The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-02-14
Today's Battle Started at Day
break With Lull for Break
fast After Many Had
Fallen.
EXPLOSION IN CHAPEL
Shell Fell in Midst Of Nuns
and Women Who Were on
Their Knees Praying
For Safety.

IUnited Press Leased Wire Service.l
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 14.--After an
hour OF intermittent firing, the real
battle OF today began in earnest at
$3.50 o'clock this morning. The rattle
of small arms, the frequent booming
OF heavy guns and the noise OF burst
ing shells Indicated that both sides
we're prepared for brisk fighting.
There was no fighting during last
night. The two armies ceased hrins
shortly after dark, having kept up
continual cannonadfng for nearly
| twelve hours.
The casualties in yesterdays fight
/ ing were roughly estimated at LOCO
killed and 1000 wounded. These ng-
ures were believed to be very CON
| servative.
At 8 o'clock the battle ceased that
the combatants might eat breakfast.
The indications at that time was
j that the fighting would last all day
{ with neither side gaining any material
advantage. but with the loss OF many
:. lives, Before breakfast many dead
had fallen in the streets, nearly hall
!, ,Iof them being non-coH1hatants who
i refused to heed the repeated warnings
. OF the danger In practically every
street in the neighborhood OF the
lighting zone.
), During the hour Of quiet mes
sage was sent to the arsenal warning
!. Diaz that since he had replied TO
the other message offering TO show
{ him every consideration II he sur
: rendered. by firing upon the national
palace, no quarter would be shown
i him and his followers unless he stop
: ped firing in such way as to en-
danger non-com batants The federal
= message declared that Diaz was dis
r regarding all rules of civilized war
a fare and that as soon as Madero's
forces captured him he need expect
b no consideration.
AT the time this message was being
delivered Madero's men were pulling
q their cannon into position alongside
4 the British legation where the return
I fire OF the rebels would certainly dam
age property and endanger the lives
9 of non-combatants Maderos guns
/ were also firing from the roofs o.
! buildings and when the rebel gunners
7 responded shells fefl into territory
! far outside the fighting zone.
: One OF the first shells fired by the
]. rebels entered the chapel of con
:. vent five blocks from the palace ant
:, exploded in the midst OF n group o.
!. nuns and crowd OF women and chill
dren refugees, who were on theil
knees in prayer. Seven nuns anf
FIVE other women were reported killed
by the explosion.
The natives are flocking TO th'
4 churches and converts in great mum
, bers, seeking the protection of rhei
walls. Thousands of women ant
children form continuous procession
from the center of the city to thu
l. suburbs, seeking escape from tn
promiscuous shell and rifle fire.
Foreigners Will Die.
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 14.-More foI
eigners will be killed when fightinl
i is resumed today, according to predie
= tions made by persons who hav
q been witnessing the bloody conflic
X between President Madero and Gel
n eral Diaz When the CHASTITY sight O
" the body-strewn streets was reveale
d in all their hideousness by this morr