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round for an hour。 My！ it was good。 It reminded me of my dear Bessie； because the last time I was in the ocean was with her。
Maybe you know what is going on； but we do not。 So I just hustle around all day trying to find news as I did when I was a reporter。 It is hot enough here even for me； and I have lost about eight pounds of that fat I laid in during our North Pole winter！
VFRA CRUZ…May 8； 1914。
DEAR CHAS。：
Today； when Wilson ordered Huerta not to blockade Tampico which was an insult to Mediators and the act of a bully and a coward； AND a declaration of war； we all got on our ponies to 〃advance。〃 Then came word Huerta would not blockade。 It is like living in a mad house。 We all are hoping mediators refuse to continue negotiations。 If they have self respect that is what they will do。 Tonight if Wilson and Huerta ran for President； Huerta would get all our votes。 He may be an uneducated Indian； but at least he is a man。 However； that makes no never mind so far as to my getting back。 The reason I cannot return is because I have 〃credentials。〃 It is not that they want ME here； but they want my credentials here。 The administration is using； as I see it； the privilege of having a correspondent at the front as a club。 It says until war is declared it won't issue any more。 So those syndicates who have no correspondent and the papers forming them； are afraid to attack or to criticise the administration for fear they will be blacklisted。 And those who have a correspondent with his three thousand dollar signed and sealed pass in his pocket aren't taking any chance on losing him。 So； I see 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 Davisno hesitancy； no vacillation。 He was always willing to go； to take any chance； to endure discomfort and all if he had a fighting opportunity to get the news。 The public now knows that Davis was arrested on this trip； that Huerta refused to make good on the interview； and that it was only through the good efforts of the British Ambassador at the Mexican capital he was released。 But Davis went。
〃There was an echo of this journey to the Mexican capital several months later after the conflict in Europe had been raging for a few weeks。 Lord Kitchener announced at one stage of the proceedings he would permit a single correspondent； selected and indorsed by the United States Government； to accompany the British army to the front。 Of course； all the swarm of American correspondents in London at the time were eager for the desirable indorsement。 Mr。 Davis cabled back the conditions of his acceptance。 Immediately Secretary of State Bryan was called in Washington on the long…distance telephone。
〃‘Lord Kitchener has announced；' the Secretary of State was told； ‘that he will accept one correspondent with the British troops in the field； if he is indorsed by the United States Government。 Richard Harding Davis； who is in London； represents a string of the strongest newspapers in the United States for this syndicate； and we desire the indorsement of the State Department so he can obtain this appointment。'
〃‘Mr。 Davis made us some trouble when he was in Mexico；' answered Mr。 Bryan。 ‘He proceeded to the Mexican capital without our consent and I will have to consider the matter very carefully before indorsing him。 His Mexican escapade caused us some diplomatic efforts and embarrassment。' （What the Secretary of State did to bring about Mr。 Davis's release on the occasion of his Mexican arrest is still a secret of the Department。）
〃Mr。 Bryan did not indorse Mr。 Davis finally； which was well； since Lord Kitchener of Khartum kept the selected list of correspondents loafing around London on one pretext or another so long they all became disgusted and went without an official pass from ‘K。 of K。' As soon as Mr。 Davis was told he would not be appointed he proceeded to Belgium and returned some of the most thrilling stories written on this conflict at great personal risk。〃
May 13； 1914。 MY DEAREST ONE：
DO NOT BLAME me for this long delay in writing。 God knows I wanted every day to 〃talk〃 to you。 But we were on the 〃suspect〃 list； and to make even a note was risky。 The way I did it was to exclaim over the beauty of some flower or tree； and then ask the Mexican nearest me to write the name of it HIMSELF in MY notebook。 Then I would say； 〃In English that would be〃 and I would pretend to write beside it the English equivalent； but really would write the word that was the key to what I wished to remember。 So； you see； a letter at that rate of progress was impossible。 It was a case of 〃Can't get away to cable you today； police won't let me！〃 However； we are all safe at home again。 As a matter of fact； I had a most exciting time； and am dying to tell you the 〃insie〃 story。 But the one I sent the papers must serve。