The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1914-06-08
FIGHT At VERA CRUZ
Chicago Woman Gives Vivid Pic
ture of the Capture.
Narrator, While on Deck Of Steamer
in Harbor Watched Assault on
Town by United States Guns
Mexican Women In Fray.

Chicago, Vivid description OF the
capture OF Vera Cruz was given By
Mrs. Frederick ] stevens. wife of
former Chicago automobile agent
shortly after her arrival here from
battle torn Mexico. Mrs. Stevens, her
mother Isabella " DIN, and her four
year-old daughter. Esther, were the
first OF Chicago refugees TO reach this
city. From portfolio IN the bow
OF the refugee ship EsperanZa Mrs.
Stevens and her mother had watched
the conflict at Vera Cruz-saw the
steel jacketed bullets drop men from
parapets. heard the sharp rattle of
field guns and the incessant roar Of
three Founders as they played with
terrific effect upon the white walls Of
Vera Cruz. Mrs. Stevens story was
tribute to American bravery.
I'VE had been warned the night be-
fore at Vera Cruz to hasten aboard
tho Esperanza.' said Mrs. Stevens,
and all American civilians packed
their valuables in the night and made
tor the boat The women slept in the
cabin and the men on the decks that
night. When | awoke the fatal Tues
day morning | shuddered to see the
ominous warships around and to hear
the bugles blowing. The Esperanza
was in line with the Prairie and the
Chester, only stones throw away.
Il was watching from the deck
when there was a hustle aboard the
warships and men began crowding
over the sides into boats. Bugles were
blowing everywhere. and We could
hear orders shouted by the naval OH
GERS. Then as in answer to this &C
ton, shot rang out from the shore,
and the battle was on
Immediately the machine guns on
the Prairie and the Chester opened
fire on the city. At first it looked
as If there was nothing TO shoot at for
we on the Esperanza could see no Mex
leans, but later We were told this fire
was to protect the marines who were
landing,
Then little puffs of white smoke be.
gan to shoot out from the housetops
We could see the MeXicans swarming
up there like ants. and We knew they
were firing on our men. From behind
palisades and lodges on the custom
house, churches and business blocks
they shot at the United States ma
rineS. who were marching on un-
daunted.
Then the machine guns were
trained on them. and the marksman.
ship OF the American gunuers was
proved. Repeatedly | watched them
with a single shot cut away a church
tower or corner of a building where
the Mexicans were pottiug' our men.
Once, with beautiful shot, they cut
- tall belfry. and saw the Mexicans
catapulted to earth amid the ruins.
With field glasses | got intimate
glimpses Of the enemy ashore. Many
OF them looked to be no more than
boy& and there were also a great
many women. The women would lire
IRON windows, apparently without tax
ing aim Others ran wildly through
the streets, shooting in the air.
Finally, when our boys got base
IN shore and began their advance
We could see the Mexicans fleeing In
every direction. There was no order
among them We saw many Of them
shot down as they fed Occasionally
We could see one of our boys fall
The position at the portfolio was a
precafious one. too, according to the
narrator. Mexican bullets constantly
We're humping against the side of
the refugee vessel and once one whis-
lied through au open pcrthoe striking
The steward
The family had been in the capital
of the southern republic about year
and was among the first to hasten to
Vera Cruz when war threatened