The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-06-03

down. This left the Connecticut, Des
Moines, the French cruiser Descartes
and Dolphin outside, and the Herml-
one and Dresden inside. We received
radio. that the destroyers were or
dered to Tampico, and that We were
to form blockade, allowing no yes
sells to enter or depart, and especial
ly not to allow the Progreso. (Mexi-
can gunboat, loaded with ammuni-
tom. to enter She had left Vera
Cruz on the 18th Of April, and, even
up to the present time has not been
seen or heard Of since. Surmises have
been made that she either landed her
cargo at some unknown point, or has
gene to the bottom of Davy Jones'
locker. On the night OF the 21st.
about midnight, we received a radio
to be prepared to move at a mo-
ment's notice. This raised our hopes
again, because we were to go up the
river for refugees, as none had been
brought out with us. But to dash our
hopes again, the captain OF the Eng
fish ship suggested that owing to the
needless destruction OF foreign prop
erty which would inevitably follow. 1t
would be better for us to remain out
side, and he promised to see that our
refugees had safe escort outside the
bar and to our ships. Upon second
thought, this was considered to be
the best plan for all concerned, and
we remained outside. Our refugees
were brought out under the British
and German man of war flags. This
process lasted for about two weeks,
the refugees being sent north on any
available ships. The Dixie and Con-
nscticut and Cyclops assisting. OF
course, several OF the refugees were
promptly nabbed as being wanted for
a long time in the states. During the
Connecticut's absence at Galveston,
we assumed command of the situa-
ton again. The torpedo boat destroy
ers arrived in the meantime, ditto the
Lebanon and Tacoma, making the
outer harbor quite full of life. Moth
ing eventful occurred during the abb
sence OF the ships with refugees and
upon the return of the Connecticut,
we shifted the flag again, to her, and
steamed to Lobos Island. On this is
land is the light, which must be kept
burning, as around the island are
many dangerous sunken reefs, extend
ing far out in the ocean, and are in
the direct course of ships from Vera
Cruz to Tampico. We detailed part of
the destroyers to attend the light, and
to protect the Arethusa, supply ship
for the oil burners. At Lobos Island,
we took on coal and water. and re-
NAMED for few days. going ashore
in recreation parties. Believe me, hoy
the place is beautiful. Far out into
the ocean, the water is so clear you
can see tile bottom easily, and the
marine vegetation and fish can be
seen very plainly. While; there a
baby devil fish was caught, which
m assured fifteen inches from tip to
tip OF one arm The little sucker
could hang on to anything smooth,
like glue. The entire underpart OF
his body was covered with suckers.
and you could see the muscles move
during the process Of sticking. We
put him in a bottle and he looked
like a pile Of worms, but when we
poured alcohol on him, he straighten-
ed out like star fish, and now pre-
sents beautiful specimen OF his
kind. We caught ssa urchin, which
is the same as porcupine, and is
cute little fellow. Land crabs and ma
rine life abound in profuston around
this island. Several nice specimens
of coral were obtained.
Back to Tampico.
well, on the 10th Of May, we
came back to Tampico (outer harbor)
and remained until the 14th. On May
18th, the rebels made a fierce attack
on Tampico, and owing to the short
age of ammunition, the feGerals gave
way, and on thu 18th the gunboats
Zaragoza and Bravo came out of the
river and surrendered to Admiral
Mayo and the federal troops retreated
to the Panuco oil fields, where they
gave warning that IL the rsbels fol-
lowed them, they would turn the oil
into the river, and set it on. fire. You
can have no idea what an awful holo-
cause this would present 1t would
mean the entire destruction Of Tam
pico and surrounding districts, as the
oil wells are running full blast, and
the tanks and containers are taxed to
their full capacity. owing to the
blockade No vessels having been
permit ed to enter to take care OF
the overflow. However. later news
was learned that the federals had re-
treated to Ebano, enroute to San Luis
and had vacated the oil fslds. The
rebels have Tuxpan and vicinity. On
the 14th, the Des Moines and Dolphin
stood up the river again, and the ad-
miral now is quartered on board the
Dolphin. Everything seems to be
lovely and the goose hangs high. The
Mexican gunboats have proceeded
south, followed by a convoy of two