Word of the deaths of I.W.W. insurrectos J.R. Pesqueira and Antonio Fuertes in the Battle of Mexicali.

‘Reds Die for Freedom’ from Industrial Worker. Vol. 3 No. 2. March 30, 1911.

Los Angeles, Cal., March 10, 1911.

Mr. Vincent St. John, Chicago, Ill.

Fellow Worker: The I.W.W. is marching straight ahead. It was the I.W.W. boys who first kept the red flag flying on the battlefield of Mexicali, Mexico, and during the thickest of the fight we lost two brave I.W.W. boys from San Diego, Cal., one, and the other from Holtville, Cal., Antonio Fuertes and J.R. Pesqueira, both died at the foot of the red flag. None are flag worshipers, but the principle embodied in it is well recognized by all.

It was the I.W.W. boys who first took Mexicali, Mexico, January 29, 1911, and it was the I.W.W. boys who fought and won the world-wide famous battle of Mexicali, February 15, 1911. Next day after the fight I was taken across the line by the Red Cross Society, suffering from sickness. A couple of days afterwards as a United States prisoner I was taken to El Centro jail. Three days afterwards United States detectives took me to Los Angeles, where I was turned loose after a whole day’s questioning in regards to my whole history as an agitator and revolutionist of Mexico. At the same time they were trying to find me guilty of violating the neutrality laws. Our enemy’s bluff didn’t work with me.

The Mexican Liberal Party, through officers, Magon and Rivera, has come out flat-footed for the I.W.W. completely. So it is now up to you and the I.W.W. to get results from this splendid opportunity. I am working for the I.W.W. only.

Yours for the I. W.W.

(INSURRECTO) Of San Diego, Cal.

P.S.: Notify our papers about our I.W.W. boys who lost their lives in Mexicali and also that two I.W.W. boys are in command, one in Mexicali and the other in Tia Juana, lower California, Mexico–Captain William Stanley and Captain Louis Rodriguez.

The Industrial Union Bulletin, and the Industrial Worker were newspapers published by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) from 1907 until 1913. First printed in Joliet, Illinois, IUB incorporated The Voice of Labor, the newspaper of the American Labor Union which had joined the IWW, and another IWW affiliate, International Metal Worker.The Trautmann-DeLeon faction issued its weekly from March 1907. Soon after, De Leon would be expelled and Trautmann would continue IUB until March 1909. It was edited by A. S. Edwards. 1909, production moved to Spokane, Washington and became The Industrial Worker, “the voice of revolutionary industrial unionism.”

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/industrialworker/iw/v3n02-w106-mar-30-1911-IW.pdf