Lower coast gazette., 1914-05-02
Story Of the CAPTURE OF VERA Cruz
neecr;ot;on Of Battle That Resulted in Capture Of
First Mexican Port.

wall.
Captain stickney of the Prairie went
through the fortress several days ~
and found some heavy guns, v 'oi'
nedoes and a torpedo tube In a CORFU.
eated.iron shed outside the wal o.
the fortress. When the landing OF 'ne
Americans was ordered Captain SUCK.
new sent word to the commandant Oh
Gan Juan de Ulua that he would do"
him to pieces with the Prairie's guns
~ he opened fire against the Amer
cans. but that otherwise he 0 no'
ha disturbed. The c%ommandant re-
nlied that he would answer with nis
cannons if fired on, but that he woulo
not commence hostilities. When the
engagement ashore began the com
mandant hoisted a brilliant new Mex
lean flag. which few all day long.
Americans In Possession.
At ten o'clock Wednesday morning
the Americans were in %undisputea
~nossession Of all the city except inc
southwest quarter, In which the bar
racks are situated, and q lew outlying
districts. At noon they had taken tne
barracks. When the city prlson'
which faces the main plaza OF the
city, was captured, Lieutenant COM
mander Buchanan Of the Florida made
an inspection tour through 1t.
There was great surprise among inc
Mexicans who had gathered there tna'
. the prisoners were not released. Tney
had been accustomed to seeing the
victor always release prisoners ano
: then impress them into his army.
: Chief of Police Antonio Villa Vlcen
i clio was taken prisoner by the Amer
cans shortly after they had occupied
the main plaza Of the city. 1t wal
), suggested to him that he continue II
u his official capacity to direct the city
8 protective system. He took the ma
- ter under advisement.
:. Had the frightened mayor MADE u
y his mind to accede to Admiral F1etct
d er's suggestion, which was mao
through Consul Canada, the exica
might have been spared the numil''
TO ton of being forced from their pos
lg tons. and undoubtedly q NUMBER {
lives would not have been sacrlnce'
We Coincident with the orders for u
's' general advance Of the Americans q
he aged white-haired Mexican, carryl
the white flag of truce, came GOWN
re street from the center Of the CITY, +
TX carried a letter to the chief OF pollc
he the only authority he hoped to reac
ond desired Consul Canada to read
es- Old Man Makes Appeal.
Il was an urgent appeal to the en-
Jas ~ nolice to call of the snipers q
en- nreyent the b%ombardment he beiiev
would follow II they continued tn
execution. Even before the messene
had climbed the stairs into the G
' sul,s office, Captain Rush was
~ formed of the contents of the note
.n hore and Immediately sounded Get
VHA L
md firing" and Halt !,
But It was too late. The action
been begun all along the line ano
was not considered wise to atten
further measures to stop 1t. the c.
manders ordered their men forward
the double quick, which they carr
the ont with a yigor that afterward g
- them the city.
~ Blood-bespattered sidewalks, pro
windows and bullet-scarred walls 6
the plaza a fearful aspect. Within
was Dingencia hotel there we're ~ AN
on cans, most Of them women, VINO
~ been there since the commenceH
.n9 Of hostilities. When the square
A taken they were Immediately not
:. that they might 60 to other place
a" they 80 desired, but that they p
ably would incur no further DANCE
that remaining in the hotel.