The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1914-05-07
GONZALEZ TELLS
Of MEXICAN WAR
REBEL LEADER NOW A REFUGEE
IN CANADA.
FOUGHT UNDER PRES. MADERO
Escaped by Crossing Border and Was
Assisted by U. S. Army Officers.
interesting Details by an
Eye Witness.

A. p. Spencer is in receipt of a cop
Of the Lethbridge, Canada, Daily Hel
aid, containing an interesting inter
view with Captain Felipe Gonzalez
nephew OF Abram Gonzalez, governo
Of Chihuahua, who was murdered dur
ing the present campaign. Captain
Gonzalez was an officer in Villas
army, and was captured by the fed
eral forces, making his escape and
fleeing to Canada. Earle Roberts, &
former Oskaloosa boy, now secretary
Of the boys department of the Y. M
G. A., at Lethbridge. was one Of the
frs ito discover the identity of Cap
tain Gonzalez, and gave the reporter
who secured the interview a tip. The
interview is interesting as it gives
some inside information of the situa
ton in Mexico. 1t runs:
To fully comprehend the Mexican
situation it is necessary to go back,
over one year, when Madero was
overthrow so that people will under.
stand it thoroughly.
/ fought under Francisco Madero in
the field and was on his staff during
his short reign as president of Next
co; was in the weeks fighting in the
capital city and fed, after Madero and
the vice-president were assassinated
in the palace year ago last January.
/ came to Canada when Madero was
overthrow and worked as railroad
laborer and lumberjack until last De-
cember, when / returned and fought
with General Villa up to a short time
ago.
So I believe understand the situa-
ton pretty well.
When General Francisco Madero
was elected president of Mexico and
took the oath of office he found l.
100000 pesos Tin Mexican silver), in
the treasury. Old DiaZ had stolen
the rest of the treasury coin, over ten
million dollars in gold, which he
shipped to Pierpont Morgan and Son,
of New York, and they shipped it to
Diaz' account in Berlin.
Times were dull in Mexico after the
Madero revolution, and his enemies
took advantage OF this against him in
breeding dissatisfaction. With stolen
money old Diaz sent his nephew,
Felix Diaz, to Mexico. and he in turn
purchased General Pasqual Orozco,
who was in charge of the garrison at
Juarez. He revolted and Madero sent
the main body of the army, except
about 100 men, to bring OroZco into
line.
Victoriana Huerta pronounced
Weerta) was commander OF Madero's
army in Mexico City. Felix Diaz,
while a prisoner in the arsenal, pur-
chased Huerta, who released DiaZ.
They seized the contents Of the ar
senal and we, the loyal troops, rallied
to the palace, where we had our
hands full against Huerta and Diaz'
rebels. For over eight days we were
successful and then we ran out of
ammunition and Madero surrendered.
President Madero and Vice Presi.
dent Pine SuareZ were imprisoned in
the palace in adjoining rooms.
Huerta and a couple of soldiers
with Felix Diaz tortured them In an
effort to force them to resign, so that
Huerta would automatically become
president and then Felix Diaz was to
be elected and the old Diaz regime
would be in power again.
They refused. Huerta shot Madero
and Pine Suarez was strangled to
death by the two soldiers.
Next morning their bodies were put
into an automobile and a volley OF
blank cartridges were fired at them,
the dead bodies thrown in the street
for bluff and Huerta said they were
killed while trying to escape. The
bodies lay in the sun all day.
The braVest, most courageous pair
of men that ever fought for an ignor-
ant, ungrateful people. Truly Fran
cisco Madero was betrayed and cruel
fed for no more lovable man ever
lived than La Poquino Padre 1.-THE lit
tie father, always hating bloodshed,
yet he was no coward.
He made the fatal error when he
failed to have Felix Diaz shot.
mol" he said when we, his STAFF
officers and friends in council, advised
him to do so. Mexico has had
enough bloodshed; I viii have no
more" He paid for his mercy with
his life. While he was being tortured,
Mrs. Madero was begging on her
knees Henry Lane Wilson to inter-
cede, but the United States consul,
always aiding Diaz, refused to do SO.
In the meantime, we, the officers
who escapes capture, we're busy.
There were things to do
Every Maderoist and friend OF Ma
dero was ordered shot. Ernesto Ma
dero and family Of seven children, the
eldest II. and Mrs Madero, and many
others we're to be gotten out of Mex
leo, at once, besides ourselves. We
got the Maderos to the train, safely
to Vera Cruz, and the Oldest Madero
boy pre-empted an ash cart and piled
the kids" and women into It and on
down the street of Vera Cruz he drove
his donkey TO the wharf where they
quickly embarked on the little steam.
err Esperanto for Havana, Cuba.
Evaristo Madero and myself left
Mexico City at daylight that January
morning and rode TAG miles to the
Rio Grande and swan II below Eagle
Pass. Tex. coming out squareIy into
the arms Of the United States cavalry.
win not give the regiment number,
for when they received ordsrB 10
tnfn a. over 10 Hueffa again from