Turner Near Death In Mexico.

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 8, 1913:
Escaped in Disguise — Attacks Wilson — Others Tell of Deaths in Battle.
    John Kenneth Turner, the magazine writer and newspaper man, who arrived yesterday from Vera Cruz on the Mexico, according to his own account had three lucky escapes from death. He was led out to be shot three times, he said, but each time the officer in command of the firing squad appeared to have something else to do and he was led back to his dungeon to think until the next time.
    The writer seemed to be bitter against Ambassador Wilson, whom he accused of not doing anything to protect him from the revolutionists.
    "It is not owing to the Ambassador that I am landing in New York to-day," Mr. Turner said. "On Feb. 16 I was walking in the city about half a mile from the arsenal when I was arrested by one of Diaz's outposts for a spy. I was taken before a General, who ordered me to be confined in a dungeon in the arsenal, where I remained seven hours until Ambassador Wilson came in answer to my note.
    "He listened to all I had to say and then replied that it was one of his busy days, but that I would be safe there for the night and that he would be able to get me released the following morning.
    "Then Mr. Wilson asked me for my name, and I gave him a fictitious one, as I was afraid to give my own name because I thought that the rebels might shoot me right off if they knew who I was. Afterward he asked me for the names of my friends, and I had to give him my real name to identify them.
    "On hearing that I was John Kenneth Turner, the writer, the Ambassador appeared to be very peeved, although I told him my reason for concealing my identity from the rebels. He told me that the rebels would have to be told who I was, but no harm would happen to me that night. After the Ambassador left I managed to destroy a letter in my possession from President Madero, which would have meant my being shot without any time for coffee or frijoles if the Diaz soldiers had discovered it on me.
    "Later I was taken again before the General, who charged me with attempting the life of Gen. Diaz, and ordered me to be locked up. Three times I was led to the shooting ground in the fortress and brought back. On the evening of the third day there was a big parade in the city of the Diaz troops, and all the senior officers went to take part, including the commandant of cadets, who had $500 of mine, which he kept as a souvenir. I was left in charge of a Captain, who appeared to be almost human, and allowed me to go for a stroll in the cool of the evening. He was not aware just who I was, but no doubt found out later. I disguised myself with false whiskers and big glasses and got away to Vera Cruz and shipped on the Mexico as Alexander Craig."
    Peter L. Griffiths, who was with his wife and two sons on the Mexico, said that they had brought back the body of his mother, Mrs. Charles Griffiths, who was killed by the same shell which struck Mrs. Holmes, in whose house they were staying. The latter named died instantly, but Mrs. Griffiths lived three hours, her son said.
    When asked about Ambassador Wilson and what he did to help the Americans who were in Mexico City during the fighting in the streets, Mr. Griffiths said that Mr. Wilson did all in his power for the protection of American life and property.
    "He caused a truce to be made for twenty-four hours to allow the Americans to get safely away, and also ordered the Federal ordinance to be moved."
    Mr. and Mrs. Mantell, who were also staying at Mrs. Holmes's house, were on the Mexico with the Griffiths family, ana they had all lost their effects, which had been stolen by the soldiers, they said.
    Another passenger was Mrs. Richard M. Meredith, whose husband was killed as he stood at a window on the fifth floor of Porter's Hotel. She left his body behind in Vera Cruz on account of the delay by the Mexican officials in giving the necessary papers.
    Mrs. Meredith said she had left her husband in a room upstairs, talking with some of his associates, and had sat down in the lobby to wait for him.
    "I could hear the shells in the distance," she said, "but did not feel any fear, as the hotel clerk told me that we were 150 meters out of the firing line. Suddenly I heard a noise upstairs, and then calls for a doctor, and a few minutes latter the name of Meredith, and the men all looked toward me. That s how I first knew that my husband, had been shot, and that I was left alone in Mexico.