The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1914-04-24
j. 5. MARINES
IN VERA CRUZ;
FEDERALS FLEE
FOUR AMERICANS KILLED AND
TWENTY WOUNDED IN FIGHT
-MExicANs LOSE
200.
FEDERALS FIRE FIRST;
U. S. is ON DEFENSIVE
Sharpshooters Hide on House Tops
Waterfront, Customs House, All
Important Piers, and Territory
Around American Consulate
Seized.

Vera Cruz, April 23.-Vera Cruz is
In the hands of forces from the United
States warships, but the occupation Of
the port was not accomplished with
out loss of American lives.
v. S. Marines Killed.
Four Americans, blue-jackets and
marines, were killed by the fire of
the Mexican soldiers, and 20 fell
wounded.
The water front, the customs house
and all important piers, including
those under the terminal works from
which extend the railroads to the
capital, have been occupied All the
territory around the American consul
late is strongly patrolled and detach-
ments hold other sections of the city.
Federals In Retreat.
The Mexican commander, General
Gustavo Mas, offered resistance to
the American advance and for many
hours there was fighting in the
streets. Toward nightfall it was re-
ported that the main body Of the fed
eral garrison was in retreat to the
westward.
Rear Admiral Fletcher, in command
of the United States warships, pre-
faced his occupation. of the port by a.
demand through the American consul,
w. w. Canada, for it's surrender.
Mas Refuses to Surrender.
General Mas promptly declined to
accede to this demand, and shortly
afterwards 10 whaleboats were sent
off from the side If the transport
Prairie, loaded with marines.
These boats effected landing in
the neighborhood of the customs house
and a few minutes later Captain
William r. Rush, of the Battleship
Florida, who was in command of the
operations ashore, brought his flag
in.
Men Take Positions.
Captain Rush's men had already
taken up their positions. They num-
bered $50 bluejackets from the Flor
Ida, 800 marines from the Prairie and
IS marines from the Florida Later
these were augmented by detach-
ment from the Utah.
The coming of the American forces
was not heralded by any great ex-
element, but small crowds gathered
to watch the landing
Soon the blue jackets and marines
marched through the streets leading
from the water front and along the
railroad yards. Others proceeded to
the American consulate while still
others were deployed along the ap-
proaches to central plaza, in which
General Mas had concentrated his
men.
Mexicans Open Fire.
These maneuvers were effected
without opposition, but suddenly
General Mas challenged the advance
with the first shots-a volley fired
from a point three blocks from the
marines and two blocks south of the
main plaza.
The marines replied Immediately
but the action ceased in moment.
There was lull for 10 minutes and
then another brief exchange from the
west end of Montezinos street where
q federal outpost was stationed.
Later the firing became general and
the guns of the transport Prairie went
into action.
Prior to this a detachment of blue
jackets from the Utah, holding the
ground between the consulate and the
water front, opened with two of their
three-inch guns. The first shots from
these pieces we;e directed against an
ancient tower which once served Is a
lighthouse.
This was occupied by Mexican
sharpshooters.
Old Tower Brought Down.
Lieutenant Commander Buchanan of