Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1914-04-25
U. S. Loss, 4 Dead,
20 Wounded.
PRAIRIE SHELLED CITY
More Than 200 MeIiCanS
Reported Killed.

The American nag flies over Vera
Cruz.
Four Americans were killed and
twenty wounded on Tuesday. when a
detachment OF bluejackets and ma
rines from the American lleet seized
the custom house, raised the Ameri
can nag and skirmished with the Mex
lean garrison.
Those killed were. George Poinsett.
seaman, battcship Florida. Philadel
phia John +. schumacher. coXswain
battlc~hip Florida, Brooklyn Daniel
a. Hasserty. marine private, Cam
bridge. Mass Samuel Martin. marine
private. Chicago.
Dcsultory firing was In progress for
several hours, according TO a dispatch
from Rear Admiral Fletcher. Al first
the garrison had appeared to be with
drawing American Consul Canada re-
ported this to the state department.
but when the American forces reached
the custom house the MeXicans opened
with rifle sod artillery fire
The TRANSPORT Prairie Immediately
began Smelling the Mexican positions,
slowly driving them out. The MeNi-
cans fought from the housetops and
along the streets.
The American forces have taken
possession OF The cable Office and hold
the American consulate and the sec.
ton of the oity in The vicinity Of the
wharyes.
The first news OF the lighting at
Vera cruz ana the seizure OF the city
comes in this report from Admiral
Fletcher. received at the navy depart
ment
Tuesday, in face ol approaching
norther, landed marines and sailors
from Utah. Florida and Prairie and
seized custom house. Mexican forces
did not oppose landing. but opened fire
with rifles and artillery after our seiz
ure o; custom house. Prairie shelling
MeNirans out OF their positions. DE
sultory firing from house tops and
streets. Hold custom house and see
tions OF city in vicinity OF wharves and
consulate. Casualties four dead and
twenty wounded"
II was followed in about an hour by
another dispatch from Admiral tletch-
er, which read
Holding the vicinity OF the railroad
station and the Yards. and desultory
firing continues Also holding the vi
cinity oi custom house ana cable OF
fice Light norther is blowing.
4 shar
dispatch
"Our men are firing only when fired
at. We prepared a flag OF truce. with
message to General Mas to cease fir
ing or our big guns would be- used.
No wabout 1000 marines and sailors
ashore. All business here suspended
A hurried conference was called at
the White House. President Wilson
sumoning Secretaries Bryan. Garrison
and Daniels. They were in conference
for over an hour. and emerged serious
faced
First blood has been spilled" said
one of the officials at the White
House.
More than POO MeXicans were killed
IN the Dattle VIII tHt IhaIiH'H, ut'oIu'
ing To an unofficial report,
Secretary Bryan left the White
House for the German embassy. where
he discussed with the German ambas
sador the consignment ol arms for
Huerta aboard Il Germant merchant
vessel due to bee landed in Vera Cruz
The capture Of the custom house at
Vera Cruz was ordered by President
Wilson to prevent the shipment OF
several million rounds of ammunition
and 200 machine guns from getting
into Huerta's hands.
The MeXicans. under General Bus
tavo Mas, the commandant OF Vera
Cruz. put up stubborn resistance
General Mas challenged the advance
OF the Americans almost from the first
and made II clear that the Mexicans
do not propose to permit q peaceinl
occupation.
Less than half an hour after leaving
the side OF the United States transport
Prairie the marines had landed, aud
the absegce OF resistance at the water
front and the failure on the part OF
the Mexicans to contest the taking Of