20 avr. 1901 - El Paso Jail Fire

Description:

26 Mexican men at the El Paso Jail, being held in a room while they all underwent the delousing process, including baths in kerosene, gasoline, & vinegar
All Mexican laborers arrested around saloons
-3:30 PM, ordered to strip
Placed into vat of delousing mixture one by one at the center of the communal holding cell
-4:00 PM, H.M. Cross (white, “hophead”) comes in and lights a cigarette
Results: Evaporated delousing prisoners.
Entire jail caught fire26 Mexican & 2 American prisoners killed, 25-30 others severely burned and injured

Rumors that “El Paso authorities rounded up Mexican men for no good reason, poured gasoline on them, locked them up, and then threw in a lit cigarette to completed the murderous task.”

Ajouté au bande de temps:

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