The Cairo bulletin., 1914-05-27
FIGHT At VERA CRUZ
Chicago Woman Gives Vivid Pic.
ture Of the Capture.
Narrator While on Deck Of Steamer
in harbor Watched Assault on
Town BY United States Guns
Mexican Women IN Fray.

Chicago. Vivid description OF the
capture Of Vera Cruz Was given By
Mrs. Frederick }. Stevens. wife oil
a former Chicago automobile agent.
shortly after her arrival here irom
b4ttletorn Mexico. Mgs Stevens, E,g
mother. isabella " OIin. ANA hgs four
year-old daughter, Esther. were the
first OF Chicago refugees to reach this
city. From porJao.e IN the bow
OF the refugee snip EsgcranZa Mrs.
Stevens and her mother had watched
the conflict at Vera Cruz-saW the
steel jacketed ballc,a drop aeu from
parapets, heard the sharp rattle q
neld guns ana the iucessuUt roar Vi
three Founders as they played with
terrific effect upon the white walls OF
Vera Cruz. Mrs Stevens story Was
j tribute To American bravery.
We mad been warned the night be-
lore at Vera Cruz 10 hasten aboard
the EsperanZa, said Mrs. Stevens,
and all American civilians packed
their valuables in the night ana made
for The boat The women slept in the
cabin and the men On the decks that
night. When | awoke the fatal Tues
day morning ! shuddered to see the
ominous warshirs around and to hear
the busles blowing The Esperanza
was in line with the Prairie and the
Chester, only a stones throw away
Il was watching from the deck
when there was hustle aboard the
warships and men began crowding
over the sides into boats. Bugles were
blowing everywhere, and we could
near orders shouted by the naval OIL
GERS. Then as in answer to this &C
ton, a shot rang out from the shore,
and the battle was on.
Immediately the machine guns on
the Prairie and the Chester opened
fire on the city. At first it looked
as il there was nothing to shoot at for
we on the Esperanza could see no Mex
leans, but later we were told this fire
was to protect the marines who were
landing.
Then little puffs of white smoke be.
gan to shoot out from the hOusetops.
We could see the Mexicans sWarming
up there like ants, and We knew they
were firing on our men. From behind
palisades and Lodges on the custom
| house, churches and business blocks
they shot at the United States ma
tv,rr
daunted
Then the machine guns were
| trained on them, and the marksman'
ship of the American gunners was
proved, Repeatedly l watched them
with single shot cut away church
tower or corner OF a building where
The MexiCans were potting our men
Once with a beautiful shot, they cut
tall bellry, and | saw the Mexicans
catapulted to earth amid the ruins.
"3Nith field glasses / got intimate
| glimpses of the enemy ashore Many
| of them looked to be no more than
boys and there were also a great
| many women. The women would fire
| from windows, apparently without tax
ms aim Others ran wildly through
the streets. shooting in the air.
Finally, when cur boys got base
on shore and began their advance
we could see the Mexicans fleeing in
every direction. There was no order
| among them We saw many of them
shot down as they fled. Occasionally
we could see one OF our boys fan
The position at the portfolio was a
| precarous one. too, according to the
. narrator Mexican bullets constantly
were humping against the side of
the refugee vessel and once one wits,
| tied through an open portfolio striking
| the steward
The family had been in the capital
| of the southern republic about year
| ana was among the first to hasten to
Worn Eruy Nybru war threatened