The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-29
NEuV0 LAREDO SACKED.
RETIRING FEDERALS DYNAMITE
AND BURN CITY.
Less i'm Border Town Estimated at
Half a Million DOIlars-Mexicans
Fired on American Border Patrol in
Laredo But did no Damage-TwO
Mcxicans Killed.

Laredo, Texas, April 24.-Neuvo
Laredo, the thriving Mexican border
town opposite this place, was in ruins
tonight, devastated by dynamite and
fired by Mexican federals who late to-
day began an orgy of destruction
which ende My when they were
forced to before the guns of the
American : der patrol.
Two Sans are known to have
been : by the United States
troop :. everal brisk skirmishes be-
twee e Americans and Mexicans
occ ?, as the Mexicans, their
tr % trains ready to leave the
/ .. ng city, began an indiscrim-
- : fire across the international
lndary. Tonight there was no
evidence that their shooting had
been effective. Property damage in
Nucvo Laredo will reach $500,000.
Among the buildings destroyed were
/ the United States consulate, munich
pal buildings, postoffice, theatre, -four
mill, one of the largest in this Sec
, ticn; the railroad shops of the Mex
lean National railway and other struc-
lures.
At late hour tonight the fire was
still burning with no chance that it
would be controlled until everything
inflammable had been wiped out Ker-
osene and other combustibles, literally
used. aided the fire damage.
! There was no property loss in Lar
edo. Poth international bridges are
safe, though efforts to dynamite them
resulted in the death Of two men en-
gagged in the undertaking. One Mex
lean was shot by q sharpshooter from
the top of the water tower. The Mex
lean was trying to reach the end of
the international foot and wagon
bridge. Another was killed when he
tried to blow up the Mexican end Of
the international railway bridge.
American soldiers are constantly sta
toned at the American end to prevent
such an attempt.
When Mexican soldiers finally left
order was quickly restored at Laredo,
but strong guards remain throughout
the city. A serious problem was
! furnished immigration and city au-
thorities by the presence here OF hum
dreds of refugees from the burning
city.
The federal garrison evacuated
Nuevo Laredo yesterday, supposedly
going to Saltillo or Monterey. With
their departure the city, ordinarily
Of about 1000 population, was vir-
tually deserted.
and it was announced that they came
back for additional engines to put to
their troor trains.
There was little excitement caused
BY the presence Of the federals until
this afternoon. Smoke was seen issu-
ing from some of the buildings
around the plaza. The municipal
building and the American consulate.
on opposite side of the square,
consulate, the postofiice, temporarily
closed, also was seen to be burning
and around the plaza smoke began to
issue from the windows and roofs of
other buildings.
A few minutes later a loud ex-
plosion wrecked several houses and
the fire spread rapidly in all direc-
tions. Americans began to gather on
the river bank, but hastily retreated
when warned that other explosions
nearer at hand might occur. Troops
at Fort Mcintosh were quickly or
dered out and soon rigid guard was
established in the danger zone. AT
the two bridges the guards were re-
inforced, andd it was here that the
only known loss of life occurred.
Battery a of the Third field artil-
lcry was sent to the power house of
company, fearing an attack there.
but there was nothing for them to do.
Several MeNicans were seen TO fall
before the fire of the machine gun,
but they were carried away by their
comrades.
After silencing the MeXicans. part
of the Ninth infantry was Withdrawn
from the river front.
Rumors that some Americans had
been wounded proved to be without
foundation, and no shots struck in
the central part of Laredo.
Col. Cochran OF the Ninth infantry
announced that a rigid patrol of the
city. particularly of the business sec
ton and the American residence Sec