The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-01-20
DEATH CLAIMS HUERTA.
Former Dictator of Mexico, Died at
FL Paso Last Night.

ano Huerta, former dictator of MeXl-
co, died here tonight. Gen. Huerta
died at his home al S:55 o'clock.
Gen, Huerta, who succeeded Gen.
Francisco /. Madero in executive
power in Mexico City and later left
Mexico, died of sclerosis of the liver.
He was surrounded by his family
when the end came His death was
not unexpected. Funeral arrange
ments are to be made tomorrow. 1t
is believed an effort will be made to
arrange for his burial in Mexico.
Huerta's Career.
Huerta took Office as Provisional
President on February 19, 1913.
Three days afterward Francisco Ma
dero, one of his brothers who had
been arrested with him, and Jose
. Maria Pine Suarez, vice president
under Madero, were assassinated
while riding under guard from the
4 palace 10 Cn0 peLlleuLldiy.
This crime aroused storm of in
dignation throughout the United
States. In many quarters there we're
demands for Intervention, but Presl-
dent Taft, who was on the eve OF
leaving office, decided to take no ac-
tion which might commit the incom-
ing administration of President Will
son.
Immediately on assuming Office
President Wilson refused to recog-
nize Huerta as the head of the Mexi-
can government in spite of the fact
that such recognition had been
granted by Great Britain. At the
same time the Maderistas rallied un-
der Venustiano Carranza, governor
Of Coahuila, and Francisco Villa de-
zclared against Huerta. "
ss Following the refusal of President
Wilson to recognize the provisional
president, United States Ambassador
Henry Lane Wilson was recalled from
Mexico City The situation between
the United States and Mexico then
remained at practical deadlock un-
til August, when President Wilson
sent John Lind, former governor OF
minnesota, to the Mexican capital as
his personal representative. Mr..
Lind presented certain proposals to
Huerta, chief of which was that the
provisional president should resign
and permit national election at
which he would not be candidate.
Huerta peremptorily rejected these
proposals.
Deputies Arrested.
In the meantime the Mexican con-
gress had been growing restive and
one senator had the hardihOod to
make an open attack on Huerta in
the senate chamber. He promptly
disappeared, and when his colleagues
demanded an Investigation, Huerta
marched body of troops into the
hall of congress, seized 10 deputies
and threw them in Jail.
His next step was to call an cleo
ton, at which only Huertistas were
allowed to vote, with the result that
he was declared president, with Gen.
Banquet vice president. Mr.. Lind
again demanded that Huerta resign,
and meeting with a second refusal,
left Mexico City on November IL for
Vera Cruz.
Throughout the winter the tension
between the United States and Mexi-
co continued to grow more acute.
American warships were dispatched
to Mexican waters and large num-
Der of troops were concentrated on
the border. At the same time the
Constitutionalists, as the Carranza
faction called themselves, advanced
from the north, defeating the Huerta
troops in battle after battle.
B Americans Seized.
The climax came in April, when a
party of American bluejackets was
seized at Vera Cruz and thrown Into
Jail The Americans were quickly
released, but Huerta refused Presi-
dent Wilson's demand for formal
salute to the Stars and Stripes as a
measure of reparation. On April ~,
American bluejackets and marines
landed at Vera Cruz in force and oc-
cupied the city, after some street
fighting, in which a number of Amer
leans were killed.
Shortly afterward a mediation pro-
posal was made by Argentina, Brazil
and Chile and accepted. Conferences
were held at Niagara Falls, but
brought no decisive result.
Matters dragged along until July
z, when Huerta, his finances exhaust
ed, his army thoroughly beaten and