The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-02-15

The departure Of citizens. but the rebels
We're wary Of treachery, fearing that
the Government infantry would attempt
| a surprise The rebel patrols were
ready with machine guns 70 fire into the
crowds al the !irst sign Of an attack
The incidents Of the late night ana
early morning We're dramatic. Lighted
only by torches and lanterns thousands
visited homes that had been wrecked hy
the shells of III" c"mhatants They car
! ried away such Aaluables as had not
/ fallen to- runh,rS Th.v staggered along
| tn" dark streets carrying loads If per
sunHl belongings mattresses, clothing.
| furniture and even pet animals that had
been neglected. Families that had not
dared L. rsCap" previously welcomed the
respite 10 Withdraw To safer parts IL
! the city Many had been wounded aui
| th.rr were hundreds WHO we're III ~
/ fever and hunger Men ,aI,i-d women
ami ,u'ldr"n "u 'h"i. backs ur made
! rud" ~tr'ich-rs. using doors from d.
polished buildings "r pieces uf plhu>iug
tuy-r which mattresses had been throw Il.
! Th-r, vas no estimating the num-
h-r ot h"m.!rss people sddd,n My reduced
! Ia misery. After leaving their destroyed
homes they had NO places of refuge save
! tho churches The fathers of the church
had op.urd th. sanctuary To IN. dis
| tr-ss-d 'iy the lime daylight came a'
least ten thousand people, mostly
| women and children, were sleeping or
praying In them The Churches Of san
| joss. lie los \atural"S. Santa Vera Cruz.
| san Francisco, La Conception. LA Hal
vanera. SAINT" 'Aterina de Sena, Jesus
| Maria and many more We're crowded
| with the miserable
rri~ss. Aii~~ late Hanger.
The charity Of the priests went part
way toward alleviating suffering and
hunger. The Catholic sisters nursed sick
and injured women while brothers Of the
orders and the priests provided coffee.
beans ANA the ever necessary cigarettes.
! In most " the churches there were
,p.ci.. services in the early morning
and even later. when the walls OF the
sacred buildings quiVcred under the
conclusion Of the heavy firing. the
ipr.ests and the people offered prayers
for peace.
Daylight exposed the dreadful ruin
that had been wrought after five days
of tremendous cannonading in the centre
OF Il city OF 100000 people From tho
great National Palace on the east to
the Legislative Palace and the ColNnia
Roma Cwhere the American Embassy
Is located on the west, and from the
Church OF san H!polito on the north
TO the Belem prison on the south "A
territory containing the most beautiful
streets and the finest public and bust
ness buildings OF the capital, showed
and in the Charles ~. square have been
dsma antl"d or broken to pieces.
\ scOr" of streets appear as If they
had been swept by a tornado. Mounds
of wrrckase 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 telephon. service
~ practically ruined,
| There " no business whatever The
banks have been closed for days. The
public markets are deserted. Even the
General Post Off!Ce Is shut. many OF tn.
employees having been drafted into the
Federal army. But the greatest menace
of all is that of pestl"ncr, Nothing
whatever has been done by the troops
. .of either side To protect the city from
plague. The constant fighting has
Nor. shan l,O0l American citlaens
are quarlcr,d at the American EmbasSy
. or in private houses, many unfair
. nirhed, hired by Ambassador Wilson
The Americans have been active in car
| Ing for other foreign residents In IN"
, sudden hcgira of late "Wednesday eye
ning Wn"u all Of the automobiles were
p hired. tn" americans assisted many
4 German ana English families Ia with
, draw from danger They have main
taln"d constant guard around the
Embassy.
TIL" precursor of the lighting this
- morning was IN" unexpected demand
: ihH, i'r"sid"n, Mad"ro made upon Dia2
t TO surrender. This demand was surpris
p ing because Of the r"pulses Of Mad"roS
, forces on Thursday and Thursday night
: AT sunris" Madcro sent an automobile
% Nyng the whit" flag 10 the arsenal
The utimItum. which was worded by
Gen. Huerta. the Madero commander ip