The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-05-06
4 CITY DESTROYED
MEXICAN FEDERAIS DEVASTATE
TOWN OF NUEVO LAREDO
CAME BACK TO BURN IT
After Evacuating City Mexican Fed
erals Return on Following Day and
Destroy It-Cnited States Infan-
try Guarding international Bridge
Kills TWO.

Kills TWO.
Neuvo Laredo, the thriving Mexi-
can border town opposite Laredo,
Texas, was in ruins Friday night,
devastated by dynamite and fred by
Mexican federals who late Friday be-
gan an orgy Of destruction which
ended only when they were forced to
flee before the guns of the American
border patrol. Two Mexicans are
known to have been killed by the
United States troops.
Several brisk skirmishes between
the Americans and Mexicans occur
red as the Mexicans, their troop
trains ready to leave the burning
city, began an indiscriminate fire
across the international boundary.
Property damage in Nuevo Laredo
will reach s500,00O. Among the
buildings destroyed were the United
States consulate, municipal buildings,
post office, theatre, -four mill, one Of
the largest in that section; the rail-
road shops of the Mexican National
railway and other structures.
There was no property loss in Lar
edo. Both international bridges are
safe, though efforts to dynamite them
resulted in the death Of two men en-
gagged in the undertaking. One Mex
ican was shot by sharpshooter from
the top Of the water tower. The Mex
ican 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 pre-
vent 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 fur
nished immigration and city authori-
ties by the presence there Of hundreds
of refugees from the burning city.
The federal garrison evacuated
Nuevo Laredo Thursday, supposedly
going to Saltillo or Monterey. With
their departure the city, ordinarily
Of about 1000 population, was vir-
tually deserted. Early Friday the
federals returned and it was announc-
ed that they came back for additional
engines to put to their troops trains.
There was little excitement caused
by the presence Of the federals until
Thursday afternoon. Smoke was
seen issuing from some Of the build
ings around the plaza. The munich
pal building and the American con-
sulate, on opposite sides Of the
square, broke into flames. Next door
to the consulate, the post Office, tenn
porarily 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 explo-
sion wrecked several houses and the
fire spread rapidly in all directions.
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 order
ed out and soon a rigid guard was
established in the danger zone. At
the two bridges the guards were rein
forced, and it was here that the only
known loss Of life occurred.
A battery OF field artillery was
sent to the power house Of the Lar
edo Electric and Lighting company,
staring an attack there, but there
was nothing for them to do. Sew
eral Mexicans were seen to fall be-
fore the fire Of the machine gun, but
they we're carried away by their COM
rades. After siiencing the Mexicans,
part Of the Ninth infantry was with
drawn from the river front.