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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1913)
TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, FEBRUARY 23, 1913. j J V Gerald Brandon, War of the Uprising Landed Diaz in Study of the Mexican Type of Intrigue. BY GERALD BRANDON. REYES. Oroxco and Zapata having been defeated by the Maderlst arms, there arose on the Mexican political horizon a new revolutionary luminary, this time a man whose ante cedents and connections were such as to assist rather than retard him in his struggle for the Presidency. Felix Diaz, nephew of the veteran Torfirio, and only unhated member of his dictatorial dynasty, had never nrlstad himself with the group f grafters whose stealings hastened the decline of the Diaz administration, This ring;, whose scientific system of graft had won for it the appellation of Cientificos. was busily dividing among Its member the Immense resources of the Mexican nation. In this It was un wittingly assisted by the failing Pres ' ident who 12 years past the three score and ten. was no longer able per sonally to attend his duties, and wai forced to delegate them to his trusted but untrustworthy ministers. Felix Diaz, closer to the President than any other, never , took advantage of his official position to enrich him self at the public expense, but dedi cated hl energies to his duties as police commissioner of the federal dis trict, making Mexico City perhaps the best policed capital In the world. Not yet in his 40th year, Felix Diaz had attained the rank of Brigadier General of the army. He came of a family famous In Mexican annals for its fighters, his father, known as El Chato or the pug-nosed, having con tributed largely to the success of the liberal arms In the Wars of Reform, at the close of which, captured by the conservative party, he met a tragic death, having been one of the last vic tims of the Holy Inquisition. Dims, Plana a Revolt. When Porfirio resigned or abdicated, Felix asked his discharge from the army and retired to private life, not caring to enter the political arena. Twice he was offered the Governorship of the State of Oaxaca. one of the most important of the Mexican union, but he ever reiterated his resolve to live apart from politics. Some months ago rumors arose to the effect that Felix, at the head of an array, had risen against the gov ernment In Northern Mexico. The aft ernoon papers in Mexico City printed the story, only to be contradicted on the following day by their morning colleagues, whose front pages held in terviews with the retired soldier, who, found peaceably residing on his coun try estate, again assured the public of his complete and permanent divorce ' from public life. During the next month there were daily reports from different points of the republic where Diaz was alleged to have started a revolution, and when he left the capital for Vera Cruz on an ostensible visit to a relative, the government sent 13 secret service men to dog Diaz' steps, hoping thus to find out "who were his friends and what were their schemes." One day Diaz disappeared from the ken of his 18 shadowers, who reported to the government that he had set out seaward In a motorboat, presumably to the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where the Indians are all stanch supporters of the Diaz family. Trip Made oa Horseback. Two days later the Vera Cruz train failed to arrive in Mexico City, and the telegraph wires, after yielding a short and startling message to the operators, were cut. According to the laconic message from Vera Cruz, the city was in the hands of Felix Diaz, who had as saulted it In the early morning with 200 men and had been Joined by the federal garrison and four gunboats in the harbor. It was impossible to get further de tails. The government, railroad and commercial wires were down. At tempts to reach Vera Cruz by cable via Galveston resulted unf ruitf ully, and the Mexico City public demanded news, almost mobbing the newspaper buildings. "Ge to Vera Cruz as quickly as pos sible, regardless of fatigue and ex pense, and keep us informed as to de velopments," ordered the Associated Press. "Cover the revolutionary end of the story and come into Mexico City with the revolutionary army if. as is generally supposed, Diaz succeeds in overthrowing the government." That evening I left Mexico City jy train, arriving next morning at Cor ucba, 130 miles north of my destina tion and the edge of the territory pro tected by federal influence. In the Mexico City depot an Ameri NGLISH teacher desires to teacb Japanese puppies, four or five to form a class." North China News. "She was attended by three brides maids, who had wreaths of oranges in their hair." Barnet Press. "Frenchman or German A perman ent vacancy occurs with good export firm for young foreigner to act as Valentaire: 20s after a few weeks." Daily Telegraph. "French model christening robes, trimmed hand embroidery and real lace. Reduced regardless of cost from 50s 6d to Vt guineas." From catalogue. "2590. Parcel lady's clothes; coat, skirt, blouses, hats, boots, shoes, trous ers fit youth 16-17." The Lady. "Blanche drooped ber Hps over her smooth dark gray eyes." Daily Rec ord. "The bridge was attended by .six bridegrooms." Yorkshire Evening Port. '"Bell-ringers of the adjoining par ishes came to blows over the respective Correspondent, Tells Which Blew Up and Prison An Intimate can, to me unknown, approached me, telling me that he was a passenger on the Ward Line steamer due to leave Vera' Cruz the following day, and did not want to miss his boat, "and now they tell me that the train only goes as far as Cordoba," he complained. "If you are going to Vera Cruz on horse back," he added, glancing at my riding breeches and leggings, "I 'will accom pany jrou. '"...- """ In CordeUa T found more than a nun Ored persona of : All callings amd na tionalities who were desiqous " bf reaching Vera Cruz without delay, and all efforts to secure a special train being unavailing, a group of us hired horses and struck southward. There was only one livery stable in Cordoba, . and its proprietor, making the most of his opportunity, would only' let us have his horses as far as Paso del Macho, 38 miles away. For this service he charged up the equiva lent of the value of the horses, making us also pay for the mounts of the two mozos who accompanied us for the pur pose of returning the ponies. Our party was composed of nine per sons, as follows: Fernando Ramirez de Aguilar, staff correspondent of El Im- parclal of Mexico City; Guillermo Cas tillo y Tapia, who claimed to be a civil engineer bound for a construction job on the Isthmus, and who was accom panled by a silent, businf ss-like com patriot whom he said was his draughtsman; Francisco Belmar, the 20-year-old son of a Mexican Supreme Court Justice, who said that he had to reach the deathbed of a rich relative from whom he hoped to inherit; Ed Walsh, the American who had gratui tously accompanied me from Mexico City, - and another American whose name I do not remember a tall, lanky Yankee with a sense of humor and a constitution sapped by tropical fevers. Besides there were myself and the two mozos; one a stoical, cotton-clad, sandal-soled Indian, the other more than three-quarters Spaniard, arrayed in buckskin chaps and a towering som brero, .-- Trip la Difficult. The ' time-worn adage, "A- man is known by the company he keeps," ob tains to an exaggerated degree in war time; and as I recognized in the engi neer an old-time revolutionist Dut lately released on bond from the peni tentiary, and as there was a probabil ity of our being overhauled by federal troop trains, I did not care to be caught in his company. Neither did I believe that Belmar had a sick relative In Vera Crux, nor that the two Ameri cans were aught but soldiers of for tune. Besides It was my intention to beat the Imparcial man. For these reasons I decided to get ahead of the party, and gradually has tened my horse's pace. However, Walsh, the engineer and his compan ion and Belmar seemed to suspect my plan, they kept at my side, and we reached Paso del . Macho two hours ahead of the rest of the party. ' To our dismay there were no horses for hire in the little village, but we were told that Camaron. a hamlet sit uated on the railroad 30 miles further, would surely be able to offer us a means of continuing our Journey. I did not propose to remain on foot at Paso del Macho, and decided to con tinue on the same horse, knowing that the Associated Press could easily ex tract me from any consequent trouble. I therefore pressed on, being followed by the four others until nightfall, when a hut beside the road suggested a need ed rest and food for ourselves and mounts. Mozos Are Overcome. - We had hardly settled to the "frl Joles" and "tortillas" hospitably set be fore us by the rancher, when the "mozos" galloped up in a cloud of dust and profanity. I endeavored to placate them with fair words and money; but to no effect. They would return instantly with the horses, leaving us where we were, and would lay a complaint against us in the nearest town. Suddenly changing tactics, I applied a Japanese jiu-jitsu strangle hold to one of the natives, who fell senseless at my feet, and possessing myself of his "machete" I easily frightened his companion into acquiescence to my plans. Disarming both mozos asjd making them ride in the midst of our party, we got to Camaron a little before mid night. With the exception of the engineer and his draughtsman, all my compan ions decided to go on farther with me. "You have already committed horse theft, assault and abduction, and w merits of their chinses." Devon and Exeter Gazette. "Eleven sheep, destined to be veal this afternoon, were being driven along King street East." Toronto Daily Star. "He sang or the gilded courts of kings, and the tears dripped unheeded from the listeners' ears." The Story Teller. "Five beautiful colored pkrtes from water-colors of 1817; 8 8s.; Turner's lost period." Evening Standard. "Solid oak fox-terrier puppies, lay ing hens and bantams." Liverpool Echo. "A large crowd of men gathered round the police station and many threatening epitaphs were hurled at the police." Dundee Saturday Post. "Her head was crowned with gold and her small figure draped In a deep er shade of glue a costume which she la expected to wear at the coronation ceremony." Bombay Gazette. "It is Important that children's un derclothes should be thoroughly well V i . Ended jj "m are only half way to Vera Cruz,!' "they asserted. "Qnlen sabe. what you will do next. We do hot want to be accom plices of any more fractures of tbe law." "' r This suited me to the ground, and accompanied by the two now admitted revolutionists, I roused the section gang, who for a consideration pumped us 30 miles to Saledad Doblado. A handcar, with a willing crew and on a down grade, will travel as fast as an express train, and we covered those 30 miles in half an hour, continuing on foot 10 miles farther, until fatigue forced us to rest. Spreading, my blanket on the grass a few yards away from the track, I lighted a cigarette to keep away the mosquitoes, and started to lie down, when by the flash of the lighted match THE TYPES AS THEY SLIP aired before they are put away, as the danger of wearing linen that is not ab solutely dry is well known, leading to rheumatism and electric light." Devon and Exeter Gaxette. "It was also resolved to urge upon the Government the necessity for a Pure Peer bill." Glasgow Herald. "Songs sung by the Worcester Glee Club; 'The Wind-Deep,' K3od Save the Mill,' 'Rocked in the Cradle of the King.' Worcestershire Echo. "The Clan steamer Clan Sinclair left here today before yesterday evening." Statesman. "He Is reputed to have died of con fused kidneys." Japan Times. "I hear the pattering feet of the nuns as they fly like a flock of frightened birds." Daily Mail. "Another interesting and beautiful hymn from the Greek is 'HaiL Glad stone Light.' " British News of Can ada. "We prepare the above written cloth good and there different colored as fallow: Suck as, . dark-greece, light- UK ? ACQUIESCED" AFTER I perceived that; a myriad of entomo logical specimens, including the well known spider, scorpion and centipede families, had instantly possessed them selves of my cduch. Abandoning the blanket to these un welcome bedfellows, I returned to the right of way, ,'and, with crushed rock ballast for a mattress and a rail for a pillow, slept soundly until sunrise. . Next morning, "waking with the day's first beam," we footed it farther until a friendly rancher was found, who provided us with , horses that placed us in Vera Cruz by noon. Aswe started on this last stage of our Journey the engineer turned to me and-' said: "J hope the Federal troop train did not pass us while we slept." And we had slept With our heads on the rails. greece, fare-blue, light pink, dark brawn." Statesman. "Dredging operations have been tem porarily suspended, as the Canton River has gone over to Hong Kong for re pairs." South China, Morning Star. "Afterwards the happy couple left for the moneymoon, which was spent at Brighton." Croydon Advertiser. "Cook disengaged; used to about sev enty horses." Liverpool Echo. "Wardrobe for sale; good position; rent 14s per week" Evening News. "Five hundred Liberals could be easily found who would esteem it an honor to' see in the House of Lords for a year for the special purpose of In question, and afterwards, if thought advisable, to pass an act to dispeer themselves." Dally News. "Miss Stapleton Cotton was mSiTled on Tuesday in the private chapel at Lambeth Palace to Viscount. Hood. . . Viscount Hood was unable to be present through illness." Church Family Newspaper. "Newcastle was agitated on Sunday era THE STRANGLE HOLD. History as taught in Mexican schools tells of three successive sieges sus tained by Vera Cruz against the in vading armies and navies of the United States, England and France. This is the reason of Vera Cruz' rather bom bastic official title, "The Thrice Heroic City of the True Cross." But if Felix Diaz selected this city as the scene of his revolution on account of its belli cose traditions he soon realized his mistake. "' Dlax and His Army. "We are a city of workingmen, not of fighters," answered the Vera Cruz anos when called to. assist bim in over throwing the government. "Not that we love Madero more,' but that we love war less." And Diaz, who had several thousand stands of arms and' an un limited supply of ammunition, was only night by the appearance of two harem shirts." Staffordshire Sentinel. "Spaniels For sale, three healthy dogs 6t.- high, practically new, includ ing tilt, price 8 10s." West Sussex Gazette. "A few crackers should be or a glass of milk should be kept inside the bed." How to Sleep Well. "The captain and the boat's crew were picked uoup by the passing veesel." Birmingham Post. "K. L. Hutchings and Seymour in splendid foam." Evening .News. "The ancient ceremony of taking wroth silver for the Earl of Dalkeith was observed on Saturday. The small sons collected from xwenty-seven par ishes were placed In a, nollow stone." Evening Standard. "English tailors, under new manage ment and with First Class London but ter." Het Vaderland. "The length of horse used by the brigade was 29,300 yards." Birming ham Daily MalL "Mrs. Hetty Green, the world's, Oik. able to recruit 40 volunteers in Vera Cruz. I found that the Diaz force com prised about 1000 infantrymen in Vera Cruz. The four gunboats that were still at anchor in the harbor had not openly espoused the revolutionary cause nor declared against it, but seemed to be awaiting developments before taking a decisive step. Diaz assured me that he had already reached an understanding with Com modore Azueta, in command; and as I saw that water, provisions and money were being sent aboard daily from Vera Cruz I believed the General. I also saw and believed several docu ments in which some of Mexico's most prominent military men pledged them selves to the Diaz cause. In the meanwhile various Federal wealthiest woman, celebrated her sev enth birthday on Tuesday. . . . Re porters went to congratulate her and ask her how she kept so young." Dublin Evening Mall. "Elephant, trimmea black evening wrap day three-quarter new; 12s 6d." The Lady. "The bathrooms marched past In col umn, and then in review order." Eng lishman. "English boarding and apartments house; dark room convenient for bath ing." Daily Malta Chronicle. ' "The programme was as follows: Quartet, "O Hurl Thee My Baby." " Natal Witness. "A delightfully cool breeze was blow ing. . . . Several ladies, both Indian and European, were among the gusts." ' "Penarth Charming detached resi dence, commanding interrupted sea view." House Agent's Announcement. "Thursday, December 7th. The State entry at 10 A. M. Deception of the Chiefs, 8 to 5 P. M." Times of India. "A beautiful light flooded her face forces approached Vera Cruz from all sides, but somehow they did not seem desirous of attacking the city. General Joaquin Beltran, senior officer In com mand of these forces, held several par leys with Diaz. The revolutionary leader seemed sat- ; isfied with the result of these confer-- ences, and it was generally understood that while Beltran would not openly , Join the revolution he would allow him- self to be captured with all his men. . , The battle was announced one day.' -and at the appointed hour. Instead of attacking, Beltran sent another envoy,'. , who was closeted several hours with Diaz. That afternoon the revolution ary army paraded the city streets, bands blaring forth and flags flying. DIas Is Tricked. The assault was to commence at day. break. All foreigners hied to the neu tral zone and Mexican noncombatants hid themselves In their houses, while the revolutionary army manned the church towers and high buildings on the outskirts of the city. Diaz instructed his men not to shoot to kill the federals who would adunce against them, but just to fire above their heads, that the world might hear a noise and later credit the federals with having fought bravely before sur rendering. But Diaz did not know thai during the night another and larger federal army had arrived at Beltran's rear; this new body of men was commanded by General Bfanquet, whose loyalty to Madero was a matter of record. The situation had changed, and what was to have been a sham assault be came a real one under Blanquet's vigi lance. Under a noisy but harmless fire a group of 50 Federals charged for the city gates, entering and proceeding to the main plaza, where General Diaz -awaited them on the roof of the niu-" nlcipal palace. Meeting no resistance from the 200 . revolutionists who manned the build ing, the Federals entered and. mistak ing me for a rebel officer, ordered me ! to lead them to General Dlax. Chief Is raptured. "I would rather not Interfere in this," I protested. "Arrest this man.. Search him and kill him If he attempts to escape or give the alarm," came " from Colonel Ocaranza, in command of the Federals, and I was stripped of my .. belongings, despite my explanations ". and protestations. The Federals hur ried up the stairs and were nwt hy General Diez apd his staff, who, think- " ing' Ocaranza was about to offer his allegiance, started to deliver a flowery speech of welcome. . ., "You are my prisoner." snapped the . Colonel, presenting his pistol at Diaz' head while his men with fixed liay onnets and ready rifles surrounded the little group. And so ended the Diaz revolution,' the shortest lived though best auguried revolt of modern Mexican history. Diaz' army seeing its chief a pris oner, did not attempt to resist, but al lowed itself to be disarmed by the Fed erals, who continued to enter tho city in bodies of 60 at a time. Diaz and his principal officers were court-martialed and condemned to. . death. After a few hours' detention I was Identified by General Valdez, who per sonally commanded the attacking sec tion of Beltran's army, and was set at liberty. Reporter Makes Escape. That afternoon I was detained by an officer who had a personal grudge.. . against me and whom alcohol had made somewhat rash. Bidding his men train their guns on me he called me names, and wheu I returnee in kind I was .. beaten over the head with the butts , , of heavy Mauser rifles and Jabbed in several places with their bayonets. I was saved by Consul William Can- -ado, one of the most efficient member of the American Consular Corps, who. . hearing of my predicament, hurried to ... the General and procured my release. On the following day I was again . arrested charged with having received ' arms and ammunition from Diaz dur- . ing his occupancy of the city. , This was true. Diaz had given mo a dozen rifles and 2000 rounds of ammu nition in obedience to my request that myself and other Americans bo nob -without some means of defense. I explained and was again released. That night one of the ctly official,, to whom I had rendered a service stolo around to my quarters and advised ino to get away before morning. "An accusation which will nccessK" tate your going to prison for several months until you are tried has been cooked up against you" he cautionod. . I slipped aboard tne tseguranza tnac . night and on the following day sailed for New York. Frobably I would havo been able to disprove any charge concocted against me bv my enemies but 1 was tired oc Mexican prisons and thought that three years' continual service in revolutions, south of the Rio Grando had entitled, me to a vacation in God's country. And here I am safo In body, but wltlv my reputation as a revolutionary pro- . phet bursted higher than a kite. But I maintain "Quien sabe" what would have happened had General Blan- ouet not loomed with his army in . Beltran's rear at the psychological xno- y ment. (Copyright, 1913, all rights reserved.) ", half-proud, half-tearful shono In her left hand, closely pressed against her bosom." Church Family Newspaper. "Very pretty 9ct. curb bracelet, set' round wool; 10s 6d to kind home on!y as pet dog." The Lady. Story of the Crescent. The crescent, taken by the Moham-, medans from the Christian Byzantine empire, had already been taken hy Christianity from paganism. The city . on the Bosporus first assumed thfl crescent after Its preservation from the attack of Philip of Macedon in 339 B. C. This attack was made on a ' moonless Winter night of wind and rain, but was revealed to the citizens first by the how4ing of the dogs (is that why the Constantinople dog was so long privileged?), and when they rushed to their posts, by a meteor which lit up the Macedonian army. Saved by this miracle, the citizens erected a statue to Hecate, the torchbearer, and struck coins bearing their emblem, the crescent moon. London Chronicle. r