The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1914-04-24

firing from house tops we are masters
OF the situation SO far without the use
of heavy guns. Firing all around the
consulate, several shots having struck
he building. Our men simply defend
ing themselves. Some resistance from
naval forces soon silenced by guns OF
The Prairie. At this time reported
four men killed, twenty wounded.
American newspaper men and severa,
other Americans in the consulate. Sew
Cral Americans including some women
who refuse to go aboard refuge ship
now marooned in hotels within firing
line Trains from Mexico City did not
arrive.
Attacked from House Tops.
Admiral Fletcher's orders were that
the landing forces should occupy posi-
tiOns commanding the streets leading
toward the central square of the town.
the Plaza de la Constitution and
make no attack on the Mexican troops
unless they were attacked themselves
Scarcely had the troops placed their
Guns in position when Mexican sol
diers appeared on the house tops
overlooking the square.
Two shots rang out. Within Few
minutes three volleys came fror! :
Mexican force several hundred yards
from the positions occupied by the
Americans. These volleys were re-
piled to Immediately by the blue
10 oIyotc ord tho 6r;no hocama oonorol
When Rear Admiral Fletcher was
Informed of the attack on his men
he ordered the guns of the fleet to
open fire on the positions occupied by
the enemy.
Captain VIM r. Rush of the Florida
located a large force of Mexicans fir
ing on the United States troops from
the tower of the Benito Juarez light
house and ordered his men to open
fire on this point. Several three-inch
guns were trained on the lighthouse
and the tower struck three times,
silencing the enemy's fire.
Captain Rush signalled to the trans
port Prairie on board of which was
Admiral Fletcher as follows:
Am being attacked from the right
and rear north of the round house;
she'll that district"
At the same time it was noticed
that sharp-shooters lined the roof of
the Mexican naval academy and were
skipping the blew Jackets. A three
inch gun of the Prairie was trained on
the academy and the soldiers were
forced to abandon their position
U. S. Consulate Struck.
The shooting by this time had be-
come general all over the city. At
s o'clock the United States consulate
had been struck by several bullets
Two American blue jackets and two
marines were killed and nearly "a
score wounded
Under the heavy fire from the war
ships the MeXicans were driven from
the center of the city to the eastward
where they attempted to make a
stand. The Prairie which is lying in
the harbor about a quarter of mile
from the harbor front, turned her
guns to the point where the Mexicans
were gathering and forced them to
take refuge in the narrow streets
thereabouts
At two o'clock several boat loads of
blue jackets from the battleship Utah
were landed east of the custom house.
As the boats drew near the WHAT sew
eral vo1ieys were fired on them from
large warehouses and box cars along
the water front. These places we're
shelled bv guns of the Prairie and the
blue jackets we're able TO land with
out losing man.
Among the Americans wounded are
two men who we're operating on the
TO of the Terminal hotel near the
water front.
Resistance DWindIes.
About o'clock the resistance of the
MeXicans began to dwindle apprecia.
bly, Firing from the towers and the
house tops from which the heaviest
rain of bullets came at the beginning
of the fighting, died away The ma
rines and Eiue Jackets made no at
tempt to pursue the flying Mexicans.
firing only whenevre one of the enc
my showed himself in the streets.