The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-02-20
Panorama OF DEATH
| DESTRUCTION AND HORROR.

Of Diaz, walled between the lines,
curious to see all that was going on.
I strolled half way the length Of the
palace and then turned and strollef
back again. Had any intimation of
what was about to follow my gait
might not have been so leisurely.
noted many machine guns on the
palace roof, but did not imagine they
were to be brought into real warfare
before / had barely walked beyond
their immediate range.
was slowly crossing from the
plaza to go to the cable Office to send
news OF the libei alton of Diaz and
Reyes, when the lines OF soldiers l
had 30 casually inspected, opened
fire with scattering volleys. The
machine guns Instantly took part,
sweeping the crowded zocato, that
ancient battle-ground where thousands
have perished, and sending storm OF
bullets into the unsuspecting throngs
of women, children and men.
With the first volley the terror
stricken crowds scattered in all direc-
tions. the women shrieking or falling
fainting upon the streets, to he tramp
led upon By tho fleeing thousands. /
ran with the rest, making for San
Francisco street. AS ran saw men,
and women fall on every side from
the bullets Of the federal machine
guns which flew high and wide in ev-
cry direction except in the ranks OF
the rebel soldiers. Reaching San
Francisco street ran another half a
block before saw an open doorway
and darted in, followed by seven men,
everyone Of whom had been more or
less seriously wounded.
l looked out through the compara-
tive safety of the doorway and watch
ed the fight Of the thousands down
San Francisco street. Into the horde
of refugees swept riderless cavalry
horses, their hoofs beating down men
and women and trampling those al,
ready fallen. I could see dozens OF
| the refugees fafie from the bullets OF
| the machine guns which the soldi7-s
on the roof of the palace trained di
rectly upon thu crowds and kept
them SO trained until the streets had
been swept clear Of all save the dead
and wounded.
Two hundreds and eighty bodies
Iwere removed from the streets around
the Zocato as the result Of that first
massacre and fully 800 non-combat
ants were seriously wounded.
After the first Of their onslaught II
j front Of the palace Diaz led his cav
/ airy and artillery on mad gallon
through the streets to Ciudadela anc
the arsenal which he captured from
the federal garrison after a sharI
s. battle. Diaz lost no time in arrang
A ing to stand protracted siege, abl.
assisted by General Manuel Mondrag
on, the most expert artillery officer il
the army. Mondragon is also the in
ventor of an improved rapid fire can
non adopted br the government.
The government was caught un
, prepared and could make no immed
) late assault on Inc IoDel pOSlllOu
{ Madero spent Monday sending troop
: and placing his batteries in advantage
GUS positions on the streets leadin
!, Ito the arsenal. Early on the mornin
i of Tuesday, Feb. II. the crtillery be
!, gun in earnest. Six batteries of fer
eral guns. located in all direction
: from the arsenal, concentrated thei
! fire upon Diaz's strong fortiflcatior
! Diaz had captured with the arsens
, an enormous supply of shrapnel, whic
he poured upon the federal forces an
/ the surrounding buildings with di
4 ast-ous effect.
/ The real horrors Of war wer
i. brought home to the people Of th
It capital. A scene unheard Of in mo-
e ern warfare unfolded itself befor
d the terror-stricken gaze of half mi
e lion people. The capital became
= great battle ground and one crowde
J. (Continued on page 81