Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-05-05
Ito be Continued.)
MEXICAN AGAINST MEXICAN

MEXICAN AGAINST MEXICAN
Associate Reformed Missionary Tells
Of Fighting Around Vera Cruz.
Yesterday, Sabbath, the fifth day Of
the month, a bombshell shot from the
Mexican gunboat "Veracruz" alarmed
every one. We were led to believe
that the rebels that have been threat
ening an attack on the city, had fallen
| back to their first position some twen-
ty miles distant. The stores had all
been open until noon and buyers lined
the counters, and as is customary on
the Sabbath, the market was visited by
| thousands. Many Of the rich and well
to do go to market for diversion; Sab
bath is also pay day and the working
class buy the weeks supplies and the
masses were doing the marketing for
the day.
At nine O'Clock we met at our little
church in The center Of the city and
had our morning service in Spanish;
ninety-six were present and the COL
lection amounted to nine dollars and
few cents, contributed by eight classes
At half past ten o'clock the Mexican
congregation went to their homes and
| the English congregation came in. The
service lasted about an hour, the at
tention was all that q preacher could
ask of an audience and the singing
l., yAl
English speaking children right by the
side of the church, and a Sabbath
school is conducted there every Sab
| bath morning. The most Of these chill
dren are attendants at church and
| they are a bright score Of boys and
girls. BY noon all were at their homes
and possibly not one had thought OF
what was in store for the afternoon.
In December when the battle began
pitiSul fear was feelingly shown;
houses, offices and stores were closed
but it was quite different last Sabbath
After the first shot was fired and the
| rattle of Mausers began, the most
| ur.soncerned indifference was mani
| tested.
On the square in front Of the tele-
graph and postoffice buildings was a
multitude Of human beings, big and
little, old and young, male and female
enjoying the refreshing sea breeze and
splendid music. Some were prone
nading the gravel and cement walks
admiring the rich, beautiful flowers,
others sitting in conversation with
friends, others slowly driving in car
riages and autos round and round the
square; two blocks from that is an
other pretty square on which the mu-
nicipal buildings and cathedral front
Under the portals Of the municipal
building was the semi monthly draw
ing Of the Tamaulipas lottery, splen-
did band was playing the sweetest
music, and scores Of all classes were
present to hear the numbers read out;
four blocks from this square is anoth-
er and or it had been erected some
two scores of booths in which is every
device for gambling, and that was
crowded with little boys, young men,
middle aged and old men, all animat-
ed with the gambling spirit, and
gambling, if they had a cent to risk.
| All this on Sabbath and in hearing
| Of battle not more than a mile and
half distant. No one could know the
results Of the encounter, nor could any
one anticipate the treatment that
might be received from the enemy
should their attack be successful. All
knew that brother was fighting with
brother ard that many were falling on
both sides before the continued fire or
rifles, machine guns and roaring can
non. Carriages converted into ambu-
lances, carrying the flags Of the Red
and White Cross societies were driv-
ing like Jehu to and from the battle
field, bringing in the dying and wound
ed Such things call for the deepest
feelings Of sorrow; but ii was not
written in the faces of the crowd. 1t
was a revelation to me. Can people
get accustomed to Gods providence
and chastisement?
With the night fall, the crack ol
and the roar of cannon were hushed, 1t
was a calm that was noticeable, and
how l die wish we would never hear
it again. At seven o'clock we had an
attentive audience to listen to truths
founded on, "Dadnos de vuestro ace
ite." Matt. 25:S.
This morning everything was quiet
until ten o'clock when the battle was
renewed at Dona Cecilia and 1t has
ragged all day, and judging by the
number of guns and rapidity OF the
firing, the battle has been fiercely con-
tested. From the high buildings the
battle could be seen, but we do not
know the results. Men, women and
children, non -combatantS, have been
wounded and killed and many soldiers
have been brought in. The house just
at the corner from us has been con-
verted into a White Cross hospital,
and it is full. The country is bathed
| in blood and shrouded in sorrow and
distress, and the end is not yet with
night fall things are quiet again.-Rev.
Neill E. Pressly in Associate Reform