Norwich bulletin., 1914-02-13

Vera Cruz, Mexico, Feb. 12-AH at- tempt was made last night to assas- .sinate Lieutenant Arthur B. Cook, flag lieutenant to Rear Admiral Mayo, of the United States battleship Con- necticut.
 Lieutenant Cook though struck by a bullet. was only slightly hurt. His as- saiiant was not seen.
 The lieutenant accompanied by his wife and Miss Ethel Mckenzie of Philadelphia, had been dining with Admiral Mayo aboard the flagship. Returning to the landing place, the party entered carriage to drive to the steamer Morro Castle, on which to sail today.
 The two women occupied the rear seats of an open victoria, Lieutenant Cook, conspicuous in full dress white uniform with gold epaulets and heavy gold cords, denoting his rank as flag lieutenant, sat facing them with his back to the driver.
 AssaiIant Not Noticed.
 Shortly after 10 o'clock the party, proceeding down the Avenida De La Indepencia, was greeted by a group of naval officers and correspondents go- ing towards the main plaza of the city. Their carriage proceeded about a block further. when, in passing side street. q sharp, but not loud detonation was nSaIQ ana LlGuLenanL LOOK 1Gll d smart shock on the left hip, which provoked his surprise. but apparently was not associated at the time with what appeared to be a shot.
 Whoever fired the shot must have made off immediately and the few lcungers who happened to be in that neighborhood, noting that the report was not attended by any disturbance or outcry, paid no further attention to the matter.
 Bullet Was Spent.
 The carriage continued on to the wharf at which lay the Morro Castle and on alighting Lieutenant Cook he had been sitting which proved to be steel jacketed .25 calibre bullet, of the type used in pocket automatic pistols. Further investigation showed that the bullet had inflicted a bruise on his hip.
 a very short distance, as evidenced by the sharp report, was spent, probably having lost it's velocity by passing through the woodwork of the carriage.
 General Maas Held Responsible.
 Both Mrs. Cook and Miss Mckenzie were greatly agitated by the discovery of the bullet. Having seen them to their stateroo1n, Lieutenant Cook re- turned aboard the flagship and report GU lI1S dLlxiCk to llle du1flIEdl, WHO JlllsS morning communicated with John Lind, President Wilson's representa- tive, and the American consul, ". w. Canada. They notified General Maas, military commanda.nt at Vera Cruz, without however making any formal demand.
 Later MT. Lind will officially inform General Maas that the arrest of per- sons assaultfng or attempting to aS- Eau1t American officers or civilians is matter of small consequence compar- ed with the personal responsibility of the general for such outrages. It will he made clear to General Maas that he personally will be held to the strict est accountability for failure to pre- vent Euch attacks.
 Probably Act Of Desperate. ,S
 The avenue. in which the attack on Lieutenant Cook was committed, is the principal thoroughfare of the city It is a wide and brilliantly illuminated street, lined for the greater part with V holeSale and retail stores and banks, the upper floors of which are used as high class residences At the hour of the attack the street. was almost de- serted, except for the freouenters of some saloons and a gambling house which the carriage had just passed
 IL is not believed that the attack was tlle result of 8 deliberate plot, but the
 
 seeing Lieutenant Cook in a brilliant uniform, misteok him for an American naval officer Of high rank fired the shot apparently point blank and fed
 Precautions to Guard Lind.
 Recently quiet arrangements were made to secure the personal safety of MT. Lind URtil a few days ago he was in the habit of taking long walks alone, not only iR the city, but in the outlying country. At the consulate no guard was maintained, but three sig nal boys were brought from the fleet to act as messengers and keep up com munication with the nearest ship by wig wags and night signals
 In consequence of information reacil- ing the consulate the character of which has not been diFulged the sig nal boys were replaced by eight stall wart picked bluejackets, of whom four are constantly on duty in the day and four at night. They have orders to scruhnize closely all persons entering the consulate, to permit no one to ap- proach MT. Lind's room uninvited and to admit no one after dark without proper identification.
 MT. Lind, whenever he leaves the consulate now, is followed by a big bluejacket. keeping ten paces to the rear. The bluejacket is unarned but within immediate striking distance.
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 MT. Lind was opposed to these pre- cautionary measures, but finally, aI- though reluctantly, was persuaded that conditions demanded them.
 The United States battIesllips Con- necticut, Ohio and Minneslta were to have sailed for Talnpico t14gAy, but the order was rescinded. The ships will now await the return of Admiral Fletcher's ship from Tanapico. and the arrival of the first division of dread thoughts, profabiy February 16.
 Americans Flee From Zacatecas.
 Mrs. Cook and Miss Mckenzie sail ed today on the Morro Castle Among the other passengers were Mrs. Hen derson and two other American wo- men, refugees from Zucatecas, who say that they were compelled to flee be- cause the governor. of Zucatecas de- cided that he was unable to guarantee them further, giving as his reason the removal of the embargo on arms, as a