The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-05-01
GRAPHIC STORY
OF VERA CRUZ
Capture of Mexican City After
Two Days Fight Presents
Vivid Picture.
vALoR OF OUR BLUEJAcKETS
Warships shelled Buildings In Which
Mexican Shippers" Had Taken Ref
uae-Natiyes Surprised at cour-
tesy of American Troops.


Twelve Americans were killed and
thirty wounded before the city Of
Vera Cruz came into the undisputed
possession of the American invading
forces after two-day fight Although
the Mexicans suffered more severely,
the number Of their casualties has not
been ascertained. The best estimates
obtained by Capt. William R. Rush
of the battleship Florida indicated
that in the engagements of Tuesday
and Wednesday their dead numbered
about one hundred and fifty. No per
son knows how many Mexicans fell
wounded, as many of them we're taken
away and hidden by friends.
In the streets about the plaza
Wednesday afternoon lay fifteen or
twenty bodies, majority of them at
tired in citizens clothing Some of
the men evidently had been dead since
the engagement Tuesday and the
tropical heat made their Immediate
disposal imperative. One of the first
orders given after the town had been
captured was to bury the Mexican
dead in trench at the sea end OF
one OF the streets leading from the
plaza.
Scores Are Taken Prisoners.
When the city was taken the order
was given to advance carefully and
search every building for men bearing
arms. Scores of prisoners we're taken,
the majority of them protesting vol
ubly-many Historically that they
were not guilty of any unfriendliness
toward the Americans. Accustomed
as the Mexicans are to seeing their
own contending forces shoot imme-
diately all prisoners taken, the cap
tured men could not but believe that
they would receive no less drastic
treatment at the hands of the Ameri-
cans. The guns found in houses We're
thrown by the marines and blue
Jackets from the upper balconies to
the pavement below.
The most spirited action was the
taking Of the naval academy. Aside
| from that fight, no definite. organized
! opposition was encountered by the
| Americans. A hot fire was poured
| from the naval college. but a few
we'll directed shots from the cruisers
| Chester. San Francisco ard Prairie
/ tore gaping holes in the stone walls
and silenced the rife fire of the Next
cans inside The bluejackets then
| were ena . I'd to proceed with the task
they had in hand.
Escape From Fight Cut Off.
Despite the Smelling it had received
Tuesday. a squad of soldiers continued
10 give considerable trouble to the
Americans from the battered Benito
Juarez tower After they had been
Slenced and removed from the tower
IL was discovered that the soldiers
had continued fighting for lack of
ability to do anything else. The shells
from the warships Tuesday had torn
away the stairway In the tower and
the men had been compelled to remain
IN 1t.
Appeal From Aged Mexican.
Coincident with the orders for the
general advance of the Americans an
aged. white-haired Mexican, carrying
the white flag of truce. came down
street from the center of the city
He carried letter to the chief of pc
lice. the only authority he hoped to
reach. and desired Consul Granada tc
read 1t. II was an urgent appeal tc
the chief of police to call of the
snipers and prevent the bombardmeni
he believed would follow II they con
ltinued their execution.
Even before the messenger had
climbed the stairs into the consuPi
office Can't. Rush was informed of the
contents of the note he bore and i'm
mediately sounded cease firing anf
"halt." But it was too late. Th'
action had been begun all along tht
line and it was not considered wis
n attempt further measures to stol
III The commanders ordered thei
men forward at double quick, which
tbev carried out with vigor tina
afterward gave them the city
Evidences of War.
Rlood-bespattered sidewalks, broker
windows and bullet-scarred walls CAV
he plaza q grewsome aspect. Withil
he Diligencia hotel there were fort,
had been there since the commence
nent Of hostilities. When the squar
was taken they we're Immediately nc
q ffied that they might go on the Spar
n ish cruiser Carlos Y. outside tn
i breakwater in order to give the Prairi
room to fire her guns. The SPANS
: commander refused saying that b
dared not maneuver his boat in $
" small space at night. He also d.
e a:Ared that he needed to take on
II supply of fresh water. Admir-;
It Fletcher insisted yesterday that n
a order be carried out, and the Carlo
" moved outside Just before the a
track on the center of the city begai
At 1908 Wednesday morning II
+ Americans were in undisputed po
a session OF all the city except Il
q southwest quarter. In which the ba
Il racks are situated, and a few outlyiT