The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-06-03
Admiral Mayo commanding. was up at
They Get Acquainted.

IamplCO.
They GET Acquainted.
after stay-until the 4th OF Feb
ruary-in the inner harbor. during
which time, we went ashore and got
acquainted with the land, greasers.
! and their pretty senoritas, and going
in swimming on fine beach. and
fishing of the reefs around, we pulled
up anchor and went up to Tampico,
taking mail for the ships up there
with us.
.sIf you will look at the map. you
will see that the city Of TamIico lies
! about seven miles inland. and can
! only be reached by tortuous wind
ing river-Panuco by name. Upon ar
rival up here, we found the Connecti-
] cut, Georgia, Nebraska and Virginia
ana New Jersey outside the bar. We
delivered the mail to the Connecticut,
and then proceeded over the bar and
up the river. and anchored little
! above the customs house at Tampico.
On the way up. We passed the Mexi-
can gunboat Vera Cruz, and gave her
the usual honors The So1ace was
already UP the river. Upon anchoring.
Admiral Fletcher came aboard,
and we resumed our command OF the
situation again. On the 18th of Feb
ruary, the Des Moines came up the
river. and anchored ahead OF US. We
remained here until the goth, when
we went back to Vera Cruz for coal.
While there, the Spanish king had
birthday. and all ships full dressed
ship during the day, and at night they
were outlined with electric illumination
which presented pretty sight. we
remained for about two weeks. during.
which time the Mayfiower arrived
from Washington. bringing Captain
Huse, chief Of staff. and Admiral
Fletcher's wife and daughter down.
They Mayfiower remained until the
10th of April when she got under way
for Tamp.co, having painted our hun
white-it used to BE- war color (slate
gray)-and reached here on the 2Sth
and came on up the river, and an
chored in our old berth. We assumed
the flag upon arrival, and remained
so until the rumpus occurred which
was in this manner. Virtually, the
Dolphin precipitated the mix up, and
we are here to finish it If possible.
The Paymaster Incident.
"On the 9Th of April, We sent our
paymaster (Paymaster Copp from
Star avenue, West Hill. Burlington,
Iowa). ashore In the whale boat to
get provisions and the federals took
him to be relative of ex-president
Madsro, and promptly arrested the
whole boats crew and him, despite
the fact that the American flag was
displayed in the boat. This fact was
reported Immediately to Admiral
Mayo, on board the Dolphin, and an
immediate release of the prisoners
was demanded, which was done. Pro-
fuse apologies were offered, but the
admiral had already wired Washing
ton concerning the matter, and a sa-
lutte was required from Huerta. OF
course, Huerta defled the government,
and refused the salute, and hostilities
began This fact, coupled with the
waylaying Of Charge dAhairs Nelson
O'Shaughnessy's message at Mexico
city seemed to make President Will
son angry. While In Vera Cruz, ex-
Governor Lind and O'Shaughnessy
and the Mexican admiral and all the
foreign admirals dined with Admiral
Fletcher on board the Dolphin. 50 we
cot fine view OF all the foreign aris-
tocrats.
"weIl. things began to look inter-
esting around Tampico after the cap
ture Of our paymaster Up to that
time. friendly state of things exist
ed. and the Mexican admiral and om-
GERS were often on board for dinner.
PARTIES and dances were had galore.
But no mora, between the 9tn ana
the 21st of April, we cleared ship for
action twice, and again the landing
force was prepared to do duty. put 10
MO avail. Our hopes and expectations
fell with a crash from the high PIN
nacle they had reached. Just before
the international outbreak on the part
OF the Mexicans. the rebels were
hanging away in great shape at the
F.derals. determined to take the city,
INT could not do it. During this time
the Chester had come up tue rNeI'
ana that made the Des Moines, Dol
min and Chester the American repre-
sentatives up here, and the Hermione'
the English cruiser. to protect Eng
Heb interests, and the Dresden, the
German cruiser to protect the German
interests. During the trouble between
tho rebels and federals, we had taken
a,,t unite a few of our refugees, but
they all returned when the trouble
seemed to subside.
Ordered Out Of River.
.gaowever, on the 21st of April, Just
when we had everything ready to
make an attack on Tampico, the navy |
ond state departments ordered US