The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-09
ADEQUATE PROTECTION
NOT GIVEN AT TAMPlCO
Statement Prepared ny American
Refugees Received by Scnn-
tor Stone.
THEIR LIVES IN GREAT DANGER
Taken On Bonrd German Warships
and Transported Nine Miles To United
States Vessels In the Gulf.
Especial to The Timcs-Dispatch.l

Especial to The Times Dspatch.l
Washington. May S.--Senator stone
chairman Of the Senate Foreign Rcla-
tions Committee. to-day received the
statement prepared by American refu-
gees from Tampico, preliminary dis
cusSion of which by Senator Fail in
the Senate early this week raised II
storm of protest from administration
managers. The communication WAS
addressed to the chairman OF the
Foreign Relations Committee and WAS
as follows:
Feeling that tho American public
is not cognizant of the true situation
existing in Tanpico and the district
tributary To il, we desire TO place be-
fore them a recital of the actual facts,
subscribing our names to same as evil
dencc of the truth of this statement.
In December last the rebels at
tackled Tampico, and women and chill
dren and some men were taken aboard
the battleships and were returned as
soon as the danger was over. During
the last week in the present month the
same rule WAS observed, and the wom-
en-, children and some men were taken
aboard the battlcships and returned
TO their homes when ii was considered
that there was no further danger.
ION the morning of the "ist of the
present month, Consul Miller received
advice that the Eunboats of Admiral
Mayo's command had been ordered out
of the port of Tampico by the Amer
lean government and were to leave
within one hour. No intimation WAS
given TO the American residents of any
danger whatsoever. While we con-
sidered the leaving OF the gunboats
ut that time rather extraordinary. due
To the fact that we had always had
some gunboats in the harbor for some
months. still no uneasincss was felt.
American Forces Landing.
I'm the afternoon rumors became
insistcnt upon The streets that the
American forces were landing in Vera
Cruz. About ESQ in the afternoon an
U:tcial bulletin was posted at the mu-
nicipal palace, advising the McNicans
that the American FORCES had landed
at Vera Cruz, ana appealing to them
10 take up arms and defend t.cir
country. rs Consul Miller had not re-
cciVcd any oiticia! advice, the Amcis-
cans still believed che report from
Vera Cruz To be- isroundlcss, until ;hcy
realized the gravity of the situation
"Nolunlccrs We're assembling: arms
and ammunition were being distributed
10y the Mexican authorities, and armed
MeNicans were running in every dircc-
ton in the city. NVrd was sent to
Americans TO assemble at Central
Plaza No time had been given for amy
pi eparations The Mexican authorities
Were constantly searching every place
owrcd by Americans for arms and am
munition ANA the few arms left in tic
possession Of Americans were only
those that had not been found.
Two hours later another mob APP
pcarcd. Milling both streets III front of
the southern Hotel. having been ex-
cited by inccndiary speeches. These
speeches We're continued in front of
the Southern Hotel FOR fully half an
hou". when the mob made an attack
ana ATTEMPTED to batter down the FROM.
doors OF the hotel, In which were as
semblcd more than lOc American men.
women ana children, only thirty OF
whom had arms.
McAicnn Soldiers In Crowd.
mere were McNican soldiers i'm
thc outskirts OF the crowds with their
guns pointed toward the upper stories
OF me hotel, and they made no effort
Whatever 10 stop the marauders Am
ihsistent demand was made that the
American flag he taken down from thn
huiidlne, which was refused Then
thelr shouts of Death to the Grin
goes and Down with the flayu be-
t"the more ana more vociferous. The
jcte de nrmas had been notified hv
telephone of the gathering of the mob
nut tho police detachment that came
l" uiSpcfsc the crowd and preserve
order arrived after all the damage
was done. Some hostile delnonstra
IONS were made at other places. where
-Niirfi':ths were congrcSated
ON the following morning. realizinc
me gravity OF the situation and our
utter h1lpleSsncss. we appealed To ,hc
American consul to know wh;t v,s
'o be done. lie informed MS thot -,
me request OF Admiral Mayo, the Ger.
man ana English grnboats in the h,r.
Dor would receive all Americans ,na
transport them TO American warsh,ns
~ 'hcnor In ihc Gulf. a distance OF
nine miles from Tampico.
While going through tho atre.ts
mo docks to take refuge on board t,,n
foreign ships Americans were bissnd
ana their women insuited by unsnn,t