Charles Alston Pringle (1878–1916): Cal Bears Football Captain & Victim of Santa Isabel Massacre

Charles Pringle as Cal Bear and News of his Death

 

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Charles Alston Pringle was an American mining engineer and former University of California football captain who was killed during the Santa Isabel Massacre (also known as the Gringo’s Curve Massacre) on January 10, 1916, in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Pringle was born in California in 1878, the son of Cornelia J. Pringle and the late Edward J. Pringle. He grew up in San Francisco in a prominent family with strong business and civic ties.

At the University of California, Berkeley, Pringle earned distinction as a popular and talented athlete. Known as “Charley” to classmates and "Lol" in athletics, he played football for the Golden Bears and became one of the most celebrated players of his day. 

Pringle's Big Game at Cal

He was a pivotal figure in the early history of Cal football, appearing notably in 1898 and captaining the team in 1900, his senior year. Pringle was instrumental in Cal’s first-ever victory in the historic Big Game (the annual rivalry match against Stanford) in 1898. He held the ceremonial position of “Guardian of the Axe,” a symbol tied to the Big Game trophy. Cal won the game 22-0 with Pringle rushing for 82 yards and scoring two touchdowns. 

He was also a member of Skull and Keys, the Golden Bear senior honor society, as well as the Chi Phi fraternity.

Charles Pringle "Guardian of the Axe" and Massacre Story

After graduating, Pringle entered the mining industry, where he found early success. Around 1906, he moved to northern Mexico, attracted by opportunities in the Chihuahua mining districts. He later became associated with John Hayes, manager of Phoebe Apperson Hearst’s extensive estates in Mexico, and worked with the Cusi Mining Company at Cusihuiriachic.

Despite the growing instability caused by the Mexican Revolution, Pringle frequently traveled between Mexico and San Francisco, visiting his mother and brothers. His last extended stay in San Francisco occurred in the fall of 1914, after which he returned to Chihuahua in early 1915.

Book about Massacre and Cal Alumni Mourn Article

On January 10, 1916, Pringle was among 16 American mining engineers and employees traveling by train from Chihuahua City to the Cusi Mine. The train was stopped at Santa Isabel (known locally as Gringo’s Curve) by about fifty Villista soldiers under General Pablo López, a close associate of Pancho Villa.

The Americans were ordered off the train, stripped of their clothing, and marched a short distance before being executed by firing squad. Reports indicated the act was politically motivated—revenge against the U.S. for recognizing Venustiano Carranza as Mexico’s president. Only one man, M.A. Cornin, survived by feigning death and escaping. He later provided an account of the massacre.

The news of Pringle’s murder devastated his family. His four brothers—William B., Edward J., Covington, and Sydney—sent urgent telegrams to President Woodrow Wilson demanding justice, the capture of the killers, and greater protection for Americans abroad. Their pleas were widely published in U.S. newspapers and became part of the groundswell of public outrage that contributed to the U.S. Punitive Expedition into Mexico under General John J. Pershing.

Charles Pringle at Cal & Racist Headline after Massacre

Pringle’s mother, Cornelia J. Pringle, received his last letter only days after his death, assuring her that conditions in Mexico had stabilized and that it was safe to return.

Charles Alston Pringle was 37 years old at the time of his death. His body was returned to San Francisco and buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California, following services at Grace Cathedral on January 17, 1916.

The Santa Isabel Massacre remains one of the most significant prelude events to the only U.S. military incursion into Mexico since the Mexican-American War. It also created intense racial tension for years afterwards. 

Sources: Wikipedia, Berkeley Gazette, Oakland Tribune, University of Texas archives, Syracuse Herald, Salt Lake Tribune, Mountain View Cemetery archives, Ottumwa Daily News, Family Search Archives, The San Francisco Call, Texas State Historical Archives, El Paso Times