The Washington herald., 1914-05-03
Eve Witness TO First Shots Fired in Mexico Tells Story

|circling beams Of dazzling light. brighter
than day.
The Chester came in about u o'clock
with her lights all out. She dropped
anchor just astern of the Esperanza We
could even hear the orders shouted to
the crew, "All up Prepare for action"'
repeated continuously for half an hour
or SO. The Chester had dropped into a
position that suited her purposes ad-
mirably. She commanded the fort, Quar-
tel. Naval Academy, and two of the
principal streets.
At $50 a. m the Chester fired two
loads of shrapnel up one of the streets,
completely filling II with dead Mexicans
The fort attempted TO fire on the Ches-
ter, but about three shots silenced q,
from the Chester's fore and aft 5-inch
guns. Sharpshooters located on the Ches-
ter's decks fired In all directions ashore,
dropping Mexicans in their tracks It
was sure death for a Mexican TO show
his head down the streets commanded
by the Chester or to show himself on.
the wharf front. Our jackies had dyed
their white shirts khaki color, and ad-
vanced along the harbor 'front.' covered
by the Chester's FIRE.
The Mexicans poured a rain of bullets
from the Quartet and Naval Academy
buildings. The cruiser shelled these
the walls, though. allowed the shells to
p;'ss through. only making a hole where
II struck. After firing a few times
against the walls of the Quartet, bar
racks. etc, the cruiser put her shells in
through windows. took the tops OF the
houses. and made all kinds Of fancy
shots.
Our khaki-colored bluejackets ad-
vanced along till opposite the govern
ant haRfl nwdA 1lf erlae e1xr
bungled here on signals, but were quick
ly rectified without any harm being done
The Chester ceased her shelling tempo
rarily, while her sharpshooters helped
our lads from her decks.
American Forces Charge.
Our men advanced on the double quick
and made a splendid charge, driving the
enemy out of the barracks and out of
their forts. After this maneuver they
charged on the consulate building of
the Colombian. Venezuelan, and Ecua-
dorian governments, which the enemy
had occupied in force Our lads poured in
a murderous fire at all windows, doors.
etc, while the Chester banked huge
breaches in its walls with her 5-inch
guns. That building was completely
wrecked and its human occupants, or
most all of them. died at the first charge.
Inc 1dCk1eS Inen AQVdnCcQ "
the southern side of the enemy. and they
were jammed in between our lads.
hemmed in on three sides. It was at
this period that She Mexicans took to
the open country. A detachment of them.
however, had mounted q couple Of three
Founders on the hospital roof under the
Red Cross flag. The Chester took this
bunch of the earth with half a dozen
good shots
The Mexicans had begun to get enough
OF this business, and when they found
that the ''Gringoes" were really in earn
est and not bluffing. they took to the
hills outside of the city in a rather
hasty manner.
The refugees who returned on the
Esperanza from both Vera Cruz and
Tampico criticised the administration at
Washington severely when they heard
that war had not been declared, saying:
IF they fall down now. our possessions
are done for" That was the opinion Of
the majority.
Some awful stories were told Of tor
ture. piIlaging. etc. which one could
scarcely believe
The Esperanto left Vera Cruz en- route
for Galveston, on NE I'D. stopping at
Tampico. When we arrived at Galveston
We were met by a tugboat loaded down
with reporters, who offered large sums
for stories Of the different actions at
Vera Cruz. Some Of our crew got con-
siderable money by disposing of their
photographs.