USS Prairie Logbook April 21, 1914
Commences and until 4:00 am
Made hourly inspection of lower decks. Signals as per Signal Record Book. Boatswain U.S.N.
4:00 to 8:00 am
USS Utah not in outer harbor at daylight having left at about 1:45 and seen standing to Northward. At daylight USS Utah sighted standing in, then out to the Northward. Signals as per Signal Record Book. (signature: Brandt), Ensign, U.S.N
8:00 am to meridian
Received 338 lbs bananas from J.G. Woollen, Vera Cruz, Mexico, for general mess. Weight checked by Ensign F.A. LaRoche, U.S.N. At 8:00 the Captain and First Colonel W.C. Neville left the ship and went aboard the Florida, returning at 8:45. At 8:45 commenced to get all boats down, preparatory to landing. At 9:00 the Captain went to the American Consulate and informed the Consul that we were to land this morning for the preservation of law and order, and requested the Consul to send all refugees off to the Esperanza and to notify all consulates, and when the landing actually commenced to notify the military authorities. At 9:40 Ensign E.O. McDonnell, USN, by direction of the Captain, called on Captain of Carlos V, informed him we would land military force this forenoon to occupy Vera Cruz. He wished to know if he might land. Ensign McDonnell merely repeated the instructions. Ensign McDonnell then made call on Rear Admiral Cradock informing him we would land military force this morning and occupy Vera Cruz. He said he thought that Admiral Fletcher would want him to get out but it would require some time to get up steam e also said the Admiral promised him plenty of notice and he got none, but he guessed he would stay and take his chance and asked that Ensign McDonnell inform Admiral Fletcher he would call. Ensign E.P. Nikinson called on commanding officer of San Juan de Ulloa and informed him that our troops were about to land and that any aggressive move would be immediately followed by our opening fire, special attention being called to any movement indicating the use of the torpedo tube. The commanding officer wished to know if this was a declaration of war and was told that the marines were to land for the purpose of maintaining law and order only. The commanding officer said that he understood the message, and that if we opened fire he would be obliged to return it. USS Utah stood in and anchored in previous berth at 9:56. At 11:12 embarked marines …
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(signature: illegible), Lieutenant USN)
8:00 to Meridian (continued):
… and effected landing on Ward Line Pier No. 4, Lieutenant Colonel W.C. Neville U.S.M.C., in command, in obedience to signal from Flagship to land immediately. / The landing was effected without any resistance. Ensign E.O. McDonnell, U.S.N., landed with this party for duty as Brigade Signal Officer. At 11:35 the marines from the USS Utah and the entire landing force of the USS Florida landed. Signals as per Signal Record Book. Ship’s company went to general quarters, manned port battery and #1 three-inch gun of starboard battery.
(signature F. A. LaRoche), Ensign, U.S.N.