A diplomat's wife in Mexico - Edith O'Shaughnessy

Foreword	[ix]
I
Arrival at Vera Cruz—Mr. Lind—Visits to the battle-ships—Wereach Mexico City—Huerta’s second coup d’état—A six-hourReception at the Chinese Legation. An all-afternoon hunt for theDictator.	[Page 1]
II
Sanctuary to Bonilla—Sir Lionel and Lady Carden—Carranza—Mexicanservants—First Reception at the American Embassy—Huerta receivesthe Diplomatic Corps—Election Day and a few surprises.	[Page 14]
III
Federal and Rebel excesses in the north—Some aspects of social life—Mexico’sinner circle—Huerta’s growing difficulties—Rabago—The“Feast of the Dead.”—Indian booths at the Alameda—The Latin-American’sfuture.	[Page 28]
IV
The “Abrazo”—Arrival of Mr. Lind—Delicate negotiations in progress—Luncheonat the German Legation—Excitement about thebull-fight—Junk-hunting—Americans in prison—Another “biggame” hunt.	[Page 40]
V
Uncertain days—The friendly offices of diplomats—A side-light on executions—Mexicanstreet cries—Garza Aldape resigns—First officialReception at Chapultepec Castle—The jewels of Cortés.	[Page 50]
VI
“Decisive word” from Washington—A passing scare—Conscription’sterrors—Thanksgiving—The rebel advance—Sir Christopher Cradock—Huerta’shospitable waste-paper basket.	[Page 66]
VII
Huerta visits the Jockey Club—Chihuahua falls—“The tragic ten days”—Exhibitionof gunnery in the public streets—Mexico’s “potentialPresidents”—“The Tiger of the North.”	[Page 77]
VIII
The sad exodus from Chihuahua—Archbishop Mendoza—Fiat money—Villa’sgrowing activities—Indian stoicism—Another Chapultepec Reception—Aday of “Mexican Magic” in the country.	[Page 92]
IX
Christmas—The strangling of a country—de la Barra—The “mañanagame”—Spanish in five phrases—Señora Huerta’s great diamond—Thepeon’s desperate situation in a land torn by revolutions.	[Page 110]
X
New-Year’s receptions—Churubusco—Memories of Carlota—Rape of theMorelos women—Mexico’s excuse for the murder of an American citizen—Avisit to the floating gardens of Xochimilco.	[Page 120]
XI
Dramatic values at Vera Cruz—Visits to the battle-ships—Our superbhospital-ship, the Solace—Admiral Cradock’s flag-ship—An Americansailor’s menu—Three “square meals” a day—Travel in revolutionaryMexico.	[Page 132]
XII
Ojinaga evacuated—Tepozotlan’s beautiful old church and convent—Azcapotzalco—AMexican christening—The release of VeraEstañol—Necaxa—The friars—The wonderful Garcia Pimentellibrary.	[Page 148]
XIII
Gamboa—Fêtes for the Japanese officers—The Pius Fund—TheToluca road—Brown, of the National Railways—President Wilsonraises the embargo on arms and ammunition—Hunting forZapatistas.	[Page 167]
XIV
A “neat little haul” for brigands—Tea at San Angel—A picnic and aburning village—The lesson of “Two Fools”—Austria-Hungary’s newminister—Cigarettes in the making—Zapata’s message.	[Page 181]
XV
Departure of the British minister—Guns and marines from Vera Cruz—Reviewat the Condesa—Mister Lind—The Benton case—Huertapredicts intervention—Villa at Chihuahua.	[Page 189]
XVI
Huerta’s impressive review for the special correspondents—The Grito deDolores—Tons of “stationery” for the Embassy—Villa and Carranzadisagree—The Embassy guard finds itself occupied.	[Page 203]
XVII
The torture of Terrazas—Mexico’s banking eccentricities—Departureof the Lefaivres—Zapatista methods—Gustavo Madero’s death—Firstexperience of Latin-American revolutions—Huerta’s wittyspeech.	[Page 211]
XVIII
Back to Vera Cruz—Luncheon on the Chester—San Juan’s prison horrors—Teaon the Mayflower—The ministry of war and the commissarymethods—Torreon falls again?—Don Eduardo Iturbide.	[Page 229]
XIX
Congress meets without the United States representative—Huertamakes his “profession of faith”—Exit Mr. Lind—Ryan leaves forthe front—French and German military attachés—The JockeyClub.	[Page 247]
XX
Good Friday—Mexican toys with symbolic sounds—“The Tampicoincident”—Sabado de Gloria and Easter—An international photograph—Thelast reception at Chapultepec.	[Page 257]
XXI
Mr. Bryan declines the kindly offices of The Hague—More Americansleave Mexico City—Lieutenant Rowan arrives—Guarding the Embassy—Elimkeeps within call.	[Page 272]
XXII
Vera Cruz taken—Anti-American demonstrations—Refugees at the Embassy—Along line of visitors—A dramatic incident in the cable-office—Huertamakes his first and last call at the Embassy.	[Page 285]
XXIII
The wedding of President Huerta’s son—Departure from the Embassy—Huerta’sroyal accommodations—The journey down to Vera Cruz—Thewhite flag of truce—We reach the American lines.	[Page 298]
XXIV
Dinner on the Essex—The last fight of Mexico’s naval cadets—Americanheroes—End of the Tampico incident—Relief for the starving at SanJuan Ulua—Admiral Fletcher’s greatest work.	[Page 318]
XXV
Our recall from Mexican soil—A historic dinner with GeneralFunston—The navy turns over the town of Vera Cruz to thearmy—The march of the six thousand blue-jackets—Evening onthe Minnesota.	[Page 338]
XXVI
Homeward bound—Dead to the world in Sarah Bernhardt’s luxuriouscabin—Admiral Badger’s farewell—“The Father of Waters”—Mr.Bryan’s earnest message—Arrival at Washington—Adelante!	[Page 348]

ILLUSTRATIONS

Mrs. Nelson O’Shaughnessy	[Frontispiece]
A View of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl	Facing p.	[6]
Mrs. Elliott Coues	“	[16]
Elim	“	[16]
V. Huerta	“	[60]
Villa de Guadalupe	“	[86]
The Floating Gardens of Xochimilco	“	[126]
Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock	“	[136]
Admiral F. F. Fletcher	“	[136]
Huerta’s Soldiers Watching the Rebel Advance	“	[150]
A Group of Ojinaga Refugees	“	[150]
The Guard that Stopped Us	“	[172]
“The Woman in White”—from San Juan Hill	“	[182]
The “Diggings” (Azcapotzalco)	“	[206]
The Pyramid of San Juan Teotihuacan	“	[206]
The Siesta	“	[258]

FOREWORD

Though the events recorded in these letters are known to all the world, they may, perhaps, take on another significance seen through the eyes of one who has loved Mexico for her beauty and wept for the disasters that have overtaken her.

The time has not yet come for a full history of the events leading to the breaking off of diplomatic relations, but after much pondering I have decided to publish these letters. They were written to my mother, day by day, after a habit of long years, to console both her and me for separation, and without any thought of publication. In spite of necessary omissions they may throw some light on the difficulties of the Mexican situation, which we have made our own, and which every American wishes to see solved in a way that will testify to the persistence of those qualities that made us great.

Victoriano Huerta, the central figure of these letters, is dead, and many with him; but the tragedy of the nation still goes on. So above all thought of party or personal expediency, and because of vital issues yet to be decided, I offer this simple chronicle. The Mexican book is still open, the pages just turned are crumpled and ensanguined. New and momentous chapters for us and for Mexico are being written and I should be forever regretful had courage failed me to write my little share.

It is two years ago to-day that diplomatic relations were broken off between the two republics. It is more than two years since the Constitutionalists under Villa and Carranza have had our full moral and material support. The results have been a punitive expedition sent into Mexico to capture Villa, and very uncertain and unsatisfactory relations with the hostile de facto government under Carranza. As for beautiful Mexico—her industries are dead, her lands laid waste, her sons and daughters are in exile, or starving in the “treasure-house of the world.” What I here give forth—and the giving is not easy—I offer only with a trembling hope of service.

CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

FOREWORD