The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-02-21
HANDFUL OF YANKS
WIN FIERCE FIGHT
Responsible for the Victory Ov-
er Madriz Force at
Vicente.
DETAILS OF THE BATTLE
REBELS WE'RE OUTNUMeERED.
BUT ENCOURAGED BY THE
AMERICAN SHARPSHOOTERS,
THEY FOUGHT LIKE DEVILS.

Bluefields, Feb. 21.-Americans took
q very active part in the battle between
the insurgents and the Madriz forces
at st. Vicente, and one of them at
least was badly wounded. They were
under Captain Victor Gordon, with
General Mena, the contingent being
known as the American scouts.
The wounded man is William Will
kins, who Joined the Professionals from
Panama. A steel bullet struck the
cartridge clip across his shoulder near
the heart, and DETECTED, penetrating
the arm ana leg.
Another scout, G. T. Bushby, was
bruised when a stone from behind
which he was firing, was shattered by
a cannon ball. Bushby was thrown
90 feet, but he came back to the fight.
In despatch which he sent here,
Captain Gordon states that the battle
began on the fifteenth. They reached
Chinao on the eighteenth when, after
10 hours of desperate attacks, and
counter attacks, the enemy, under Cen
eral Vasquez, retired to a secondary
position, from where this morning they
opened a desultory artillery fire which
ceased entirely at 10 o'clock.
Will Change Tactics.
According to General Gordon. Vas
quez was beaten, although his GOO men
outnumbered the provisional forces
two to one. Vasques can receive no
reinforcements, and when all Matuty's
men arrive, and they are expected
hourly, General Mena will assume the
aggressive and will attempt to drive
Vasquez towards the lake.
Early in the morning of the eigh-
teenth the enemy's guns demolished
Mena's left trenches, drawing out his
force, including the Americans Mena
reformed and recaptured the place. The
enemy then opened in front of 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 Vasquez's personal effects
were taken, and the general himself
got away only by close margin.
Proved a Fierce Battle.
The fierceness of the battle is indi-
Gated by the fact that two of Mena's
guns were disabled. Another was
twice dismounted, but each time re-
planted. doing effective work. Mena's
loss was II wounded.
Gordon is of the opinion that the
enemy's loss was heavy, as their as
saults were delivered across an open
space in the face of artillery. When
the enemy withdrew Frank Reynolds
at the head of five other Americans,
holly pursued them, coming within 50
yards of capturing Maxim, when they
were compelled to desist.
At times the bullets, shells and
shrapnell came so fast that it was i'm
possible to see on account of the dust
kicked up.
One of the enemy's MaXims was cap
tured by assault. this being the opera
ton in which Wilkins was wounded.
He was borne to the rear by comrades
in the midst of hail of bullets.
Hand-to-Hand Fight.
Once the Americans ran out of am
munition, and before new supply
came were compelled to defend them
selves in a hand-to-hand fight. Five
additional Americans under General
Zeledon were placed in command of
10 Nicaraguans, with whom they turn
ed the enemy's left flank in a move
ment which shortly afterward termi-
mated in the enemy's complete retire
ment.
The Americans were Don M. Turner
of Ell Pace: J. III. Herman of MascOu-
tab. Ill.,; F.. e. Thomas, recently of 10
hannesburg. South Africa: Lewis
Ross. of Milwaukee, and 7. D. Moore
Of Dover. Fla.
Upon the enemy's retirement Menas
cavalry gave chase, but were unable
to come up before Vasquez had taken
shelter on high hill. 1t was from
this new position that Vasquez bonn
barded today. Apparently. further
fighting is inevitable, although prison
ers taken by the provisional forces re-
port that Vasquez's men are DESERVING
IN SQUADS