Mountain advocate., 1914-05-01
GRAPHIC STORY
OF VERA cruz
Capture Of Mexican City After
Two Days Fight Presents
Vivid Picture.
VAL0R OF OUR BLUEJACKETS
Warships shelled Buildings In Which
Mexican "snlpers" Had Taken Ref.
use-Nstives Surprised at cour.
tesy OF American Troops.

tesy OF American Troops.
Vera Cruz. 'Mexico. April "a
Twelve Americans were killed and
thirty wounded before the city of
Vera Cruz came into the undlsputed
possession of the American invading
forces after a two-day fight. Although
the Mexicans suffered more severely.
the number OF their casualties has not
obtained by Capt William r. Rush
OF the battleship Florida indicated
that in the engagements Of Tuesday
and Wednesday their dead numbered
about one hundred and fifty. No pea
con knows how many Mexicans fell
wounded as many Of them we're taken
away and hidden by friends.
In the streets about the plaza
Wednesday afternoon lay fifteen OF
twenty bodies, a majority OF them at
tired in citizens clothing Some OF
the men evidently had been dead since
the engagement Tuesday and the
tropical heat made their immediate
disposal imperative. One of the first
orders given after the town had been
captured was to bury the Mexican
dead in a trench at the sea end OF
one OF the streets leading from the
plaza
Scores Are Taken Prisoners.
When the city was taken the order
was given to advance carefully and
search every building for men bearing
arms. Scores OF prisoners we're taken,
the majority Of them protesting vol.
hysterically-that they
were not guilty of any unfriendliness
toward the Americans. Accustomed
as the MeXicans are to seeing their
own contending forces shoot imme-
diately all prisoners taken the cap
tured men could not but believe that
they would receive no less drastic
cans. The guns found in houses were
thrown by the marines and blue.
Jackets from the upper balconies TO
the pavement below
The most spirited action was the
taking Of the naval academy. Aside
from that fight, no definite. organized
opposition was encountered by the
A hot fire was poured |
from the naval college, but a few
well directed shots from the cruisers
Chester, San Francisco and Prairie |
tore gaping holes in the stone walls |
md silenced the rife fire OF the Next |
,ans inside The bluejackets then |
we're enabled to proceed with the task |
hey had in hand.
Escape From Fight Cut Of
Despite the Smelling 1t had received
Tuesday. a squad of soldiers continued
o give considerable trouble to the |
Americans from the battered Benito
Tuarez tower. After they had been
llenced and removed from the tower
I was discovered that the soldiers
had continued fighting for lack of
Lbllity TO do anything else. The shells
rom the warships Tuesday had torn
way the stairway in the tower and
b. men had been compelled to remain
n H.
Appeal From Aged Mexican.
Coincident with the orders for the
General advance of the Americans an
Iged white-haired Mexican, carrying
he white flag of truce, came down a
treet from the center of the city.
lie carried letter to the chief OF po-
ice, the only authority he hoped to
each. and desired Consul Granada to
cad It, II was an urgent appeal TO
he chief OF police to call OF the
nipers and prevent the bombardment
Ie believed would follow II they con-
inued their execution
Even before the messenger had
'limbed the stairs into the consul's
flee Capt Rush was informed OF the
contents OF the note he bore and i'm
nediately sounded cease firing and
halt" But Il was too late The
.ction had been begun all along the
Inc and IL was not considered wise
o attempt further measures to stop
/. The commanders ordered their
men forward at double quick. which
hey carried out with a vigor that
.fterward gave them the city.
Evidences Of War.
loodbespattered sidewalks, broken
windows and bullet-scarred walls gave
he plaza a grewsome aspect. Within
he Diligencia hotel there were forty
americans, most OF them women, who
lad been there since the commence
nent of hostilltles. When the square
vas taken they we're Immediately no
flied that they might go on the Span
sh cruiser Carlos v. outside the
in order 10 give the Prairie
Dom to fire her guns. The Spanish
refused, saying thAs he
AIRED not maneuver his boat In so
mall a space at night. He also de-
Jared that he needed 20 take on a
upply OF fresh water. Admiral
fletcher insisted yesterday that his
rider DO carried out. and the Carlos
:. moved outside last before the at
rack on the center OF the city began.
At 1908 Wednesday morning the