torreon

On right hand it can be seen in mirror view 4/4/14 (april 4, 1914). In this collection picture Cal nr. LC-B2-3033-12 (Mass meeting in Torreón) also is mirror view dated 4/4/14 SAME HAND WRITTING. In both pictures there are people with umbrellas. Could the picture be a secuence? And LC-B2-3028-4, LC-B2-3028-5 and LC-B2-3033-14 either are entitled "Federals at Torreón" Is it possible that all may be located arround the above mentioned date? and not at Torreón rather at San Pedro de las Colonias, Coahuila, México? Dr. Roberto Duarte

Torreón was taken during the evening between March 30 and April 1 to 3, 1914. Gen. José Refufigo Velasco and his federal troops abandoned the city, during a chocking dust storm on April 2, at 4 pm. So by April 4th "Fererals were not going to battle", they WERE ON RETREAT TOWARDS SAN PEDRO DE LAS COLONIAS (northeast from Torreón) where they had a clash on April 7 with Villa´s fore troups. The main Villa´s army began a wholesale atack on San Pedro, which became fearce and bloody on April 10 and generalized in the evening between 12 and 13 (03:30 hrs). Then Velasco ordered retreat. Possibly this picture was taken at San Pedro federals arrival (?). Check Robert Runyon's hdl.loc.gov/loc.award/txuruny.00222 "Constitutional(ist) [revolutionaries on Villa's command] Cavalry awaiting orders to atack" Those horsemen are photographed inside of Torreón, in front of west side of Alameda Zaragoza, by April 6, 1914. Those men (Runyon's picture) already had their battle and maybe are waiting orders to atack federals in retreat to or in San Pedro. Dr. Roberto Duarte Plastic Surgeon

LOC: Bain's caption reads "Federals," not "Feds." The Mexican troops never were called "Feds."

Another Bain/LOC photo of Mexican federal troops at Torreon:

By serial nr. if we locate these photos on last days of March or first of Apirl. Then the man on horse back could be Gen. José Refugio Velasco, "pasando revista" to federal troops posted in Gómez Palacio and Torreón before the latter was evacuateded. (Although the face features are not clear, the resemblance is high). Dr. Roberto Duarte.

Thanks Wystan for catching the correct title. We will fix it the next time we update. Dr. Roberto Duarte: Do you have a photo of Gen. José Refugio Velasco for comparison? Thanks for the information about him.

You can find a photo of Gen. José Refugio Velasco in The Democratic Banner, issue April 3, 1914 and New-York Tribune, issue March 29, 1914 (The Library of Congress, Cronicling America). Dr. Roberto Duarte

Las tropas del General Benjamín Argumedo quien tenía su cuartel general en El Tajito (al noreste de Torreón) iniciaron incursiones al oriente de la ciudad de Torreón el día 13 de mayo de 1911. Ver fotos del año 1911 en el acervo fotográfico H. Harold Miller del Archivo Historico Municipal de Torreón, Coahuila. Dr. Roberto Duarte Cirujano Plástico

jerodamor@yahoo.com.mx: Thank you for the additional information on General Argumedo. We will add some of it to the record when we update.

This photo matches with pichture 2374-11 of your collection. On top of it you can see with the same handwritting: "Cribbing bridge for American refugee train at Torreón". Both photos by code number, were taken some day on march 1911. "THE TORREON ENTERPISE" ( in its issue of Wed, March 8, 1911) was a newspaper published by de American Colony at Torreón and is translated into Spanish and quoted by Eduardo Guerra in his book Historia de Torreón (1932): "Los campos mineros de Velardeña y Asarco (American Smelting & Refining Co.) suspenderán sus trabajos el próximo primero de Mayo.... y ya han hecho los preparativos para desocupar a todo el personal de empleados americanos en la fecha indicada. Anticipandose a la ejecución de este proyecto, los jefes notificaron el último viernes (3 de marzo de 1911) a los empleados americanos que preparen el evío de sus familias en el término de 24 horas. Veinte señoras llegaron aquí (Torreón) el sábado en la noche (4 de marzo) en viaje rumbo a los Estados Unidos, muchas otras arribaron después, siendo imposible su continuación inmediata... Continúa informando "The Torreón Enterprise": Hay noticia que una partida de rebeldes, capitaneada por Reza (Epitacio Rea) ocupó Velardeña (photo 2125-9 (althoug by this call nr. the events seem to correspond to 1910) of your collection, is a panoramic view of ASARCO..." The iron parallels run south-north, north-sout occording to the shadows casting by the train. If so it must have been taken 4 or 5 miles north away Gómez Palacio (most of the rail roads surrounding Torreón run east-west, west-east). (Gómez Palacio, Durango [along with Lerdo] is northwest close to Torreón, Coahuila. These three cities are de heads of what is known as La Región Lagunera). Dr. Roberto Duarte Cirujano Plástico

¿En las colecciones de The Library of Congress, es posible que tengan arhivados, números (issues) del periódico THE TORREON ENTERPRISE? Este periódico impreso en inglés por Mr. Albert N. Swain desde el año 1900. Mr. Swain fué Cónsul Americano en Torreón puesto que ocupó Mr. George C. Carothers durante los años de la Revólución Mexicana. Es posible que por esto cualquiera de los dos hayan enviado ejemplares de este periódico al Department of State o alguna otra agencia gubernamental y por este conducto haya llegado hasta Ustedes. En caso positivo ¿sería posible obtener algunas copias? Atentamente Dr. Roberto Duarte

jerodamor@yahoo.com.mx: I noticed your interest in locating items at the Library of Congress. You can search for titles in the Library of Congress online catalog: catalog.loc.gov You can also ask a reference librarian directly using this web address: www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ Your question will be directed to an appropriate department for response.