Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1913-02-27
MADERO CAPTURED
BY HIS OFFICERS
The Mexican President a Prisoner
in the Castle.
GEN. HUERTA AT THE HEAD NOW
Federal Commander-in-Chief Proclaim
ed Provisional President-Days
of Horror for the City
Are Ended.

Francisco l. Madero was arrested in
the national palace by General Blan-
quet, one of his own commanders.
Later Madero was forced to sign his
resignation from the presidency.
Gen. Victoriano Huerta, comman-
der of the federal troops which have
been fighting Diaz, has been pro-
claimed provisional president.
Gustavo Madero and all the cabinet
ministers, with the exception of En-
nesto Madero, are under arrest. The
vice-president Of the republic, Jose
Pine Suarez, is still at liberty, but in
hiding.
The American ambassador and tie
other foreign diplomats held confer
ence at the American embassy at
night for the purpose of discussing
the establishment of order and the
further protection of foreign resi-
dents
At night the Zocalo, the great plaza
in front Of the palace, was jammed
with delirious crowd, with banners
inscribed Peace" and Liberty"
shouting for Diaz, Huerta, Banquet
and Mondragon.
family, who were in Chapultepec
Castle, were hurried away in a motor
car by friends
kilograms have been sent to the
governors of the states notifying them
of the proclamation of Huerta as pro-
visional president, and also to the
military commanders assuring them
that general elections will be held for
president
His Guest Arrested Him.
The finest irony attended the arrest
Of Gustavo Madero, the brother if
the president, distinguished as a po-
litician, to whose door most of the
evils of the administration have been
laid
He had invited General Huerta to
luncheon at the Gambrinus, a popu-
lar restaurant. This was q custom
with Gustavo Madero in winning IA
vor. General Huerta, however, had
invited guests unknown to his host.
In a room adjoining he had stationed
detachment of Chapultepec guards.
All we're preparing to take their
seats, when at signal from huerra
the officer in command entered. Point.
ing a pistol at Madero he announced
he was under arrest. At the same
moment, soldiers marching into the
room cleared it of all except the
principals.
Gustavo loudly protested against
this indignity, but General Huerta re-
piled in a loud voice, condemning the
Madero family.
Gen. Victoriano Huerta, named as
provisional president of Mexico, Is
the former commander Of the north
division of the army. He has seen
much service in the present campaign
and last year fought number of en-.
gagements against the insurrectos un'
der Orozco. Huerta retired from his
command last December and was Of
fered post in the war department.
Banquet and His Plot.
From the first it had been known
that General Banquet was unwilling
to fight. His men were Of the same
mind. He held complete command
over them and it was not doubted
that they would follow him in any ad-
venture, which they did at the ma
tional palace.
Banquet then issued order for the
arrest of the president and assigned
a detachment to that duty Madero
soon was prisoner in his rooms.
One reason given for the attitude
of General Banquet was the presence
of his son in the ranks of Diaz.
When the arrest Of the president
and his ministers became known,
crowds gathered in the streets
through which they paraded shouting
"Vivas" for Huerta and Diaz. A con-
ference was held between representa-
tives of these generals, and an agree
ment was reached whereby the ap-
pointment of General Huerta to the
provisional esidency was proclaimed.
The forces numbering one thousand
men, which arrived late in the day,
were sent Immediately to the palace,
ostensibly to relieve the reserves
there. Then the reserves were sent
into the field.
The Last Battle Fierce One.
The fire from the rebel rifles and
machine guns was long sustained. 1t
was by no means certain at that time
the coup which had been carried out
meant the end Of hostilities. At $3.50
o'clock in the afternoon the cannonad-
ing was on still heavier than before,
and the rattle of machine guns was
heard in various quarters.
At that time San Francisco street
was being cleared by Huerta as If he
were expecting an attack.
A half hour later the order to cease
firing was sounded and the battle was
over.
A few loyal members of Madero's
staff rushed into the room when Ma
dero was struggling with the soldiers
and went to his rescue, but ineffec-
tually.