Advised to Evacuate

On July 26, 1912, a bomb exploding in Colonia Diaz would not have had more startling impact on the town than did a message delivered to Bishop Ernest V. Romney from the Stake Presidency. The messenger, Levi S. Tenney, who had driven his team hard most of the night, arrived in Colonia Diaz before most people were awake. He immediately sent Frank Whiting to awaken part of the town while he headed for the Bishop’s home to deliver his message.

The letter stated that the colonists were in great danger, as the rebel chieftain, Ynes Salazar, had demanded all the guns and ammunition held by the Mormons be delivered to the rebels by July 28. Apparently they were ruthless in enforcing this demand. The women and children from the upper colonies were being evacuated to El Paso, and the Colonia Diaz people were advised to flee immediately across the border.

Soon the church bell, silenced now except for emergencies, clanged loud and clear through the morning air bringing men hurriedly to the church-house. At this meeting the message from the Stake President, Junius Romney, was read and discussed. Every man realized the danger the town would be in if left unarmed and at the mercy of marauding rebels. It was decided that the townspeople would go overland, cross the international boundary line at the Corner Ranch some 19 miles northwest of Colonia Diaz, and proceed to Hachita, New Mexico.

Preparing to Leave

Plans were made for every man owning teams and wagons to take his family and as many as possible of his neighbors who had no outfits. They were to take only bedding and enough provisions to last four or five days because all felt that the danger would pass after the rebel army moved on to its field of battle. Since the rebels might arrive any minute to demand the guns, guards were placed around the town to prevent surprise attack. Everyone was instructed to be ready to leave at 10:00 am.

Colonia Diaz was a beehive of busy people, arranging, repairing and greasing wagons; scouting the range for work horses; and in some cases putting a “half-broke” horse with a tame one to make up a team. Sister Anna Sariah Egar Tenney’s answer to the call was, “We will obey authority and not falter, shed tears, nor sigh; rather, go straight ahead with a prayer in our hearts, asking God for guidance.” Some of the heads of families were absent from home, and in these cases the oldest son jumped in and served as head of the family with his mother’s sanction.

Granary doors were nailed up. Chicken-run doors were opened. Calves were turned out with their mothers, hogs turned loose to forage for food. On the way to town, Elmer and Annie Johnson met droves of cattle, horses, and pigs moving out into the mesquite flats. Back at the Button Willows Ranch, Mark found Sister Rosetta Norton Scott and her two children, Wesley, ten, and Sophronia, eight, the only occupants of the ranch that morning. They were all ready to leave for Sunday School in town. Hurried preparations were later detailed by an older daughter, Lucy. She said: “We turned out the cow and calves, and a large fat hog ready to butcher, scattered a sack of grain in the chicken coop, set extra water out, and sawed a hole in the door so the chickens could go in and out. Into a tin tub we packed all the cheese, butter, and eggs on hand, rolled the tub in several quilts, and tied it to the running gears (the only means of conveyance on the ranch) along with a trunk of clothing.”

Brother Elmer Johnson, Sr., wrote: "I readied two teams—one pair of colts that had been hitched up only three times and another consisting of a good work horse and a partly broken colt. I drove the colts, and my daughter-in-law, Annie R. Johnson, drove the other team. To make room for other people to ride, we had to leave the trunk of wedding presents, feather bed, and new carpet.

Heading for the Border

As each family took its place on the line, it was as if the history of the town fell into place, chapter after chapter, to begin the final pages of the Colonia Diaz story. The people were unaware of it, because they all felt they would return in a day or so, as they drove away. Only the stark empty houses denoted the fall of the curtain on a 28-year saga of work, faith, courage, and cooperation.

The lineup was completed. Bishop Romney gave the “go ahead” gesture. Driver after driver spoke to his team and slapped the lines over the horses’ backs. The horses leaned into the collars to begin that unhappy trek back to the United States.

Levi S. Tenney, delegated to take charge of the move, reported about 85 assorted vehicles. Others reported that as many as 96 vehicles, loaded with 800 people, drove out of Colonia Diaz about 10:00 am that morning. Tenney, his wife, Clara Acord Tenney, and five children, made the trip in a one-seat buggy. The two oldest girls, Maudie and Hettie, rode standing on the axle, back of the seat. Tenney reported that the caravan stretched out more than a mile.

James Jacobson was put in charge of a body of scouts who rode out on all sides of the caravan to prevent any surprise attack from the Red Flaggers. He detailed several scouts to patrol and spot any trouble or any illness developing among the people. Among them were Leon Jackson, William Johnson, Aryan Mortensen and others.

About six pm that night, July 28, 1912, the Diazites crossed the international boundary line. They made camp at the nearby Corner Ranch. They had traveled nineteen miles in eight hours. They finally arrived at Hachita, New Mexico, on August 3, 1912.