In 1905 was known a disastrous flood, which at Oaxaca swept away forty
brick houses, though without loss of life. At Morelos a number of houses
were swept away and about 1000 acres of choice farming land was rendered
worthless. Then Morelos and Oaxaca colonists in the Batepito Valley,
nine miles north of Morelos, founded Colonia San Jose, with new canals,
in addition to those of the Babispe. In 1912, Colonia Morelos had in
granary over 50,000 bushels of wheat, while the orchards, gardens and
alfalfa fields had produced an abundance. These Sonora colonists had 4000
acres of cultivated and fenced lands.
A flour mill was operated, succeeding one that had been destroyed by fire
of incendiary origin. The Morelos canal had cost $12,000. Many local
industries had been established, a good schoolhouse was in each
settlement and no saloons were tolerated. In general, there was good
treatment from the national Mexican government, though "local authorities
had demands called very oppressive and overbearing."
War came to the western colonies in November, 1911, on the arrival of a
band of seventy men under Isidro Escobosa, repulsed at El Tigre and
fleeing to Morelos, followed by federal cavalry, who are reported to have
been at least as destructive as the bandits. Thereafter was continuous
grief for the colonists. In June, 1500 federals were quartered on the
streets and in the school buildings at Morelos, with open depredations
upon the settlers' personal property, and scandalous conditions from
which no appeal was effective. There then was demand for wagons and
teamsters to accompany the federals. The settlers sent their horses into
secret places in the mountains and thus saved most of them. Much the same
conditions were known at Oaxaca.
When it became evident that Mexican conditions were unendurable, the sick
and the older people were sent into the United States. August 30, 1912,
following news that the rebel Salazar, was marching into Sonora, a large
number of women and children were sent northward. Sixty wagons
constituted the expedition, carrying 450 people. The journey was through
a rough country, in which there was one fatal accident, and in the rainy
season, with attendant hardship. At Douglas was cordial reception, with
assistance by the United States and by citizens. September 3, still more
of the women and children went northward, leaving about 25 men in the
colonies, as guards.
Occasional parties kept up connection between the border and the colonies
for some time thereafter. A few of the expeditions were captured by the
Mexicans and robbed.
The colonies had been entirely abandoned for some time when a Mormon
party from Douglas returned on a scouting trip. According to a chronicler
of the period:
"On arriving at the colonies they found that every house had been looted
and everything of value taken, sewing machines and furniture ruthlessly
smashed up and lying around as debris, while house organs, which were to
be found in nearly every Mormon home, were heaps of kindling wood. The
carcasses of dead animals lay about the streets, doors and windows were
smashed in, stores gutted and the contents strewn everywhere about, while
here and there a cash register or some other modern appliance gave
evidence of the hand of prejudice-destroying ignorance."
In October, Consul Dye of Douglas made a formal inspection.
Some of the colonists returned when conditions apparently had bettered,
and there is at hand a record of what may be considered to have been the
final abandonment. In the first days of May, 1914, at Douglas, 92
Americans from the three Sonora colonies, arrived in 21 wagons, being the
last of the colonists. They practically had been ordered out, after
having been notified by the American Secretary of State that the
protection of their country would not be extended to them. Most of their
property was left behind, at the mercy of the Mexican authorities.