Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MOBS CRY TOU. ? ? -? REFUGEES AT VERA CRUZ TELL STORY ? PAPERS FAKED NEWS Mexican Capital Scene of Exciting Tltncs When Newspaper Extras Tell of Seizure of Vera Cruz? l*eopre Arc Told That Border Towns Have Been Captured, That U. S. 1 tattlesliip Ixiuisiaiia lias Been -l nni? x /v A nuilH. iilltl A 111%I. \ OIISI mil lOIiailSIS Have Allie<l Themselves With Federals. A refugee train of fourteen cars from Mexico City carrying 150 Americans, 100 Qermans and 300 Spaniards and Mexicans and 50 Englishmen arrived at Vera Cruz Thursday evening. Tho exodus from the capital was arranged through the joint action of the British and German diplomatic oflicialB with the war ofllce. About three miles from Vera Cruz a section of track nearly a mile long was found torn up. Tho refugees carried their baggage to a train on tho Vera Cruz end of tho break, which tho British, co-operating with the Americans, had sent out. A detachment of British marines unarma ed, noin(j as escort to the refugees on this last stago of their journey to Vera Cruz.* From tho refugees it was learned that on Wednesday there were further street demonstrations by mobs. In one of the principal streets an American flag was thrown to the a ground and trampled by tho demonstrators. It then was draged out and the performance repeated. Eater it was torn to shreds amid the yells of tho crowd and handclapping from spectators in windows and balconies. Immediately after tho news of the lading of American bluejackets and ma/ines at Vera Cruz was made known in tht federal capital by extra editions of the local newspapers, crowds of students and government ofiico employees began to gather. TtV /Inelr n mnh liorl lionn naaamKlad ?'J V4 V4?Ji? i? *** III 17 1\V\1 iu front of the American club where they smashed windows and howled insults and threats at the American ' t citizens inside, all of whom they threatened to assassinate. An appeal to the governor of the federal district brought police protection, but not before the crowd had shattered many of the windows in the clubhouse and in adjoining properties belonging to Americans. 4 Until 2 o'clock iji the morning bands of excited Mexicans marched through the streets singing the Mexican national anthem and shouting "death for the Americans". An American jewelry store was looted by the mob at midnight. The police looked on but took no action. 43 The newspapers, probably acting under the directions of Gen Huerta issued many extra editions in which they printed dispatches stating that El Paso, Laredo, Nogales and other places had been taken by the Mexicans. Other dispatches announced that the federal troops had gained a ^ great victory at Vera Cruz where they W expected to surround and drive the invaders into the sea. Th papers also declared that the battleship Louisiana had been sunk . by Mexican torpedoes.' An alleged dispatch from the south said that Emiliano Zapata, the southern rebel was coming to join forces with Gen. Huerta. ? ? FEAR FOR HIS SAFETY. ? Bryan Telegraphs to O'Shaughnessy Now In Mexican Capitol. Secretary Bryan going to the White House at 2:15 Wednesday gaid he had received no word from Charge O'Shaughnossy since Monday. The last message from Mexico City came from the American consulate Tuesday forenoon. Mr. Bryan appeared worried about Mr. O'Shaughnossy and cabled him to report. The secretary was sure, however, that if anything had happened to O'Shaughnessy, legations would have through their home government informed the United States. Press reports have stated that telegraph wires from Mexico City to Vera Cruz were cut Tuesday, which would . probably account for the lack of in formation. ? ? Negro Switchman Killed. While coupling a train at Abbeville Saturday Frank Jackson, a negro switchman, lost his .balanco and fell M under the wheels. [ / ~~ "? I Rel>cls Demand Tamptco's Surrender. The Mexican rebels Wednesday demanded the surrender of the port of Tamplco, now In the hands of the Fetfeqfcl*. "DEATH" S. CITIZENS CARRANZA'S REPLY - NOTE WHICH LEI) WASHINGTON TO EXPECT ALLIANCE OF ? REBELS AND FEDERRLS ? Telegraphic letter to Secretary llryan Caused a Flutter in Administration Circles, Which Had Not Expected to War Against the Kebel Part of the Country. News that Gen. Venustiano Carranza, Constitutionalist chief, might regard the seizure of Vera Cruz by the American naval forces as an act of hostility to the Mexican nation fell -like a bombshell in oillcial circles at Washington Wednesday night. President Wilson had especially disclaimed any act of hostility to the Mexican people, particularizing Gen. Iluerta as the object of the American operations to secure resprisal for offences at Tampico and elsewhere against the American Hag. Consequently the Washington government had hoped the Constitutionalists would not interject themselves into the imbrogfilo. The Carranza letter, however, conilrmed the fears of many officials that the Constitutionalists might side with Iluerta. | In connection with this we call atj tenton to the conference between Villa and American Special Agent Carothers on Thursday in which the possibility of joint action between the rebels and Federals was swept away. Read the article in another column entitled "Won't Join Huerta." Below we give Carranza's complete note for those who would like to read it: The unofficial translation of the text of the letter, which was directed to United States Consul J. C. Carotliers to be transmitted to Secretary Bryan and by him to President Wilson, is as follows: "Awaiting the action of the American Senate on your Excellency's message directed to said body, caused by the lamentable incident which occurred between a crew in a whaleboat of the cruiser Dolphin and the soldiers of the usurper, Iluerta, certain acts of hostility have been executed by the naval forces under command of Admiral Fletcher at the port of Vera Cruz, and in the face of this violation of national sovereignty which the Constitutionalist government did not expect from a government that had reiterated its desire to itiaintain peace with the Mexican people, I comply with the duty of elevated patriotism in directing this note to you with a view of exhausting all honorable means before two friendly nations sever the pacific relations that still unite them. Acts Not Legitimate. "The real people of Mexico have not recognized as its executive a man who had pretended to launch a blemish on its national integrity, drowning in blood its free institutions, consequently the acts of the usurper, Huerta, and his accomplices do not signify legitimate acts of sovereignty, and much less dp they represent the sentiments of the Mexican nation. "The lack of representative character n Gen. Victoriano Huerta, as concerning the relations of Mexico with the United States as well as with Argentine republic, Chile, Brazil and Cuba, had been clearly established with the justifiable attitude of these nations, who havo refused to recognize the usurper, in this way lending a valuable moral support to the noble cause I represent. "The usurped title of the president of the republic can not invest Gen. Huerta with the right to receive a demand for reparation on the part of the United States, nor the right to grant such satisfaction as is due. Huerta a Culprit. "Victoriano Huerta is a culprit, who is amenable to the Constitutionalist government, to-day the only one under the abnormal circumstance ol our nation, which represents the national sovereignty. " The illegal acts committod by the usurper and his partisans and those which they may yet perpetrate shall be tried and punished with inflexibility and promptness by the tribunals of the Constitutional government. "The individual acts of Huorta never will be sufllcient to involve the Mexican nation in a disastrous war with the United States, because there is no solidarity whatsoever between the so-called government of Victorlano Huerta and the Mexican nation. / "Moreover, the invasion of our territory and the permanency of your forces in the port of Vera Cruz are a violation of the rights that constitutes ohr existence as f free and independent aoverelgnty and will drag us into an unequal war with diglty, but which until to-day we desired to WILL NOT FIGHT MEXICO WILSON TALKS TO OOIUIBBPONDKNTS AT WASHINGTON. Says He Has an Enthusiasm for Juslice ami Dignity Hut No Euthusiasm for War. The following portion of President Wilson's talk with the Washington correspondents on the Mexicon situation was authorized Monday at the White House. The president said: "I want to say to you, gentlemen, do not get the impression that there is about to be war between the United States and Mexico. That is not the outlook at present at all. In the first place, in no conceivable circumstances will we fight the peoplo of Mexico. "We are their friends and we want to help them in every way that wo can to recover their rights and their government and their laws; and for the present I am going to congress to present a special situation and seek their approval to meet that special situation. "It is only an issue between this government and a person calling himself the provisional president of Mexico, whose right to call himself such we have never recognized in any way. "So that I had a feeling of uneasiness as I read the papers this morning, as if the country were getting on lire with war enthusiasm. 1 have no enthusiasm for war; I have an enthusiasm for justice and for the dignity of the United States, but not for war. And this need not eventuate into war if we handle it with firmness and promptness." Mr. Wilson said the executive could take steps which would fall short of a declaration of war. The president emphasized that he had not lost his patience with Mexico, for to lose patience seemed to him an act of weakness on the part of a person strong enough to do as he ought, but that he felt such incidents as recent ones might go from bad to worse and eventually bring about a conflict. The president added that he thought it was wise in the interests of peace tc cut off those repeated offenses at an early stage. Events of tflf? rln V tlir> iT'oalrlont )n/Unotn fi > >?I. ... v x. t vaiv/ |/. vuivtvitv illViiV/U tc y O U VJ 1 i as a final acceptance from Huerta, might alter his plans and he added that even the course of action by the navy was dependent upon circumstances from hour to hour. When the president was asked the direct question if the purpose of his action was to secure the elimination of Huerta he replied the Tampico incident did not involve that question. He replied the United States merely wantfcd full recognition of its dignity and such a recognition as would constitute a guarantee that such incidents as the one at Tampico would not recur. avoid. A Weakened Nation. "In the face of the real situation, through which Mexico traverser, weak, more so than ever after three years of bloody strife, and compared with the formidable power of the American nation in considering the acts committed at Vera Cruze as acts highly offensive to the dignity and independance of the nation and contary to your reitertarted declaration of not desiring to sever the state of peace and friendship with the Mexican nation, and in contradiction also with the resolution of the American Senate, which has just declared that the United States does not assume aginst the Mexican people; neither do they i propose to levy war against it, considering also that the hostile acts already accomplished exceed those exacted by equity, for the desired end which mViy be considered as satisfied. "It not being on the other part, the usurper, who in all sases should have the right to constitue a reparation, I i interpret the sentiment of a great majority of the Mexican people, which is SO jealous of its riclits nml rnanootfiil i of foreign rights, I invite you solely to suspend the hostile acts already initiated, ordering your forces to evacuate all places n the port of Vera Cruz, and to formulate before the > Constitutionalists' government, which , I represent as Constitutionalist Governor of the State of Chihuahua and first chief of the Constitutionalist amry, the demand on the part of the United State for the acts which or-gii nated at the port of Tampico, in the | security that the demand will bo considered in a spirit of elevated Justice and conciliation. "The Constitutionlist Governor of 1 the State of Coahulia and first chief 1 of the Constitutionalist army. "V. Carranza." ? ? ? Hand its Hob Registered Mail. Twenty registered mail nnfirnpM w - ? r was the loot obtained by a man who i held up a train of Southern Pacific which left T.os Angeles Monday night i for San Francisco. f ? Kngineer Killed In Wreck. James Clark, an engineer, was killed at Rockflsh, Va., Tuesday when his engine and the baggage car following dashed Into & ditch. Street Car Collision Injures 30. Two street cars in Galveston, Tex., collided Monday while returning from i a baseball game. Thirty were hurt. THE FIRST FIGHT i HOW AMERICAN TROOPS CAPTl'REI> VERA CRUZ. ? STORY OF THE FIGHTING ! 1 I Mexican Troops Opened Fire Vpon American Soldiers and the Transport Prairie Returns Assault With Telling E fleet?Navy Turns its (aims Towards liuerta's Position. The city of Vera Cruz was in un-11 disputed possession of the American invading forces early Wednesday af- 1 ternoon Although there was no organized force used against them and the snipers were less in evidence than at any time during the lighting, 1 eight Americans were killed and some 3 0 wounded. 1 While the Mexicans suffered more severely the number of their vasualties has not been ascertained but the best estimates obtained by Captain Win. It. Rush, of the battleship Florida, indicated that in the engagements of Tuesday and Wednesday their dead amounted to about 150. No person knows how many Mexicans fell wounded as a large part of them were hidden by friends. In the streets about the plaza Wednesday afternoon lay 15 or 20 bodies, a majority of them attired in citizens clothing. Some of the men evidently had been dead since the engagement of Tuesday and the tropical heat made their immediate disposal imperative. When the city was taken, the American marines were ordered to advance carefully and search every building for men bearing arms. Scores of prisoners were taken, most of them protesting that they were not guilty of any unfriendliness whatever toward the Americans. Accustomed as the Mexicans are to their own contending forces shooting immediately all prisoners, the captured men could not believe that they would receive less drastic treatment at the hands of the Americans. The most spirited action of Wednesday, was the taking of the naval academy. Aside from that fight there was no definite organided opposition encountered by the Americans. A hot fire was poured into the marines from the naval college, which for a time held them back, but a few shots from the cruisers Chester, San Francisco and Prairie tore gaping holes in the stone walls and silenced the rifle fire of the Mexicans inside. The ii.? * - - uiut:juv;is.?iH men were enaDieu to proceed with their task. A squad of soldiers continued to give considerable trouble to the Americans from the battered Benito Juarez tower. After they had been silenced and removed from the tower, it was discovered that they had continued fighting for lack of ability to do anything else. The shells from the warships Tuesday had torn away the stairway in the tower and the men had been compelled to remain in it. At 10 o'clock Wednesday morning the Americans were in undisputed possession of all the city except the southwest quarter in which the barracks are situated and a few outlying districts. At noon they had taken the barracks. When the city prison, which faces the main plaza of the city, was captured, Lieutenant Commander Buchan of the Florida inspected. There was great surprise among the Mexicans who had gathered there that tho prisoners were not released. They had been accustomed to seeing the victor always release prisoners and then impress them all in his own army. Chief of Police Anontio Villa Vincencio was taken prisoner by the Americans shortly after they had occupied the main plaza of the city. It was suggested to him that he continue in his official capacity to direct the city's protective system. He took the matter under advisement. Had the frightened mayor made up his mind to accede to Admiral Fletcher's suggestion, the Mexicans might have been spared the humiliation of being forced from their positions and undoubtedly a number of lives would not have been sacrificed. Coincident with the orders for the general advance of the Americans, an aged Mexican carrying the white flag of true came down a street from the center of the city. IIo carried a letter to the chief of police, the only authority he hoped to reach, and desired Consul Canada to road it. It was an urgent appeal to the chief of police to call off the snipers and prevent the bombardment he believed would follow if they continued their shooting. Even before the mossenger had climbed the stairs into the consul's office, Captain Rush was informed of the contents of the note and immediately soundod "cease firing" and "halt". But it was too late. The action had ueen begun all along tho lino and it was not considered wise to attompt further measures to stop it. The commandors ordered their men forward at double quick, .Vi.k *1 ' - -? * ?"* r?.nv.u mwjr curnou out, wun a vigor that afterwards gavo thorn the city. Blood bospattered sidewalks, brok? en windows and bullet scarred walls gave the plaza a gruesome aspect. Within the Diligencia Hotel there were 40 Americana?most of them women?who had been there since the beginning of hostilities. When the square was taken thoy were immediately notified that they might go lo other places if they so desired, but I hat they probably would incur no further danger by remaining in the hotel. It was not until late Tuesday that the last cf Gen. Maas' men on top of he hotel received written orders from outside the city to vacate their position. The ordor was obeyed by a portion of the hundred men who were occupying the roof and vantage points ix the interior but somo of the band determined to disobey the orders and light to the last. Nevertheless they surrendered Wednesday morning. A lieutenant in command of the Mexicans was led out a prisoner and al though he had fought despesateiy lie trc mbled and turned pale in the belief that he would bo summarily executed. None of the American women were in any way mistreated by the Mexicans during the occupation of the building. A few of tHo women helped the Mexicans in caring for the wounded. in the center of the inner harbor, San Juan Do Uloa, an ancient stone fortress, flew tho Mexican flag throughout the attack. Tho commandant and sixty armed men and 3 00 workmen in the navy yard peered from tho embrasures at the Prairie and tho other ships shelling the naval academy. In tho dungeons were 5 00 prisoners. Capt. Stickney of the Prairie went through the fortress several days ago and found somo heavy guns, fivo torpedoes and a torpedo tubo in a corrugated iron shed outside tho wall of tho fortress. When tho landing of tho Americans was ordered Capt. Stickney sent word to the commandant of San Juan Do Uloa that he would blow him to pieces with the Prairie's guns if ho opened lire against the Americans, but that otherwise he would not be disturbed. Tho commandant replied that ho would answer with his cannon if fired on but he would not begin hostilities. When the engagement ashore began, the commandant hosted a brilliant new Mexican flag, which flew all day long. Rear Admiral Fletcher instructed ? Liirr k^puiiiou VI UlSUi V tiriOB v LO go give the Prairie room to lire her guns. The Spanish commander refused, saying that lie dared not manoeuver his boat in so small a space at night. lie also declared he needed to take on a supply of fresh water. Admiral Fletcher insisted that his order be carried out and the Carlos V moved outside just before the attack on the center of the city began. When Admiral Fletcher directed that battalions of bluejackets and marines be landed from Rear Admiral Badger's ships before dawn and drawn up in the plaza before the railroad station and then proceed to take the entire town he acted only after giving warning and a^fter fifteen shells from the Prairie*s three-inch guns had been thrown into the steel frame work of the new market. A persistent but scattered fire came from rifles in the market during all the early hours of the morning and Admiral Badger's men landed to the whining accompaniment or rifle bullets over their heads. When the rush started, Admiral Badger's bluejackets, clad in orange colored clothing, made for them on the cruise down by dyeing white uniforms with iron rust, moved in close column formation up the water front, past the market and across the front of the naval college, a long throestory structure .built of adobe stone. The column moved steadily forward until the first company had passed beyond the college and the remainder were covering the whole front close against the wall. Suddenly a spatter of rifle firing broke out. Flashes from the rifles wero visible in the upper windows of the college and along the roof. The jackies stood their ground pluckily. Some of them huddled closo to the wall to avoid the hail of bullets from above while others dashed across a small open space directly in front of the building* These bluejackets dropped on their stomachs and lifted their rides high in order to get a range on the windows. Finally the oflicers hustled their men either forward or backward until they were in shelter of nearby buildings. The jackie's in front held their places, however, and the Pairie sent shell after shell from her three-Inch battery Into the windows of the college, huge columns of red dust leaping upward as each shot went home. The Chester also joined in with her six-inch shells and toro great gaps in the roof of tho college. Far to the right in tho harbor tho mine ship San Francisco opened with her fiveineh guns. Taking the front of the college, tho mine ship shot out window by window, planting the shells with the precision of target practice. After 15 minutes of firing, the Prairie and tho San Francisco ceased and tho column of jacklos formed again and pushed sturdily ahead, deploying around tho front of tho collego. A few shots were directed at them but none came from the college. Tho Chester continued hurling shells into any building where snipers lurked and also far out into the suburbs. Tho Jackies wont steadily ahead, ppreacung out through the water front neotioo, seising tho highest WONT JOIN HUERTA I VILLA SAYS AM* EVHOPK WOVIjD LAl'GH AT REBELS. WISH AMERICANS LUCK Robcl General Says He Hopes live Americans Will so Bottle Vj> \'ci;t Ona That the Mexicans Can't Even Get Water?Say it W? ukl Take Him a Loiifj Time. ( V* TT ,?e n \ f ' 1 1 ? l? J ? * 4 v - vavu! i' luntiij^u > 11id, iictiu ur tne rebel military forces, informed Geo. C. Carothers, special agent of the Fnited States department Thursday night that he will decline to he dragged 'nto a war with the United States by anybody. "Why," be smiled, as the threw an arm about the shoulders of the government represei.tr.Live, "all Europe would laugh at lis if we went to war with you. They would say, 'That little drunkard, Iluerta, has drawn, them into a tangle at last.' " Villa said ho was not consulted in the drafting of the Carran/.a note transmitted to Secretary Bryan We 1nesday night, and which was regarded as somewhat hostile in tone. The rebel leader told Carothers, who reported the interview to the State department, that one of the chief reasons he came to Juarez was to show the American people that his attitude was friendly, and that lie did not fear to trust himself on the border without a military escort, behind him. Carothers took supper with Villa and canvassed the situation thoroughly. "Honest," said the rebel general between mouthfuls, "I hope the Americans bottle up Vera Cruz so that they can't even get water into it. Your admiral is doing something it would have taken us a long time to accomplish, even if we could have accomplished it all." Villa said he had arranged with all foreigners, except Spaniards, to ship out their cotton from Torreon 011 paying a war tax, to which the foreigners had agreed. Roberto V. Pesquienu Carranza's confidential agent, insisted that the note of his chief to Secretary Bryan was not hostile, but wo? intended as a basis for further negotiations. Ho was expecting a reply I from Mr. Bryan setting forth the views of the State department. | The rebel position is that the* | American troops should be withdrawn I from Mexicon soil, Carranza recognizI ed as de facto president or at least las a belligerant, and the punishment of the individual Huerta and the othI er individual offenders left to the I rebels. Cararnza, if recognized, I would not hesitate to apologize and I disavow the acts of one whom he conIsiders a traitor. | lie was asked if the words used by I Carranza, "will drag us into an unequal warfare with dignity, hut which I until to-day we desired to avoid," did desire war. "Not at all," he replied. "It couldn't mean that, because I know my chief wants peace." Pesqueira said, as giving evidence^ of the peaceful intention of the rebel* government, that Carranza had refused a number of officers from Federal garrisons to join him if he would take the field against the United States. "To all of these offers, wo have returned negative replies," said Pesquiera. ! "We can not join forces with. Iluerta for any purposes." ? VICTIMS OF FIGHTING. t ? List of the Killed and Partial List of | Wounded at Vera Cruz. Ono battalion of marines of the second advance base regiment from the Prairie and marines attached to other ships, as well as a portion of the sailors, probably about oue-lialf of the ship's company, comprise the force that engaged the Mexicans at Vera Cruz Tuesday.According to Galveston dispatcher those killed were: Coxswain Shoemaker, Corporal Haggerty and Sea n. n Pouissett, all of tho battleship Florida. Tho name of the fourth man could not bo learned. The wounded include C. L. Leahy, IT. Scliwarz, C. I). Cameron, J. P. Plese, seaman of the Florida; Electrician Geisburn of the Florida, ami 1). D. McMillan, private, Second marine regiment, from the transport Prairie. buildings and organizing squads of guards at street intersections. The fire along tho front gradually slackened and then died out but tho Chester sent a few shots out into tho hills before ceasing. The Hancock, with 700 marines on board, and tho battleship Michigan arrived too late* io participate in tho fighting. Tho wounded and tl\o prisoner were taken aboard the Prairie uoti? tho arrival of tho Solace, about noon Wednesday. Immediately after tho firing had virtually ended Roar Admiral Padger boarded tho Prairie to confer with Rear Admiral Fletther over the beet means for aecurlng thf> town f.gainat attack, caring for the dead, injured and refugees and restoring order.