The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-01-23
DIAZ WAS HELPED BY
AMERICAN FRIENDS
(Success)

(Successl
Diaz had met with many obstacles in
his fight for supremacy He had STAR
ed the revolution in Mexico ana was
bringing failure on his head. But ne
was known as a fgater-as the hero
of PuebIa'-he had met the troops at
Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, the self
appointed president of Mexico, ana
they had driven him from the country.
When he left the sympathetic land OF
grinEus at Laredo he came TO Browns
Vile to me. and later took train Tor
New Orleans. In the smoker was
dapper little American.
General Diaz overheard this man ask
the train boy in fluent Spanish for a
cigar The sound of his native tongue
was to Diaz like a ray Of hope, Tor ne
had been addressing those with whom
he came in contact with in English, ana
he had been unable to grasp the harsh
English COnsOnants.
"Bucna dias. senior" said Diaz.
The little American arose. He was
startled by the strangers pOliteness,
but shook his hand warmly and prof.
fered a cigar.
The train rolled on through river
gorge and over plains, and, while the
cigars burned low the little American
other that ne was POrfiriO Diaz, the
leader of the revolution to Mexico.
Make any request and / viii grant
il el senOr." said Dr. Jones, enthusiasts
tie at being in the same seat with
man who aspired to be the ruler OF
a nation.
There is only one request answered
General Diaz; las an American you
must sympathize with a man who
fights for the right Of liberty of his peo-
pie. therefore. l ask you to sympathize
with me. When We reach New Or
leans 1 must take the steamer for Vera
Cruz Then 1 can make my way to
Tuxpan. where / have many friends.
Now. the difficulty is, how to get away
unObserved.
Dr.. Jones set his wits to work and
finally suggested to Diez that he should
disguise himself as a ranchero and sail
a s such on the steamer bound for Vera
Cruz The details we're perfected, and
with a wig and false whiSkers Diaz
embarked on the vessel and feigned to
be i'll and under care of DR.. Jones To
the CONSERVATION of both DIT. Jones and
his prOtege a company Of Mexican sol
diers also embarked on the vessel, and
TO the sill greater alarm of DiaZ he
found that he was personally ac-
qUainted with all the Mexican officers,
whom he knew to be his bitter enc
mics.
However. the identity of the sick
ranchero was kept a secret until the
steamer was near Vera Cruz, when
D az ieaped overheard and attempted
to swim the two miles to shore. The
captain of the steamer ordered q boat
lowered and in spite of DiaZs efforts
to gain the shore, he was taken back
to the steamer.
Diaz lost his wig and false whiskers
on the water. and while he was still
climbing the rope ladder the cry went
uD from the Mexican officers and their
men who lined the side: "Aqui esta
General Diazt' (Here is General Diaz.)
Diaz was taken 10 his cabin more
dead than alive. He recognized among
the passengers Dr. Cooney, an Ameri-
can and brother Mason VINO had been
attending him. The Mexican officers
held a consultation and demanded of
the steamers captain that General
Diaz be turned over to them as fugi-
tive from Justice The skipper could
not understand Spanish, SO Dr.. CoOney
was called uuOn TO act as Interpreter.
When the request of the McXicanS WAS
understood it was quickly denied The
captain said that, as passenger,
General Diaz was under the protection
of tn, American flag.
On the following day General Diaz
had fully recovered and was ready to
attempt another escape. Dr. CoOney s
plan was to conceal the general in a
chest and take him back to New Or
leans To this the latter objected.
Il am willing to take more des9er-
ate steps" he said. The more des-
perate the method the more positive
the success I win throw a life pre-
server overheard in the night, DIR.
Cooney. enter your room, if possible,
conceal myself in your chest, and be
carried to Vera Cruz. There / have a
particular friend and employee in the
custom house, who VIII risk even death
for me. He will bring me a disguise
and i'm the excitement of the moment /
can don the false garb and gain the
shore. But + must get a letter to Juan
CHICO"
But who would carry the letter?
Who was there about the steamer
worthy of cOnfdence2 There was d
Mexican mail agent, a young man
named Zamora, of such a Douderous
obesity that his friends called him
The Baby" and who. Diaz rightly be-
lieved. could be trusted.
AS the vessel approached Vera Cruz
the rain fell in torrents. the wind blew
a gale and the night was wild one.
Dr. COoney proposed Il bowl of punch,
and. quite agreeably to his wishes. he
was selected TO brew IL. And brew 1t
he did Those who are living to re-
member it say il was strong enough
10 make a horse dance. Cooney. with
his customary kindness. could not
forget the patient Mexican sentinels
on deck, who. in the wind and rain
were watching to prevent an escape OF
/ DiaZ. They must have some OF the
punch. he said and he would take II
to them. Each glass so taken was
hred with q strong narcotic. When al
had retired and only the storm could
/ be heard. DR.. COoney went on deck and
found the Mexican watchers asleep
The life pressrver was thrown over.