William Stanley – Regeneración (1911)

Translated excerpts from ‘William Stanley’, ‘Regeneración‘, Los Angeles, California, April 15, 1911, edited by Anselmo L. Figueroa

The great proletarian, the modest soldier who from the beginning of the liberal movement in Baja California joined his destiny with those of the Mexican workers, has just descended to the grave and his body sleeps in the cemetery of Mexicali, on Mexican soil.

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The losses [in the battle of April 8] of Federal soldiers amounted to 68 killed, and those of the Liberals to only two: Stanley, killed, and Timoteo, wounded.

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The American and Canadian workers also join in the joy of the Mexican proletarian for that triumph, although all deplore the loss of that star who was called Stanley.

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Not only will Mexican history honor Stanley for his sacrifice. Stanley belongs to humanity. He is a universal hero, because in fighting with the Red Flag on the plains of Mexicali in the battle of the Mexican proletariat, he also fought for the cause of the universal proletariat. The Red Flag knows no borders and by dying while embracing it in Baja California, Stanley, the colossal industrial worker, immortalized his name, a name that will be an inspiration to all working men and women without distinction of race or nationality in their struggles against the vampire, Capital.

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Do not forget Stanley, comrades. Men and women, teach your children to follow his example. Place him among the great heroes of the world, all the men who in ages past sacrificed their lives for the advancement and wellbeing of humanity.

Antonio de P. Araujo

Stanley Dies in Glorious Victory

Rebels Lose One, Federals Lose Sixty-Eight

From ‘Regeneracion’, English Section, Los Angeles, California, April 15, 1911, edited by William C. Owen

And the papers called that a defeat — that exultant charge of Stanley and his eighty men from Mexicali south upon four hundred federals! Look at the figures above — figures now verified from several sources. Look at them, read the story and judge for yourselves.

On Saturday morning, April 8, with several wagon-loads of provisions, Stanley’s band, consisting of twenty men on horseback and sixty-five on foot, sallied forth from Mexicali in the direction of the federals, who, under Colonel Mayol, had made their way through the mountain passes and were now encamped on Lee Little’s ranch.

About a mile east of the ranch advance scouts of the rebel column ran into about one hundred federals and were heavily fired on, according to the report made to the Junta by General Pryce, who was elected to take the place of Stanley after the latter’s death. The scouts fell back to the main force, and then General Stanley and the twenty mounted men, among them Colonel Adrian Lopez, second in command, charged down the road straight into the fire of the federals. In the heavy fusillade that met them several horses were shot, so that the cavalry was forced to fall back for the time.

The infantry then spread in a skirmishing line in the barley fields on either side of the road. The left flank advanced gradually by little rushes and eventually forced back the right flank of the enemy, occupying their position. Federal fire was turned on the right flank in the barley field, and it was here that Stanley received his mortal wound, the bullet ploughing through the base of the brain. Frightfully wounded as he was, he wanted to remain and fight, but Lopez tenderly carried him in his arms and placed him in a protected position in a wagon. Lopez returned to occupy his former position in the field.

Of the end of the engagement Adrian Lopez, in his report, says:

“At 4 p.m. the enemy sounded a charge, but without effect, for he was repulsed and forced to flee in complete disorder.”

“Inasmuch as the flying enemy was scattered over a wide area, General Stanley’s forces were not able to surround him, and it was decided to hold the position, with a view to protecting the baggage wagons. These were commanded to retreat to Mexicali. The troops under my immediate command were instructed to fight as they fell back, so as to protect the baggage and ammunition wagons and the ambulance on the road to Mexicali. At that moment the federals endeavored to make a final attack, throwing out a line of sharpshooters, but our comrades followed their example, and dashing ahead, compelled the enemy to make a headlong retreat…”

Though about twenty thousand cartridges were fired, the only men wounded were Stanley, who was killed, and Timoteo, who received a flesh wound.

And this is the fight in which the Times said that the whole rebel force was cut to pieces!

An eye-witness, from a high tower in Calexico, writing in the Examiner, says that the insurgents never flinched once in the face of the federal fire.

As to the number of federals killed, Mayol himself gives twelve dead and fourteen wounded. Cocopah Indians who were forced by the federals to bury the dead, declare up and down that they counted sixty-eight. As to the rebels, each wound received by the two men, Stanley and Timoteo, cost the federals 10,000 rounds of ammunition.

The very fact that they dared not follow up the rebels, whom they imagined to number 200 instead of 85, and they have not yet had the courage to attack Mexicali, proves what a very bad shock the federal forces received.

The rebels are daily gaining new recruits. The first day after the battle they received fifty.

E.D.T.

Stanley: Soldier of Liberty

From ‘Regeneracion’, English Section, Los Angeles, California, April 15, 1911, edited by William C. Owen

Stanley is dead, “little wild-cat Stanley,” as one writer called him, the only one of the rebel force who fell mortally wounded. He is dead, but by his glorious charge of April 8 he has blazoned his name on the scroll of immortal heroes.

Stanley was no soldier of fortune. He was no mere adventurer. He fought because he hated all tyranny, because he was a champion of the oppressed. Like Lafayette he went to another country than his own to fight for the cause of liberty, for where the people were in arms against tyranny, there were his heart and his cause.

He was not a stranger to the proletarian cause in this country. In Spokane he was for thirty days in jail on bread and water during the free speech fight.

Stanley, Guerrero, Alanls, Jiminez, Fuertes and many other brave men have died, but from their ashes ever rises the glorious phoenix of liberty, to make hundreds of soldiers where there was but one before.

Ethel D. Turner