The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-02-20
GEN. HUERTA NOW
CHIEF OF MEXICO.
Madero and Official Family Are
Made Prisoners by Banquet.
VICTORY FOR FELIX DlAz
Ten-Day Revolution In Mexican capi-
tai Is Brought to Sudden Close by
Arrest Of President by One Of
Most Trusted Comm anders.

Mexico City, Feb. 1s.-President
Madero was arrested last night at the
national palace by one of his most
trusted commanders, General Blan.
quet, and Immediately afterward Gen.
Victoriano Huerta, Madero's command
er'in-chief, was proclaimed president
Gustavo Madero, brother of the pres.
ident, was also arrested In a restau.
rant by General Huerta.
Collapse Of Revolt Complete.
The complete collapse of the Made
70 administration, bringing to an end
ten days of disastrous revolution,
came with dramatic suddenness, but
not Unexpectedly to those who saw un.
mistakable signs that Felix Diaz was
nearing the triumph which was to
avenge the downfall of his uncle, Por-
firio Diaz. at the hands OF the rebel,
Madero.
Madero, at the time of his arrest,
was broken in spirit and could no
longer make optimistic statements in
the face of an inevitable fate. One of
his strongest divisions had deserted
him, marching out of the capital. He
intercepted the flight of another force,
led them back TO the national palace
and had them summarily executed.
Sharp Battle Ensues.
After six hours of fighting General
Huerta made an attempt to communi-
cate with DiaZ and his actions pre-.
cipitated a sharp battle, in which the
rebels dealt out terrific fire of small
arms. Huerta's purpose in wishing to
communicate with the rebel chief OBJ
viously was not known or there would
have been no firing. 1t is believed that
Huerta at this hour desired to make
his peace with Diaz and arrange for
the overthrow of his own chief. Ma
dero.
Shortly after four o'clock the order
to cease firing brought the battle to a
close.
Conspiracy Is Seen.
General Banquet had been at the
national palace since Sunday when he
led his followers into the city, reaf
firmed his loyalty to Madero and lis
tened to patriotic speech by Huerta
lin front Of the palace. That Banquet
and Huerta conspired to surrender to
Diaz in such manner that they could
save themselves, regardless OF Made
ro's fate, is not doubted.
Although Huerta failed to personal
ly communicate with Diaz, his ennis
saries succeeded in arranging meet.
ing with representatives of the rebel
leader and the coup d'etat. was then
decided upon. Shortly afterward
Banquet seized Madero and all the
members of his official family and
made them prisoners in the name Of
DiaZ
Madero Ready to Quit.
Madero earlier in the day had of.
fered to force his cabinet and the vice
president TO resign, he to retain the
presidency. This offer was promptly
rejected by Diaz.
Firing continued practically all OF
Sunday night from both the rebel and
federal positions. In the total dark
ness, however, it was impossible to
ascertain whether any advantage had
been gained by either side. In the
fighting of the early morning Monday
the government troops again obtained
possession of the Young Mems Chris
tian association building which had
been in the hands OF the rebels since
the second days fighting.
During hull in the fighting, rebel
ha tfaru xuao nlanad in a nnoitinn m tho
west of Nizza street within block of
the United States embassy and anoth-
er one four blocks to the east of the
embassy. At this time the govern
ment leaders were believed to be pre-
pairing TO use dynamite grenades and
mortars throwing dynamite shells.
Fighting Was Fierce.
Up TO nearly nine o'clock, however,
the silence remained unbroken. Short
ly before ten o'clock the rebel artil
lery resumed activity, firing intermit.
tently In the direction OF the palace.
Fifteen minutes later all the big guns
on both sides were belching forth a
fierce fire and the battle was on at
its hottest.
1t was during this hring that Silas
f. Gilmore, an elderly American, who
has charge of an important chemical
works here. was wounded by three bull.
lets in the right fore arm He was
walking down Colima street when he
ran into the middle OF skirmish be-
tween detachments of rebels and fed.
erals.
Rebels Make Sortie.
The palace itself was threatened
with an attack by strong force OF
rebels making sortie, but they we're
beaten back after fierce skirmish.
The fghting became particularly
vicious In the vicinity of the Ameri-
can embassy and several bullets pene-
trated the embassy walls. doing slight
damage. A large number of federals
,Continued Oh Rage ~