The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-05-01

ors and marines have again proved
their valor in the face Of foreign Zoe,
and have, at the same time. given the
natives Of this town new idea OF
the courtesy Of American troops.
While the battle that resulted In the
taking Of Vera Cruz was not q severe
one as battles Of the past have been
counted it was Of a character to test
the courage Of men who were called
upon to face the steel-jacketed bullets
Of foemen hidden behind walls and on !
housetops, and before 1t was over IL
American sailors had paid for the VIC
tory with their lives and another ~
were seriously wounded.
While the Mexicans suffered more
severely, the number OF their casuai'
ties has not been ascertained, but the
best estimates obtained by Capt. WILL
liam R. Rush Of the battleship Florida
indicate that in the engagements OF
Tuesday and Wednesday their dead
amounted to about $50. No person
knows how many Mexicans fell
wounded, as large part Of them were
taken away and hidden by friends
Dead Lay In Streets.
In the streets about the plaza Thurs
day lay fifteen or twenty bodies,
majority of them attired In citizens
clothing. Some of the men evidently
had been dead since the engagement
of Tuesday. and the tropical heat
made their immediate disposal I'M
perative. One OF the first orders glTen
after the town had been captured was
to bury the Mexican dead in a trench
: at the sea end Of the streets leading
from the plaza.
When the city was taken the order
was given to advance carefully and
search every building for men bearing
+ arms. Scores Of prisoners we're taken
: most of them protesting volubly, many
n historically, that they were not guilty
:. of any unfriendliness whatsoever
: toward the Americans.
It Expected to 7e Executed.
y Accustomed as the Mexicans are II
their own contending forces shooting
Immediately all prisoners taken, tn
n captured men could not but bellev'
that they would receive no less dras
tic treatment at the hands OF tn
. Americans.
The guns found in houses wer
thrown by the marines and blue1act
cts from the upper balconies of tn
ut houses to the pavement below.
ct The most spirited action Of Wedne'
IN day was the taking Of the naval aca'
{ envy. Aside from that fight there wa
tn no definite organized opposition 81
ID countered by the Americans.
ne Americans Under Hot Fire.
" A hot fire was poured into the q
yancing Americans from the naval &C
ne lege, which for time held them bac
rs Int a few vell-directed shots from Il
liS cruisers Chester, San Francisco al
ny Prairie tore gaping holes In the sto'
ny walls and silenced the rife fire OF II
IN. Mexicans inside. The bluejacke
as then were enabled to proceed with Il
" task they had In hand.
ire A squad of soldiers. despite t
a Smelling it had received Tuesday, CO
lat tinued to give considerable trouble
W. the Americans from the Benito Juar
she tower. After they had been silenc
vas and removed from the tower 1t W
discovered that the soldiers had CT
ap. tinued fighting for lack OF ability
lrt. do anything else. The shells from I
),3, warships Tuesday had torn away
'un. stairway in the tower and the m
mp had been compelled to remain IN II
the Mexieans Evaeuate Hotel.
led Il was not until late Tuesday Il
Jun the last of General Mas men on
hid. of the hotel received written ord
An from outside the city to evacuate u
An position. The order was ooeyed o.
en-. norton of the 100 men who were
she cupying the roof and vantage poi
in the interior, but small portion
the tho band determined to dlsobey
'ew- orders Of their superiors and fight
The The last. These men, however, surf
uisi- dered Wednesday morning. A
| he tenant who was in command OF
Mexicans was led out prisoner,
the although he had fought desperat
tiers he trembled and turned pale in
Mis- helief that he would be summa
/, Or executed.
8 to None of the American women v
mistreated by the Mexicans dul
their occupation Of the building.
ri, TOW Of the women assisted the M
med cans in caring for their wounded
hing Cid Tower Held.
re a In the fighting in the center OF
mpa. inner harbor, San Juan de Ulua
ding ancient stone fortress, few the y
can fag throughout the attack.
commandment and go armed men
the 400 workmen in the navy yard pc
and from the embrasures at the Prs
the wing 500 yards away, and the G
cred. shipe Smelling the naval academy
~ If 49, d,uoeons remained 500 priso