Roots of Indifferences

by Terri Ragsdale

  Immediately, the women from the community, the wagging-tongue social clubs and the ladies from the Lady of Mercy prayer group began counting on their fingers from the time Victoria was married to the day the child was born. "Is the child full-term? It does not add up then. Something is fishy!"

  No one knew if Ricardo had been contacted about the birth. Since the majority of Victoria's family was aware of the incident in Monterrey, many believed that it was not an important event in his life. Ricardo was spending most of his time at Spanish Acres with many others, including Dan Land, who worked many hours on the oil rigs and pumps. Not informing Ricardo about the birth of his baby boy was another hint to La Señora Del Calderóne that there was definitely something dubious concerning their marriage and the pregnancy.

  Don Federico, Fred, and Carlos steered clear of all of the women's commotion. They were spending time at Spanish Acres, checking on Roy's health, cleaning the cemetery, sending food to la bruja, and helping with the development and improvements to the farmland. When inquiring about the family of Martin el Toro, they learned that his sister, Juana, gave birth to a stillborn child. Perhaps it was for the best, they all agreed. Furthermore, Doña Trevino's health had greatly improved.

  During this time Don Federico checked his property documents in regard to what Ricardo had told him about his father leaving Yolanda some land in Spanish Acres. He knew that his father had some dealings with Yolanda and of her reputation, and he did not want to venture further in learning what may have transpired between them. He gathered Miguel, Elena, and Yolanda in his library and handed Miguel the deed to Spanish Quarters, telling them all how sincerely grateful he was to have them as employees all these years. Spanish Quarters consisted of just over ten acres, which became their property to do with as they pleased; however, it had one stipulation: The water rights at Spanish Acres would still be controlled by Don Federico and his estate. Miguel and Elena were in tears, being so grateful, but Yolanda had protested, saying they deserved more land.

  Victoria, upon hearing of the land transaction at Spanish Acres, was unable to sleep or breastfeed the baby. She was so upset; she was not able to produce any milk. The thought of giving Yolanda part of the land was driving her insane. The word went out among the community, and within a day, two wet nurses were hired, taking turns feeding the little boy. Victoria's breasts were wrapped tightly with a linen cloth to keep her milk from being produced.

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  The year 1914 came as rumors of war were brewing in Europe, and the fighting across the border continued. Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, and Carranza all were fighting against President Huerta's forces that were steadily driven back toward the capital. Families and relatives in south Texas crossed the border with caution, since President Wilson, who was staying neutral in the Mexican affairs, had asked for all Americans to steer clear of any involvement in the Mexican territories.

  North of the railroad tracks in Mercedes City, Antonio Garcia and his sons had started a little grocery store, which offered limited quantities of staples at the time, providing canned goods for the Mexican families in the barrios. His specialty was fresh-picked coffee beans that were imported from Orizaba, Mexico. However, most Mexican families drove across the border into Mexico with mule wagons to buy their supplies and merchandise, since it was cheaper. Many of the specialty bridal shops were run by the whites in the Valley, and the Mexican families were not allowed to shop in their stores, a fact reinforced by signs posted on their front windows. Consequently, the Mexican-Americans would also drive across the border to the larger cities of Reynosa or Matamoros to buy wedding supplies.

  *****

  When the population of Mercedes City topped 1,800, a new city charter was adopted, designating it now as "Mercedes," leaving out the "City." The south school for whites had been fully completed, with the acquisition of a wood-burning heating stove used during the cold days of December through March. Janitors were kept busy cleaning the building and cutting wood. Children went to school from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. As always, there were problems that stemmed from not having enough money to operate the school. Many borrowed from the bank and from the citizens, who would sign notes to cover their expenses during the school months. New laws and regulations were added also, stating that a teacher had to have a college diploma to be able to teach.

  H.A. Marsh, the county superintendent, was still hounding Don Federico to come back to teach at the school, which The Don had refused, telling Marsh that he had too many things boiling on the stove, and after his wife died, all of his yearning to teach had dissipated. At this moment, he felt he needed to find himself. His biggest priority, for now, was his growing family.

  The same year, the children developed pink eye and were all sent home from school and told not to return until they had gotten over the infection. Fred and Carlos did not contract it, but they played it safe and stayed home for over a month, spending time with Victoria and her newborn baby.

  Don Federico hired over a hundred workers to clear more of the land around Spanish Acres to begin planting cotton, which had become a very profitable commodity along with the coming of oil. He realized that some of the other farmers were having trouble in the last couple of years with the pink bollworm, which affected the growing of cotton. He decided to try to find ways to correct that destruction.

  The community was growing, and no doubt, with indecisive winds of change, was coming. Over half of Mexico's populace were displaced and were moving in by the droves. Rich white people were still arriving from the northern states, buying up land as if it were going out of style, in spite of the rumors of war so close at hand. Mexican-Americans who had been landowners for a long time were selling for ten cents an acre to speculators paying them with gold and silver coins. The development began with clearing the land and groundbreaking, putting up new brick buildings and churches, according to the new city charter. With all of the cheap help supplied by the Mexican immigrant workers, massive irrigation systems were also being established.

  Ricardo had saved hundreds of dollars and bought several acres between Emma's and Don Federico's house for a home for his mother and sister. It took two months to clear the land. Builders began building a small, two-story stucco house, with a large patio and a high stucco fence for protection. With the Revolution in Mexico being so close, his mother said, "I need all of the high fences in the world for safety." Mexican tile was imported from Monterrey by train, and workers had to drive to Reynosa to pick up the load. On one occasion, the workers almost did not make it back across the border, as they did not have enough money to pay the export taxes.

  *****

  In early April, The Mercedes Enterprise newspaper printed a shocking announcement that rocked the border: Nine American soldiers had been arrested by Huerta's army for entering a restricted area in the port of Veracruz. President Wilson sent the U.S.S. Dolphin to invade the port. The Mexicans responded with riots, and the Latin American and European presses denounced the United States' intervention. As much as President Wilson did not want to get involved with the Mexican affairs, it became necessary and inevitable for him to respond. Two American Marines had been arrested earlier by Mexican officials in Tampico. Huerta had refused to comply with the act of giving a twenty-one-gun salute to the American flag. Wilson saw these as unfriendly acts and asked Congress for intervention. A German ship attempted to unload guns and munitions at the Gulf port of Veracruz on April 21 and was bombarded. Nineteen United States Marines and 300 Mexicans were killed and many wounded. Loud clamors within the U.S. demanded war with Mexico.

  Already along the border with Mexico, relations were unstable, and the incident caused the Rio Grande Valley residents great suffering between the two epic groups—the beginning of ‘roots of indifferences.’

  The governor of Texas had given the Texas Rangers the power of full authority to terrorize and kill without explanation any suspicious Mexicans regardless if they were American citizens or not. Any person without an excuse for
traveling, especially at night, into Texas from across the border would be shot—no explanations and all individuals would be considered with suspicion since there was much gun-running contraband across the border.

  Two months later, at the end of June, the newspapers announced another bombshell. Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were killed, shot to death in their motorcade while in Sarajevo, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian province of Bosnia. This incident ignited a war between Austria and Serbia, and eventually escalated into World War I. Urgent prayer meetings and novenas were conducted by the women from the Catholic Society in Mercedes, who took turns lighting candles in their homes, and other churches and social clubs elsewhere were also busy praying. Everyone was hoping that the United States would not get involved in the upcoming war, for many were afraid of their sons or husbands being drafted.

  In Mexico during the month of July, steady insurgent military pressures from Villa, Carranza, and Zapata forced Huerta to resign his presidency and flee to Europe in exile. This left the country without a government, so Fransico Carvajal became interim president. With this taking place, it left the country of Mexico wide open, without any rule of government to keep order along the border. General Alvaro Obregón took military control of Mexico City, and Carranza assumed the title of the First Chief in charge of executive powers.

  *****

  Juan would travel to Mercedes once a week, checking on Roy and Emma's condition, and at the same time, would romance Magdalena. He would stay sometimes with the Ale family or spend the night at Don Federico's home. Juan enjoyed his stay in Mercedes, especially when he was able to take a peek at Victoria, who had grown more beautiful each day, even after her baby was born. He tried to find opportunities to speak with her; however, their precarious situation would not permit it. He tread carefully and avoided any confrontation with the extremely jealous, hot-headed Ricardo.

  When Juan was not with Magdalena, there were many other people around with ears like antennas that heard everything and loved to gossip. Juan wondered if the wise old owl, Don Federico, who had a fatherly fondness for him, had read their gestures and knew more than he was letting on. Little Luis was now eight months old and weighed twenty-five pounds, already crawling. He had dark, shining hair, and his eyes were big and green—a handsome child who did not look anything like Ricardo.

  One unbearably hot afternoon in the month of August, Juan and Don Federico were pleasantly enjoying the red-orange sunset on Don Federico's beautiful circular porch, both with their feet up on short rattan stools. Juan was puffing a Cuban cigar, while Don Federico was calmly smoking his pipe.

  It was then that Juan cautiously brought up the subject of military papers that were circulating around the medical and military headquarters in Reynosa and wondered if Don Federico had heard anything about it. "They are calling it 'The Secret Plan,' which involved Carranza, alleged to be heading the plot, and it includes many important Mexican people in high office, several wealthy Mexican-American landowners in Texas, the Germans, and I'm not sure how deeply the Japanese are involved."

  "How do you know this?" replied Don Federico, obviously shocked to hear this information from Juan. He recalled Captain Marshall Bishop telling him, a couple of years ago, of the secret agents and Germans spies who could be creating trouble between Mexico and the United States.

  Juan continued, "Carranza has ordered General Emilio Nafarrate from Matamoros, with the help of the Germans, to start trouble along the border by initiating raids into Texas, creating havoc among the citizens this side of the Rio Grande. This will keep the United States Army occupied sending troops to the border and away from the great European war. Creating problems inside of Texas will also force the United States to notice and accept Carranza as the President of Mexico. The Germans want to establish their own haven in Mexico. They see all of the natural resources, gold and silver mines, and now the oil that's so valuable for them to use. General Blanco is being demoted. He got his orders yesterday to serve under General Obregón in Sonora. Blanco's regiment is being replaced by General Pablo Gonzalez. I saw the alarming orders myself and have heard of some of the maneuvers that are going to take place on the Texas side of the border."

  "What secret plan and maneuvers?” Don Federico asked, distressed over the growing tension among the Mexican-Americans and the whites.

  Juan became even more serious. "Going back to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the Mexican land that Santa Anna sold to the United States—Arizona, New Mexico, and the State of Texas—are being questioned by Carranza. But, surprisingly, not California."

  "Well, yes, that has always been a sore spot in the Mexican-American controversy, since Santa Anna, in his greed, betrayed his own country for money. It was the beginning of our 'roots of indifference.' We all know he was a traitor and is now hated by the Mexican people." Don Federico chewed on his pipe nervously.

  "Well, with the help of the Germans and German warfare, they plan to take back from the United States all the 'stolen land' that Santa Anna so graciously gave away."

  "Sounds like somebody's illogical, wild pipe dream," retorted Don Federico. "Sounds impossible! Sounds like a big lie! How are they planning to do this?" He scratched his head and took another puff on his pipe. "If Mexico can't handle their problems now, how in God's name will they be able to take care of more land?" He shook his head in total disbelief.

  "The Germans are convincing the Mexican government that they will stand behind them on this takeover. They are furnishing hundreds of shiploads of guns, bombs, ammunition, and warfare gasses, hoping to kill every white male over sixteen years old this side of the border."

  "For God sakes, man! Kill the white people?" Don Federico sounded off, not believing what he was hearing.

  "Every one of them over sixteen years of age," repeated Juan somberly. "Serious business!"

  "With this takeover, how are the Germans gonna know who's white, who's Mexican-American? Hell! The majority of the people here are mixed with Spanish blood, looking like white people, so that means nobody is going to be spared."

  "That's it! Doesn't make any sense! Everyone wants more, more power, more money, wanting control of more land. An evil thought…an evil seed," Juan said dismally.

  Getting up from his chair, Don Federico took a deep breath and expelled it in alarm. "Someone needs to be informed of this situation." His haggard face was somber and pale as he began to pace the porch. "This can't happen! This is total madness!" His voice was ragged. "I'll need to get in touch with Marshall Bishop and my friend Canalo in Brownsville as soon as possible, to see if they already know of this. This is a conspiracy!"

  Juan continued. "The Germans have already organized groups inside the Texas border and have had several secret meetings. Two of them have already been conducted in McAllen. I personally met a German by the name of Von Schmidt, who was sick and needed some bromide for his stomach."

  "What are you going to do?" The Don's voice was strained with anxiety, causing him almost to choke. He stopped his pacing, stood, and stared at Juan astounded, waving his hand. "Since you're still in the military and have to take orders, surely you are not going to take part in this?"

  "No! I want no part of this situation!"

  "The name Von Schmidt sounds familiar,” said Don Federico, rubbing his chin, "but the man I met at the Del Calderóne home in Monterrey years ago couldn't be the same person, could he?"

  "I had never met him before. He's a very strange man, with a thick accent, but he did mention that he has been staying with high authoritative military people in Mexico for several years, studying the activities and conditions of the country."

  "So what are you going to do now?"

  "As for me, I have been kicking my situation around for awhile and have decided to leave the military and finish my medical education." Juan's tone of voice became dour. "Frankly, I want no part of this. I am completely shocked and in no way can I see how this is going to end. There will be many deaths. Doctors heal people
regardless of color, not kill them."

  "What’s going to happen to Magdalena? You're not getting married?"

  "I'm a confirmed bachelor. I like Magdalena very much, but only as a friend."

  "That's a shame," answered Don Federico gravely. "I think her family had big plans for you."

  "Yes, but back to our original conversation,” said Juan guardedly. "I'd kindly ask you not to repeat my name to any high authority here in Texas or mention that I'm in the Mexican military. In the future, I plan to live in Mexico, and I will be in danger of being murdered."

  Don Federico, now intensely concerned, answered, "Why of course not! You can rest assured that your name will not be mentioned in any way." He was in total disbelief of what he was hearing. The thought of losing Juan as a doctor in this area left him devastated and disheartened. "I'll get in touch with Bishop in Brownsville as soon as possible and tell him what you have confided to me. They may already know." He turned to Juan and spoke with sincerity. "I'm disappointed, because I'll miss you, and so will Emma who has a special fondness for you. It's going to completely upset Fred when he finds out that you are leaving us. I know that I'm truly grateful to you for saving Roy's life." He continued pacing the wooden floor back and forth remaining silent and brooded for a short time and then sat back down in his chair. He was pondering all that Juan had told him, and it left him heartsick, feeling like he was losing a son.

  "Juan, why not study medicine here in the state of Texas? We have excellent medical schools."

  Juan hesitated, trying to get his mind around what Don Federico was saying.

  "Houston has a special medical school, a very fine one. How about Baylor School of Medicine up north? Any of the medical schools here in Texas are great."

  Juan's eyes illuminated with surprise. "What are you suggesting?" he questioned.