Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-04-12

| 1ish at the end Of the 18TH and com
mencement OF the 18th century caus-
ed the vlceroys of New Spain much
measiness REGARDING the safety OF
Vera Cruz, especially after the capture
of Havana by the British. San Juan
de Ulua was heavily garrisoned and
strong Spanish squadron cruised in
the gulf, but although an attack was
meditated by tne English, it was new
er carried ont
During the war of Independence
Vera Cruz PLAYED a most important
part in that prolonged struggle. The
great proportions OF its inhabitants
We're Spaniards, and were loyal 10
the crown. while over and above ev-
erything else the vast business inter
ests that naturally centered in the
principal port of New Spain were
strongly adverse TO any movement
that interfered with their enormous
and wealthy commerce. Through
Vera Cruz the Spanish government
poured munitions of war and treasure
into the country to combat the Mex
leans who had taken up arms for
their independence and the hardest
blow struck against the power of
Spain was the continual raids made
upon and the destruction of the great
paved road tnat led from Vera Cruz
to the capital by the insurgents, and
which indeed was the only commupi-
c;tion between the coast and the in
terror The lower portion Of this
road was not only built GS08) but
kept in repair by the merchants of
Vera Cruz. They were a. corporate
body governed by an elected con
sulado," consisting of the most emf
nent merchants. This body acted as
a court of justice in all commercial
affairs, which they decided with
promptitude and equity without the
Intervention of lawyers. The body
enjoyed considerable corporate
wealth which was expended in pro
noting the security of the port and
in improving the roads that led to it.
For these purposes a tax was levied
on all imports and exports. which
was expended under the 'consulado's''
direction.
After the accession of lturbide to
the throne of Mexico, the fortress of
san Juan de Ulua was the only terri
tory held by the Spaniards. in fact,
IT was not until the 18th of September,
1924, that the last Spanish command
er, General Copinger. finally withdrew
his troops 10 the Havana.
The first move against lturbide was
made in Vera Cruz December 6. 1922,
when a republic was proclaimed by
General Lopez de Santa Ana This
movement was successful and the en-
peror was defeated and banished.
In 1923 the Spanish governor of
Ulua turned his guns upon Vera Cruz.
The bombardment was so severe that
| the entire population left en- masse
leaving only handful of troops to
| man the batteries that maintained a
weak and Inefficient reply to the cas-
ties fire. Men. women and children
| left for the interior, while the mer-
| chants and the trade of the place went
| to Alvarado. Is leagues to the south.
| A member Of the first foreign lega-
| ton accredited to the young repub-
lie. Mr.. Ward, afterwards British min
lister, leaves a melancholy account of
his arrival, Dec. II, 1923, He writes:
| Nothing could exceed the melan-
choly appearance OF the streets
| through which we passed. town
| entirely abandoned by its inhabitants
| must he at all times strange and
mournful sight; but when to this un-
| natural solitude are added tae marks
of recent warfare, houses riddled with
shot churches half in ruins and
| flights Of vultures, congregating
| around the carcass of some dead ami
NAL in the streets, it is difficult to
| imagine a more striking picture of
| desolation."
Even with the final expulsion of the
| Spaniards little rest came to Vera
| Cruz. Her wealth and commanding
| position and especially the hard cash
| in her custom house treasury always
made her an object most desirable to
the many revolutionists that were the
curse of Mexico in her early days and
the great port was not altogether neg
| lected by foreign foes.
| Oct, Z, 1898. the French Admiral
Baudin, with a powerful fleet appear,
ed off Vera Cruz to enforce certain
claims preferred by French citizens
against the republic for damages suf-
fered during the various civil wars
that had lately devastated the coun-
| try. These were denied by the Mex
lean government in specific terms
| The validity of the entire claim may
be judged by one item-s6O 0O0-de-
manded by a French pastry cook to
indemnify him for pies stolen from
him and eaten by revolutionists
| From this item the claim received the
| derisive name of the reclamation
| de pastees'-the claim of the pies.
The French ultimaum being denied
the French admiral, after a few hours
| bombardment, hoisted his flag over
| San Juan de Ulua, and on Dec. he
landed three divisions and attacked
the town, Prince de Joinville, son
| of the French king being one of the