The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-02-21
INSURGENTS DRIVE
VA@Qyfz TO HILLS
Six Days Battle at St. Vincente
Leaves Government Army
at Disadvantage

BLUEFIELDS. Nicaragua, Feb. 90
Americans took an active part in the
battle between the insurgents and the
Madriz forces at st. Vincente. and at
least one was badly wounded
They were under Captain Victor Cor
don, with General Mena, the contingent
being known as the American scouts"
The wounded man is William wilkins,
who joined the PROFESSIONALS from Pana
ma. A steel bullet struck tlle cart
ridge clip swung across his shoulder,
near the heart. and detected, penetrat-
ing the arm and leg
Another scout. G.. t. Bushby, was
bruised when a stone behind which he
was firing was shattered by a cannon
ball. Bushby was thrown 20 feet, but
he went back to the fight.
FIGHT LASTS SIX DAYS
In dispatch that he has sent here.
Captain Gordon says that the battle
began February Is. The insurgents
reached Chinao February Is, when,
after 10 hours Of desperate attacks and
counter attacks the enemy under Cen
eral NasqueZ retired to a second posi-
ton. from where this morning they
opened desultory artillery fire that
ceased at 10 o'clock
According to Captain Gordon, Vas
quez was beaten, although his 500 men
outnumbered the provisional forces two
to one. Nasquez can receive no rein
forcements, and when all Matuity's men
arrive, and they are expected hourly.
General Mena will assume the aggres-
sive and will attempt to drive Vasquez
toward the lake.
VAsQUEZ HAS NARROW ESCAPE
I-ab,.,ra,.x- I
the enemy's guns demolished Mena's
left trenches. drawing out his force,
including the Americans. Mena re-
formed and captured the place The
enemy then formed in front of a new
hill. but Mena executed a thanking
movement, causing the government
troops to retire in great confusion.
They abandoned many rifles and mar
rowly saved a Maxim Some of Vas
quez' personal effects were taken and
the general himself got away only by
a close margin.
The ferceness of the battle is indi-
Gated by the fact that two of Mena' $
guns were disabled Another was
twice dismounted. but each time re-
planted. doing effective execution.
Mena's loss was II wounded Gordon
thinks that the enemys loss was heavy.
as their assaults were delivered across
open spaces in the face of artillery.
When the enemy withdrew. Frank
Reynolds. at the head of FIVE other
Americans. holly pursued them, coming
within so yards of capturing q Maxim.
when his men were compelled to desist.
At times the bullets shells and shrap-
mel came so thick that ii was difficult
to see because of the dust.
One of the enemy's MaXims was cap
tured by assault. this being the oper-
alton in which wilkins was wounded.
He was carried to the rear by COM
rades in the midst OF a hail of bullets.
Once the Americans ran out of am
munition and. before a new supply
came. they were compelled to defend
themselves in hand to hand fight.
AMERICANS LEAD PURsUERs
Five additional Americans, under
General Zeleden, were placed in COM
rnand of 40 Nicaraguans. with whom
they turned the enemy's left in move
ment that shortly afterward termi-
mated in the enemy's complete retire
ment
These Americans were Don NJ. Tur-
ner of Ell PasO. J. II. Herman of Mas
coutah, H.: r Z. Thomas. recently of
Johannesburg, South Africa Lewis
Boss of Milwaukee. and T. D. Moore of
Dover. Fla.
Upon the enemy's retirement Mena' s
cavalry gave chase. but We're unable to
come up before Vasquez had taken
shelter on a high hin It was from
this position that Vasquez bombarded
today. Apparently, further lighting is
( inevita BILE although prisoners taken by
the provisional forces report that Vas
quez men are deserving in squads.
ZeIaya Reaches Madrid
MADRID Feb 20-Former President