Semi-weekly herald., 1913-02-27

After the first of their onslaught
in front of the palace, Diaz led his
cavalry and artillery on a mad gallop
through the streets to Ciudadela and
the arsenal, which was captured from
the federal garrison after sharp
battle. The government was caught
unprepared and could make no imme-
diate assault on the rebel position.
Madero spent Monday sending troops
and placing his batteries in advan-
tageous positions on the streets lead
ing to the arsenal. Early Tuesday,
Feb. IL, the artillery began in earnest.
Six batteries of federal guns, located
in all directions from the arsenal con-
centrated their fire upon Diaz' strong
Notifications.
The rear horrors of war were then
brought home to the people of the
capital. Practically everyone in the
city was exposed to the chance of
being killed or wounded, even when
in their homes. This was testified
to by the deaths of Mrs. Holmes and
Mrs. Griffiths, the two Americans who
were slain by shells while in their
own houses. This was only one in
stance. Hundreds of noncombatants
under similar circumstances were
killed by the bullets that flew far and
wide from the shrapnel bursting over
the city. These shells exploded over
the most populous section of the city,
scattering their leaden missiles in a
death-dealing hail. Other shells
crashed into the walls of high build
ings, entered the windows of clubs,
hotels, banks and stores, wrecking
buildings or rooms by the dozen and
killing or wounding hundreds of inno-
cent victims.
Day after day and often for hours
at night, the same fiightful condi-
tions prevailed. Added to the thunder
Of the larger cannon came the almost
incessant rattle of the machine guns
and the whining song of rifle bullets.
Until Sunday morning at 2 o'clock,
When a supposed twenty-four hour
armistice was declared, the stricken
ety knew hardly moments peace.
On Sunday people ventured timor-
usly out of doors hardly believing
the news of temporary cessation of
hostilities. AS the early morning
hours passed and the sound of the
hurch bells, drowned for days by the
thunder of the bombardment, once
more rang tn rough the city, the peo-
lie flocked TO the main streets and
the city tool on new life.
Suddenly at o'clock in the after
noon and with as little warning as
the opening massacre of the Sunday
before, the rattle of small arms, quick
ly followed by the shrek of shells,
broke the almost Sabbathlike still
ness of the day. Caught unawares by
the action of Madero and his forces
in breaking the armistice without
warning, hundreds of non-combatants
were shot down in their flight.
The Maderistas had taken advan-
tage of the armistice to improve their
position and had fired upon the Diaz
forces under the pretext that it was
the rebels that had broken faith. The
battle ragged fercely all day and far
into the night. Then came the ter
rife tidings that the federalists were
preparing to use mortars to hurl dy-
Mantle shells upon the citadel. The
tortured populace was trembling in
the expectation Of the complete ruin
of the city by those dynamite projec-
tiles when the word came of the sud
den and significant change in the en-
tire situation.
Generals Huerta and Blanquet had
arrested Madero and his brother, Gus
tavo, the battle had ceased and the
streets were quickly filled with tens
of thousands shouting themselves
hoarse with "Vivas" for Diaz and HUI
erta, the two directing heads of the
slaughter and destruction which had
been hurled on the city for ten con-
secutive days.
The events that followed wrought
Kaleidoscope changes in the situation.
General Huerta quickly assumed the
temporary role of military dictator
with General Diaz, his erstwhile OPP
ponent, as commander-in-chief of the
now allied forces that little while
before had been flying at each others
throats. The senate met to elect a
provisional president and on We'd
nesday, ex-President Madero and Gus
tavo Madero, his evil genius, We're re-
moved from the palace to the cita-
del.
The total in human life and suffer-
ing, aside from the destruction of
property, resulting from the ten days
of terror was estimated today at $500
soldiers killed, 1000 non-combatants
killed, 1000 soldiers wounded and
5000 noncombatants wounded, max
ing the total casualties $500 dead and
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