Roots of Indifferences

by Terri Ragsdale

  The Depression also brought out a different breed of criminal—the "desperate ones," as they were called. To the hungry hoards, they were considered heroes, while to the authorities; they were "Public Enemy Number One." Bonnie and Clyde came to notoriety, robbing banks and driving fast cars to get away. Notorious John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, Machine Gun Kelly, and so many others lived a life of crime and were eventually gunned down by law enforcement.

  With so many white Americans suffering, it was not surprising that they turned their attention to the Mexican-American people, who said little and lived quietly along the border. There were angry complaints from the white people to the Representatives and to the Congress of the United States, claiming that the Mexican people took their jobs away and also stole from them. It was ironic since the average Mexican-American man was uneducated and accustomed to doing the hard menial jobs, especially field work, that the majority of the educated people would not touch. But, there had to be someone to blame, especially during the terrible times of the Depression.

  In Texas, the federal authorities did not take long to react. They were kept busy deporting hundreds of Mexican families. Once again, the Mexican-American people were living in constant fear; they were the silent ones, without a voice and without justice. Ironically, many of the people were American citizens, and in time, all moved back into Texas.

  CHAPTER 39

  The Mexican elections, which had always been tainted with violence, took a different turn with the new presidential outcome. In 1934, Lázaro Cárdenas, governor of Michoacán, a man is known for his honesty, became President of Mexico and transcended the traditional role. He wanted to be like the common people of Mexico and wore business suits instead of a military uniform.

  In the same election year in Mexico, Juan Alvarez won by a landslide and became governor of the state of Tamaulipas, moving to Ciudad Victoria, which was the state capital. He rapidly initiated many changes, sharing the same ideas as the new president.

  Fred's life in Mexico was wonderful, and he felt he had made a difference. He had a fabulous part-time job and had Dolores, whom he loved and adored. They would be married in the near future. It was hard to believe that several years back, he had starved and ate raw fish in a stolen boat going nowhere and did not think he was going to live. Up to this point, he had not received one word from his family in Texas. In the back of his mind, he missed everyone terribly and wondered and worried about their situation.

  In the summer of 1935, after working for a year and a half with the Germans in Tampico, he had been rewarded with almost a degree's worth of lessons in chemical and plant research. Samuel Krog was pleased with Fred and favored him. At the end of one workday, Fred was ready to leave and go visit the Teráns when he was summoned by Krog and ushered by one of the guards into his opulent office. He entered the large elaborate room, surrounded by windows overlooking the waves of the Gulf of Mexico. The room was beautifully appointed, with plush carpet, priceless paintings on the walls, and a full-service bar.

  "Take a seat, Fred," Krog ordered, pointing with his pipe to one of the sofas. "Would you like some coffee?" Krog was in his late sixties, with graying hair. In his youth, he had been a very handsome man, who, along with his intelligence, presented a commanding presence, but he seemed cynical, with hidden secrets, and was rumored to have a dark, mysterious past. He was single, but the talk was that he was living with a seventeen-year-old mistress from Spain. In the pharmaceutical lab, the Germans chuckled as they related that Krog had the girl kidnapped and had hidden her away in his newly built mansion somewhere up the coast.

  "Yes, thank you," answered Fred, as he watched Krog pour black coffee into a white china cup and hand it to him. "Thank you," he replied humbly, but in the back of his mind, he waited for a surprise. He had never trusted Krog—there was something about the man that made him nervous.

  "We are all hoping that you are enjoying your job."

  "Why yes, very much so," Fred replied.

  "We have been hearing good reports from you at the laboratory, and it seems that everyone in the research office trusts you and likes you a lot," he said, as his pipe smoke circled upwards toward the ceiling. "We are very pleased with your introduction of the South American plant, Curare, and we are discovering more and more uses for it every day. The head scientist was elated last week to discover that its extract increases urination, reduces fever, blocks pain, and treats testicular inflammation, especially an enlarged prostate. Imagine how it will help the male population. Imagine what it will do for people in pain." Pleased with those prospects, Samuel Krog's eyes lit up. But he was also thinking of the millions of dollars that Krog-Stein-Mex was bringing in. Already, the company had bought half a dozen shipping vessels and transported millions of cases of the bottled capsules to many of the world's countries. The company had proven to be a lucrative venture, and the two owners and the majority of the researchers, scientists, and chemists drove fancy imported German Duisenbergs.

  "Thank you," replied Fred, "but you also have to be very careful with Curare. Giving the right dosage works wonders, but too much could cause problems. One could become paralyzed." He was trying to project the pros and cons of the drug, but he was not revealing the complete effect of the other ingredients. That information they would have to discover for themselves.

  "Yes, of course. The scientists have plenty of time to figure that out," Krog answered confidently. "However, the reason that I called you into my office is that we would like to make you a proposal. The company would like to double the amount of money that you are now receiving, and we wondered if you would like to travel for our company. You speak Spanish fluently and have the intelligence to sell." He rubbed his hands together enthusiastically, envisioning more profits.

  There was a long pause as he gave Fred a chance to assimilate his words, but he could not help but notice Fred's perplexed reaction. Krog continued, "The traveling would be to the bigger cities, where purchasing is done in larger quantities that are more profitable for us. You, of course, would have to leave the research office group. We would provide an office for you—"

  "And become a salesman? A traveling salesman?" remarked Fred, surprised and disappointed. This was not the reason he had taken on the job. Perspiration popped out on his face, and his heart pounded. "You need to remember, Mr. Krog, I'm a humble, simple doctor, not a promoter of products, and I have given my solemn oath to the villagers of Tampico-Alto to heal them. I cannot leave this area. I need to stay with the people. I love the little village. I took on working with your company because of my interest in research." He wanted to say that medicine was given by God for healing, not to make millions of greedy people, but he refrained.

  With those words, Krog became somewhat hostile, thinking that this was the chance of a lifetime, and anyone in their right mind would surely leap at the opportunity! His cool demeanor and personality completely changed; his voice hardened. "How long do you plan to live in that rotten village, with those uneducated, tribal Mexicans? How long do you plan to stay in Mexico? He began cursing in the German language. He was scowling, with a stormy look in his eyes that was alarming. The German executive began puffing his expensive pipe harder, as he glared at Fred through his spectacles.

  "Because of those uneducated, tribal villagers, those poor people, saved my life and fed me and took care of me when I was sick, and because I have compassion for the needy and disenfranchised," Fred replied. He grabbed his attaché case and hat and stood up. "Money is a commodity and really not that important to me. I plan to return to the United States when the time is right; when I have done all of the right things, the good things that I have planned to do. Sorry, but I will have to pass on your offer."

  "Enough!" Krog stormed. "There is a depression in that country. Have you not seen the propaganda in the Mexican headlines? You should hear what the Germans have predicted, especially Chancellor Hitler. The United States is doomed, and people are starving to death. Here, wi
th our company, you have an opportunity to grow and enrich yourself. With all of the money that we are offering, you could live like a king. We are offering you the universe carte blanche—I do not understand!" he bellowed, and rose up from his chair, swearing again in German. "Let me know if you change your mind," he said, and turned his back on Fred as a sign of disrespect, and began fussing with the phone. "That is all," he said, not facing him. "You may leave. I may call on you later."

  As Fred left the office, he heard the phone ring at the receptionist desk in the foyer. The call was from Herr Samuel Krog to the officer's answering station. He heard the receptionist say, "Yes, Herr Krog, I will get the report right away and get the Intelligent Committee Officers to check on the last name. It was 'Cantu,' did you say?"

  Fred left the office drained and felt like a fool for refusing Krog's offer, not knowing if he had a job to return to the following week. If they investigated, they would find the real Dr. Cantu was a physician from Reynosa but was twenty years older and long dead. Fred was a wanted man in Mexico, a fugitive. On so many occasions, especially in Tampico when he visited the Teráns, he had a habit of looking behind him, hoping that no one recognized him. He was always paranoid and fearful, afraid of being arrested again.

  Fred found his way to the residence of the Teráns, who were not expecting him. Señora Terán was thrilled to see him and held the door open. "Fred," she said in a whispering tone. "You have visitors, people from the United States, waiting for you in the family room." He remembered that the last message he had mailed to Texas was from the Terán residence.

  He asked, "From the United States?" He was shocked and didn’t know if his heart could stand another surprise. He rushed in and found Dan Land and Luis Martin, Victoria's son, now grown, standing in the middle of the room! It was a memorable moment, and they all embraced in a huddle and wept.

  Fred finally got a grip on himself after the long hugs and sobs. Dan Land informed him that they had never received any messages, that there had been no word until a month ago. Perhaps poor communication lines were at fault, nobody knew. They had had several hurricanes hit the Rio Grande Valley, especially the bad one in 1933 that destroyed many of the lines, and always took a long time to repair anything.

  Dan Land sat down and tried to explain the events that had transpired during the years of his absence. He informed Fred that everyone at the Matamoros prison, and his family as well, thought he was dead. The guards thought both he and the driver were killed by the fugitives that had fled with the van, and that they had been thrown into the sea. The guards found his watch on the ground the following day and gave it to Victoria. A week later, the fugitives were caught and killed instantly on their way to Monterrey, before they had a chance to talk. Since they never revealed anything, nobody knew what had happened. "However, your sister never believed you were dead and kept repeating it to Don Federico," he said.

  Fred was overwhelmed by emotion and excitement.

  "And we have good news! Your father and Victoria, with the help of several well-known attorneys, are still in conference with the State Representatives in Austin to get your name cleared. Emily's stepfather, who was shot and killed by Bernard Hanson, had confessed on his deathbed that it was he and Hanson who had killed the girl with your gun because she was going to the authorities on your behalf. Meanwhile, Hanson has fled and is a fugitive again. Nobody knows where he has gone. The authorities are searching for him, wanting answers. There was a big article in the newspaper about the case being reopened in Hidalgo County to clear your name."

  Barely able to speak in his jubilation, Fred's first words were: "How's my father? How's Victoria? Carlos? And what were their reactions to finally getting my telegram?"

  "Everybody was thrilled and excited." Dan searched for the right words. "Your father was thrilled, and, as a matter of fact, started to feel better and is beginning to talk more. Victoria is fine, with another son, Danny, now three years old. Carlos is also doing fine. Everyone is anxious to see you after getting your message."

  Noticing Dan's uneasiness and his facial expression, Fred questioned him. "What's wrong with my father? He observed his nephew Luis Martin shudder slightly and drop his gaze to the floor.

  "Well, I guess you didn't know." Dan's expression turned from jovial to sad. "We were all affected by what happened to you. Your father took it real hard and had a bad stroke—a critical one. This was after the prison authorities in Matamoros pronounced you dead. It has taken time. At first, he could not speak, but with therapy and encouragement from friends and family, he is now talking some. El Guapo Jim and Tomas Canalo from Brownsville visit him quite often. Last year Marshall Bishop from Austin was one of his guests, giving him support and comfort. We had another surprise, too, from White Eagle, who came from Oklahoma to visit your father and stayed for a week. They both enjoyed each other's company. And your sister Victoria is doing fine. She keeps real busy, taking care of everyone, especially your father, all of her children, and Aunt Josie.

  There was a long pause. "I had no other choice," remarked Fred, shaking, and in tears again. "I had to escape, my life was at stake." He turned to view Luis Martin, who was going to be twenty-two years old, tall and handsome, so resembling Juan Alvarez, with his large green eyes and striking, features. Fred wondered if he knew who his real father was—an important man, now governor of Tamaulipas.

  The kindly Señora Terán graciously excused herself so that the men could talk privately among themselves, catching up with the past years. She busied herself in the kitchen and once brought in a tray with tall glasses of cold refreshments.

  Presently, Dr. Terán, having been informed by his wife in another room that Fred had guests from Texas, walked into the room. He began introducing himself to the two men.

  The men spent the next couple of hours talking around the kitchen table while having supper with the Teráns and discussing the conditions in the United States, Texas, and the Rio Grande Valley. It was Dan Land who feared trouble was fomenting around the world. He had brought the Brownsville Herald with articles explaining that trouble was brewing in Europe once again and that Adolph Hitler, the German Chancellor, had organized the Nazi Party and was turning Germany into a police state. However, at the same time, Hitler was busy expressing his strong desire for peace throughout the world. The Sturmabteilung, called the S.A., began arresting people opposing Hitler's power. Many were shot to death. The general public in the Western hemisphere lacked the awareness of the evils lurking beneath the surface.

  That evening, nerves were all in high tension, as Fred told Dr. Terán that there was the possibility of him having to leave Krog-Stein-Mex Company. He related what had taken place that afternoon in Krog's office. "I'm being investigated. They are going to find out about me, sooner or later."

  This concerned Dr. Terán, since he had a lot of his wife's investments in Krog-Stein-Mex Company. Hearing what Dan Land was saying about the happenings in Europe, and especially Germany, it immediately created apprehension.

  "No doubt, the United States knows more about what's happening in the world than is reported in the newspaper here in Mexico," said Dr.Terán, worried. "I'm treating a patient who came in from exposure to powder burns on his hands and arms. He works nights at Krog-Stein-Mex, on the shipping docks, and loads boxes onto the German ships. It's funny, but he said at the end of the building, toward the ocean where they load the shipments onto ships, it was full of rifles, guns, ammunition, and boxes of gunpowder. When he returns to the clinic, I'll ask him more questions," he said somberly.

  Fred and Dr. Terán were both surprised by this information. They thought that Krog-Stein-Mex Company only exported pharmaceutical and plant products. They glanced at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

  During the next few days, Fred invited Dan and Luis Martin to spend the rest of the week in Tampico-Alto, where they could meet the wonderful people who had transformed his life, and view the beautiful landscape, and walk the magnificent seashores. They w
ould also meet Dolores, her family, Father Gonzales and the nuns, and find inspiration in the church of El Señor de Tampico-Alto and its little community.

  On the road to Tampico-Alto, Fred drove and casually asked Dan about Catalina. His torch no longer burned for her, since he now had Dolores, but he was curious.

  Dan said, "She came around a couple of times, according to what Felicia said. She wanted to know about your disappearance. She did come for a while, but not anymore. I think your father still deals with Señor Castillo, concerning their bulls." Dan had been instructed by Victoria not to repeat the information that eight months after Fred left the Valley, Catalina gave birth to a baby girl. Dan continued, "I think Victoria mentioned her getting married some time back. I don't know for sure."

  Fred was silent, but he understood Catalina's thinking. He kept telling himself, why should she have waited, if he were supposedly dead?

  "And Victoria has another boy? How wonderful," he said, regretting that he was unable to see any of them.

  Luis Martin sat in the back seat, peering from the window of the Packard, enthralled with the scenery, especially the ships sounding their loud fog horns.

  Meanwhile, Fred was brought up to date on the scandalous gossip from Mercedes. Carlos had gotten married to a lovely girl named Mary from Sebastian, Texas, and they were now living at Spanish Acres, taking care of the large mansion, helping with the cattle, and clearing acres of land for the production of more cotton. Dan and Felicia had two sons and a daughter and were enjoying their new home. Emma had gotten considerably larger, more cantankerous, and was having trouble with her sugar highs and lows, driving Dr. Benjamin Burr crazy. Ricardo traveled back and forth across the river to see Victoria occasionally and to collect his yearly income from the cotton. He preferred Monterrey and lived there with his mother. Ricardo's father, Señor Del Calderóne, and Bruno Pue were murdered in Matamoros, shot in the head, execution-style. The killers had never been found. Rumors were that it was his young mistress's family since he used to beat her up all the time, but this had never been confirmed. Grandmother Gloria was getting old and forgetful. Mrs. McCray was still trying to coerce Don Federico into getting married. The last word was that Magdalena was terminally ill, which surprised Fred since she was married to Dr. Juan Alvarez.