The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1914-05-01
CAPTURE CITY
OF VERA GRIP
Insult t to Flag Quickly Ave,,a
By American Marines s''s'
-Four Americans Are K;u
"a I've. Wounded in First Dep,. '''
Fight Enemy,s Los. ,oS

cr Vera .ani Cruz, !. Mex, April 2l.-v.,,
Cruz tonight is in the hands Of ~.
from the United States ws,s VI l0'es
the occupation of the port wsa but
complished without the loss Of aos a.
can lives. ''' VI Amer
Four Americans, blueiacko+,
marines, were killed by the 't g. and
the Mexican soldiers and 9n l1e q
wounded. The Mexican loss 81 !. l 0a
known, but it is believed to hsr, sn't
close to 200 dead and manv w0u. Dtsn
The waterfront, the custom D ss
and all important piers, ineIu nSase
those under the terminal works f.aV
which extend the railroads to tho ' ,sa
ital, have been occupied. All tbs -. ~
ritory around the American consr1 ~
is strongly patrolled and detachm s,ss
hold other sections of the city. ''''NS
The Mexican commander ce,,..
Gustave Mas, offered a stubbo,, 's
sistance and for many hours there s ~
fighting in the streets. Toward nies ~
fall it was reported that the m ss.
body of the federal garrison was IN , -
treat westward.
Rear Admiral Fletcher, in comm,s
of the United States warships. ma
faced his occupation of the port bv,
demand, through the American co,r1
w. w. Canada, for its surrerdr
General Mas promptly declined to A.
cede to this demand, and shortly attr
ward ten whaleboats were sent .
from the side of the transport P,srt
loaded with marines. These boat
effected a landing in the neighbohM
of the custom house before noon, sI
a few minutes later Captain William
R. Rush.. of the battleship Florida
who was in command of the operatou
ashore, brought his flag in.
Captain Rush's men had alreaiy |
taken up their positions. They num- |
bered $50 bluejackets from the Flor. |
da, 80 marines from the Prairie and |
IS marines from the Florida. Later |
these were augmented by detsh |
ment from the Utah.
The coming of the American forces |
was not heralded by any great excite /
ment, but small crowds gathereda
watch the landing. Soon the blue
jackets and marines marched through
the streets leading from the water
front and along the railroad yards
Others proceeded to the American
consulate, while still others we're De
ployed along the approaches to Central
Plaza, in which General Mas had con-
centrated his men.
These maneuvers were effeda
without opposition, but suddenly Gen
eral Mas challenged the advance with |
the first shots-a volley fired from
point three blocks from the marns
and two blocks south Of the man
plaza. The marines replied lmm@
| ately, but the action ceased IN a INV
ment. There was a lull Tor ~ mlr
utes and then another brief exchaE
from the west end Of Montesm
street, where a federal outpost W.
stationed.
At 1890 the firing became genera
and at l O'Clock the guns OF the uar
port Prairie went into action. H..
Prior to this detachment Of @ y,
Jackets from the Utah, holding y. ~
ground between the consulate anu
waterfront, opened fire with " Is IN
their three-inch guns. Inc nl s:.s s~i
from these pieces were ols ~.
against an ancient tower Wnlcn Gil. vn.
served as light house. Inns "''
cupied by Mexican sharpsho0n9e '.1s.,,,
Lieutenant Commander bucl 10 H.
of the Florida, ordered that . IL q, s III
stroyed. Five shots brought 'D' y
Benito Juarez tower down. ,olorr
The women of the American T ols.l
in Vera Cruz had already Deen F E
aboard the chartered steamers n'f n.
ANA and Mexico, but the f0Is asetioa
ony, especially the American is;a morning steta
was greatly augmented TINS TINS f h,S,I ID
when three trainloads arrlVeu I .,
capital. Some Of these l' ahaS
ashore, but many were 'an'A can
the steamers. SO Tar a. uss ID
learned none of the refugees
jured. q
v>r1I VI.