Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-13
Street FIGHTING
IN MEXICO CITY
CONTINUED From Page ~

manv az the cavalrymen lying down
beside them.
In MANY parts of the city the
electric wires we're cut by bullets and
this resulted in long stretches OF al
most complete darkness. Thousands of
residents took advantage Of this to
| scane from the zone of hanger The
! exodus began In the early hours Of the
night as soon as the people realized
that firing had temporarily ceased.
| Robbers Loot Ruins.
A number of robbers prompted py
! the withdrawal of police protectlon
were reported and boys and men took
great risks in looting the ruins OF
houses which had been battered py
the artillery.
Commerce has been utterly paralyz-
ed since Sunday. The fronts OF all
the stores are boarded up, giving the
streets the appearance of long canons.
A few residents who we're able to DO
SO Immediately after the incurslon OF
Diaz into the city hurriedly stocked
their homes with provisions at the
| high prices prevailing but the poorer
| people were unable to pay the prices
demanded and are suffering.
Unsafe Throughout City.
The suggestion of the foreign diplo-
mats that neutral zone be establish
ed is considered unfeasible by the gov
eminent, which points out that II is
impossible to foretell in which dlrec-
| ton the action may be shifted.
| In reality on account OF the long
range of the cannon used, there is no
place in the city which can be said to
be safe.
u. S. Consul Escapes.
The escape of Consul General Arm
old Shanklin and his staff from the
American consulate building during
the seven hour battle between the fed
eral troops and the rebels in the
streets of Mexico City yesterday was
sensational one. Mr.. Shanklin broke
fdown two doors and was thus enabled
to pass into and through an adjoining
building and to make his exit on a
cross street which was at the moment
free from rifle fire. The consul gen
eral and his staff carried along with
them a wounded man, who had been
brought into the consulate building for
temporary treatment.
Famine Conditions Appear.
! Those who usually supply the city
market fear now to enter with such
commodities as milk and vegetables,
(which are practically unobtainable
at any price.
AS an example of the increased
prices, charcoal, which is used as
fuel by ninety per cent Of the popu-
| r{-@
per sack.
Groups of women of the lower
class early this morning followed the
cavalry, scraping up from the pave
ment grain by grain the corn which
the horses spilled while feeding,
Nothing practicable yet has been
accomplished as result of the pro
tests of the diplomats. The govern
ment maintains that Dlaz must sur
render Internationally. AS the rebe
general has artillery is is essential tc
combat him with similar weapons
:; even though non-combatants suffer.
Riots In Chihuahua.
Ell Paso, Tex, Feb. 13.-Riotine
broke out last night in Chihuahua City
the rioters shouting "vivas" for Felix
Diaz's revolution say passengers who
arrived here early today from the state
capital. 1t was not learned whether
the federal garrison had revolted.
Passengers reported that as the
train passed through Chihuahua, q
surging mob filled the streets. Vol
leys of shots were heard from the di
rection of the interior of the town.
Chihuahua is the headquarters o.
General Antonio Rabago, federal com
mander of the northern military zone
y and 1000 federal troops are station
ed there
No account of the Chihuahua out
break has been conveyed over the tel
egraph lines, which. are strictly cen
sored and the federal commander a
Juarez denies all knowledge Of the
affair.
The passenger train arriving here
today brought 1000 American refll
gees, most Of them from the Casa'
- Grandes district.
Fir Into Business District.
, For fourd hours continuously during
, the forenoon the federal troops shellet
the positions of the rebels without
great effect. The rebels returned thu
fire much more vigorously than yes
terady. Their heavier guns hurled
. shrapnel and solid shot into the hear
of the business district.
It was unofficially reported at II
) o'clock that Madero had ordered {
suspension of firing as he dreaded
7 foreign interference, but although
: there was lull, the firing did not en-
} tirely cease. Madero says he will no
yield in any case but If eDiaz persists
t in the bombardment he will move thu
) capital to San Luis De Potosi, or some
other point.
| For many hours after the opening o
, today's pattle the artillery fire of tn
, federal troops did not appear to d.
wreat damage to the rebel positions
: Diaz soon brought his heavy gun
: vigorously to bear. He made ever!
2 effort to dislodge the federal rifemel
and machine gunners from the highe
{ buildings. At the same time he dl
4 rested constant fire on the new Ma
5 tional theater about which consider
liable portion Of federal artiller'