The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-04-28

prise among the Mexicans who had
gathered there that the prisoners
were not released. They had been
accustomed to seeing the victor al
ways release prisoners and then i'm
press them all into his army.
Chief of Police Captured.
Chief of Police Antonio Villa Vim
cencio was taken prisoner by the
Americans shortly after they had oc-
cupied the main plaza of the city. 1t
was suggested to him that he con-
tinue in his official capacity to direct
the city's protective system. He took
the question under advisement Had
the frightened mayor made up his
mind to accede to Admiral Fletcher S
suggestion, which was made through
Consul Canada, the Mexicans might
have been spared the humiliation of
being forced from their positions and
undoubtedly number of lives would
not have been sacrificed
When Admiral Fletcher directed
that battalions of bluejackets and ma
rines be landed from Rear Admiral
Badgers ships before dawn and be
drawn up in the plaza before the rail
road station, thence to proceed to
take the entire town, he acted only
after warning and after Is shells
from the Prairie's three-inch guns had
been thrown into the steel framework
of the new market, which faces Mar
ket place. A persistent but scattered
fire came from rifles in the market
during all the early hours of the morn
ing, and Admiral Badgers men land
ed to the accompaniment of rifle bull
let's over their heads
Uniforms Dyed With Rust.
When the rush started Admiral Bad
gers bluejackets, clad in orange col
ored clothing, made for them on the
trip down by dyeing white uniforms
with iron rust, moved in close column
formation up the water front, past
the market and across the front Of the
naval college, long, three story struc
ture built of adobe and having a tile
roof. The column moved steadily for
! ward until the first company haG
passed beyond the college and the re
mainder were covering the whole front
close against the wall.
Suddenly a spatter of rifle firing
broke out. Flashes from the rifles
were plainly visible in the upper win
down of the college and along the
roofs. The jackies stood their ground
pluckily. Some of them huddled close
to the wall to avoid the rain of steel
jacketed bullets from above, while 9th
ers dashed across a small open space
directly in front Of the building. These
bluejackets dropped on their stomachs
and lifted their rifles high to get a
range on the windows above. Finally
the American officers hustled their
men either forward or backward I'M
til they were in the shelter OF nearby
buildings.
Men in Front Undaunted.
The jackies in front held their
places, however, and the Prairie sent
shell after shell from her three-inch
battery into the windows of the col
lege; huge columns of red dust leapeC
upward as each shot went home. The
Chester also joined in, and with &
roar her six-inch shells tore great gaps
in the roof of the college. Far to the
right OF the harbor the mine ship San
Francisco opened with her fve-inch
guns, and, taking the front OF the col
lege, shot out window after window
planting the shells with the precision
of target practise.
After Is minutes of firing the Prai
RE and tie San Francisco ceased anC
the column of jackies formed agar
and pushed ahead, deploying around
the front of the college. A few shots
were directed at them, but none came
from the college. The Chester contin
ued hurting shells into any building il
which snipers lurked and also far out
into the suburbs.
The jackies went ahead without fal
tering, spreading out through the wa
terfront sections, Selling the high
est buildings and organizing squads OF
guards at street intersections.
The fire along the front gradually
slackened and then died out, but the
Chester sent a few shots into the
hills before ceasing. The Hancock
with 700 marines on board, and the
'battleship Michigan arrived too late
to participate in the fighting.
Wounded and prisoners were taken
aboard the Prairie until the arrival OF
the Solace, about noon.
Vera Cruz Thoroughly Cowed.
Conditions in Vera Cruz began to
take on a normal aspect Thursday.
Some of the restaurants were opened
and a considerable part of the native
population began to appear in the
streets inspecting the damage done.
There were no expressions of good
will for the Americans, but there was
no apparent antagonism. The Mexi-
cans here seem thoroughly cowed and
appear to accept with passiveness the
presence of the foreign forces.