The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-05-01

We're not released. They had been I
accustomed to seeing the victor al |
ways release prisoners and then i'm |
press them all into his army.
Chief Of Police Captured.
Chief of Police Antonio Villa VIM
cencio was taken prisoner by the
Americans shortly after they had oc-
cupied the main plaza of the city. 1t
was suggested to him that ne con-
tinue In his official capacity to direct
the city's protective system. He took
the question under advisement Had
the frightened mayor made up his
mind to accede to Admiral F1etcher's
suggestion, which was made through
Consul Canada, the Mexicans might
have been spared the humiliation OF
being forced from their positions and
undoubtedly number of lives would
not have been sacrificed
When Admiral Fletcher directed
that battalions of blueiackets and ma
rines be landed from Rear Admiral
Badgers ships before dawn and be
drawn up in the plaza before the rail-
road station, thence to proceed to
take the entire town, he acted only
after warning and after Is shells
from the Prairies three-inch guns had
been thrown into the steel framework
of the new market, which faces Mar
ket place. A persistent but scattered
fire came from rifles in the market
during all the early hours of the morn
ing, and Admiral Badgers men land
ed to the accompaniment Of rifle Sul-
lets over their heads.
Uniforms Dyed With Rust.
When the rush started Admiral Bad
gers blueiackets, clad in orange col
ored clothing, made for them on the
trip down by dyeing white uniforms
with iron rust, moved in close column
formation up the water front. past
the market and across the frost of the
naval college, long, three st.sry struc-
ture built of adobe and having a tile
roof The column lnofed steadily for
ward until the first company had
| passed beyond the college and the re
mainder were covering the whole front
close against the wall
Suddenly a spatter of rifle firing
broke out Flashes from the rifles
were plainly visible in the upper win
down of the college and along the
roofs The jackies stood their ground
| pluckily Some of them huddied close
to the wall to svoid the rain of steel
jacketed bullets from above, while 9th
ers dashed across a small open space
/ directly in front of the building. These
bluejackets dropped on their stomaahs
and lifted their rifles high to get q
range on the windows above. Finally
the American officers hustled theil
men either forward or backward un
til they were in the shelter of nearby
buildings
Men in Front undauntee
The tackles in front held theii
places, however. and the Prairie sen
shell after shell from her three-inct
battery into the windows of the col
lege; huge columns of red dust leapet
upward as each shot went home. Tbs
Chester also joined in, and with 1
i roar her six-inch shells tore great gap
in the roof of the college Far to th'
right OF the harbor the mine ship SaI
Francisco opened with her tve-incl
guns. and, taking the front of the col
lege, shot out window after window
planting the shells with the precision
OF target practise.
After Is minutes of firing the Prai
RE and the San Francisco ceased ant
the column of jackies formed agail
and pushed ahead, deploying arouni
the front OF the college. A few shot
were directed at them, but none cam
from the college. The Chester contir
ued hurting shells into any building i
which snipers lurked and also far GU
into the suburbs.
The jaclies went ahead without IA
tering, spreading out through the wa
terfront sections. Selling the higt
est buildings and organizing squads G
guards at street intersections.
The FIRE along the front gradual
sIackened and then died out, but tn
Chester sent few shots into tn
hills before ceasing The Hancocl
with 700 marines on board, and th
'battleship Michigan arrived too lat
to participate in the fighting.
Wounded and prisoners were take
aboard the Prairie until the arrival {
the Solace, about noon.
Vera Cruz Thoroughly cowed.
Conditions in Vera Cruz began
take on normal aspect Thursda,
Some of the restaurants were opene
and considerable part Of the nativ
population began to appear in Il
streets inspecting the damage don
! There were no expressions OF GOO
will for the Americans, but there wa
no apparent antagonism. The Mex
cans here seem thoroughly cowed an
appear to accept with passiveness II
, presence of the foreign forces.