Evening star., 1914-04-24
Mobs TrampIe Old Glory
and Threaten Americans
When Refugees Leave City

MEXICO CITY, April % By Refugee
Train to Vera Cruz April 24).-Mobs in
the streets Of Mexico City were trampling
under foot the Stars and Stripes and were
threatening American pedestrians when
the refugee train engaged under the aus,
picss OF the British and German lega~
lions left for Vera Cruz carrying some
800 fug1tives of various nationalities
The position of those American citizens
left In the federal capital was regarded
as critical. Nelson O'Shaughnessy, the
Of the navy and Capt. William A. Burn
side of the army were to leave Thurs
day night for Manzanil.e. on the Pacific
coast, under special arrangement with
Provisional President Huerta.
Immediately after the news of the land
Ing OF American bluejackets and marines
atYera- Cruz was made known in the
federal capital by extra editions Of the
local newspapers crowds of students and
government office employees began to
gather.
Smash Windows Of Club.
By dusk a mob had assembled In front
of the American Club. where 1t
smashed windows and howled insults and
threats at the American citizens inside,
all of whom they threatened to essassi-
nate.
An appeal to the governor of the fed
eral district brought police protection, but
not before the crowd had shattered many
of the windows In the clubhouse and in
adjoining properties belonging to Amer
leans.
Until o'clock In the morning bands Of
excited Mexicans marched through the
streets singing the Mexican national
anthem and shouting Death for the
Americans.
An American jewelry store was looted
by the mob at midnight. The police look
ed on without taking any action The
American Club, the leading American
hoste ry and the offices Of the Mexican
Herald were closed. owing to the threats
OF the mobs to burn them and murder
their occupants. The British. German
and French in the federal capital are pre-
pared at moments notice to gather in
the previously arranged concentration
districts which had been provisioned to
stand siege.
Newspapers Print Fake News.
Tho newspapers, probably acting under
the direction Of Gen. Huerta, issued many
extra editions in which they printed dis
patches stating that Ell Paso. Laredo.
Nogales and other places had been taken
by the Mexicans. Other dispatches an
nounced that the federal troops had
gained a great victory at Vera Cruz.
where they expected to surround and
drive the American invaders into the sea.
The papers also declared that the bat.
tleship Louisiana had been sunk by q
Mexican torpedo. An alleged dispatch
from the south said that Emilianc
Zapata, the southern rebel. was coming
to Join forces with Gen. Huerta-
All the American officials employed BY
the national railroads and the Mexicar
Railway Company were Immediately dis
charged by the government in order tina,
no trains could be operated except undel
the supervision Of the government
At the American embassy orders were
expected from the Mexican government
that the arms and ammunition recently
permitted to enter should be given up
This was In retaliation for the seizur.
Of Vera Cruz by the American fleet. A
o'clock Wednesday evening Nelson
OShaughneesy. the American charg,
d'afYaires. had not received his passports
but he was preparing to leave.