The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, April 30, 1914, Image 4
FIRST BLOC
VERA C
|
FOUR SAILORS KILLED
SCORE ARE WOUNDED
*
A FEIRCE RESISTANCE
Stars ?iiU Stripes Now Float Over
the Principal Seaport of Mexico?
Huerta's Soldiers Fiercely Resist
Occupation by American Forces?
Shells from the Praric's Guns and
American Marines Soon Capture
Eastern Edge of the City.?Huge
Shipment for Huerta of Arms Arrived
Making the Seizure of Customs
House Necessary to Prevent
Their Delivery.
Vera Cruz Tuesday night was in the
hands of forces from the United
States warships, but tlie occupation
of the port was not accomplished
without the loss of American lives.
Four American bluejackets and marines
were killed by the fire of the
Mexican soldiers, and 2 0 fell wounded.
The Mexican loss is not known,
but it is believed to have been heavy.
The water front, the customs house
and all important piers, including
those under the terminal works in
which extend the railroads to the
Capital have been occupied. All the
territory around the American consulate
is strongly patrolled and detachments
hold others ections of the
city.
The Mexican commander, Gen. Gustavo
Mass, offered a stubborn resistance
to the American advance, and
for many hours there was fighting in
the streets. Toward nightfall it was
reported that the main body of the
Federal garrison was in retreat to
the westward.
Demands Surrender.
Hear Admiral Fletcher, commanding
the United States warships, perfaced
his occupation of the port by
a demand, through the American consus,
W. W. Canada, for its surrender.
General Mass promptly declined to
accede to this demand and shortly
afterwards ten whaleboats were sent
off from the side of the transport
Prarie loaded with marines.
These boats effected a landing in
the neighborhood of the customs
house before noon and a few minutes
later Capt. Wm. Rash, of the battleship
Florida, who was in command
of the operations ashore, brought hie
flag in.
Capt. Rush's men already had taken
up their positions. They numbered
150 bluejackets from the Florida,
3 90 marines from the Prarie and 65
marines from the Florida. Later
these were augmented by a detachment
from the Utah.
The coming of American forces was
not heralded by any great excitement,
but small crowds gathered to watch
the landing. Soon the bluejackets
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
tho approaches to the central plaza, in
which Gen. Mass had concentrated his
men.
These manoeuvres were effected
without opposition, but suddenly Gen.
Mass 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 a moment.
There was a lull for ten minutes,
and then another brief exchange from
the west end of Montosinos street,
where a Federal outpost was stationed.
At 12:30 the firing became general
and at one o'clock tho guns of the
transport Prairie went into action.
Prior to this( a detachment of bluejackets
from the Utah, holding the
ground between tho consulate and
the water front, opened with two of
their throe inch guns. The first shots
from these places were directed on
the ancient Benito Jaurez tower, that
once served as a lighthous. This was
occupied by Mexican sharpshooters,
Lieut Commander Buchanan, of the
Florida, ordered that it be destroyed,
Five shots brought the old tower tc
the ground.
The women of tho American colon)
"5 fl Voro P r 117 1 A A/N .1 - tv :
au , v. w vi un uuu ucou yiciv.uu uouari
the chartered steamers Esperanza anc
Mexico, but the foreign colony, espe
cially the American section, was
greatly augmented Tuesday morning
when three tralnloads arrived fron
the Capital. Some of these remained
ashore, but many were taken aboard
the steamers. So far as can be learn
ed no refugees were injured.
i ?- ? ?
Shot While Aiding Police.
While going with the police ir
search of the person doing some
hooting near Newberry Loo Havlrd
a young merchant of that city, wai
hot to the thigh Friday night.
id shed
:ruz taken
ASKED TO SURRENDER
i
CONSUL CANADA TELEPHONED
1< KDEHAL UUMMANDER,
i
Told Him Tliat American Troops
Were About to Land and Requested
Submission to Save Kloodshed.
The demand for the surrender of
Vera Cruz was made at nine o'clock
in the morning. Consul Canada called
Cen. Gustavo Mass, commandant
of Vera Cruz, by telephone and presented
the demands, saying that the
United States forces were about to
occupy and hold the town, lie called
upon him to surrender in the name
of humanity and assist the Americans
in restoring order.
Gen. Mass replied that compliance
was impossible and asked the consul
for a personal parley. The consul informed
Gen. Mass that he had no instructions
to grant a parley and ended
the conversation. lie then called the
jefe politico and the customs collecton
by telephone and informed them
of the prospective landing and asked
for their co-operation in the maintenance
of peace. Neither could
promise assistance.
Fletcher Decides to Act.
Rear Admiral Fletcher, aboard the
flagship, by this time was in communication
with Rear Admiral Badger, <
who was speeding towards the port ,
with five warships. Admiral Fletcher ,
decided to act and marines began
leaving the side of the transport ,
Prairie shortly before 11 o'clock. ,
They entered ten wlialeboats and effected
a landing within half an hour 1
at the customs house and No. 4 pier. (
Information that President Huerta
was counting on receiving from the ]
steamer Ypiranga, of the HamburgAmerican
Line, due to arrive Tuesday,
a big consignment of ammunition
and machine guns, was responsi- ,
ble for the occupation of the customs J
house somewhat earlier than might (
otherwise have been the case. The
Ypiranga is outside the harbor. She ]
has on board among other supplies
ten thousand rifles and 15,000,000 '
cartridges.
President Huerta had been making
every effort to safeguard this con- .
signment and had given orders that :
it be unloaded immediately and placed
on a special train drawn by two
ocomotives and rushed to the Capital.
?
ESCAPES PROM GANG.
?.
Negro Serving Term for Shooting Of- 1
fleer Gains Freedom. (
Ed Bynum, a notorious negro con- "
ict, who was serving a ten-year sentence
on the Lexington county chain
gang for having Bhot former Sheriff j
P. H. Corley when the officer went to
arrest him, escaped from the camp
about noon Monday. Bynum, who
for the time being had been accorded
the privileges of a trusty, was left
washing clothes about one hundred 1
yards from where the camp is located.
He went to the camp for his
dinner a little ahead of time and is
supposed to have left immediately.
His escape was not learned until more
than three hours afterwards.
Bynum was convicted in the court
of general sessions in June, 1909, and
was sentenced to serve a period of ten
years. During the month of January,
this year, his sentence was commuted
to nine years by the governor, and
the prisoner was transferred to the
Lexington county chain gang. S.
Melton Corley, captain of the chain
gang, announced that the county
would pay a reward of $5 0 for tho
capture of the escape. Bynum is described
as being a light mulatto,
weight about 145 pounds, five feet
and six or seven inches tall, and
wears a No. 8 shoe. When last seen
i he was wearing bluo overalls, brown
shirt and black hat.
? ?
, BALCONY FALLS.
?
Eighty Young Ladies Crash to Audii
toriiim's Floor.
The collapse of the balcony In the
new auditorium of tho hall of the
Woman's college Friday night prevented
the presentation of tho can)
tata "Queen Esther". Just as the
performance started and with tho
, house full tho balcony supports gave
I way and several persons sitting under
j tho halcony were injured. Only W.
F. Vermillion of Donalds was seriously
hurt, and it is not thought
' 11. Ji i -
mat ne is intally Injured. The Wo'
man's college girls occupying the balj
cony escaped injured. This audltoj
rium Is probably one of the best college
auditoriums in the Stato, and
has just been completed at a cost of
$25,000, and the accident, which was
so nearly serious, causes much damage.
i
) Slain by Husband.
, William Wragg, a negro, aged
i thirty, of Georgetown, shot and killed
fcla wife, Alice, Tuesday morning.
TALKS TO CONGRESS
PHESIDKNT WILSON TELLS THEM
OK MEXICAN SITUATION.
WANTS TO AVOID WAR
?
Says That tlie People of This Country
llavo Deep Friendship for the
People of Mexico, and Are Possessessed
of No Wish to Muddle m
Mexican Affairs.
President Wilson laid the Mexican
situation before congress Monday in
these words:
Gentlemen of the congress: It is
my duty to call your attention to a
situation which has arisen in our
dealings with Gen. Victoriano Huerta
at Mexico City which calls for action,
and to ask your advice and co-operation
in acting upon it. On the 9th of
April a paymaster of the United
States steamship Dolphin landed at
the Iturbide bridge landing at Tampico
with a whaleboat and boat's
crew to take off certain supplies
needed by Ids ship, and while engaged
in loading the boat was arrested
by an officer and squad of men of the
army of Gen. IJuerta. Neither the 1
paymaster nor any one of the boat's
crew was armed. Two of the men
were in the boat when the arrest took
place and were obliged to leave it
and submit to be taken into custody,
notwithstanding the fact that the
boat carried, both at her bow and at
her stern, the tlag of the United
States. The ollicer who made the
arrest was proceeding up one of the '
streets of the town with his prisoners
when met by an oilicer of higher J
authority, who ordered him to return
to the landing and await orders; and
within an hour and a half from the
time of the arrest orders were received
from the commander of the
Muertista forces at Tampico for the 1
release of the paymaster.
Tried to Apologize.
"The release was followed by apolicips
frnm tV?A r?r?m in o n on/*
.. 0 ?. V4.t\y vvuiiuituu\;i UliVl K1VCI
by an expression of regret by Gen.
Huerta himself. Gen. Huerta urged
that martial law obtained at the time
at Tamplco; that orders had been Issued
that no one should be allowed
to land at the Iturbide bridge; and
that our sailors had no right to land
there. Our naval commanders at the
port had not been notified of any such
prohibition; and, even if they had
been, the only justifiable course open
to the loyal authorities would have
been to request the paymaster and
his crew to withdraw and lodge a
protest with the commanding officer
of the fleet. Admiral Mayo regarded
the arrest as so serious an affront
that he was not satisfied with the
apologies but demanded that the flag
of the United States be saluted with
special ceremony by the military commander
of the port.
"The incident can not be regarded ,
as a trivial one, especially as two of
the men arrested were taken from
the boat itself?that is to say, from
the territory of the United States;
but had it stood by itself it might ;
have been attributed to the ignorance
or arrogance of a single officer. Unfortunately,
it was not an isolated
case. A series of incidents have recently
occurred which can not but '
create the impression that the repre- 1
sentatives of Gen. Huerta were will- 1
ing to go out of their way to show i
disregard for the dignity and rights i
of this government and felt perfectly 1
safe in doing what they pleased, mak- i
ing free to show in many ways their i
irritation and contempt. A few days !
after the incident at Tampico an or- '
derly from the United States steam- i
ship Minnesota was arrested at Vera
Cruz while ashore in uniform to obtain
the ship's mail and was for a
time thrown into jail. An official ,
/llcnoinh f * U - 1 1 *
vt i .7>?<n,v, 11 it win tm? &V v t?ru meni lO Its
embassy at Mexico City was withheld ,
by the authorities of the telegraphic
service until peremptorily demanded
by our charge d'affaires in person.
So far aa I can learn, such wrongs
and annoyances have been suffered to
occur only against representatives of
the United States. I have heard of
no complaints from other governments
of similar treatment. Subsequent
explanations and apologies did
not and could not alter the popular
impression, which it is possible it had
been the object of the Huertista
authorities to create, that the government
of the United States was being
singled out and might be singled out
with immunity for slights and affronts
in retaliation for its refusal to
recognize the pretensions of Gen.
Huerta to be regarded as the constitutional
provisional president of the
republic of Mexico.
Mlfrht Grow Woiw.
"Tho manifest danger of such a situation
was that such offenses might
grow from bad to worse until something
happenod of so gross and intolerable
a sort as to lead directly
and inevitably to armed conflict. It
was necessary that tho apologies of
0?on. TTuerta and his representatives
should go much further, that they
should bo such as to attract tho attention
of the whole population to
their significance, and such aa to impress
upon Oen. Huorta himself the
necessity of seeing to St that no fur
ther occasion for explanations and
professed regrets should arise. I
therefore feel it my duty to sustain
Admiral Mayo in the whole of his demand
and to insist that the flag of
the United States should be saluted
la such a way as to indicate a new
spirit and attitude on the part of
the Huertistas.
"Such a salute Gen. Huerta has refused
and I have come to ask your
approval end support in the course I
now purpose to pursue.
"This government can, I earnestly
hope, in no circumstances, be for
into war with the people of Mexico.
Mexico is torn by civil strife. If we
are to accept the tests of its own constitution,
it has no government. Gen.
Huerta has set his power up in the
City of Mexico, such as it is, without
1 I it * -
ngub ttuu uy iueiuoas ior wnicn tliere
can bo 110 justification. Only part of
the country is under his control. If
armed conflict should unhappily come
as a result of his attitude of personal
resentment towards this government,
we should bo fighting only Gen. Huerta
and those who adhere to him and
give him their support, and our object
would be only to restore to the
people of the distracted republic the
opportunity to set up again their own
laws and their own government.
Hopes for Peace.
"But I earnestly hope that war is
not now in question. I ,believe that
I speak for the American people when
I say that we do not desire to control
in any degree the affairs of our
sister republic. Our feeling for the
people of Mexico is one of deep and
genuine friendship and everything
that we have so far done or refrained
from doing has proceeded from our
desire to help them, not to hinder or
embarrass them. We won id not wish
even to exercise the good ollices of
friendship without their welcome and
consent. The peoplo of Mexico are
entitled to settle their own domestic
affairs in their own way, and we sincerely
desire to respect their right.
The present stuation need have none
nf the grave implications of interference
if we deal with it promptly, flrmlv
nnH wiflftlv
"No doubt I coulcl do what is necessary
in the circumstances to enforce
respect for our government
without recourse to the congress, and
yet not exceed my constitutional
powers as president; but J do not
wish to act in a matter possibly of so
grave consequence except in close
conference and co-operation with
both the Senate and House. I therefore
come to ask your approval that I
should use the armed forces of the
United States in such ways and to
such an extent as may be necessary
to obtain from Gen. lluerta and his
adherents the fullest recognition of
the rights and dignity of the United
States, even amidst the distressing
conditions now unhappily obtaining
in Mexico.
"There can in what we do be no
thought of aggression or of selfish
aggrandizement. We seek to maintain
the dignity and authority of the
United States only because we wish
always to keep our great influence
unimpaired for the uses of liberty,
both in the United States and wherever
else it might be employed for
the benefit of mankind."
?
MOVE TO TAMPIOO.
Mississippi and Torpedo Destroyers
Are to Heave Pensacola.
Equipped and ready, the United
States torpedo flotilla at ?Pensacola,
Fla., consisting of 22 destroyers and
two tenders, and the battleship Mississippi
with a navy aeroplane Sunday
night waited for the flash on tho wireless
from Admiral Badger on the flagship
Arkansas of the Atlantic fleet
Leinng tnem to put to sea to join the
lleet on its way to Tampico. Seven t
hundred marines will go with the ves- *
3els. *
The torpedo destroyers can make J
3 0 knots an hour and even though the
battleships which passed Key West J
early Sunday obtained a start of 2 4
hours the miniature fighters probably .
could overtake the fleet.
j
Eight hydro-aeroplanes were re- (
moved Sunday from their hangars ,
and placed aboard the Mississippi, ,
which is attached to the aeonautic ,
service. The Mississippi was coaling
Sunday night and was ready within a (
few hours. The marines will be ,
quartered aboard the Mississippi. The .
two tenders with the torpedo flotilla
are the cruisers Dixie and Birming- ham.
The latter is the fastest cruiser ,
in the navy.
I
FIiETCHElPS REPORT.
>
Hear Admiral Sends Dispatch Telling
of Mexican Fighting.
Secretary Daniels made public at
Washington the following dispatch
received from Admiral Fletcher at
six p. m. Tuesday: ,
"Tuesday, in face of approaching
norther, landed marines and Railors
from battleships Utah, Florida and
transport Prairie and seized customs
house. Mexican forces did not oppose
landing, but opened fire with rifle and
artillery after our seizure of customs
house. ' Prairie shelling Mexicans out
of their positions. Desultory firing
from housetops and streets. Hold
customs house and section of city in
lelnlty of wharree and consnlato.
casualties, four dead and twenty
wounded.'
HALTED IN SENATE
MOTION IlEFEKltlXG TO HUEHTA
HAS BEEN BLOCKED.
HOUSE VOTES 337 TO 37
Members of Upper House Object to
Individualizing Action Against
1 Inert a?Resolution is Altered and
Carried Over?House Passes it by
Enormous Majority.
In twenty-four hours, possibly less,
the United States government will
nave laaen possession or mo Mexico
customs houses at Tampico and Vera
Cruz. Detailed plans for landing of
marines at these two important
coast towns were completed Monday
Eit a conference at the White House
between President Wilson, Secretaries
Bryan, Garrison and Daniels,
Major Gen. Wood and Rear Admirals
Flske and Blue and John Hind.
Persons in touch with the president
said the steps "short cf war"
which would be taken by the United
States were of a nature which would
lot require formal notification to the
lowers in the same sense that a decoration
of blockade or other prelimnaries
to war. Foreign governments
will be kept informed of developnents,
however.
The debate in the House brought
nit the fact that while the American
lavy probably would block Mexico
iff from commerce with the United
States, it would not interfere with
lie passage to and fro of foreign vessels,
though cargoes discharged on
lie shore might be held at the cus;oms
houses.
The following resolution passed
;he House by a vote of 3.17 to 3 7
ifter a spirited debate: "A joint
resolution justifying the employment
if the armed forces of the United
States in enforcing certain demands
igainst Victoriano Huerta:
"Resolved, by the Senate and
Mouse of Representatives, in congress
issembled, That ihe president of the
Jnited States is justified in the emiloyment
of the armed forces of the
[Jnited States to enforce the demands
ipon Victoriano Huerta for unequivical
amends to the government of
he United States for affronts and iniignities
committed against this gov
irnment by Gen. il uerta and his representatives."
During the evening there were in'ormal
conferences of Democrats and
Republicans, and opposition to the
phraseology of the resolution was apparent.
Many senators, among them
i few Democrats, objected-to singing
out Gen. Huerta as an individual,
ind wanted to amend the resolution
o direct it against the de facto government
in Mexico City. Others
vanted to make this resolution broad
jnough to cover Mexico generally.
A high official who was in conference
with the president pointed siglificantly
to the fact that the Constiutionalists
need not be nervous
>ver the situation, for the president's
action was aimed entirely against
iuerta. It was said that one of the
easons the White House was insistent
on individualizing Huerta in the
esolution was to prevent the Consti.utionalists
from isnterpretng present
movements as threatening hostilities
against them or the Mexican
people generally.
The Senate adjourned before the
jonsideration of the resolution came
lp. The committee on foreign relaions
had agreed upon a substitute
esolution, reading:
"In view of the facts presented by
he president of the United States in
lis address delivered to the congress
n joint session the 2 0th day of
\pril, 1914, in regard to certain af!ronts
and indignities committed
igainst the United States in Mexico,
pe it
"Resolved, That the president is
?i i- - ?
lUBLiuwu in mo employment of the 1
irmed forces of the United States to
enforce his demands for unequivocal
imends for affronts and indignities
committed against the United States;
dg it further
"Resolved, That the United States
disclaims any hostility to the Mexican
people or any purpose to make war
upon them."
The purpose of the new resolution,
It was said, was to avoid the appearance
of a personal issue between the
United States and Gen. Huerta, and
also to avoid any misrepresentation
of the attitude of this government
toward the Mexican people as a
whole.
Send More Troops to Coast.
Three regiments of infantry at San i
Francisco have been ordered to the
Mexican border. An artillery regiment
at Fort Riley, Kan., has also
been ordered to the southern border.
?
Hoc Attacks Wonrn niillrl
Both arms were chewed off a three
months old negro baby of Clover
Monday by a large hog which attacked
the child in the absence of its parents.
? +
Rhip Right Hundred Coffins.
The army transports at Galveston
took on board Wednesday eight han4red
coffins for "Vera Crmz.
THE HORRT HERALD | *
CONWAY S. C
Published Every Thursday.
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1014.
^
H. H. WOODWARD,
Attorney and Counsellor at Daw.
CONWAY, 9. C.
H. B. SCARBOROUGH.
Attorney at J jaw.
CONWAY, S. 0.
J
H. H. BURROUGHS,
Physician and Surgeon.
CONWAY, S. C.
W. 13. McCORD.
Dental Surgeon.
CONWAY, S. C.
______________________________________ e
It ION 13 R AVION EL, ^
14ind Surveying 1
and {
Drainage. K\m
Spivey Building, Conway, S. C.
THREE MORE ARE KILLED
DKSVI/rOltY FIGHTING STIDD GO- ^
IN ON AT VERA CKUZ.
Admiral Fletcher Wires Secretary of
the Navy That There Are 5,-iOO
Marines Ashore.
Admiral Badger Thursday night
reported to the navy department that
three more men had been killed and
twenty-live wounded in the fighting:
at Vera Cruz. This is in addition to
the four killed and twenty wounded
on the first day. Secretary Daniels
Thursday night gave the news in this
statement: &
"Admiral Badger wires that he
landed the battalion from the Minnesota,
Michigan and South Carolina
yesterday afternoon, and that the
landing forces now ashore totals
about 5,400 men: The Minnesota,
Chester, Prairie and San Francisco
are lying in the inner harbor. ^
"Admiral Badger reports that as a
result of desultory firing, which continued
about the city Wednesday
night and Thursday morning, three
more American sailors were killed
and about twenty-five wounded.
"The landing party now occupies
all the city and outposts have ,been fe
stationed on the sand hills in the
rear, who have been engaged in constructing
defensive works.
"Admiral Badger, in command on
shore, is making every efTort to induce
Mexican municipal authorities
to resume their duties and take up
the early administration of the city. <
He reports negotiations fairly sue- ^ '
cessrul. All work in the city is still
stopped and no business is being
transacted. The public service utilites
have stopped because the employees
refuse to run the eventual
risk of resuming employment.
"Very little food supply has been
coming into the city and it is thought f
that in a few days the question of
feeding the people of the city will become
paramount and that it is possible
the United States will be eel led
on to furnish food. The water supply
is causing anxiety.
"The Mexican forces are disposed j
along the railroad, and while Ad- *
miral Badger reports the rumor that
they are preparing to attack, he adda
that it is doubted that this is true,
and expresses his belief that any attack
can be successfully resisted.
?.
WANTS HIM WITHDRAWN.
Huerta Asks the United States to Recall
O'Sliaughnossy.
Huerta has requested the United
States to withdraw Nelson O'Sliaughnossy,
American charge d'affaires at
Mexico City. That was stated at
Washington Wednesday on good au- ^
thority, but has not been oillcially
announced.
The reported action of Huerta in
asking the withdrawal of Charge
O'Sliaughnossy and instructing:
Charge Algara to demand his passports,
technically constitutes a complete
breach of diplomatic relations C
between the United States and Huer- **
ta's government, though whether
Secretary Bryan is willing to regard
la ?? * ^ * * * *
n iiH more man act or Individual and
not of the actual government of Mexico,
remains to be seen.
There is no precedent for a refusal
| to accedo to the demand for passports
j tior to fail to withdraw a diplomatic jl/
(representative upon demand of an es- *
tablished government but the present
situation, involving as it does a de
facto administration which the United
States has not recognized, never
before has arisen.
Such a severance of diplomatic reintl^na
Vir?ncrVi tia! n/v/>Anr.?-ii_ ?
mvivmo vuvuqii uv/v iicA/tjanan iy a prelude
to war, Is one of the steps that-A*
must ho taken if war is to be formally
declared and it is Rurmised in
some quarters Huerta is now about
to tako that step.
? ?
War News Explodes (ilnss Eye.
M. C. Canterbury, a farmer near W
Huntington, Va., was leaning over his
paper with his attention rlvited on a
Mexican war story when with a loud
report his artificial eye burst and a
shower of glass fell on the paper. Ma
was uninjured.
w
V