The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1914-05-01
TWELVE AMERICANS KILLED ANr
FIFTY WOUNDED IN aArrIE
LASTING TWO DAYS
AohcoaBATAATs ARE SAFE
MaFksmanshla a. American eunnsrs
pssfset--Msxieans Sheet From
windows and saeasesops- 100
Msxieans Reported kites.

vera STax. Mexico, Vera CFax u
In the hands ot the furcsS FROM the
.United States warsAips. bur The ogca
patton et the port was Dor accom-.
plisaed without loss Of American lives.
Twelve Americans, hlaejacsets ard
marines. were k.,led by the Gre Of The
Mexican soldiers. and 80 fell wounded.
The Mexican loss is nos known. but 1t
10 believed 10 have hesa heavy.
Tee water froat. the customs house
and all important piers. including those
under the terminal works from which
extend the railroads to the capital.
have been occupied, AL the territory
around the American consulate Ia
strongly patrelled, and attachments
hold other sectors u the city.
The Mexican commander, Gen. Gus.
lAy0 Mas. offered stubborn resist,
ance 10 the American advance. aud
for many hours there was fighting IN
the streets Toward nighifall II was
reported that the main body OF the
Federal garrison was 10 retreat TO the
westward
Rear Admiral Fletcher, commanding
the United States warships, pFe.aeed
his occupation Of The port by de.
mand. through the American consul,
W, w. Canada, for It's surrender Gen,
Mas promptly declined 10 acc,de to
this demand. and shortly afterward
ten whalebeais were sent on from the
side " the transport Prairie loaded
with marines.
These boats effected landing In
the ncighhofhood Of The customs house
before noon. aud few minutes later
Capt, William u, Rush of the battle.
sAtp Florida, Who Mas In cunlinaEH of
the operations ashore. brought his
flax in,
Capt Rush's men already had taken
up their positions They numbered
1870 hlurlackets from the Florida, 300
marines from the Prairie and G5 ma.
rinees from he Florida. Later these
were augmented by detachment
from the Utah.
The coming Of the American forces
VAS rot hefalded by any great .xeits.
ment. but small crowds gathered TO
watch the landing. Soon the bluejack
cts and marines marched through the
streets leading from the water front
and along the railroad yards 0tAers
proceeded to the American consulate
while still others were deployfG along
the approaches to Central Plaza, In
which Gen. Mas had concentrated bis
men.
These naneuyers were effected
without opposition. bu' suddenly Gen.
Mas challenged the advance wit1 the
rrst shots voiict fred from pniAt
three blocks from the marines and
two blocks south 81 the main plaza.
The marines replied Immediately. but
the ;acttpA ceaatd v marrrpi@ There
VAS lnl for ten minutes. and then
another brief exchange from the west
end of Monteslaos street. saore
Federal outpost Was stationed.
Al laS0 O'Clock he firing became
general. and q, O'Clock the guns OF
tha transport Prairie went into &C,
ton.
Prior 10 his u detachment ~ blue.
Jackets from The Utah, holding The
ground be- ween The consulate aud the
water front, opened With two 81 their
three-inch guns The first shots from
these pieces were directed aaaie~t the
ancient neaito Jnfaz tower. 4hleh
once served as lighthouse This
was occupied by Mexican sharpshoot.
ers. l.iea,enantC ommau4er Bach.
anan Of the Florida ordered ,hal II he
destroyed Five shots brcne4it the
old tower duan,
The postufflce, government ieie-
graph Office and ho cable oFicp were
the FIRST bniditgs occupied after the
customs house. squad of marines 1
vas psced Ia charge II tho cable Of
fee, The telegraph wires were found
intact. and enough Mexican operators
we're retained 10 man the Hires to Mex
ico CRY.
After Gen. Mas had bern driven
from his position 70 Central Plaza, the
Americans found themselves me oh.
tec' Of fgslllad~s frnm the tops Oh
houses. i, sas learGed thar moSt 81
those engaged In tbs resistance ~ere
civilians. They stationed thtm seiyes
at points OF vantage and did much
"a yrs,Inp,Y the EYttuH