The Washington herald., 1911-06-05
DIAz, DESCRIBES
ATTACK ON TRAIN
Story Of Flight Of Deposed
Ruler and Family.
NOW ON THE WAY TO EUROPE
MeIfcans at Havana Show Loyalty
in Farewell as Steamer Ypiranga
Leaves Harbor for spain-NattOnal
Air II Played and "viva Diax"
Shouted from Hundreds OF Throats.

ex-President Diaz Of Mexico came into
the harbor at dusk last night, until his
ship, the Yptranga, carried him out past
MORO Castle again at 10 o'clock this
morning, on the final lap Of exile to
Europe. Havana did all it could to make
him forget that he is not still the hon.
ored president of a neighboring republic.
When the steamship left its anchorage
Diaz and his wife, the latter with her
arms filed with rare orchids, stood on
the captains bridge and received fare
wells from hundreds of loyal Mexicans
crowding the small craft below.
Again the Ypiranga's band played the
Mexican national air, as 1t had done
when Diaz came aboard at Vera Cruz
and the hnal notes We're drowned by
rising shouts of Viva Diaz" from those
in pleasure boats and passengers on the
steamship Some more enthusiastic Mexi-
cans shot off day fireworks from a point
ashore, and the air was filled with red,
white, and green paper parachutes.
Senior Pasalodos, secretary to President
Gomez, Of Cuba, headed the official dele
cation which boarded the steamship to
say farewell. Among the company were
the Mexican consul, consuls of several
Latin-American states, a representative
U
visional and municipal officers, and
prominent Mexican residents.
Hold Formal Reception.
Diaz and his wife and Col. and Mrs.
Porfirio Diaz, jr.. held a formal recep-
ton in the saloon. Diaz. who had ap-
peared aged and inflrm during the voy
age from Vera Cruz, showed again his re-
markable mastery over physical infirmi-
ties and was as vigorous in appearance
and speech and action as any man in the
party of visitors forty years younger.
Now that he is well on his way to
distant land perhaps the soldierly mod
esty OF Porfirio DiaZ, Jr, will not suffer
strain if his story of the night flight
from Mexico City and the bloody fight
with the rebels attempting TO hold up
the eX-President's train en- route TO Vera
Cruz is repeated.
concerning this dramatic incident was
sent out from Mexico City and Vera
Cruz, and the story told by "Porfirio
Chico on shipboard two days ago is the
first authentic version of this last word
of the old ex-Presidents long chapter OF
hot activity in Mexico.
Women Make Appeal.
The escape, If such it may be called,
from Mexico City TO Vera Cruz was de-
cided upon only after Diaz's stubborn
refusal to leave Mexico was successfully
combated by the appeals OF the women
Of his household. 1t was only during the
TWO wild nights Of rioting In the capital
hat Diaz gave his consent. and then the
Ietails were hastily arranged by the Of
icials of abe Interoceanic Railroad, the
only line open to Vera Cruz. Even on
hat line the rebels had been stopping
Of
ng the escape of Diaz.
So doubtful was the loyalty of the
train dispatchers that American
isNhtchers were placed temporarily IN
charge of division points along the route
with orders TO keep the track clear on
the morning of May 26.
The hurried packing in the Presidents
darkened house, Gale Cadenas, with the
howl of the mob sounding outside, was
complicated by the fact that the wife
Of Porfirio Diaz, jr., was the mother OF
a ten days old child, yet she arose
from her bed and helped direct the pack
ing The refugees reached the station
by a dash through the dark streets in
a automobiles at $50 o'clock in the morn
ing. The train left at L.
Great Precaution Taken.
A pilot engine preceded and then went
an engine with two express cars filled
with infantrymen of the Eleventh Regi-
ment with two machine guns. After that
came Diazs special train and another
short train was filled with the crack
regiment OF engineers to do repair work
If necessary.
Attack was not unexpected" says
Porfirio Diaz, jr.. in recounting the ad-
venture The rebels had been holding
I'D trains daily at certain points near
Oriental. in the state of Vera Cruz. and
we expected them to hold up ours. At
10 in the morning after we had passed
Oriental and were going very fast on the
down grade from the plateau, the rebels
the pilot engine.
Just as they were inquiring Of the
American engineer what train was fol-
lowing the troop train pulled up. With
out a word of parley, the men of the
infantry threw back the doors Of the
express cars. thrust the muZZles OF the
machine guns through, and began to
sweep the close ranks of the rebels at
very short range; at the same time the
poured out Of the cars and
took up a line along the track. They !
began to shoot just as our train slowed |
down Just behind the troop train.
THE instant that the firing began my |
father told the women and children to /;
The nurse with my newborn infant did |
as the others. The children cried a lit |
tle but they were brave and lay quiet |
Then father and I got of the train and !,
walked forward to see the disposition
of the soldiers. 1t is untrue that my |
father flourished a revolver. He was |
unarmed.
1.-THE troop train behind came to a |
stop in a few minutes, and the Zepadores !
got into formation and engaged. Most |
Of the rebels were mounted when the |
attack was commenced, but after the
machine guns threw them into confusion |
they fell off their horses and hid behind |
numerous maguay plants. Maybe there
were 200 of them, and in five minutes
work Of the machine guns they broke |
from cover and fled. 1t was all over
and We resumed our trip in fifteen min
utes."
Porfirio DiaZ, jr., did not tell what the /
American engineer Of his train whispered
around Vera Cruz afterward. which was |
diers Porfirio Diaz, jr., killed the leader |
Of the rebels, who was mounted and |
riding hard at 500 yards rangs. Col. |
Diaz is counted the best rifle shot in /
Twenty-eight rebels and one
federal were killed.
Lfmantour IN This Country.
st. Louis, June 4.-Jose Yves Limantour,
The deposed Minister Of Finance Of Mex
co, left here today for New York, where
he will board q steamer for Europe.
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