Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-09

guns went into action at Independent
cia, Cinco de Mayo. Cortes, Hidalgo
and Bravo, and cleared these streets
Immediately. The men took positions
in front of ware houses, lining the
north side of Montesinos and fired at
the enemy who had occupied the
housetops windows and towers on the
opposite side OF the street. The Ma
rine regiment was then ordered not to
advance but to hold original position
In the meantime the Florida sea-
man battalion under Lieutenant VAIN
wright had advanced and seized the
custom-ho and custom warehouse,
post0ffice. and railroad terminal They
were under steady fire from the enemy
in houses on Benito Juarez and More
los Streets. which was returned The
artillery section of the Florida went
into action in front of the American
consulate and shelled the enemy out
of the old lighthouse tower on Benito
Juarez Street When the first report
of casualties was received the Solace
was ordered from Tampico to Vera
Cruz by radio.
AT / r. NJ. l repaired aboard the
Prairie with Captain Huse and Lieu
tenant Courts of my staff and from
this point directed joint operations
ashore and afloat. The prairie opened
fire at ITO p. NJ. with 3-inch gun on
the enemy's mounted troops in the
sandhills beyond the City. Indirect fire
was used with a church tower as a
point of aim. range $500 to 5000 yards.
The Second shot fell among their
troops and drove them beyond the
sand hills.
"Sharpshooters in the Naval School
Building and the New Market had
been firing steadily on Pier No. 4
where all of our boats were landing.
Chief Boatswain McCloy in charge of
three picket launches armed with one
FOUNDER guns put out from Pier No.
and steamed full speed around the
end OF Fiscal Pier directly toward the
Naval School Building. When within
a few hundred yards, the launches
opened fire simultaneously with one
Founders at the windows of the Naval
Academy. They thus drew the fire of
the Mexican forces along that section
of the waterfront but located their po-
sitions for the Prairie who immediate
~ opered fire with 3-inch battery over
the heads of the launches, silencing the
fire of the Mexicans in that section
of the city. The picket launches in
their gallant dash were hit many times
with rifle bullets and three times with
one FOUNDER shell from the Naval
Academy Chief Boatswain McCloy
was wounded in the leg and one was
fatally wounded.
The Brigade signal station on top
| of the Terminal Hotel WAS exposed to
the fire Of the Mexicans from all di-
rections. The signal squad under En-
| sign Mcdonnell remained at their posts
during the twenty hours fight
| ing and though three of the seven sig
| nalmen were shot while wig gging
messag es, communication between
| Brigade Headquarters and the Prairie
was never interrupted.
"3 p. M did not desire to force
| the fighting through the city and use
| the guns of the ships as long as there
existed a reasonable chance to avoid
this severe measure. Every effort was
being made to get into communication
with the Mexican authorities, both di-
rect and through the American consul,
| and to represent to them the futility
of further resistance on their part and
the serious consequences that would