The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-06-07
MADAME O|Az
FORCED FLIGHT
Wife of President Diaz Wrote
Resignation and Caused
Him to Sign It

Mexico City, June 7-Maria Ocam.
po, an Oaxaca Indian woman 35 years
OF age, who was in the service of
Nine. Porfirio Diaz for nine years, de-
clares that Sonora Diaz guided the
faltering hand Of the president to
write his resignation, and then took
the message from the reluctant old
man and sent it herself to the cham
Der OF deputies for action on the even
Ing Of May 25. The servant declares
that Sonora Diaz forced her husband
to fee the city at o'clock in the
morning through fear that he would
be assassinated. Gen. Diaz protested
at his wife's actions, and used every
argument possible, but finally was
overcome by his wife's pleas, and he
and the family fed. The Ocampo wo-
man said:
ITO his family, Diaz always said
that he would never resign, and that
he would not be driven to it, but would
stay and fight 1t out, and, If need be,
die fighting, but my mistress argued
night and day with him, and told him
that his life was worth more to her
than to the ungrateful Mexicans or
to country inhabited by such peo-
pie.
THE resignation had been made out
for more than month by Diaz's at
torney, and on the afternoon of May
rs. about 3 o'clock, Sonora Diaz
brought the paper to Diaz, who seat
ed IN front of mahogany table in
the library Of his home, on Old Ca
dena street, this city, with his head
In 4 - 4.,Ao
coursing down his cheeks.
Il had been helping Luz Noriega,
another maid. dress madame, and
stood just behind the heavy curtains
leading to the main living room, next
to the library. The heavy clock in
the hall struck as madame put her
arm around Diaz's head ard began
reading the resignation to him. No!
no!' he said, 4 will not sign that
Then madame argued in a low voice,
caressing him soothingly, and finally
took his hand, in which she placed a
pen, and started to guide 1t over the
paper at the bottom Of the resigna-
tion. Diaz jerked his hand away and,
springing to his feet, his eyes blazing,
said:
"'I will not sign this, will stay
here in my country and care for it,
Madame Diaz soothed him and then
rang the bell. I answered before any
of the other servants got there. 1
then brought fresh piece of paper,
and then his wife led the old man,
trembling with mixed anger, grief,
and regret, back to his chair, took his
right hand with the pen and guided it
as he rewrote the entire resignation
and signed it. No attention was paid
to me and I stood watching and list
ening.
"When it was signed, madame
reached for it with one hand and with
the other hand rang bell for mes
senger. She knew that at that mo-
ment the chamber of deputies was in
session, and that there was terrible
turmoil demanding her husbands
resignation.
"Diaz thrust the paper in his pocket
and refused to hand 1t over to his
wife. and brushed her to one side The
original resignation drawn up by the
lawyer lay on the floor, and it was
afterward burned up and never used.
There were tears on the bent face
of madame, as she begged Diaz to
give her the resignation, or at least
send it at once, so as to avert mas
sacres and riots. She argued for
more than twenty minutes, and then
Diaz tore the crumpled paper from
his pocket, thrust it into her hand,
saying:
"'There! Do with it what you
please and threw himself on couch,
sobbing as if his heart would break.
Madame rang the bell and called
the military messenger, and with him
sent the resignation to the chamber