The Brownsville Herald (Brownsville, Texas) 18 September 1934 • Page 1
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
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
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.
No Post today – But I encourage you to take a look at the other pages on the site. I recently added several pictures dating back to 1909 when Elizabeth was born to 2008 when she was 99 years old. You’ll find these on the Gallery Page. I am always surprised to see the older photos, just think how few were taken back then. Plus, you only got one chance to smile perfectly – no retakes!
Also, if you have a bit more time, click on the Escape from Mexico page. You will be on the edge of your seat – I promise. Here are a few lines from the Article written by Elizabeth’s father and printed on March 22, 1914 in the Atlanta Constitution.
All day Sunday the train bearing the American flag was forced to stand on the south line and wait the pleasure of the trains ahead.
Still to come: She goes to the fair – but not alone!
Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today.
No post – but look how cute she was at age 99! We know she is not quite herself this week – possibly overwhelmed with the new school year and duties. She has also spent some time reminiscing about her time in Mexico this summer. You can go back and read all the amazing adventures while she takes a few days to re-coup by clicking here.
Still to come – we find out what she calls herself a “Dumb Bunny!”
Here’s what else was happening 80-years-ago today.
Banquet for Bishop Boaz – He preached later. I played the organ. I am teaching in Roswell and playing the organ regularly – ought to be perfectly happy – But I am not, though I can’t explain the rest.
Here is what else was happening 80-years-ago today.
Got two letters from home and ones from Jonathon and Dit. Reread this diary. Wouldn’t give a farm – nor a whole estate for it! Mrs. Henderson asked me to take the organ. I played for choir practice.
Here is what else was happening 80-years-ago today.
No Post today. Tomorrow she receives letters – check back to see who they are from. Also check out the Escape from Mexico page. I added all the photo’s I could find from this time – and I finished the transcription. The follow up from yesterday is below. Click here to see it all!
Here is a look at what else was happening 80-years-ago today.
Ann Frank is 5
Cuban officials revealed the confiscation of five mail packages containing bombs addressed to American ambassador Jefferson Caffery.
More from the article Escape from Mexico written by J.P. Lancaster and published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution
General Benjamin Argumedo
Found on revolucionentorreon.galeon.com
Bridges Burned
When we reached San Pedro we learned that a train had been sent by the Mexican government over the line to see what condition the road was in. This train returned Friday morning and reported that they found two burned bridges and a washout.
Saturday morning a construction train came from Torres with instructions to pick up a part of Argumedo‘s men at San Pedro and place them along the line to protect it while the train went to repair the bridges. Up to noon Sunday nothing had been heard from them. Mr. Wolff occurred permission from the officer in charge of San Pedro to send men out on a car to trest with the rebels when they ran into their territory and thereby arrange for our trip through their territory. When this car, in which Mr Williams and Mr. Carver, caught up with the train which had gone out Saturday, the officers of the military train refused to report their pass, which was issued by their own superior, and forced them to return in front of the train, pushing the handcar thirty miles back to San Pedro. This train reported that they had found nothing wrong with the track, but that they had heard that a great army of rebels were further up the line and it would be extremely dangerous for our train to proceed.
Monday afternoon we took on two cars of road materials and started out to build the road where it was destroyed and go to the border.
Cribbing Bridges
We built three bridges, taking up the material of each after we passed over to be used for the next bridge.
The train reached Pomona about dark and side-tracked for the night.
During the afternoon we had seen dust in the distance which might indicate the rebels, but we finally decided that the dust was from the animals in the distance. About 3 o’clock at night Mr Wolff came through the train and reported that the rebels were coming and that all the men whose wives were in the Pullman could go into that car. A man came to each car, but quietly asked for the conductor. A tremor of fear ran through the entire train at the news of the rebels, but a sigh of relief quickly followed when their peaceable attitude was marked. They arranged for a conference early the next day between Mr Wolff and General Robles, in charge of the rebel forces at that place. General Robles* told Mr. Wolff that our train would have to return to San Pedro.
Colonel Carmen Amelia Robles
She gave as her reason for this order that General Carranza was cut off on the main line ahead of the and that General Aubert was also on the main line in front with 1500 soldiers, $2,000,000 in money and 115,500 worth of merchandise for Torreon. If our trains went over the line it might give these men (federals) a chance to reach Torreon before the rebels could take it and thereby save the city from the rebels. She said that when we returned to San Pedro that all the federals would have been
withdrawn from there to Torreon and that Torreon would be attacked that night and within three days the city would be in the rebels hands.
A large company of rebels were seen and some shots fired which hurried the action of the refugees as that we had to return and built and destroyed by is on the preceding day.
The train arrived back at San Pedro Tuesday afternoon to await the action of the rebels. Tuesday night the rebel fores made the attack on Torreon, which was immediately telephoned to us.
This 1914 photo courtesy of the LIFE magazine photo archive on Google shows Mexican General Pancho Villa riding with his men after victory at Torreon
The next morning the grenading? was so heavy that the phone could scarcely be heard. Wednesday night about 9 o’clock the city was taken by the rebel General Villa, and at once taken possession of enemy forces and a loan of $5,000,000 placed on the city.
The refugee train remain in San Pedro from Tuesday till the following Saturday, a city of 20,000 people, with not an office of any description open and not a policeman or officer of the law in the city. All was as quiet as one would wish.
*Colonel Carmen Amelia Robles, an Afro Mexican woman who was a leader in the Mexican Revolution. Legend has it that she participated in many battles and that she would shoot her pistol with her right hand and hold her cigar with her left.
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