Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-01-19
VICTORIANO HUEIsTA DEAD.
Finally Succumbs to Long Illness Fol-
lowing Serious Attack.

Huetra, former dictator OF Mexico,
died here tonight. He died at his
home at S.55 o'clock.
Gen. Huerta, who succeeded Gen.
Francisco l. 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.
Victoriano Huerta was born in
1857 Of aristocratic parentage. In
1875 he entered the government mill
tary college at Chapultepec. At this
institution he spent four years, emu
after his graduation in 1879 at once
joined coast regiment. From that
year till 1891 but little is known Of
his life, which was spent in routine
military service, in which he had at
tanned the rank of lieutenant colonel
and the command of military sta
tion in the interior Of the country.
In this post he became conspicuous
for his success In putting down the
brigands who at this time infested
the country. His work came to the
attention Of President Diaz, who call
ed him to Mexico City. On his arri-
val, it is said, Diaz offered him what
ever post in the war department was
most to his liking.
He asked to be appointed chief of
the geographical department, and on
his appointment to this position he
again left the city and for ten years
was engaged in going from one end
location of rivers, plateaus and
mountain ranges, and becoming thor
oughly acquainted with every section
of the country. 1t is said that in
1902 he possessed more intimate per-
sonal knowledge Of Mexico than any
other living man. He finished this
surveying and map making work with
the rank Of brigadier general, and
continued to occupy important posi-
tions in the army under President
DiaZ. On the resignation of the
great dictator he became, in 1912,
one of the strongest supporters Of
Francisco I. Madero, Jr., who in that
year became President as the result
Of the first successful revolution
against Diaz. Madero placed Huerta
in command of the troops Of the re-
public in the capital. When the rev.
olution under Felix Diaz broke out
Huerta at first supported the govern
ment, but after the memorable street
fighting of Feburay 9-17, 1913, he
Joined forces with Gen. Blanquet and
overthrow the Madero government.
"A Bloody Coup.
Huerta took office as Provisional
President on February 10, 1918.
Three days afterward Francisco Ma
dero, one Of his brothers who had
been arrested with him, and Jose Ma
ria Pino Suarez, Vice President under
Madero, were assassinated while rid
ing under guard from the palace to
the penitentiary.
This crime aroused a storm Of in
dignation throughout. the United
States. In many quarters there were
demands for Intervention, but Presi-
dent Taft, who was on the eve of
leaving office, decided to take no ac-
ton 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 grant
ed by Great Britain. At the same
time the Maderistas rallied under We
nustianO CarranZa, Governor of Goa
huila,' and Francisco Villa declared
against Huerta.
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 in 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 Huer-
ia, chief of which was that the Pro-