Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-04-30

- 49,
which faces the main plaza. was cap
tured, Lieutenant-C Commander Buchar-
an Of the Florida made a n inspection
tour through it. There was great sur
prise among the Mexicans who had
gathered there that the prisoners
were not released. They had been
accustomed to seeing the victor al
ways release prisoners and then i'm
press them all into his army.
Chief of Police Captured.
Chief of Police Antonio villa Vim
cencio was taken prisoner by the
Americans shortly after they had oc-
cupied the main plaza of the city. IL
was suggested to him that he con-
tinue in his official capacity to direct
the city's protective system. He TOOK
the question under advisement. Had
the frightened mayor made up MS
mind to accede to Admiral F1etchers
suggestion, which was made through
Consul Canada, the Mexicans might
have been spared the humiliation OF
being forced from their positions ana
undoubtedly a number of lives Wouid
not have been sacrificed. ~
When Admiral Fletcher directed
that battalions of ~bluejackets mi ma
rines be landed from Rear Admiral
Badgers ships before dawn and De
drawn up in the plaza before the rail-
road station, thence to proceed to-
take the entire town, he acted only
| after warning and after Is shells
from the Prairie's ~three-inch guns had
been thrown into the steel framework
of the new market, which faces Mar
ket place. A persistent but scattered
fire came from rifles in the market
during all the early hours of the morn
ing, and Admiral Badgers men Inc
ed to the accompaniment of rife bull
let's over their heads.
Uniforms Dyed With Rust.
When the rush started Admiral Bad
gers bluejackets, clad in orange col
cred clothing, made for them on the
trip down by dyeing white uniforms
with iron rust, moved in close column
formation UP the water front, past
the market and across the front OF the
naval college, a long, three story struc-
ture built Of adobe and having a tile
roof. The column moved steadily for
ward until the first company had
passed beyond the college and the re-
mainder were covering the whole front
close against the wall.
Suddenly a spatter of rife firing
broke out. Flashes from the rifles
were plainly visible in the upper win
down Of the college and along. the
roofs. The jackies stood their ground
pluckily. Some of them huddled close
to the wall to avoid the rain of steel
jacketed bullets from above, while 9TH
ers dashed across a small open space
directly in front of the building. These
bluejackets dropped on their stomachs
and lifted their rifles high to get q
range on the windows above. Finally
the American officers hustled theil
men either forward or backward un
til they were in the shelter of nearby
buildings.
4rN mCT III
The jackies in front held theil
places. however, and the Prairie sem
, shell after shell from her three-inct
battery into the windows of the col
lege; huge columns of red dust leapet
upward as each shot went home. TIL
Chester also joined in, and with
0 a her six-inch shells tore great gap
in the roof of the college. Far to tn
| right Of the harbor the mine ship Sal
| Francisco opened with her fve-incl
, guns. and. taking the front of the Co
, lege, shot out window after window
, planting the shells with the precision
Of target practise.
J After Is minutes of firing the Fra
{ rie and the San Francisco ceased an
/ the column of jackies formed agai
n and pushed ahead, deploying aroun
d the front of the college. A few shot
d were directed at them, but none cam
from the college. The Chester contil
ued hurting shells into any building !
q which snipers lurked and also far on
n into the suburbs.
. The jackies went ahead without Ia
q tering, spreading out through the ";
! terfront sections, Selling the htgl
!. est buildings and organizing squads
4 guards at street intersections.
q The fire along the front gradual
! slackened and then died out, but tt
y Chester sent a few shots into II
hills before ceasing, The Hancoc
:. with TOO marines on board, and Il
'battleship Michigan arrived too Ia
= to participate in the fighting.
- Wounded and prisoners We're take
Z aboard the Prairie until the arrival
the Solace, about Q
= Vera Cruz Thoroughly CoWed.
- Conditions in Vera Cruz began
!, take on a normal aspect Thursda
Some Of the restaurants were OPEN
and a considerable part of the natl
4 population began to appear in Z
n streets inspecting the damage dol
81 There were no expressions OF go
y will for the Americans, but there W
no apparent antagonism. The Me.
cans here seem thoroughly cowed a
appear to accept with passiveness t
We nroaanca of the foreign forces,