Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-05-20
MEXICAN SHIPPERS
SHOOT YOUNG GIRL
Interesting Incidents of Occupation Of
Vera Cruz by the American Troops
Senorita Mas Likes "Gringoes."
By Bernard Rucker.
ited Press Staff Correspondent. J

Proposes mediation in difficulty be-
tween Mexico and the United States. "
That was the caption of recent edi.
tion of the Mexican Herald over the
story of Argentina, Brazil and Chill IS
offer to try to settle the Mexican diff.
ficulty and Secretary of State Bryan's
reply which Secretary of the Navy
Daniels wirelessed to Rear Admiral
Badger, The typographical error caus.
ed many a laugh in the American col.
ony and more "watchful waiting" was
predicted. The MeHean Herald is tho
first English newspaper ever published
in Vera Cruz. Hudson, its owner, pub.
lished his paper in Mexico City until
he was forced to flee the capital. He
Immediately bought press here and
issued his first paper on Friday.
The publication of the GA. b. c."
offer caused much dissatisfaction
among the naval men and Americans
here. They Immediately conjectured
that the move meant lot more de.
lay.
The shooting by Mexican snipers of
a 1G.year'old Mexican girl in street
near the Plaza was one of the most
pathetic incidents o. the two days
fighting.
In the fighting the little girls ia.
ther was killed and she became separ
ated from her mother. Two Red Cross
men found her alone, frightened and
crying in a house which they searched.
Placing the girl between them, the Red
Cross men started with her to place
of safety. On the way down the Ave.
nido Independence, snipers fired on
the party and the girl was instantly
killed. So far as known, she was the
only female killed in the fighting.
Another shocking incident was the
killing on the third night of l2-year.
old Spanish boy. At 1880 that night
the patrol went through the streets
warning all natives to stay in their
houses The Spanish boy was told by
his father to stay indoors, but when
firing began his curiosity got the bet
ter of him. He was shot and killed
almost in his own doorway.
The U. S. S. Collier Orion has been
the busiest ship in tne harbor since
the arrival of the Atlantic fleet. The
Orion carried 10000 tons of coal
enough to fill the bunkers of five
dreadnaughts.
As soon as tae Arkansas took NJ
her position, she coaled, and then the
New Jersey and South Carolina emp
tied the Orion. Other colliers filled
the bunkers of the other ships.
No matter what some Mexicans may
; think of the American marines, Senior
ita Mas, the beautiful and charming
daughter of General Mas, federal com
mander of Vera, has the utmost conf
dence in their honesty.
When General Mas and his famil,
fled into the interior, Captain Ander
son of the Florida, in charge of all thu
marines, occupied the Mas mansion a
his headquarters. All the rooms ex
cept those occupied by Anderson ant
his staff were locked up.
Two days later Senorita Mas cam
in from Soledad where her father i
camped and went to her home. Sh
asked the guard to allow her to cnte
her budoir and was apparently surpris
ed when he took out key from hi
pocket and unlocked the door. Evi
IDENTIFY the senorita expected to fin
the whole house open and occupied.
Inside the room she went to he
dressing table and, unlocking the draw
er (more surprise) drew out iewC
case. In it were rings, bracelets, necl
laces and other gold and diamond jew
elry worth u fortune. Finding he
jewels intact, the girl calmly put ther
, back into the drawer and locked
! again.
81 shall leave them here. They ar
. safer with los Americanos than wit
me in these times" she said with
bow and a smile. "Thank you, senior.
And she was gone, probably the mos
astonished young woman in Mexico.
The refugees from Mexico City hav
nothing to do but sit around the Pla2
cafes and talk. Consequently the
hear and create and disseminate SON
of the most amazing stories. Baro
Munchausen had nothing on the ne
vOus and frightened americans.
On the third night after the landin
of Fletcher's marines, it was conf
IDENTIFY believed around the Plaza thi
: Zapata would attack the town befol
dawn. Then came a story that Victor
ano Huerta had resigned and that S
I nor Lopez Portilo Rojas had su
ceeded him as provisional president.
This, it was said, would satisfy II
American administration and end Il
trouble. Thoese are only samples
J the astonishing yarns that were circ
: lated and believed by the uniformed