The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-04-22

I
| J. L. Kwabick, seaman.
Badly Wounded.
II N. Swartsoid, seaman, New York.
w. NJ. Davidson, marine private.
II J. Mcmillan, marine private.
II F. N. Nauz, sailor.
II r. s. Hoker, marine private.
II J. Copeland, sailor.
II V. J. Reed, marine private.
II w. J. Mangels.
II Six others slightly injured
10y Charles D. Gross, Staff Core
| spondent of the International
| News Service.]
VERA CRUZ, Mex, April 22-Rear
Admiral Badgers dun-colored dread
naughts of the Atlantic fleet arrived
here early today and anchored off the
harbor. 1t was still dark when they
| arrived here. The salute from Ad-
miral Fletcher's flagship, the Florida,
gave notice that they had come.
| With the arrival Of Admiral Bad
gers ships and those from Tampico
under command of Rear Admiral
\ Mayo, the american commander will
! be able to land $4,000 marines and
sailors.
| Machine guns have been mounted at
strategic points about these structures
and heavy guard has been stationed
about the American consulate where
Consul Canada during the night di-
rected the departure Of American ref
ugees to the steamers Esperanza and
Mexico.
| Intense anxiety was caused here to-
day by the failure of the third section
of special train bearing Americans
from Mexico City to arrive. This Sec
ton carried three hundred Americans,
mostly women and children, who left
Mexico City yesterday.
Bridges Blown Up.
1t is reported here that General
Mas has blown up the large bridge
on the Mexican railroad just outside
Vera Cruz, and friends of the refugees
| fear that all railroad communication
has been cut off, and that the fleeing
Americans will have to make their
way overland. This would prove a
perilous journey in view of the present
conditions.
There was intense activity around
the United States consulate, with ref
ugee Americans frantically attempting
to get word of their safety to relatives
or friends in the United States.
The United States troops, who had
been in the first landing party, biv-
| Ouacked in the street or in buildings
provided by the American consul.
The wind was freshening and the
skies We're clouding up for norther
when the first boat put off from the
fleet to take Vera Cruz.
! Beginning shortly after 10 o'clock
| Sunday morning the activities among
the sailors and marines on the Utah,
Florida and the transport Prairie indi-
Gated action. The Prairie steamed
from her position to point opposite
the custom house, and about a quarter
of mile from shore. Her boats we're
lowered and marines could be seen
clamboring into them with their guns
clasped in their hands. At the stroke
of twelve the first, with United States
flags ripping at their stern, bumped
the wharf and the men began climbing
ashore at double quick.
| Ready for Action
Boat after boat discharged it's cargo
with the precision Of clockwork, and
soon three hundred men were upon
Mexican soil ready for action. In the
meantime boats from the Utah and
Florida were putting off, making their
way toward the shore under the pro-
lection of the firing guns on the war
ships.
At 100 o'clock the Utah sent land
ing party to a point near the Mexican
barracks. The guns of the Prairie
were flaming, and under this fire the
boats made the shore without any re-
sistance from the Mexicans.
Admiral Fletcher flashed signal to
the Prairie to discontinue it's bonn
bardment, and the moment the guns
ceased to roar a detachment of ma
mines put off from one of their war
ships and marched through the streets
to the British consulate. The English
consul offered the protection of the
union jack to any American refugees
who might be cut off from the Ameri-
can consulate by the battle fire.
| At 2:3O o'clock the Mexican fire had
become furious, and the Prairie drop
ped a few shells into the quarters
where the Mexican fire was heaviest.
Admiral Bush, of the Florida. who
commanded the landing party, sent de-
tachments of men to seize the post
| office and railway terminals. The
American troops had to pass through a
scathing rifle fire from an unseen
enemy, but not man flinched. With
these strategic points of vantage in the
hands of the Americans, Bush decided
he had the city in complete control.
and refused to send any of his forces
into the heart of the city and expose
them to a needless death-dealing fire.
| At o'clock Captain Hughes came
ashore AS he passed by squad of
marines manning a three-inch gun
from the Florida, he stopped and
! smiled pleasantly.
Marines Cheer.
"Well. boys, are you having as much
fun as you expected?" he asked.
The marines cheered, and one of
them shouted: you bet we are!"
Reports came to Hughes that the
Mexican fire was increasing.
At $3.50 O'Clock he sent a message
to General Mas, the Mexican COM
mandant, saying that IL the Mexicans
were not called off the American fleet
would lombard the city.
By early afternoon there were about
one thousand men upon the shore
front and the streets around the cable
office and the United States consulate.
They were equally divided between
| jackies and marines.
| Before the boats of the first landing
lparty reached the shore the Mexican