Ship's Shot Fatal; Americans Blamed

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 1, 1913:
Vera Cruz Man Killed and Three Fishermen Wounded by Stray Projectiles.
ACCIDENT EXCITES MEXICANS
United States War Vessels Were at Target Practice in the Gulf — Washington Will Sift Incident.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    VERA CRUZ, Feb. 28.— Stray shots which were said to have come from the United States warships Vermont, Nebraska, and Georgia, at target practice in the Gulf to-day, killed one man and wounded three fishermen. Many shots from the American vessels reached land near this city. Great excitement resulted in Vera Cruz and neighboring places. A rumor quickly was circulated that the waters of the Gulf were filled with men-of-war engaged in battle.
    The American ships were far out in the Gulf, having gone a long distance with a view of avoiding danger to shipping in or near the harbor.
    United States civilians here deplored the mishap particularly because they already had seen signs that an anti-American spirit was growing throughout the city. One form taken by that sentiment was the refusal of young society men of Vera Crux to play tennis with the junior officers of the Georgia.

Turner Angers Officials
    The anti-American tendency has not been decreased by John K. Turner, an American writer and agitator, who attacked Mexico in magazines and newspapers in the United States, and now is busy criticising his own country and Americans in general. Mr. Turner does not stand well with the present Government officials. It is understood they are considering the propriety of requesting him to leave this country shortly.
    The steamship Ipiranga of the Hamburg-American Line sailed from this port late this afternoon, carrying several persons who were prominent in the Madero regime. Her passengers included Rafael Hernandez, ex-Minister Gobernacion, and Roque Gonzalez Garza, the famous ex-Governor of the Federal District. Another survivor of the former Administration who took passage in the Ipiranga was Senora Ernesto Madero.
    All the refugees will stay in Havana until they are joined by other Mexicans made homeless by the fall of President Francisco I. Madero, Jr.