The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-05-14
FALL OF TAMP|CO
HASTENS EXIT
CONTINUED from Page One.)

and roofs. Above the shouts of the
combatants and the droning din of
musketry fire the steady thunder of
artillery continued increasingly. Sharp
shooters, firing from the ramparts of
houses, would suddenly spin around
clutching at the air and hurtle down.
ward toward the streets.
Murder In Hearts.
Fire broke out, but the soldiers
made no effort to check the blaze.
The battle lust in their hearts gave
them only one thought, and that was
to kill.
AS Zaragosa men were driven in the
general saw that defeat was newt
able. He prepared for flight, but at
the same time kept his firing line ex-
tended and his men as well supplied
with ammunition as his slender store
afforded.
Soldiers without cartridges toiled to
the roofs of houses with missiles in
their hands and hurled these down.
ward upon the heads of the advancing
rebels. Freight cars were made up
into two trains and locomotives were
attached, while the remnants of the
Federal were concentrating in the
Plazo de Arms. Detachments which
were cut off from the main body were
driven into the Panuco river and
drowned or shot down as they begged
fer mercy. The Constituencies gave
no quarter, nor did the Federals where
they had chance to exercise their
thirst for blood.
Shoot Down Defenders.
A party of Federals took refuge in
the New Southern hotel, firing from
| behind the pillars of the verandas and
from the roof and windows. With a
! wild yell the rebels rushed the build
ing, shooting down the defenders.
Both sides fought with a stubborn
ness and courage, which made this
| one of the bloodiest fights of the Mex
| lean civil war.
Exhausted from fighting and lack OF
food, and with their ammunition gone
! the Federals had to give way. Some
| were able to take refuge on the pre-
pared freight trains, but hundreds fled
into the swampy jungles southwest OF
the city, where they were pursued by
Constitutionalists. Throwing away
their guns in their flight, the soldiers
plunged into the morasses, where they
| sank to their knees into the black
/ oil-soaked mud.
| A troop Of rebel cavalrymen tried
to pursue the Federals, but had tt
turn back for the horses sank to their
bellies in the mire and the men were
helpless.
Escape Artillery Fire.
Gonzales then swung a battery Of
artillery into place and began hurting
shells after the fleeing Federals, but
1t is likely that the natural difficulties
encountered by the fugitives were
more deadly than the artillery fire.
| Tampico was a city of horrors after
the battle. The buildings were tori
byartillery fire and the streets were
choked with dead and wounded. Fire
ragged from the hills around the city
where the rebels were running dowr
little bands of Federals in the scrul
and shooting them to death.
Some of the Federals were able tt
make their way to the Mexican gun
boats which began dropping down the
river toward the gulf.
! Despite the efforts Of their officers
rebel soldiers began looting. They
broke into the barracks of the hotels
and made off with quantities of liquor
The boarded windows of shops were
broken open and goods stolen. One
of the most picturesque figures among
the victors was Jack Van Tarleheim
and American soldier of fortune, hail
ing from Kansas City. Won Tarlen
helm commanded fifteen rebel fielt
pieces, and had been used as an EN-
issary by General Gonzales in com
municating with Admiral Mayo, be
cause of his knowledge of English anC
military usage