Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-27
AMERICANS OWE SAFETY
TOSA|LORS OF GERMANY
Refugees From Tampico at Galveston
Tell Thrilling Stories
of Riot.

GALVESTON, Tex, April 27.-The bat
tleship Connecticut and torpedo boat con-
voy Dixie came into port yesterday bring
ing the last of the American refugees
from Tampico and nearby districts.
There may be five or six Americans
still in Tampico, but they would not
leave" said Capt. John ]. Knapp of the
Connecticut. just after the battleship
dropped anchor. There are 40 refugees
on the Connecticut and $40 refugees on
the Dixie. On board the steamship Es-
peranza that came In from Tampico Sat
urday night there were 5T Americans
who had fed from Mexico. There are
about 2.1oo American refugees held here
in quarantine on the ships. but their re-
lease is expected either today or tomor-
row.
The story Of the anti-American riot in
Tampico last Tuesday night. when Ger
man officers and sailors went to the res
cue of the American refugees and escort
ed over twenty women and children
aboard the German cruiser Dresden. was
told by refugees on their arrival here.
Officers of the battleship Connecticut said
that only for the assistance Of the Ger
man sailors there would have been un-
doubtedly bloodshed.
Mexicans Stirred to Arms.
IL was a little after o'clock Tuesday
afternoon that a Mexican soldier
tackled up an official notice from the mu-
nicipal police stating that the American
officers had landed at Vera Cruz and
appealing to the Medcans to take up
arms and defend their country.
The news spread quickly. Armed Mex
leans were seen running here and there
and word was sent by Americans to the
refugees to assemble in central places.
After dark crowds swarmed the plaza.
parades were formed viva Huerta!''
and Death to the Gringoes!" cried the
crowd while the refugees barricaded
themselves in the Southern Hotel. Stones
were thrown and windows smashed.
Then It was that Capt. VOC Kohler Of
note to Gen. Zaragoza, in command OF
the port at Tampico. that If he could
not stop the rioting II with see to
1t personally that it Is stopped"
German Demand Disperses Mob.
Within fifteen minutes officers Of thu
Connecticut said the Mexican rurales ap
peared on the streets and the crowd dis
persed. Two hours later another mob ap
peared filling tho streets in front Of tn,
Southern Hotel.
An attempt was made to batter down
the doors of the hotel, In which Their,
were assembled more than $50 men
women and children. Only thirty refu
gees had arms to meet any attack.
detachment of police broke up the
crowd and early Wednesday morning
while it was yet dark, a German Officer
with a squad Of four sailors from the
Dresden went to the relief Of the be.
leaguered refugees and escorted eighteen
women and children to the Dresden. IL
that little band was a woman refugee
who had walked two miles from thu
Panuco district with a two-day-old bah!
In her arms.
Transfer Under Foreign CoIors.
Wednesday morning the general trans
Ter of American refugees from Tampic,
was commence and the American yacht
Wakiva and Wild Duck. under foreig,
colors. brought the refugees down tn
river to the American warshipe. Tn
Wakiva took down the American nag ant
hoisted the English colors. while tn
yacht Wild Duck few the German flag.
Refugees said the American flag surel,
would have been fired upon. An Englisl
officer was put aboard the Kakiva from
the British warship Hermione to aid II
the transfer of refugees.
Firing was heard in Tampico last Fri
day. when the Connecticut sailed
Refugees said they expected that tn
Mexicans would destroy their home
after footing, and the oil field tank