before me an endless existence in Vera
Cruz.

RICHARD.

On May 7 Richard started for Mexico City where, if possible, he
intended to interview Huerta. At Pasco de Macho he was arrested, but
afterward was allowed to proceed to Mexico City. Here he was again
arrested, and without being allowed to interview Huerta was sent back
the day after his arrival to Vera Cruz.

Of this Vera Cruz experience John N. Wheeler, a friend of Richard's and
the manager of the syndicate which sent him to Mexico, wrote the
following after my brother's death:

"Richard Harding Davis went to Vera Cruz for a newspaper syndicate, and
after the first sharp engagement in the Mexican seaport there was
nothing for the correspondent to do but kill time on that barren, low
lying strip of Gulf coast, hemmed in on all sides by Mexicans and the
sea, and time is hard to kill there. Yet there was a story to be got,
but it required nerve to go after it.

"In Mexico City was Gen. Huerta, the dictator of Mexico. If a
newspaper could get an interview with him it would be a 'scoop,' but
the work was inclined to be dangerous for the interviewer, since
Americans were being murdered rather profusely in Mexico at the time in
spite of the astute assurances of Mr. Bryan, and no matter how
substantial his references the correspondent was likely to meet some
temperamental and touchy soldier with a loaded rifle who would shoot
first and afterward carry his papers to some one who could read them.

"One of the newspapers taking the stories by Mr. Davis from the
syndicate had a staff man at Vera Cruz as well, and thought to 'scoop'
the country by sending this representative to see Huerta, in this way
'beating' even the other subscribers to the Davis service. An
interview in Mexico City was consequently arranged and the staff man
was cabled and asked to make the trip. He promptly cabled his refusal,
this young man preferring to take no such chances. It was then
suggested that Mr. Davis should attempt it. By pulling some wires at
Washington it was arranged, through the Brazilian and English
Ambassadors at the Mexican capital, for Mr. Davis to interview
President Huerta, with safe conduct (this being about as safe as
nonskid tires) to Mexico City. Mr. Davis was asked if he would make
the trip. In less than two hours back came this laconic cable:

"'Leaving Mexico City to-morrow afternoon at 3 o'clock.'

"That was Richard Harding Davis--no hesitancy, no vaci