The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-04-30
THE FALL OF VERA CRUZ.
UNITED STATES MARINES DIS
PLAYED BRAVERY
Most Spirited Action of Wednesday
Was the Taking of Naval Aca-
DENY.

Vera Cruz. April 23.-The city of
Vera Cruz was in undisputed posses
sion of the American invading force
early yesterday afternoon. Although
there was no organized force used
against them and the snipers were
less in evidence than at any time
during fighting, eight Americans
were killed and some thirty wound
ed.
While the Mexicans suffered
more severely the number of their
casualties has not been ascertained,
but the best estimates obtained by
Capt. William r. Rush, of the battle
ship Florida, indicated that in the
engagements of Tuesday and We'd
nesday their dead amounted to about
$50. No person knows how many
Mexicans fell wounded, as large
part of them were hidden by friends.
Bodies About Plaza.
In the streets about the plaza
Wednesday lay fifteen or twenty
bodies, the majority of them attired
in civilian clothing. Some of the
men evidently had been dead since
the engagement of Tuesday and the
tropical heat made their immediate
disposal imperative.
When the city was taken the
American marines were ordered to
advance carefully and search every
building for men bearing arms.
Scores of prisoners were taken,
most of them protesting that they
were not guilty of any unfrlendllness
whatsoever toward the Americans.
Accustomed as the Mexicans are to
their own contending forces shoot
ing Immediately all prisoners the
men could not believe that they
would receive less drastic treatment
at the hands of the Americans.
The most spirited action of We'd
nesday was the taking Of the Naval
Academy. Aside from that fight
there was no definite organized op-
position encountered by the Ameri-
cans. A hot fire was poured into
the marines from the Naval College,
which for a time held them back, but
a few shots from the cruisers, Ches-
ter, San Francisco and Prairie tore
gaping holes in the stone walls and
silenced the rife-fire of the Mexi-
cans inside. The bluejackets then
were enabled to proceed with their
task. -.-...--.. .-.
Old Tower Leveled.
!. A squad of soldiers continued to
give considerable trouble to the
Americans from the battered Benlto
Juarez tower. After they had been
silenced and removed from the
tower it was discovered that they
had continued fighting for lack of
ability to do anything else. The
shells from the warships Tuesday
had torn away the stairway in the
tower and the men had been COM
PEELED to remain in it.
At 10 O'Clock Wednesday morning
the Americans were in undisputed
possession of all the city except the
southwest quarter, in which the bar
racks are situated, and few out
lying districts. At noon they had TAX
en- the barracks. When the city
prison, which faces the main plaza
of the city. was captured Lieut..
Buchanan, of the Florida, Inspected
it. There was great surprises among
the Mexicans who had gathered
there that the prisoners were not re-
leased. They had been accustomed
to seeing the victor always release
prisoners and then impress them in
to his army.
Chief of Police Antonio Villa
vieencio was taken prisoner by the
Americans shortly after they had oc-
cupied the main plaza of that city.
It was suggested to him that he con-
tinue in his official capacity to direct
the city's protective system. He
took the matter under advisement.
Had the frightened mayor made up
his mind to accede to Admiral
Fetcher's suggestion the Mexicans
might have been spared the humilia-
tion of being forced from their posi-
tions and undoubtedly number OF
lives would not have been sacrificed
Flag of Truce.
Coincident with the orders for the
general advance of the Americans,
an aged Mexican carrying the white
flag of truce came down a street
from the centre of the city. He car
ried a letter to the chief of police,
the only authority he hoped to reach,
and desired Consul Canada to read
70