Gilpin observer., 1914-04-30
CAPTURE OF THE PORT OF VERA CRUZ
Graphic Pen Picture Of Stirring Scenes by Special
Correspondent.


Gated with Rear Admiral Badger. Tho
guns of the man-of-war were soon
booming and heavy projectiles were
crashing into the walls Of the acad-
emy. The Mexicans ned, leaving q
number of dead and wounded.
Eight of the Americana, however.
had been shot down at this point be-
fore the irregulars were dislodged
from their fortress.
The nag of Rear Admiral Badger
now floats from the Minnesota, which
he has taken for his flagship.
The stars and stripes wave over the
Terminal hotel. where Rear Admiral
Fletcher, now chief in command Of
land operations. has established his
headquarters. Admiral Fletcher occu-
pies an apartment adjacent to the
rooms used by Special Envoy John
Lind while he was living at the Ter
minal
Temporary Hospitals Are
EstabiIshed In the City.
Temporary hospitals have be- I es-
tablished throughout the city, the chief
one being in the Plaza hotel. of which
DR.. Elliott of the dreadnaught Flor.
Ida is in charge.
Members Of the American Medical
corps have been installed in San Sc
bastian hospital. where there are q
number of wounded Mexicans.
Early Thursday a number of ma
chine guns were brought ashore from
the newly arrived battleships, some of
them being posted on the fiat robfs of
the adobe houses. Sunrise found the
roof of the Parochial church, the tall
est building in the city, swarming
with bluejackets ready to pick of any
Mexican "snipers" that might show
themselves.
A machine gun was placed upon the
roof Of the Hotel Diligencia, which was
in the line of fire, and was badly shot
up. All the windows were broken by
bullets.
Other machine guns have been
planted around the railway terminals,
the custom house, the United States
consulate, the post Office, the cable
office and other structures.
British Tars Cheer U. s.
Marines Hurryins to Attack.
One incident occurred during the
landing of American reinforcements
which shows the spirit of friendship
among the armed forces on the big
international feet.
A Mexican sharpshooter had been
taking pot shots at British sailors on
the cruiaor Easav opd AIhort Kirphor
paymaster, had been wounded When
several whaleboats, carrying United
States marines. swept close to the
English warship on their way to the
customs house wharf, the British tars
gathered at the rail and cheered with
might and main.
The Americans have behaved with
the utmost gallantry since operations
began, and there has been no COM
plaint of any kind. Rear Admiral
Fletcher is proud of his boys and
sent the following message addressed
to the men of the fleet:
THE division commander desires to
express his admiration at the splendid
and efficient work OF the naval bril-
gade which captured Vera Cruz and
efficient support of the cruisers, which
reflects great credit upon the accu.
racy of the fire of the gunners.
During the night the Americans on
the western side of the city captured
number OF struggling Mexicans, most
of whom were armed with rusty. old
muskets. The freight sheds were
turned into detention pens and the
prisoners we're locked up until they
could be transferred to the warships.
Many of the Mexican dead were
also buried during the night without
any attempt at Identification. Prac-
tically all were men of low caste,
whose fighting had been without a
single spark of patriotic animation" {"
Work preliminary to the seizure OF
the railroad from Mexico City to the
eastern seacoast already has been
done.
Soldiers Ordered Not to
Drink Vera Cruz Water.
The American on the firing line
suffered greatly from lack Of water.
They we're under orders not to drink
thc city Waeci ioi icai ~ mibht Soh-
tain poison, and most Of them had ex-
hausted the contents of their can
teens.
A number OF Mexicans. mostly wom-
en- with babies in their arms, ap-
pealed to American sailors and ma
rines for food. Most of the appeals
were needed. Notwithstanding the fact
that the hard work ashore had made
Jack hungry man himself.
The details which searched the
houses for hidden men and secret mu-
milton Of war worked quickly and with
precision. Little resistance was Of
fered and in cases where doors we're
locked they were battered down.
Armed men were disarmed and thou
sands of guns ancient swords and