Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-02-22
DE LA BARRA DID
BIG PUBLIC WORK
Was Thought Most Popular
Man In Mexico.
ONCE AMBASSADOR TO U. S.

American Governmcnts-Mexico City
a Scene Of Ruin-Priests and Nuns
Do Splendid Work.
Francisco Leon de la Barra, who was
recently again placed at the head Of
Mexican affairs. Is best known in this
country as Mexican ambassador to the
United States, "a post he held from 1909
to 1911. being called home in March of
the latter year to become minister of
foreign affairs In President Diaz's cab
met.
Shortly afterward. following Presi-
dent Diaz's withdrawal, he became
provisional president of Mexico. AS
ambassador at Washington he made
many friends in this country. He was
on intimate terms with President Taft
and Secretary Knox and was in their
confidence concerning the mobilization
of United States troops on the Texas
frontier.
He was born in 1868. received his ed
ucatfon at the College of the City of
Mexico and upon completing his studies
there took up the law and was admit
ted to the bar. His specially was in
ternational law, and his first important
work after he entered the foreign af-
fairs Office was the negotiation OF vari-
Gus treaties with foreign powers, nota-
bly, one of commerce and navigation
with Holland and one of extradition
with Italy.
He was made a member of the Fed
eral Congress in 1891 and remained
there until 1896. AS president of the
international law committee of the
Pan-American Congress. which met in
Mexico City In 1901, he was the lead
ing advocate of the measure for the
compulsory adjustment of money
claims.
He was Mexico's delegate to the Pan
American Congress In Rio de Janeiro
in 1906 and to the peace conference at
The Hague in 1907.
AS envoy to all the republics on tile
Atlantic coast of South America he
was said TO have achieved a wonderful
knowledge of Latin-Ameriean affairs.
He represented his country in the Meth
erlands and in Belgium before being
sent as ambassador to the United
States.
Senior dc Ia Barra was .known in
Washington for his pleasing manners
and the tluency and correctness Of his
French and English.
Hundreds of Homeless.
There was no estimating the number
of homeless people suddenly reduced to
misery in Mexico City. After leaving
their homes destroyed by cannon they
had no places of refuge save the
churches. The fathers of the church
had opened the sanctuary to the dis
tressed BY the time daylight came ON
the sixth day at least 10000 people,
mostly women and children, We're sleep
ing or praying in them. The churches
of San Jose De los NaturGles, Santa
Vera Cruz. San Francisco, La Concep-
cion, La B%alyanera, Santa Caterina de
Sena. Jesus Maria and many more
were crowded with the miserable. 1t
is estimated that 5000 persons fell in
tiG NCNA u uSAtllS. "a DiE pkbDOl-
ton were noncombatants.
The charity of the priests went part
way toward alternating suffering and
hunger. The Catholic sisters nursed
sick and injured women, while broth
ers of the orders and the priests pro-
vlded coaee, beans and the ever ueces-
sary cigarettes.
Daylight exposed the dreadful ruin
that had been wrought after five days
of tremendous ca%nnonading in the CEN
ter Of a city of 100000 people. From
h great national palace on the east
to the legislative palace and the Colo
MIA Roma fwhere the American embas-
sy is located on the west and from the
Church of San Hipolito on the north to
the Belein prison on the south n terri
tory containing the most beautiful :
streets and the finest public and bust
ness buildings of the capital showed
signs of wreckage, and in the Charles
~. square many houses have been dis
mantled or broken TO pieces.
Streets Seem Tornado Swept.
A score of streets appear as If they
had been swept by a tornado. Mounds
of wreckage and debris in which lie
the bodies Of human beings and of
horses offend the senses. Many of the
streets are impossible. The incessant
storm of lead and iron has wrecked the
electric lighting The telephone service
Is practically ruined.
There is 10 business whatever. The
banks have been closed for days. The
public markets are deserted. Even the
general postoffice is shut, many of the
employees having been drafted into
the federal army. But the greatest
menace of all is that of p%cstilence.
Nothing whatever has been done by the
troops of either side 10 protect the city
from plague.
More than 1000 American citizens
were CHARTERED at the American en-
bassy or in private houses. many un-
FURNISHED. hired by Ambassador VIII
son The Americans have been active