Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-24
GRAPHIC STORY OF TAKING
CITY OF VERA CRUZ BY THE
INVADING FORCES OF u. S.

battalions of bluejackets and marines be
landed from Rear Admiral Badgers ships
before dawn and drawn UP in the plaza
before the railroad station and then pro-
coed to take the entire town, he acted
only after warning and after 10 shells
from the Prairies 3-inch guns had been
thrown into the steel framework of the
new market, which faces Market place
A persistent scattered fire came from
rifles in the market during all the early
hours of the morning and Admiral Bad
gers men landed to the whining of rifle
bullets over their heads.
When the rush started, Admiral Bad
gers bluejackets, clad in orange colored
clothing. made for them on the trip down
by dyeing white uniforms with iron rust,
moved in close column formation up the
waterfront, past the market and across
the front of the naval college, long
three-story structure of adobe stone and
having a tiled roof. The column moved
steadily forward until the first company
had passed beyond the college and the
remainder were covering the whole front
close against the wall.
Suddenly a spatter of rifle firing bdohe
out Flashes from the rifles were plainly
visible in the upper windows of the coll
lege and along the roof
The tackles stood their ground pluckiiy.
Some of them huddled close to the wall
to avoid the rain of steel-jacketed bullets
from above, while some dashed across
small open space directly in front of the
building. These bluejackets dropped on
their stomachs and lifted their rifles
high in order to get range on the Win
dows above Finally the American Off
GERS hustled the men either forward or
backward until they were in shelter of
nearby buildings.
The iackies in front held their places.
however, and the Praires sent shell aft
er shell from her 3-inch battery into the
windows of the college, huge columns OF
red dust leaping upward as each shot
went home The Chester also joined in
and with roar her 6-inch shells tore
great gaps in the roof of the college.
After ID minutes of firing the Prairie
and the San Francisco ceased and the
column of jackies formed again and
pushed sturdily ahead, deploying around
the front of the college. A few shots
we're directed at them but none came
from the college. The Chester continued
hurting shells into any building where
snipers lurked and also far out into the
suburbs.
The jackies went steadily ahead with
out faltering. spreading out throughout
the waterfront section, Selling the high
est buildings and organizing squads of
guards at street intersections.
The fire along the front gradually
slackened and then died out, but the
Chester sent few shells out into the
hills before ceasing. The Hancock, with
700 marines on board, and the battleship
Michigan, arrived too late to participate
in the fighting.
The wounded and the prisoners were
taken aboard the Prairie until the arrival
of the Solace about noon yesterday. I'M
mediately after the firing had virtually
ended, Rear Admiral Badger boarded the
Prairie to confer with Rear Admiral
Fletcher as to the best means of secur-
ing the town against attack, for caring
for the dead. injured and refugees and
for setting in motion the work of con-
Quoting the city in an orderly manner.