Rodolfo Fierro

Rodolfo Fierro (b. 1880 d. October 14, 1915)cite book|title=El infierno: Parafrasis de "El infierno," primera parte de la Divina comedia de Dante Alighieri |pages=144 |year=1989 |publisher=UNAM |isbn=9683610587 |first=Vicente |last=Leñero] was a railway worker, railway superintendent, federal soldier and lieutenant in the army of Pancho Villa during the Mexican Revolution in the Division del Norte. Fierro and his counter part and fellow lieutenant, Tomas Urbina, have been cited as the two halves of Pancho Villa, Fierro representing his malicious side.cite book|title=The Life and Times of Pancho Villa |first=Friedrich |last=Katz |coauthor=American Council of Learned Societies |pages=221, 269-272, 328-329 |year=1998 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=0804730466] It is believed Fierro met Pancho Villa in 1913 following the Madero revolution. Originating from Sonora, Fierro was a former federal officer having taken part in fighting against the Yaqui Indians. Following his role as a federal officer, Fierro went on to work as a railway man, eventually being absorbed into Villa's ranks.

Roles

oldier

Fierro's prominence is often cited back to the Battle of Tierra Blanca on November 23, 1913. The battle included 5,500 of Villa's soldiers, against an estimated 7,000 federal soldiers. Before the battle began Fierro had been sent South to destroy the railroad tracks, forcing the federal soldiers to halt. As Villa flanked the well armed federal soldiers with cavalry, a locomotive filled with dynamite and percussion caps was rammed into the federal soldiers train cars, the resulting explosion caused the federal soldiers to flee to nearby undamaged train cars in retreat. Fierro is then noted as riding on horseback after the escaping locomotive, climbing on to the locomotive, running across the roofs of the train cars, and shooting dead the boilerman and conductor, pulling the train to a complete stop.cite book|title=Blood of Revolution: From the Reign of Terror to the Rise of Khomeini |first=Erik |last=Durschmied |pages=100, 102, 111 |year=2002 |publisher=Arcade Publishing |isbn=1559706074] All federal soldiers captured were executed and in the battle Villa captured 4 locomotives, 7 machine guns, horses, rifles and 400,000 rounds of small arms ammunition. The death toll during the battle stood around 1,000 federal soldiers killed and 300 of Villa's.cite book|title=The Mexican Revolution |first=Alan |last=Knight |pages=117, 336 |year=1990 |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |isbn=0803277717]

Executioner

Fierro is most known as Villa's executioner, known as "el carnicero" (English "the butcher").cite book|title=Greed, Rage, and Love Gone Wrong: Murder in Minnesota |first=Bruce |last=Rubenstein |pages=157 |year=2004 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |isbn=0816643385] cite book|title=Mexico: Biography of Power : a History of Modern Mexico, 1810-1996 |first=Enrique |last=Krauze |coauthor=Hank Heifetz |year=1997 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0060929170] Fierro's nom de guerra originates from a story documented by Martín Luis Guzmán. Guzmán describes events following the capture of over 300 soldiers known as Orozquistas. The captured soldiers were led into a large field with Fierro on one end, and a wall on the other. They were informed, if they were to reach the opposite end and climb over the wall they would be allowed to continue on free. In groups of ten the captured men were set out to run, Fierro alone firing his pistol at them as they ran, his soldiers handing him fresh pistols to continue firing without delay. One captive is noted as making it over the wall and to freedom, only after Fierro stopped to massage an achy trigger finger.The shooting went on for two hours.cite book|title=Death by Government |first=Rudolph J. |last=Rummel |pages=391 |year=1994 |publisher=Transaction Publishers |isbn=1560009276] cite book|title=The General and the Jaguar: Pershing's Hunt for Pancho Villa: A True Story of Revolution and Revenge |first=Eileen |last=Welsome |pages=10, 39 |year=2007 |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |isbn=0803222246] It is said that Fierro would ask each prisoner if they would rather return to their family, or join the army of Pancho Villa. Those deciding to return to their family were seem as men who would head back to their old regiment and were executed. Those choosing to join Pancho Villa were provided with a horse, a gun, and three bullets.cite book|title=Greed, Rage, and Love Gone Wrong: Murder in Minnesota |first=Bruce |last=Rubenstein |pages=157 |year=2004 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |isbn=0816643385]

Other stories exist of Fierro shooting a man dead in public in the state of Chihuahua. The person, sitting across from Fierro, argued that a man shot would fall backwards, Fierro disagreed. To settle the bet Fierro shot the man, and watched as he fell forward, confirming to Fierro that he was correct.

While working as Villa's railway superintendent, Fierro was publicly reprimanded by Villa for a train of supply water running 35 minutes late. Villa, when the train arrived is said to have shot the conductor dead as an act of vengeance for his humiliation. This incident sparked strife amongst the railway workers, who primarily supported Villa. In another incident, a drunken Fierro killed a railway worker for bumping into him, this final incident caused Villa to act. Villa permitted a judge to begin collecting evidence against Fierro into his actions, a judge who begged to be removed from the case for fear of repercussion. The case never went to trial but Fierro was removed from the position of railway superintendent. It is often stated the case was a sham, simply to continue to retain support from the much needed railway workers.

Fierro is also known for the murder of William S. Benton on February 17, 1914, an Englishman and land owner in Mexico who had his land confiscated by Villa's forces. Numerous stories exist around what happened. Benton is cited as having stormed into Villa's headquarters in Ciudad Juárez, demanding his land back from Villa, in which Villa refused. Following his refusal, Villa maintains Benton unsuccessfully attempted to draw a six-shooter pistol, he was wrestled to the floor and given a formal court martial and found guilty of attempted assassination, he was then executed and buried. A conflicting story exists in which Benton drew his pistol but was detained and removed from the town at night. He taken to the desert, where a hole was dug and Fierro is believed to have struck Benton in the head with a shovel, dumping into the grave without checking to see if Benton was still alive.cite book|title=Ambrose Bierce: Alone in Bad Company |first=Roy |last=Morris |coauthor=Roy Morris Jr. |pages=257 |year=1999 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0195126289] cite book|title=Legends and Lies: Great Mysteries of the American West |first=Dale L. |last=Walker |coauthor=John Jakes |pages=198 |year=1998 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=0312868480] cite book|title=Villa: Soldier of the Mexican Revolution |first=Robert L. |last=Scheina |pages=63, 23 |year=2004 |publisher=Brassey's |isbn=1574885138]

Commander

On January 15, 1915, Villa turned over command of the western forces to Fierro and Calixto Contreras. The decision was made following the election of Roque González Garza by the Mexico City Convention. Fierro and Contreras were defeated following being put in command. In Guadalajara, Jalisco on January 17, 1915, Fierro's forces were surprised by an attack and forced to flee to Irapuato, Guanajuato. Villa was forced to pull troops from Mexico city to North West Mexico to assist Fierro and Contreras. With the larger number of forces, (11,000 soldiers strong), Villa was able to take Guadalajara without a fight, Villa pursued but was repelled, after sustaining heavy casualties, he ordered a withdrawal moving himself and a large force of soldiers from the area. Fierro was again in charge of the west, and on March 22, attacked a well dug-in force at Tuxpan, Veracruz. Fierro was again defeated, losing two thousand men and eight hundred horses, the loss forced him to abandon Guadalajara as well.

Death

On October 14, 1915, Fierro died after being thrown from his horse and landing in quicksand. At the time, Fierro was marching toward Sonora when he encountered the quicksand at the Casas Grandes Lagoon. The weight of his belt, loaded with gold is said to have prevented his from being able to escape.cite book|title=The Life and Times of Mexico |first=Earl |last=Shorris |year=2004 |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |isbn=039305926X |pages=257]

ee also

*Mexican Revolution
*Pancho Villa

References