The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-04-24

positions and make no attack on the
Mexican troops unless they were AZ
tackled themselves
Scarcely had the troops placed the
guns in position when Mexican sol
diers appeared on the housetops over
looking the square
Two shots rang out Within few
minutes three volleys canie from a
Mexican force several hundred yards
from the positions occupied by the
Americans. These volleys we're re-
piled to Immediately by the bluejack.
cts and the firing became general,
When Rear Admiral Fletcher was
informed OF the attack on his men by
the Mexicans he ordered the guns OF
the fleet 70 open fire on the positions
occupied by the enemy.
Captain William r. Rush OF the Flor
ida located a large force of Me1icans
firing on the United States troops from
the tower OF the Benlto Juarez light.
house. and ordered his men to open
on this point Several three.inch guns
were trained on the lighthouse and the
tower was struck three times, stiene
ing the enemy's fire.
Captain Bush signalled TO the trans
port Prairie, where Admiral Fletcher
was, as follows: Am being attacked
from the right and rear north Of round.
house; shell that district
At the same time II was noticed that
sharpshooters lined the roof OF the
Mexican naval academy and were
sniplng the blueiackets A threcinch
gun OF the Prairie was trained on the
academy and the soldiers were forced
to abandon their position.
The shooting by this time had be-
come general all over the city. AT 3
o'clock the United States consulate
had been struck by several bullets
Two American bluejackets and two
marines were killed and nearly score
wounded The dead are:
Schumacher coxswain OF the Florida.
PouIssette, seaman OF the Florida
Haggerty, private Of marines,
Another marine. name not given.
The names OF the wounded SO far
rs h known, are: G. j. Ieahy; N.
Schwartz, q. ID. Cameron. J, +. Please,
seamen Of the Florida; Glsburn. cleo
trician Of the Florida, and Davidson,
Drains and Mcmillan, privates OF the
Second regiment Of marines from the
Pratrie
Under the heavy IRE from the war
ships the Mexfcans were driven from
the center OF the city to the east,
where they attempted To make a
stand. The Prairie. which is lying In
the harbor about quarter OF o mile
from the harbor front, turned her guns
to tho point where the Mexicans were
gathering and forced them to take
refuge In the narrow streets there
about
At 2 o'clock several boatloads OF
bluejackets from the battieship Utah
were landed east a the custom house
AS the boats drew near the wharf
several volleys we're fired on them
from large warehouses and box cars
along the water front These places
were shelled by the guns OF the Prai
RE and the bnIejackets were able tC
land without losing man
About O'Clock the resistance oi
the Mexicans began 10 dwindle. Fir
| ing from the towers and the housetops
from which the heaviest rain of hui
lets came at the beginning OF the fight
ing, died away. The marines and blue
Jackets made no attempt TO pursue hi
flying Mexicans, firing only whenever
one OF the enemy showed himself II
the streets.
Rear Admiral Fleteher's chief o
stan came ashore In the midst of tn,
fighting TO try and get into communal
cation with General Mas, commands
In chief Of the garrison here. He car
Red a warning from the American
commander to the effect that his pa
thence was exhausted and that II tn
Mexicans continued to resist the fee
would shell the city.
The cargo Of war munitions for tn
federal government aboard the Ypil
inga, which arrived here yesterday
was captured by the force Of occups
ton. II consists OF 250 machine guni
10000 rifles and 100000 rounds Q
ammunition.
II Ia reported that Commandau
General Mas left Vera Cruz In a ca
rihge and that his family followed |
another carriage and that he has nc
been heard from since. The Mexlch
TROOPS we're turned loose 10 act q
thoy pleaHed, few II any officers r.
naming.