Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-02-19
MADERO REFUSES
TO RESIGN POST
Defies Senators, Who Ask to Quit
to Bring Peace.
WILSON IN NARROW ESCAPE
Bullet Pierces Window of Embassy,
Just Missing assador-Amer-
can Slain, Another Wounded
as Shell Strikes Hotel.

City of Mexico, Feb. 17.-Henry
Lane Wilson, United States ambassa-
dor, had a narrow escape from death
when a bullet crashed through a win
dow in the embassy building, missing
Mr.. Wilson by only few inches. Two
Americans were hit when a shell
struck Porter's hotel.
R. M. Meredith of Troy, O., local
agent for an American manufacturing
! firm, was killed and Sidney Suther-
land, Salt Lake City, newspaper cor
respondent, was wounded
The wife of r. NJ. Meredith was
Miss Jett of Cynthiana, KY. The cou-
pie were on their honeymoon.
It is estimated that in the fighting
since last Sunday 1900 persons have
lost their lives and 5000 have been
wounded.
Madero Defies Senate.
While the federal guns pounded the
Diaz Notifications at the arsenal, and
the rebels sent back shell for shell
| the senate is discussing the ousting of
Francisco !. Madero from the presi-
dency.
Confident Of ultimately defeating
Diaz, Madero defied the senate and
ignored the counsel Of Francisco de la
Barra and other friends. He absolute
ly refused to resign, but did not take
the trouble to make known his deci-
sion personally to the senate.
To the Spanish minister, Senior Col
ogan y Cologan, he said:
Il will not resign. l was elected
by the people. I am the constituted
president. I will die before 1 resign"
And amid all the confusions and
alarms, the Mexican government has
| applied the censorship to all dispatches
and cable messages. This will neces-
sarily vastly increase the difficulties
Of informing the outside world of the
operations within the Mexican capital,
and will effectually suppress incoming
dispatches regarding conditions in 9TH
er parts of the republic.
Fighting is Resumed.
With crowds of noncombatants in
the streets, trusting to the official an
nouncement of 24-hour armistice, fir
ing was resumed shortly before noon
Sunday and heavy toll of noncombat-
ants lives was again exacted by the
homicidal cannonading.
In obedience to the demand of the
diplomatic corps Madero agreed to
suspend hostilities for "a hours. He
did this as conciliatory measure to-
ward the United States after receiv-
ing Taft's promise of nonintervention.
Diaz also agreed to cease firing, al
though he made it plain that he pre-
ferred to continue the battle until a
definite result is arrived at. General
Huerta, in command of the loyal
| forces, refused to remove his troops
from the outposts, and the proximity
of the opposing forces made the ar
mistice impossible, such is the volatil-
! ity of the Latin temperament. Insults
were hurled from one side to the 9th
er and the firing soon became general.
The crowds of noncombatants, who
filled the streets, broke for cover as
soon as the discharges were heard,
but scores of them remained on the
pavement, struck by flying bullets.
| The fighting ended at dark as sud
denly as it began.
"Hands Off" Says Taft.
Washington, Feb. 17.-'Hands off,
Mexico for the present was the de-
cision OF President Taft and the cabi-
net, reached at a prolonged session.
Mr.. Taft and seven of his advisers
gathered in the White House, after re-
viewing the situation from every angle,
and particularly the proposal of an
armistice in Mexico City during which
noncombatants are to be removed
! from danger and a neutral zone Gre
ated for the American embassy, deter.
mined to reaffirm the nonintervention
attitude Of the United States, mean.
while keeping the army and navy
ready for instant action.
Reply to Madero Unlikely.
It was practically determined that
no further communication would go to
President Madero at this time.
After the cabinet meeting broke
Secretary Hilles gave out the follow
ing statement:
cat a meeting Of the cabinet vari
Gus dispatches from Mexico were con
sidered and it was decided that the in
formation SO far received afforded nc
basis for a change in the policy of the
government Of the United States, al
ready indicated many times in the las
two years"
Governor Colduitt's request fol
more troops to be sent to Laredo anC
Brownsville has been referred7by Pres
ident Taft to Secretary Stimson.