The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1914-04-30
STORY Of the CAPTURE OF VERA CRUZ 4
Dsscrip6oa Of Battle Tint Resulted in Capture Of
First Mexican Port.

rooSolhs them through l6fOOt stone
vsll
Captain Stickney Of the Prairie went
through the fortress several days aEe
aAa found some heavy guns. i've tor
Ds4oes and 4 torpedo tube In . corrS-
Ga&ed-iron shed outside the vail Of
,the fortress. When the landing Of the
Americans was ordered Captain Stick.
Aey sent word to the commandAnt OF
Gan Juan de Ulua that he would blow
him 10 pieces with the Prsiris's guns
II be opened fire against the Anesi-
eans. but that otherwise he would not
10 disturbed. The commandant re-
Piled that he would answer with his
cannons II fired on. bV: that he would
not commence hostilities. When the
engagement ashore began the com
mandan, hoisted 4 brilliant new Mex
ican flag. which nee all day long.
Americans In Possession.
At ten o'clock Wednesday morning
the Americans were In undisputed
possession of all the city except the
southwest quarter. in which the bar.
racks are situated. and . few outlying
districts At noon they had taken the
barracks When the city prison.
which faces the main plaza Of the
city. vas captured. Lieutenant Com
mander buchanan Of the Florida made
IN inspection tour through II.
There was great surprise among the
Asxicans who had gathered there that
the prisoners were not released. They
had been accustomed to seeing the
victor always release prisoners and
then impress them into his army.
Chief Of Police Antonio Villa Vicen.
cio was taken prisoner by the Ameri-
cans shortly after they had occupied
the main plaza Of the city. 1t was
suggested to him that he continue In
his official capacity II direct the city's
protective system. He took the mat
ter under advisement.
Had the frightened mayor made up
his mind to accede to Admiral Fletch
sr's suggestion. watch was made
through Consul Canada, the Mexicans
might have Seen spared the humilia-
tion of being forced from their posi-.
tions, and undoubtedly q number Of
lives would not have been sacrificed
Coincident with the orders for the
general advance of the Americans. an
aged white-haired Mexican, carrying
the white flag Of truce. came down q
street from the center Of the city. He
carried letter to the chief OF police.
the only authority he hoped to reach.
and desired Consul Canada to read It,
Old Man Makes Appeal.
II was an urgent appeal to the chief
Of police to call of the snipers and
prevent the bombardment he believed
would follow II they continued their
execution. Even before the messenger
had climbed the stairs into the con-
sul's once. Captain Rush was in
formed Of the contents Of the note he
bore and Immediately sounded Cease
firing" and Halt"
But II was too late The action had
been begun all along the line and 1t
was not considered wise to attempt
further measures to stop 1t. The COM
manders ordered their men forward at
the double quick. which they carried
out with q vigor that afterward gave
them the city.
Blood-bespattered sidewalks. broken
windows and bullet-scarred walls gave
the plaza fearful aspect. Within the
Diligencia hotel there were 40 Ameri-
cans. most of them women. who had
been there since the commencement
of hostilities. When the square was
taken they were Immediately notified
that they might go to other places II
they SO desired. but that they prob
ably would incur no further danger by
remaining In the hotel