Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-05-21

Ing line FaS tnen wen WlInln Inc CITY
limits.
Those federals fought as never sol
diers Of General Huerta in southern
Mexica had fought before, and their
companions in arms entrained
The abandonment Of the trenches
was then ordered. The federals retreat
ed in an orderly manner to the de-
pots where their ammunition had been
stored and lighted a fuse that blew
1t up.
The explosion could be heard for
miles, and it was at first thought that
the retreating federals were destroy
ing the city. General Gonzales or
dered his men forward at double
quick, and as they ran they found
every step Of the way blocked by the
federals, who In their retreat halted,
wheeled around, and poured volley aft
er volley of rife fire into the face
and bodies of the onrushing rebels.
Every bullet bore with it sting,
and that sting was death or a wound.
Steel acketed pellets tore their way
through soft, flesh and there were
dead men and dying men in the
streets, and worn uniforms of fallen
men showed bright red splotches.
A heavy rain was falling, and the
men, fighting like 'savages, were wet
to the skin, and their feet slipped on
the pavement Of the streets.
General Gonzales, with his three
brigade commanders and the general
staff, entered Tampico at twenty min
utes to two o'clock n the afternoon.
Then only occasional firing could be
heard. The federals had gone.
During the last day of the fighting
more than half million rounds Of
ammunition were fired. The entire
line occupied by the federals was
raked by a steady stream of lead from
machine guns and rifles, and that
stream was continued until the con-
stitutionalists' flag was flying from the
poles where Wednesday the Mexican
tri-color of green, white and red was
stretched before the wind.
The lines of the constitutionalists
extended around the land side Of
Tampico for a distance of 20 miles.
Since Monday night, when General
Gonzales placed two batteries of five
field guns each in position and or
dered 20 rapid-fire guns to the front,
there was constant fighting from sun
rise to sunset, and at night the sound
of heavy cannonading could be heard
at frequent intervals.
The constitutionalists directed their
principal attack on the federals near
the Essuela del Monte, which they sue
ceeded in capturing before II o'clock
noon on Wednesday. Captain Cantu
was killed in the first attack.
Then the constitutionalists directed
their energies to driving the federals
from the cemetery. When that was
accomplished and the federals had
been driven back in the most stubborn
resistance offered in any battle during
the revolution General Zaragosa's men
made another stand at Casa Mata, the
| principal arsenal.
Two carloads of wounded men were
sent out from Tampico early this
morning to the temporary hospital es-
| tablished in Alaca near here. Rebel
surgeons and local physicians are try
ing to take care of the wounded in
Tampico.
Many dead have been buried. The
bodies are being placed in long
trenches.
Generals Gonzales, Caballeros, Agus-
tin Castro, and Ceaserio Castro asked
| that statement from them be pub
lished assuring all foreigners that they
viii be safe if they return TO Tam
pico.
I'VE very much regret that citizens
of the United States and other foreign
countries should have found their
lives fmperiled during the occupation
! of Tampico by the soldiers of the
usurper Huerta and to have been
forced to leave the city" General Con
zales said.
There will be no lawlessness in
| Tampico now. Such acts as charac-
| terized the attitude Of Huerta's crea-
| lures in their relations with foreigners
are not characteristic of the constitu-
| tionalists.
If the foreigners who left here be,
! cause of the lawlessness which oc-
| Cured during Huerta's rule Of Tam
pico will return now they will be given
every guarantee of protection,
1.-THE constitutionalists welcome all
I ~ fnrni ON UOT
come to us to take part in our com
mercial life
! General Gonzales declared that the
constitutionalists will Immediately be
! gin a campaign against San Luis Pc
tosi and Saltillo.
And then Mexico City," he added.
General Gonzales paid a tribute tc
the soldiers who had fought under him
at Tampico.
"They are brave, patriotic men" he
declared.
Their grit and nerve was noticeable
throughout the battle. Many men who
had been shot through the cheek Of
through the body had their wounds
dressed and returned to the front
Some of them struggled with the hos
pitaI attendants and field hospita
workers to be released quickly tina
they might go back into the battle.
The Des Moines and the Dolphin
! steamed up the Panuco river and arr
anchored off the wharf at Tampico.
0~~---~o-~~~~~~~~~~~~~0-
U. S. Consul Kills Himself.