Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-25
MEXICAN SoLpiERs BLOCKED IN
EFFORT TO BLOW UP BOUND.
AIRY BRIDGES.
TWO MExicANs KILLED IN
FRIDAY BORDER BATTLE
No Fatalities on American sids-Loss
in Mexican Town Estimated At $780,.
ooo-ordsr Quickly Restored When
Husrta Soldiers Flee - Explosion
Spreads Fire.

Laredo. Tex, April 25-Nuevo Lar
edo. the thriving Mexican border town
opposite here. is in ruins, devastated by
dynamite and fire by Mexican federal
soldiers who late yesterday began an
orgy OF destruction which did not end
until they were forced to fee before
the guns Of the American border pa
troll.
Two Mexicans are known to have
been killed by United States troops
Several brisk skirmishes between the
Am orleans and Mexicans were fought
as the Mexicans in their troop trains
ready to pull out OF the burning city,
began an indiscriminate fire across the
international boundary.
Property Damage Great.
Property damage in Nuevo Laredo
will reach 100000. Among the build
inSs destroyed were the United States
consulate. municipal building, postof-
fice theater, the -four mill, one Of the
largest in this section of the southwest,
railroad shops Of the National Railway
and other smaller structures.
There was no property loss in Lar
edo. Both international bridges are
safe although efforts to dynamite them
resulted in the death of two men en-
gagged in the undertaking. One Mexi-
can was shot by sharpshooter from
the top of the water tower. The Mex
lean was trying to reach the end of the
international foot and wagon bridge.
It'll 4I he &ria 10
blow up the American railroad bridge.
Order Quickly Restored.
When the Mexican soldiers finally
departed order was quickly restored in
Laredo, but guards remain turnout the
city. A serious problem was furnished
immigration and city authorities by the
presence here of hundreds of refugees
from the burning city, who had to be
furnished food and shelter.
The federal garrison evacuated Nue.
vo Laredo Thursday. supposedly going
to Saltillo or Monterey. With their de-
parture the city. ordinarily Of about
1000 population, was deserted, all who
did not follow the soldiers rushing
panic-stricken to the American side in
fear OF bandit attacks. Early Friday
the federals returned and.it was an.
nounced that they came back for addi-
tional engines. TO pull their troop trains
Early In the afternoon smoke was
seen issuing from some Of the build
ings around the plaza, the center Of
the town.
The municipal building and the
American consulate on opposite sides
of the square broke into flames sinful
taneously Next door to the consulate
the posoffice, temporarily closed. also
was seen to be burning and around the
plaza smoke began to issue from the
windows and roofs Of other buildings.
Explosion Spreads Fire.
A few minutes later an explosion
wrecked houses and the fire spread
rapidly. Americans began to gather on
the river bank and hastily retreated
when warned that other explosions
might occur Troops at Fort Mcintosh
were ordered out and in few minutes
a rigid guard, amounting almost to
martial law, was establish in the dam
ger zone. At the two bridges across
the river the guards were reinforced
and it was here that the only known
loss Of life occurred. The machine gun
platoon took possession below the CEN
ter Of the city where the federals who
were crowding into their trains, pour
ed fusilade Of shots across the Dor
der.
Several Mexicans were seen to fall
before the fire from the machine guns,
but they were carried away by their
comrades.
After silencing the Mcxicans. part of
the Ninth infantry was withdrawn
from the river front. the other re-
naming on guard.
Colonel Crane of the Ninth infantry
announced that rigid patrol of the
city, particularly of the business sec
ton and the American residence sec
tion would be maintained.