Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-06

| tecton.- only 70 De again interrupted.
| During this period in order to keep
the Government AT Washington IN
| formed of affairs, | had to employ a
private courier to carry nv despatches
| to Vera Cruz.
General Daz Defeated,
| After the arrival Of General Diaz
on the Rio Grande frontier, he made
his headquarters at Brownsville. on
| the American side of tile river, until
| his supporters were in condition to as
sumo hostilities. The I.er1o Govern
neut made complaint of this AT Wash
ington as an Infringement of hospi-
| tally and an abuse Of American terri
tory, but no open violation of the neu-
trality laws was established. In a
short time Diaz Joined his partisans
in the State of Tamaulipas, but he
iwas defeated by the Government
forces, his adherents dispersed and he
again took refuge on American terri
DRY. He had had startling expert
ances and escapes during the French
intervention, but he was now to pass
through an adventure which eelpsed
al the other experiences which had
given him such a reputation for dar-
ng.
Threw Himself Into tho Sea.
He resolved to return TO his home in
)axaca, and there again raise the
standard which the Lerdo forces had
averthrown. He went to New Orleans
Ind took passage, in disguise and un
der an assumed name, ON the Ameri
can mail steamer for Vera Cruz. En-
i = , To nj
but owing TO the bar it anchored two
or three miles cut at sea. Here a
number of officers of the regular Mexi-
can army. who were well acquainted
with Diaz, embarked for Vera Cruz,
and the latter felt sure they recog-
aiZcd him. III so. his capture at Vera
cruz and execution seemed certain.
That night he threw himself into, the
sea, which is usually alive with sharks,
feeling able to swim ashore, being attn
letfc and good swimmer. Bur the
cry IMAM overheard" was sounded by
1.-The watch, a boat was lowered. and
ne was brought back to the steamer
in the sight of many passengers. The
purser OF the ship being in the secret
of his voyage, al once took him III
charge, spirited him away and he was
not seen again.
On arrival of the vessel at Vera
Cruz the Government officials were in
formed of his presence aboard, and
thorough search was made by the port
guard, but Diaz was not found In
a way which has never been made
public he reached the shore in safe
ty, and was soon again among his
Fait a1 in Q In
| businesses of his native state. After
The triumph of his cause and Diaz
was seated in the presidency, the
purser of the steamer, though an
American citizen, was appointed to
the lucrative post of consul general at
San Francisco, which he held for many
wears.
His Forces Triumph.
The presence in their midst of their
favorite chieftain soon revived the
waning fortunes of the revolutionistS,
and the mountaineers flocked to the
Diaz standard Alatorre, the ablest of
the Lerdist generals, was driven ont
of Oaxaca, and on Nov. Is. in a decl-
sive battle at Tecoae. about seventy
FIVE miles across the mountains east
of the capital. the Diaz forces were
|eompletely victorious over the main
army of the Government.
When the news reached the city 1t
spread CONSERVATION in administrative
circles. as Lerdo had been made to be-
lievc that his generals would be able
to drive Diaz back into OaXaca.
Nevertheless. preparations were made
for a defence OF the city by fortify
ing the gates and concentrating
troops, but on the Goth, after details
of Alatorre's complete rout We're re-
ceiNed, all these preparations were
abandoned. the Minister of War pre-
scented himself before the Congress
and. in the name of the president,
stated that the Council of Ministers
had decided that 1t was the duty of the
president to maintain to the utmost
the standard of legitimate and consti-
tutional Government, and that. fol-
lowing the example of Juarez, if forced
to leave the capital. he would. if neces.
sary, sustain it in the remotest cor
ner Of the republic.
IA Night Of Great Dread in Mexico
City.
This was accepted as an announce
ment that President Lerdo would aban
don the capital. and all classes We're
in n state OF intense excitement. Gem
eral Daz, after the battle of the 18th,
not realizing the completeness of his
triumph. had marched to Puebla to
reorganize his army preparatory tn
an advance ON the capital. If Lerdo
and his forces abandoned lit there
would be an interregnum of some days
before Diaz could assume the govern
ment, and in the meantime it was
feared that the city might be given
over to the rioting of the lawless ele
ments. Banks and commercial houses
would then be exposed TO pillage. The
leading banking house of the city was
next-doo neighbor TO my Legation,
land, alarmed at the situation. my
friend the manager asked that he
might transfer the contents of his
vaults to an adjoining room of the
Legation, which could be done unob-
served by making an inside opening
! in the WALL the idea being entertained
that wholesome respect for the
American flag would deter a mob of
pillagers from entering the Legation