South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-01-26
WAS DIPLOMATIC
SHOCK ABSORBER
Luis !. Antin, Who Died MyS-
teriOuSly in Mexico, Well
Known in Capital.
BY Victor Elliott.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 2G.-Luis d.
AHtin. whose sudden death IL Mex
leo resulted in an investigation by
the state department 20 ascertain
whether or ut the little American
diplomat met with foul play. was
known in Washington as the dipIo-
matte shock absOrber" For the past
two years ne had stood between the
United States and Mexico in all d.
plomatic dealings at the national
capital as the safety valve for the
escapement of all loose talk on both
sides OF the argument. Employed in
the Mexican embassy as legal clerk
and translator. his functions soon
assumed the proportions of adviser
in chief TO Eliseo Arredondo. the
am bassador-de designate. in all matters
involving precedence. Formally,
propriety and diplomacy.
Born Diplomat.
Luis d'Antin was a born diplomat
He had served Uncle Sam for Ia
years as chancellor Of the American
embassy in Mexico City, and only
the withdrawal OF recognition of a
government in Mexico Occasioned
his removal Long after Henry Lane
Wilson had been summoned home
and Nelson O'Shaughnessy had
ceased TO be -h%rgt d'affairs and
closed the Ame' IN embassy, turn
ing it's archives over 10 the Brazilian
envoy for safekep.ng, d. Antin linger-
ed His complele knowledge OF
Spanish and the fact that he was
generally supposed in Mexico TO be a
Mexican made his safety reasonable.
Then came a time when the sus-
picion Of the usurper Huerta fell
upon him. His surrender to the Mex
lean government was demanded Of
the Brazilian minister. He refused.
While the demands were still being
reiterated for the surrender of
d'Antin TO the riflemen Of Huerta
the collapse Of the Huerista govern
ment came and with the incoming
of Carranza he was temporarily safe.
without a position, he came TO
the United States and sought for
days for employment. At the state
department, then under the DONNA
ton o. the peerless Nebraskan, he
was put off from day TO day with
excuses. Then Rafael Zubaran, now
Carranza's envoy at Berlin, met Luis
on the street.
where are you going and what
are you DOING" asked Carranaza's
confidential agent.
Most of the Money.
Trying to think where l can get
the most for my last 500" was
Luis answer.
Come and work for me-" was
Zubaran's quick invitation, and so
began the employment which ended
at san Luis Potosi on Jan. S.
Throughout the perilous decena
tragica, as the To-day season pre-
ceding the murder of Pres't Madero
is called in Mexico and when the
city wa a battle ground with men
killing each other in the streets and
heavy artillery booming from the
roof of one public building TO an
other. d'Antin rode about Mexico
city in the automobile of the Amer
lean embassy, collecting isolated ref
uCees and half the time with the
tires Of the machine punctured by
machine gun and rifle fire.
", the season Of description which
followed. when every opponent of
!feurta was being hunted down.
d'Antin served as emissary and con-
Iuctor of party after party of refu-
gees seeking to get out of Mexico
via Vera Cruz. BILffing, cajoling,
automatically lying, Luis led his
charges to the seaport. sometimes
conveying them in the baggage
coache. as his own personal ser
wants. sometimes in disguise, but
ever 10 safety Some of the most
prominent men in Mexico today owe
their lives and freedom to Luis
d'Antin. an obscure emplOye of
Uncle sam. who knew how TO do his
duty.