Honduras In Fear As President Dies.

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 22, 1913:
Tegucigalpa Full of Rumors of Revolution, Involving All Central America.
ZELAYA AGENTS ARE BUSY
Representatives of Other Cabals Reported at Work Now That Bonilla Has Passed Away.
Special to The New York Times.
    NEW ORLEANS, March 21.— A dispatch from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, reports the death to-day of President Manuel Bonilla, and says:
    "In the streets and clubs of the capital to-night it was a matter of open conjecture whether his death would not throw all Central America into a general upheaval. For nearly a month Tegucigalpa and other Central American cities have been full of talk of the long-expected great revolution that is to set up a solid federation and forever shake off the protecting hand of the United States.
    Emissaries of Zelaya, who has always been a dominant factor in Honduran affairs and who caused several of the leading Honduran revolutions, are in the city, and are reported active. Delegations from the Huerta Government in Mexico and from at least one of the Mexican rebel chieftains have also been in touch with the National Palace, although their purpose is said to have been not political.
    "Dr. Bertrand, the Vice President who succeeds Bonilla, is popular here and throughout the country, but his capacity for statesmanship is doubted, and he lacks the flavor of romance and filibustering that made Bonilla an idol of the poorer classes. It is believed here that he will not attempt to hold his post for any great length of time, probably resigning. In that event, in audition to the cabals already mentioned, Juan Estrada of Nicaragua and Jostrada Cabrera of Guatemala, are to be reckoned with.
    "Active steps have been taken to get the military well in hand, and forces are reported already on the borders, having been dispatched there several days ago, when the condition of the President became critical."
    Dr. Bertrand is the son of a Spanish merchant who married in Honduras. He is 46 years old. He will serve two years and ten months, filling out Bonilla's unexpired term. After the overthrow of the Davila Government in Honduras in February, 1911, he served as Provisional President, holding the office one year.
    Dr. Policarpo Bonilla, a former President of Honduras now living here in exile, predicts that Bertrand will succeed in reuniting the various political factions of the republic. He does not think, as do some others, that the death of Dr. Manuel Bonilla will be followed by political uprisings.

    WASHINGTON, March 21.— President Manuel Bonilla of Honduras died at Tegucigalpa to-day of kidney trouble, according to a private telegram received here.
    Dr. Bonilla had been afflicted with Bright's disease for about a year and a half. His condition gradually grew worse, and for the past few days he had had several severe convulsions.
    Manuel Bonilla was twice President of Honduras, first from 1904 until the early part of 1907, when he was ousted by President Zelaya of Nicaragua after a short rebellion in which the Nicaraguan took part. In the interval of his private citizenship. Bonilla, aided by Lee Christmas, headed several fights against Davila, whom Zelaya had caused to be made President in his place. When he was President in 1904, Policarpo Bonilla, an ex-President and his cousin, alienated the Congress from Manuel, and was arrested, together with many members of that body, for conspiring to rid the republic of Manuel. Manuel suspended the Constitution, declared martial law, and proclaimed himself dictator. It was then that Zelaya intervened and drove the dictator out of the country.
    In February, 1908, Manuel, after two unsuccessful attempts to regain power, was one of those indicted in New Orleans by the United States Grand Jury in connection with a filibustering expedition which sailed from New Orleans in December of the previous year. He was in Central America at the time of the indictment, and was never brought to trial; but he continued his assaults against the Government of Honduras. Re-entering the country over which he formerly ruled, and from which he was practically banished after being deposed, Bonilla in 1911 proclaimed himself "Constitutional President of the Republic of Honduras," and on Nov. 3, 1911, Manuel assumed the actual Presidency. His action was ratified by the Honduran Congress on Jan. 10, 1912.