The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-02-14
MEXICAN ARMY
STARTS REVOLT
Arsenal Captured and Leader
Freed From Prison.
Felix Diaz, Nephew of the Forms,
President, Leads Rebellious
Troops to Victory.

Mexico City-The army rose in "a
volt Sunday in Mexico City, took pos
session of the public buildings, sho,
down Federal adherents in the street,
released General Felix Diaz, leader ~
the Vera Cruz revolt, and Genera
Bernardo Reyes, from prison, and
falling into line under the Diaz ban.
ner, virtually captured the Mexican
capital.
At least $50 persons were killed i,
the street fighting that took place IN
the great public square and othe,
parts of the city. Many of these
were civilians who were taken by sur
prise when the firing began. Several
women were killed. The number Of
wounded is large.
General Reyes himself was killed in
front of the National Palace soon at.
ter being released. Following Gen.
eral Reyes death, his son, Rodolfe
shot himself through the head, dying
instantly. Grief over his fathers
death was the cause. He was a well.
known attorney. General Villar, a
loyalist, was wounded. Colonel Mo.
relos, prominent among the Federal
leaders, was slain.
General Gregorio Ruiz, Federal
officer, two captains and three lieuten.
ants, were executed in the patio of the
National Palace. It is officially re.
ported that this was done by order Of
the government, but another story is
that they were killed by detachment
of their own men because they op-
posed their joining in the revolt.
Added to this is the report that these
mutinous troops were overpowered and
disarmed.
Francisco Madero, president of the
republic, led the loyal troops for a
time. Later, with members of his
cabinet, he took refuge in the Nation
al Palace, where they were besieged
but with some loyal troops at their
backs they succeeded in defending the
palace from the assaults Of the revo-
lutionists. The president fortified
himself in the palace, while General
Felix Diaz, with large majority of
the regulars behind him, has virtual
control of the capital.
President Madero and his ministers
left the National Palace about 10
O'Clock Sunday night. 1t is believed
they have gone.to Chapultepec. Gen.
eral Huerta has been left in charge Of
the loyal forces in the palace.
General Angeles, from. Cuernavaca,
and Colonel Vasconcelos, from Chaul-
co, have been ordered to the capital.
Felix Diaz and his followers gained
control of the city early in the after
noon. He took possession of the pal
ace and captured the arsenal by as
sault. Only a few scattered COM
panies of the city garrison main
tanned an appearance of loyalty to the
administration.
General Diaz took possession of Bel
EN- city prison and penitentiary with
out opposition.
Police Chief Figueroa is prisoner
of Diaz as the result of controversy
over the patrolling of the streets,
Diaz insisting that it should be done
by his men.
Madero's family has taken refuge in
the japanese legation, and the presl'
dent is making fight, desperate in
its efforts against what appear to be
enormous odds for retention of his
power.
General Diaz, who is the nephew Of
the deposed president Porfrio Diaz,
now is at the head of majority OF
the capital troops, including most OF
the artillery, and is in possession OF
the arsenal in the city and the powder
works near by.
Madero is relying on the loyalty Of
General Banquet, who has been sum-
moned from Toluca, 40 miles distant
but Banquet has only 1000 men under
his command. and the rebels are conf
dent of defeating him should he refuse
to join the revolt.