The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1914-05-08
GRANDSON OF MRS HOOKER
Who Was in Fighting at Vera Cruz,
Writes from Seat Of War

Inc knONViile, cnT., journal anu
Tribune prints letter from Sam B.
Ioya, IT,, who is on the L. ). battle
ship Florida, now OFF Vera Cruz, which
IS OF much interest here as young
Boyd is great grandson of Mrs. NJ.
\. Hooker, OF Stanford, and has many
other relatives in this part Of the state.
The Knoxville paper said:
What is probably the first letter to
reach Knoxville from Vera Cruz since
that city's capture by the Americans,
j. that received by Mr.. and Mrs. Ben
;. Boyd from their son, Sam D. Boyd.
IT,. who was one Of the gallant Jack
Tars from the battleship Florida to
lead IN the advance on Vera Cruz,
when IL was taken last week. The
Knoxville boy was in the first party
landed, and saw the fighting from the
beginning He with other comrades
from the Florida. was detailed to take
charge of the power house and hold il,
he being a first-class electrician on
board the Florida.
Although he modestly makes no ref
erencc ." What part lac had ~ the hat
tie and refers to himself IN connection
with the fighting in no way, his friends
here believe that he was in the front,
aud aided in the heavy execution Of the
MeNicans. knowing him as young
man Of bravery and energy
Mr. and Mrs. Boyd. upon learning
that the Florida's crew was in the
battle. and that two from that ship
were killed and many more were
wounded. were much worried over their
son until the list OF dead and wounded
was published
The letter OF the young seaman
safety To his parents. II is as fol
lows
Vera Cruz, April "a. IA
NV Dear Father and Mother -
Just a few lines To- let YOU know
! am q. X although the battle was
some rough So far. seventeen of our |
boys hay, been killed. and | do not !
know how many wounded. although !
only two of the killed were off of our
ship. The Mexican papers state that we |
have killed about 40 ! don't know
how near correct this is To tell the |
truth. they were falling like leaves
from the trees in autumn We are in
The powerhouse here. fully armed five
electricians from the Florida having
pcen detailed to hold and operate same.
Every night so far. we have had to
rcpel hoarderS'. and we sleep on our
irms
"A lauehable thing occurred last
night. Our orders were To shoot any
me refusing to answer or halt when
challenged. In the darkness we dim
y discerned figure slipping toward
,ur stronghold. II neither halted nor
answered at our challenge and We
therefore let him have IT, Careful eN-
animation OF our victim disclosed a
snail Mexican jsckass dead on the
ground.
The majority of the police are kill
H. They were the ones that started
The fight. their captain waving sword
and calling on them to shoot. which |
Was fatal mistake for him. for ere
his sword had completed its circuit he
was no more There were sixty of them |
lp III towers. but we went right up and |
shot them out
The men Of the Florida led the bat
lie all the way In fact they were the
Dnlv ones ashore except some marines.
until afternoon. The Mexican soldiers
lid not do much fighting In the city.
many OF the civilians were shooting
from roof tops and towers. As YOU
would go alongs the streets. bullets |
would sing over your head. but il was |
impossible 10 tell where they came from |
Finally. we went through the houses |
10 the tops There we could lie on the |
roofs and beat them at their own game
and MANY were picked off from these
points OF vantage. Fifteen pot shoot
crs were killed last nieht. and the city
IS quiet TODAY. Will have to write more
later on. as we are too busy a. pres
ent Love 10 all.
Your aifectionatc son
SAM r. BOYD.
Young Boyd has been in the navy
four wears. winning in that time for
himself rapid promotion and an excel |
lent record lie holds the rank of first
class electrician next to the highcst
'ank attainahle for an electrician Aside
from being an electrician he is mem
Yer Of the sharp shooters team Of the |
Florida. He has never had a repri-
mend or demerit during his term Of
four wears in the navy.
He arrived in New York on the Flor
lila from Euronc Christmas week. and |
n that time visited his narents here.
Returning 10 his shin It was ordered
n Panama. thence 10 Porto Rico and !
from there to Vera Cruz
Fnr five years pri@r 10 his enlistment
IN the "7vv he was connected with the
Nrosville Electric Co.