American Sailors Slain By Mexicans.

New York Times 100 years ago today, April 12, 1913:
Shot in Guaymas — United States Citizens in Mazatlan Demand Cruiser.
THREE SEAMEN WOUNDED
All Victims of Police Chief — Natives Angered by Our Warships — Inquiry On.
    GUAYMAS, Sonora, Mexico, April 11.— The killing here of J. C. Klewstow and W. W. Corrie, American seamen, and the wounding of three other sailors from the United States Cruiser California, resulted to-day in a request from Americans in Mazatlan that a cruiser be detailed to that Pacific port. Anti-American feeling is said to prevail at other points down the west coast, and to have occasioned the fight between American sailors and police here.
    An official Consular report from an eye-witness of the fight of Wednesday morning says the Americans were drunk. The seamen are said to have been shot by the Chief of Police. Irritation on the part of Mexicans long had been evident, caused admittedly by the presence in Mexican waters of United States ships of war. All sailors permitted to go on shore leave had received strict orders to maintain friendly relations with the natives.
    Investigation of the light between the bluejackets and the Mexican Gendarmes resulted in the report that at an early hour the police attempted to quiet a carousing party. Their action was resented by the American seamen and a fight ensued. It was not certain, the report ran, which side fired the first shots.
    The sailors were on shore leave. The bodies of the two Americans who were killed were removed to the cruiser. The local authorities promptly expressed regret to Admiral Cowles.

Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, April 11.— The news by wireless from Capt. Halstead of the armored cruiser California at Guaymas, Mexico, that in a street fight on Wednesday two men of the California's crew were killed caused a stir in the Navy Department' to-day. Capt. Halstead, informed the department that he had ordered a thorough investigation. Secretary of State Bryan immediately directed Ambassador Henry Lane Wilson in Mexico City to take up the incident with the Mexican authorities and get all the facts.
    The men killed were William W. Corrie, seaman, and John Charles Klewstow, master at arms, first class. Corrie had been in the service since June, 1910. His next of kin lives at 336 North Benton Way, Los Angeles, Cal. Klewstow had been in the navy since October, 1902. His father, John F. Klewstow, lives at 2,087 Ellis Street, San Francisco. The next of kin of the two men have been told of the tragedy. Arrangements will be made to bring back the bodies if the families desire it.
    The Consular Agent in Guaymas reported the occurrence to the State Department to-day. He said the affair was regretted sincerely by all, and that the proper authorities were making a strict investigation.
    The attention of the State Department has been given lately to repeated wounding of American soldiers and other American citizens along the Mexican border.
    The shooting of the California's men was done by the Chief of Police or Guaymas. As American sailors going ashore in a foreign country invariably go unarmed, officials here will insist that the circumstances of the slaying be sifted to the bottom. If the Mexican authorities are unable to show that there was provocation for the attack by the armed police there may be serious consequences. It was pointed out that the double killing might be taken as an indication of the inadequacy of the present Mexican Government, and might have an influence when the United States should give further consideration to the question of recognition of the Huerta administration.
    There have been repeated displays or anti-American feeling in Pacific ports of Mexico of late. A few weeks ago, when talk of intervention was at its height, two officers of the cruiser Denver were assaulted when ashore at Guaymas. On another occasion, when the navy had ordered the Denver to another port, anti-American feeling was running so strong that her orders were countermanded and she remained to protect Americans and other foreigners. A full report of the investigation by Admiral Cowles will reach the Navy Department shortly.