Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-18
ENRIQUE c. CREEL
DIES IN MEXICO
Former Envoy to Washington
Under Diaz SuccumbS
After Long Illness.
By the Associated Press.

by bne hSSoCiattu FIeSS.
MEXICO CITY, August l8.-En-
rique c. Creel. former Ambassador to
Washington, died at his home here last
night at the age of n after a prolonged
illness.
He served under President Porflrio
Diaz as minister of foreign relations,
represented Mexico at Washington when
the Taft administration was in office
and was once governor Of Chihuahua.
As Ambassador to the United
States. in 1907 and 1908, En-
rique C. Cre4l proclaimed that his pol
ley was to cement friendly relations
between the two countries and that he
had no fear Of the American people or
the American Government. The son of
an American father, Mr. Creel was
picturesque figure in the diplomatic life
Of Washington, where he was popular
with American ofnctals and other mem
bers of the corps.
Once Peddled Cigars.
A self-made man who once peddled
cigars on the streets of Chihuahua
City, where later he became governor,
Mr.. Creel amassed one of the largest
fortunes in Mexico. He lost the greater
part of his fortune as a result Of the
Mexican revolution in 1918, and was
forced to seek refuge in this country,
making his home in Los Angeles for
many years His great estates and in
terests in Chihuahua, like those OF
Gen. Luis Terrazas, his sther-in-law,
were conflscated by order OF Francisco
Villa when Villa was in command OF
Chihuahua as a subordinate Of Presi-
dent Carranza. Mr.. Creel's losses under
this confscation were estimated at
$1,000, 900.
Mr.. Creel was q nephew and Son-m-
law of Gen. TerTasas, who at one time
owned the greater part Of Chihuahua.
He married Angela, one OF Gen. Terra
zas' daughters. Becoming wealthy. ne
was successfully governor OF Chihuahus.,
secretary Of foreign relations OF Mexho
and Mexican Ambassador to the United
states when porfirio DiaS was President.
Father Was American.
His father was a Kentuckian, who
went to Chihuahua City IT. i84S and
there married SiSter-in-law OF Gen.
Terrazas. Soon after Enrique was horn
there, August 81, 1884; ms latnef De
came an invalid and his mother was
Obliged to teach school. The boy at
tended school for only fsw weeks;
but was educated by his father ana
mother and at the age OF IL years
ENRIQUE, himself became teacher OF
a night school Meanwhile he peodleo
cigars and cigarettes from q basket In
the streets.
died and Enrique borrowed $500 TO set
himself up as a merchant. That was
the most useful money ever had IN
my life" Mr. Creel once declared
when / was 20 had cleared 5000
It started me IN business and At SO
/ had one of the best wholesale mer-
camille houses in Chihuahua"
With his associates ne was lnsttu-
mental in bringing into Chihuahua
great amount Of American capital and
in establishing many industrial enter
prises such as q foundry and machine
shop, a rolling mill flour mill, textile
factories, q tannery and q packing
house. Il
When Mr.. Creel became Governor OF
Chihuahua he and his brother, Juan
Creel. owned large estates. This ne re-
garded as against public interests ana,
as Governor, issued an order that pub
lie lands should be sold to small pur-
chasers rather than to syndicates and
capitalists. Later, he advocated the
division Of large estates into small
farms.
Spent Year Here.
After one year as Ambassador In |
Washington, Mr.. Creel returned 10
Mexico and in 1920 was appointed Sec
rotary of Foreign Relations by Presi- |
dent Diaz Eesigning from that posi-
ton in the following year, he was elect |
ed president OF the Aguila Oil Co,
Mexican corporation, controlled by Brit |
ish interests, which operated many OF
the most productive wells in the Tam |
pico and Tuxpam fields.
When CaTranza became President and |
villa Governor CT Chihuahua, in 1918, !
Villa ordered the estates Of Gen. Ter |
razsS and Enrique and Juan Creel be
conf1scated on the ground that they
had supported the Orozco and Huerta |
revolutions and declared that their |
property should be given TO widows and !
orphans OF men who persisted in the |
Mexican revolution. Mr.. Creel and his !
family became refugees in the United i
States.
He had six children, four IONS. Luis, !
Eduardo. Enrique and Salvador, and |
two daughters, who afterward became |
Mrs. Alberto TerrazaS and Mrs. Joaquin |
Cortezar. In his exile at his home IN |
Los Angeles, he looked to the United !
States to provide the funds 70 enasie |
Mexico to liquidate its debts. He te- |
clared that Mexico needed peace aud |
honest administration by honest GJeE
After some years of exile IN Los An
geleS. Mr.. Creel was permitted to return 1
10 Mexico and at the time NJ his death |
was making his home in the capital, |
having long since retired ron business. |