Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-26
SIEGE IN MEX|COC|Ty
DESCRIBED BY DR.. HALE.
Writes to Brother Here, Saying
1t Is Not Thought Huerta
Government Will Last Long.

Being shot at by sharpshooters sta
toned on the rooftops and having shells
burst in the air a few feet above his
head were some of the experiences of DIR.
William II. Hale In the City of Mexico
during the days of the last stand of
the Madero forces. as stated in a letter
received in this city by his brother, James
T. Hale of 1880 Rosedale street north
east. Dr. Hale writes that "pen can
not describe" the scenes within that city
during the days when the several battles
were raging. The singing Of the rifle
shells and the groans Of the dying could
be heard In almost every street, he
writes. DR.. Hale also states that 1T
is currently believed that the present
government will not last long
His letter to his brother follows, in
part:
Pen cannot describe the scenes, nor
tongue tell them. l was practically in
the midst of it ALL could hear the bullets
flying. the shells singing and the groans
of the dying in almost every street: have
seen shells burst in the air almost over
my head. and buildings Quilted with
cannon balls within few feet from me.
couple of shrapnel came through the
window into my bedroom; l was both in
completely circled the Ciudadeia on foot;
was shot at many times while crossing
a street by sharpshooters stationed on
the roofs Of the buildings, in citizens
clothes, not over two blocks away, yet,
strange to say, 1 escaped completely un-
scathed
Newspaper Offices Burned.
-Four daily newspaper offices were
burned to the ground. The greatest suf-
ferer among these was La Nueva Era,
which was friendly to Madero. The other
three, La Tribuna, Ell Noticioso and Ell
Pals, were opposed to Madero.
THE Y NJ c. A. building. the Ameri-
can consulate, the Belem prison. the SUI
perior court building and upward OF
hundred large and costly private resi-
dences were almost completely shot up.
or rather down, and many hundreds OF
others were badly damaged.
'Of course. no account was kept or the
number of killed or wounded. The lowest
estimate places the dead at 3,OOO, the
injured at 5000 and the horses at 1000.
Of the dead were burned where they lay
in public streets, so also were the horses
It was indeed a sickening sight
"A thousand and one notable incidents
transpired during the ten days OF the
bonbardment that are worthy OF record.
In one case a cannon ball crashed through
a kitchen window smashed the stove into
atoms and instantly killed two women
(Americans) who were preparing dinner.
Mr. Meredith of Dayton, Ohio, who
was here spending his honeymoon, while
in his room in his hotel was struck with
a rifle ball and killed at the side or his
bride; the ball passed clear through his
body, then through the thigh OF sidney
Sutherland of the New York Sun. An
other instance was where a man who
was taking lunch on a tray from one
house to another had his head completely
severed from his body. and 1t dropped
onto the tray he was carrying.
Madero Shot In Palace.
ut Is now leaking out that r. l. Ma
dero and Pinco Suarez were not killed
in an attempt to rescue them, While pc
ing transferred from the palace to the
penitentiary. but were shot down In cold
blood In the palace the moment they
signed their designations. The dead bod
lea of both WERE twenty-four hours later,
placed in automobiles. which started to-
ward the penitentiary, and while on the
road the farce of an attempt 10 rescue
them, which had been previously plan
ned by their murderers, was carried out.
Has this form Of treachery any name?
ct is currently believed that the pres
ent government will not last long. Sew
eral states are already In open rebellion
against it. and one has comp!eteV Sc
by his ministers Should Diaz be elected
president it will not help matters a par
ticle Either De Ia Barra, Vasquez 10
mez or Gen. Mondragon could fill the
position with honor to themselves and
credit to their country.
"Madero was a good man-tOo good for
his time-and he met the fate that all
great men ultimately meet In Mexico
ASA ssination. His family and friends VIII
no doubt resent his taking off with
strong hand, which will cause much
bloodshed His family has a great fol-
lowing and Is backed by many millions
of dollars.
Il did not intend saying SO much upon
the subject when / started. so will stop,
as | might possibly say too much. There
is supposed t. be a free press here, but
it is very far removed from that. Should
an editor undertake to write the truth
the fate of Gustavo Madero and that Of
hundreds of others. would stare him in
the face, then his pen would become dry.