The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1914-04-25
THE CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ
Twelve Dead, Fifty Wounded,
American Loss Before the City
Is Occupied
From a detailed account of the
fight for the possession of the Mexi-
can port of Vera Cruz, the following
summary is taken:

complete Investment OF this city to-day
by the United States forces. The Next
al losses are not known, but are esti.
mated at from $50 to 800 dead.
Street firing has been incessant dur
ing the greater part OF the day. and to-
night the city presents . dilapidated ap-
%pearance. many buildings having been
partly or entirely demolished by the fire
from the ships to protect the advance Of
the marines.
Windows aud street lamps are smashed
in all directions.
The landing parties yesterday en-
counfered the M determined resis-
lance in the public square adjacent to
the terminal building, where the Mex
ans maintained a heavy fire from the
shelter Of the tower Of the police bar
racks. until the building had been rid
died with shells, driving them from Gov
err. 1t was at this point that most of
the casualties occurred yesterday.
The Casualties to-day were few ON the
American eide. The Mexican losses are
placed at between 30 and 40 men.
The intense heat hsmpered the Amer
lcaEs greatly to-day and there were sew
eral cases of sunstroke among the land
ing parties. Lack OF water also proved
a serious Inconvenience.
Most of the casualties on the Ameri.
can side to-day resulted from an ambus-
cade of a landing party from the battle
ships Utah and Florida. as they were
marching through the center Of the
town.
"SnipinR." which began yesterday.
after the landing OF the first parties OF
marines, continued to-day, the firing
being done apparently by civilians, as
evacuated tue town yesterday, aud is
supposed I be e~ntrenched in the sand
Mills behind the city.
Rear Admiral Fletcher at $50 O'Clock
n the morning ordered a general move
ment for the occupation of all the town.
A column Of bluejackets advanced
,nd passed the uncompleted market
place aud naval college.
When they reached the walls of the
,ollege a terrific rifle FIRE was pouren
In all directions from the roof aud the
windows. The bl~uejackets were help
less to return the fire against the stone
walls. and scattered.
The Prairie, Chester and San Fran
cisco opened with their five and SIX inch
guns and shattered the walls.
The bluejackets hen reformed, and
advanced against the fire, which had
diminished greatly.
BY ten o'clock there was only desul-
Tory firing from the inshore side of the
tower. Battalions of blu ejackets had
made their way along the water front
TO the southern end of the town aud
cleared several streets, but the sniping
IRON houses continued at intervals.
The scout cruiser Chester pounded
buildings on the outsk irts with six-inch
shells, firing over the heads of the men
ashore and showing almost perfect
craftsmanship.
Both marines and bluejackets drag
Qed little field pieces. but there was lit
Gle work for them.
There was no organized resistance,
but from the very beginning of the ad
vance a smart fire anne from the de-
tenders on the housetops. which invari.
ably drew a merciless fire from the ad.
vancing parties.
The machine guns sounded their tat.
tat" in all quarters. and Amer ican
sharpshooters. posted at street corners
aud other points of vantage, picked of.
at will, any one who appeared to be act
ing suspiciously.
Rear Admiral Fletcher's note. sent
to the local officials, calling on them to
cooperate with the American officers
in the restoration of order by calling of
sharpshooters and ny resuming the local
kOttt uulcnNs COui0 III 10
Among the Mexicans wounded were
several women aud children. Some
were killed. The local organization
similar tn the Red Cross is assisting in
caring for them.
Conditions began to take on a normal
aspect this afternoon. Some of the res
taurants reopeued and a considerable
portion of the native population began
to appear in the streets. spending their
time in inspecting the damage.
A panic was created in the houses in
the streets along which the United
States marines aud bluejackets passed.
carrying out orders to search them.
Many doors were locked aud had to be
broken open. the frig htened occupants
being convinced that their visitors were
looters.