New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-05
Americans, Here on a Ward
Liner, Describe Peril
That Lasted Days.
BARRICADED HIMSELF
BETWEEN "SNIPERS'
Fugitive Hid in Hotel, Then Fled
to Steamer on Which Bullets
Hailed for Hours.


Mexico who reached this city yesterday
on the freight steamer Guantanamo. OF
the Ward Line, told thrilling tales OF the
adventures which had befallen them.
Even after they embarked upon the YES
sci their peril did not end, for the Guam
tanamo was In the harbor at Vera Cruz
when guns from the warships Chester
and Prairie were Smelling the city. Next
can marksmen. concealed In towers
warehouses and even on steamships ued
up AT the wharfs, swept the decks OF the
Ward liner with rife balls.
Every deck Of the steamer bore the
marks of Mexican bullets, while the
charthouse. which seemed 10 draw the
fire Of the Mexican snipers. was riddled
For four DAYS the passengers stayed
below the decks, which shook from the
firing OF the heavy guns on the American
warships, not daring TO venture out IN
the open
| No one on the steamer was injured. al
though at times the shells from the gun
boats in the harbor proved almost as
great menace as the guns of Mexican
guerillas in the city. Several projectiles
went screaming through the air WITHIN
fifty yards of the Guantanamo.
Most of the refugees came from Tam
pco Two Of the twenty were from vera
Cruz
BEFORE the Guantanamo steamed into
the harbor at Vera Cruz her hui ana
superstructure bore marks OF bullets. In
an engagement between the rebel and
Federal troops near Tampico, while the
steamer was I'm the Panuco River she
ran into a fusillade that spattered ABOUT
the decks The ship arrived AT Vera cruz
the night before the American warships
shelled the city. and there received an
other hail of Mexican bullets.
One OF the refugees, Jesse j. Barker
representing an American insurance COM
many. was in Vera Cruz when the bonn
bardment took place.
81 was at the Plaza Hotel" he said
Yesterday, when the firing began. Dur
ing the early stages of the firing the
hotel was struck several times by bull
let's. ! could hear them pinging against
the walls. but none came through my
window. Then things began 10 warm up.
The marines from the warships had land
cd and bullets were fairly raining all
about the hotel.
1T took all the furniture in the room
and made a barricade in the middle OF
the floor. I added all my luggage to that'
then wrapped the mattress from the oeo
about nv body. I crouched behind mat
and felt tolerably safe. Then heard
something that made my heart do some
thing like one-step and hesitation com
bined.
.'There was a sound OF hurTying feet In
the corridor outside my door; then com
mands and oaths in Spanish. The MeM-
can snipers had taken possession OF the
hotel.
when a hand was laid on my doorknoo
7 would have sold out for some l3 cents
Mexican money. The fellow was not per
sistent, however, for, while ! did not
sneak. he left the door and entered the
room next to mine While I sat In ST.
Ience for hours, trussed up in a mattress,
the Mexicans kept up continual hre
from the windows OF the hotel.
II was running a double chance Of be-
ing killed by the troops Of my own coun-
try. who fire with unpleasant accuracy
and the Mexicans In the rooms on either
side Of me Some OF the latter we're
killed. as were others or the roof or tho
building. When the fire from the Ameri-
can rifles became too hot for them they
left the hotel and | lost no time getuhs
IN the Guantanamo
A T. Sackett, a contracting OIL wen
driller. whose home is at lH East 3bth ST.
stood on the bridge OF the Ward liner
Union the first shell from the Prairie went
vyhistling over the Mexican city.
II McCurdy. an agent for the Aguila
OIL Company. took the Guantanamo at
Tampico. Three Mexican marksmen VINO
caused most Of the trouble for those on
tho steamer we're later captured, he SAID
and executed by the American marines.
J. "For two DAYS We wondered where the
Nexicans whose shots swept our decks
were concealed" he said.
"a small freight steamer named the
Sonora. only few piers from u.s. was
end N conceal the persistent snipers
when captured they had a large quantity
- or,runition. enough TO Withstand a
long siege
4 Other Of the refugees verified McCurdY
statement that the three marksmen were
ined ND against wall by the Americans
and shot
AT Tampico. during the engagement be
tueen the Federals and rebels MI.
Sackett who was staying at hoteI IN
that city. said the lives OF Americans
we're in peril almost constantly. AFTER
tho engagement, he said. the bodies OF
,ho dead were laid out in piles OF fifteen
outside the city. and after being well
snrirlled with oil and tar the loren was
applied. -
other refugees on the Guantanamo
Itch &c used ordinarily TO carry frelgnt'
go Mrs Alice Fades, whose husband
ron,oired in Tampico. and her four young
at,ndr.n. Mrs J. Langdon. whose nus
go also remained in the danger zone
nice lydia Page. Mrs. Carrie cooper
po,.1anpdon. Edward w. Marshall Rose
tToyes Lorenzo Giordano and wife and
Lawson Ciagett.
Am the refugees seemed 10 think Huerta
voc the only man in Mexico to-day VINO
wss capable OF dealing effectively WIN
the situation there.