Iditarod pioneer., 1914-01-03
Mexico City, MeXicO. Feb. 24, t9i3.

Mexico City. Mexico. Feb. 2i, 1913. | It has been useless to write, even had my nerves been in a condition 10 do so,
 for there have been no through trains to the states for days, and even now there are none though we have Just heard that they are sending mail by Galveston, so will try and collect my thoughts and send you resume of the past two weeks. shall not go into the political details, as you no doubt understand all of that from the newspapers, so will write only our pefSonai pXpprrnceS which now seem like mucous nightmare.
 was awakened early sunday morning,
 February 9, by peculiar noise, WllCh
 sounded like the exhaust of gasoline en-
 zine. and for a moment l imagined l was
 in Nome again and mining on the beach; dozed or again, and presently the l@llaid @
 were in town and that battle was being ing fought in htc streets. We laughed at her excitement and began to think about break
 fast when "boom!" sounded the cannons over our heads, followed by the popping of
 the rapid fire guns. which l recognized as
 the gasoline engine dream or the early morning. All that day the firing continued and the beautiful sabbath was made md eous by the roaring of the cannonS, Whlch shook the houses and rattled the windows. The continuous firing of the machine guns and the MauSer rifle shots kept us dodSing in and out of the windows when our curl oslty would prove stronger than our better judgment, for 1t was impossible 10 Keep our heads in the house when Red Cross
 
 stretCherS doctors and nurses. At night fall the hiring ceased and We all congre- gated in the patio 10 talk over the Sltua- lirn. one man who had seen the battle said the streets were full of dead and wounded men. women and children We were all excited, of course, but no one seemed afraid. and thank goodness, We had no terrified or hysterical women to deal with, but everybody making the best of bad situation. We all slept soundly that night and early the next morning, We all th nrnNISlDlS for Wllcn we paid war prices. a medium sized ham cost
 ing 80, and everything else Tn proportion. We were all short of money, for nc one was prepared for such surprise. had more money than anyone in the court TheXX called me the .'helre>S, as had go lNlil had St5.l We nlled bath tubs and wash candles, fearing that our light ana WaleF might be Cut off. Hearing that an en- gdg"ment was coming oll that mornlns' the
 men decided not to go to the ol1icc, and II was we'll they didn't, for before noon the lighting started up worse than ever, and all that day we lived in shower or rltle when shook the house at every blast. Ma derc was holding the palace and pllz the "CendadeIa" or arsenal Eight hours of lighting is long time, and to us II seemed quiet, We gathered in tn" patio to say good night. hoping for night of peace, but una der cover of darkness. Madero made night attack on the Cendad"la, and hrrce era sherman said it was, but at night 1t is "hel-nre and destruction" Tho9sandS If rounds of ammunition were llred ny the fedcral> without accomplishing anything and the arsenal, under the command ol Dlaz, stood as firm as the Rock of GlbrAi- tar. He also had every street leadln9 10 the arsenal bloCkaded with batteries of call non and machine guns; Tuesday theF" was not much fighting. Both sides seemed to be resting, but Wednesday We were not safe in any part of the house or grounds Mauser bullets fell in the patio al our feet and stray shots broke our windows, chas- ing us from one part Of the court |" an of our street which we could see from our living room window, and before We knew it We were in the firing line The fcNcraII were trylniS to bonbard the arSchal through our street. IL was impossible to stay in the house, so We all went into tht patio to hold ,contercnce WhlIr We were talking shell struck th" house, tear ing a great hole in the brick walls and rX- ploding, wrecking the apartment. The peo- pie had just left the flat few moments before Five shells exploded in Gore court, one was so much as scratched. fhe men decided after this that we must leave the house anG after cOmmuntcauns with Am basSador Wilson il Was decided that we should be taken to the embassy. We were loaded into autos and taken there, when we were gned various places in Colonla Roma, near the embassy that place DFAg had packed a bag and a suit case early in the morning, thinking that We might be forced to leave our house. l was allowed the bag only, and was lucky to have that. as most people left without hat or wrap, to say nothing of baggage. People were crowded into empty houses without food or bedding. sleeping on bare floors, ana not having their clothes off for days. Living on bread and milk, which luckily We got fresh every day, owing to the bravery Of the milk and bread boys. who drove thelr wagons through the firing line each day, wa SrIrpy horn DDipr a luckN star, for we were comfortably housed i'll the home of a friend, just opposite the em, bassy, and We had comfy bed, Dath d,, ana ma felt very safe, thinking we were to De pro tected, and that our colony would be con sidered neutral zone, put later @ not egen l cover most of the time to avoid being hit by stray bullets and pot shots or the Sharpsho"ters concealed in trees and on tall buildings surrounding the embassy. Many people were wounded, but nothing serious happened. An engagement was pulled off at the corner or the DOCK III much, but when the federals planted bat, tery at the same corner We objected, ana the ambassador conferred with Madero;. and after much pareying it was removed, TOT night after we left the house, and when there was lull in the lighting, Will went back to the house for my silver ana Sult case Just after he left the shooting be gan again. and you can better believe was glad when he got back safe and sound with his arms full of bags aand bundles. It Is well he went when he did, for the next day the federals planted theier guns on our roof. and We fully expected the place to be footed, and never expected to see our belongtngs again. Fortunately nothing was touched, though nearly every other apart ment house and many private homes were footed, and some of our friends have lost
 thousands of dollars worth of silver. iewelry and clothing, besides having their homes wrecked. Friday the lighting was less severe. and We heard that peace ne gotiations were in progress at the palace, and we felt that things would be settled without more bloodshed. Provisions at our | friends home were getting low, and we 1 decided that in the evening, provided there l was no fighting we would go to Gore court l and get some of our provisions and fuel,
 as charcoal was selling for s20 per sack: ! Tor which we pay $ regularly. l decided 1 to go also, as I wanted to get some clean 1 clothes. A man and his sons who lived m | the court also wanted to go, so we climbed 1 into machine and started out. It was 1 beautiful moonlight night Not soldier
 was in sight and everything was calm and I fHn rfT n