The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-05-14
MICH1GAN's DEATH TOLL.
aY wlNeRovE RArhoN.

Star, with the American Forces
at Vera Cruz.
steamer).-The Michigan, in common
with the other battleships OF the fleet,
tonight paid her toll of life.
The patriotism which has found its
most recent expression in the demand
that h flag shall be honored was
brought home to the men OF the Mich
igan in the death of Chief Gunner's
Mate Boswell under circumstances
which are typical Of the splendid be-
hayior OF the men of the fleet in the
present circumstances at Vera Cruz.
Boswell, who belonged In the 4th
Company of this ship, went ashore
when the -1ichigan battalion was
landed this afternoon, In the First Com
pany (the artillery company, because
he was in general charge of the field
pieces of the Michigan's battalion. He
was 3 first class a highly thought of
by his officers and was about to be
made a torpedo gunner's mate, .
When Lieutenant Commander Green
slade, commanding the Michigan's
battalion gave the order to march, as
the men landed on the Vera Cruz dock
the men proceeded in good SPIRITS, not
withstanding the "snipe shooting" they
expected from the housetops, through
Gale Vicario, TO Avenida Indepen-
dencia, the principal street OF Vera
Cruz. The newspaper correspondents
attached to the Michigan had been
walking through this street half an
hour before and many other people
were going to and fro.
Shots From Housetops. ~
Shots had been fired from the house
tops almost every block or SO as the
Michigan's men came ashore. The
artillery company in which Boswell
was located was between two infantry
companies Of the Michigan outfit. Be-
cause Of the shots from the housetops
the men marched with eyes on the
buildings through which they passed,
and with rifles raised, threateningly, at
their unseen enemies.
Then came the shot that struck Bos-
weL-in the main street of Vera Cruz,
as the men marched to take up their
intended position In the barracks OF the
Nineteenth federal Mexican infantry.
As Boswell fell. there was, Just for q
second, a glanctng at officers by the
men, and. the command came to q halt,
Lieutenant Commander Greenslade and
Lieutenant Thomas got q squad to-
gether IN q few minutes to 60 into the
buildings through which the march had
been made.
Four Mexicans were found and ar
rested In OF the upper stories OF one
of tho buildings. The battalion had
moved on. The squad followed. An
other squad took Boswell's body back
to the landing and from there to the
Solace. t.a. ~ ..s 49,.
The officers Of the Michigan's bat
talon say that as their men realized
that one OF their number had been as
~sassinated in cold blood, 1t was touch
co. for a moment what they would
DO In. hat block of the Avenida Inde-
pendenc!a. True to their teaching
however, 'the men OF the Michigan, as
have the men of all the battleships
stood fast, and took no revenge.
Men Ashore at Vera Cruz.
Vera Cruz, Mex, April 20 (by mail
steamer .)-7Nine battIeships Of the At
lantic fleet have each landed approx
mately 800 men in this city, making q
total Of 2,700 of these men, the ships
being the Arkansas, Florida, Utah
Michigan, New Jersey, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Minnesota and South
Carolina. The. Louisiana. the other
battleship here with the fleet, has not
yet landed men and is not expected to
do so. At this writing she is coaling
and is expected to up anchor" and
away for Tampico, to join Admira,
Mayo's forces, which include the tor
pedo boat d~estroyers sent there yeEter-
day morning.
In addition to the 2,7o0 men above
mentioned, there are men ashore from
the Prairie and Chester of the Atlantic
fleet, an addition of about 600. as vel
as 800 marines under Lieutenant Col
onel Lejeune, which came from the
Hancock and other similar ships. This
makes a total of 500 United States
sailors and marines-in the expedition
airy force In possession of Vera Cruz to-
day. The gunboat Nashville came In
today. The Solace, hospital ship, ar"
rived yesterday, The dead and wounded
are being taken to the latter vessel.
The living, breathing, excited city Of
Vera Cruz today deals with the present,
the necessities OF the moment, as mar
otter mar 10 added to the list of those
who have been "pot-shotted"-"sniped,'
as the sailors and marines call 1t. A
few minutes ago q squad of men from
the Florida set nj a machine gun be-
hind a barricade of sacks OF coffee
"commandeered'' from the railroad ter
minals and "let fly" through a house
I'm which they had caught q sharp.
shooter who had picked off, n Of
their men. There were said to be-
others In tho building, and the Florida
men thought the machine gun test
better che than the so-called "acid'
test OF asking questions, such as where
did you get this gun" and 'what are
you going 10 do with this ammunltion?'
Palaver Doesn't Go.
The "amigo~mion business, meaning
you and ! arc friends" doesn't go
aLE 40