The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-04-22
How Vera Cruz Fell
Before u. S. Marines
Told by Staff Writer

clerks in the custom house had taken
alarm and were leaving their desks
Word spread among the troops in the
Federal garrison that the "gringoes"
were landing an army, and panic
spread among them. The Mexican Of
ficers seemed amazed at the quickness
of teh American action, and were I'M
able to comprehend the situation.
With an Officer at their head, de-
tachments of marines were marched
into the custom house and took formal
lowered from the mast and the Stars
and Stripes were soon ripping in the
wind.
"In the name of the United States
government we hereby take posses
sion," said the officer.
The Mexicans made no resistance.
A similar scene was witnessed at the
cable office, the cable company being
Mexican government institution.
Then the troops were deployed and
the streets about the United States
consulate were seized and policed.
A number of Mexicans whose Gu
riosity had risen above their fears,
went to the water front, but were Or
dered back.
had been seen, but now rifles began
to crack from the tops of buildings
and church towers in the vicinity Of
the American consulate. A marine,
who had just raised his rifle to fire
at a sharpshooter, fell with a bullet
through his body. He was carried into
the cable office, where he died an
hour later.
An old church tower near the cable
office, was particular source OF
danger, and from the ramparts of this
holy edifice a handful of Mexican CIV
ilians and soldiers were pouring down
sharp rifle fire.
Fire Dies Away.
A detachment of marines whirled a
three-inch gun into position and En-
sign Cresip aimed the first shot. 1t
tore into the aged masonry, scattering
stone and mortar. Several shots fol-
lowed and there were no more rifle
bullets from this quarter.
After four o'clock the Mexican fire
died away, but there were intermittent
bursts which caused great annoyance
to the United States forces. AS night
drew on, the Americans attempted to
get some estimate of the Mexican
dead. Early reports stated that be-
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killed and many were wounded, but
it was believed that later figures
would fall below this estimate.
Sailors who searched houses which
the Mexcans had used as improvised
fortresses, reported that many of the
dead were without uniform. This
made it evident that the brunt of the
fighting on the Mexican side had fall
len upon civilians.
Just before sunset a party of ma
rines was sent to hold Second street,
which leads from the water front to
the main plaza. The guns were plant
ed to sweep the plaza and the troops
were bivouacked in the street during
the night to prevent MeXicans from
approaching the harbor front along
that route during the darkness.
General Mas, accompanied by his
family, was reported to have fled
from Vera Cruz in carriage at mid
afternoon when the irresistible ad-
vance of the American tars was
sweeping all before them.
At the junction of Gale Estand Mo-
relos and Main street the Americans
came upon a disabled 75-millimeter
machine gun, from which the Mexicans
had directed a few volleys at the ap-
preaching Americans. Cramped be-
hind the carriage was found the dead
body of a Mexican officer, one of the
few who remained on the firing line.