The Fairfield news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1881-1900, June 15, 1898, Image 1

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v=F?C: "'" -^' T.-'V ' ' :* *. . . . W VOL. LII. WINNSBORO, S. C., WEDNESDAY. JUNE 15, 1898. NO. 45. I ? ?? - - f NIGHT TORPEDO ATTACK. A DARIN3 ATTEMPT CF THE SPANIARDS OFF SANTIAGO Io3!cwUp Oas of !3?=p50L'< Sufpi X,pped ia the Bad by fie VJgtlacce of Uac'e gsm'j Sailers. 7he.?p;si)i*h ' est Driven CKV'X. The daring attempt of the Spaniards to blow up one of ihe American war ships off the harbor of Santiago de Cuba one night last week is the first ^ instance of its kind since the beginning of the war. It illustrated how r ? it is to hit a small cbjectat night. Hjhortly after 10 o'clock, tne New Of ^^Teans flashed her private signal. It was answered by the fl3gship, and in a few seconds colored lights sprang up into the darkness from the New Orleans' deck. They signified thai the i enemy was in sight. A little later * * >> J 1Z-.-U4. sue Guinea anoiner coiureu -ugn* This meant that a hostile torpedo boat - wasapproachiog. although later. Cap ain Folger, of the New Orleans, -was not-certain whether this was cor rect Instantly the semi-circle of blockading ships flashed night signals. For six or seven miles, east and west of the baibor, they twinkled fe brilliantly in the darkness and then K went out Simultaneously fluheso? EjSfc fire shot from the Naw Orleans' side. Ihe New Orleans kept her brilliant searchlights pijing in all directions, and other ships near her did the same. On the decks of the New York the marines were crouched down, peering into the darkness, with their rifles on their knees,, watching for the sailors'" most dreaded enemy?the* torpedo boat The lookouts were in every t conceivable spot and guns were train red in the direction w!heie lhe New Orleans seemed to "be filing. Every now and again sparks and red fire 11 ew up in the distance, marking the explosion of shells. Many persons thee thought they were exploding on a torpedo boat but today it is believed that they found their mark on shore. The moon, which had been hidden behind the clouds, came out at about i 11 o'clock. The N&w York was then sieamixig at full speed toward the shore to bead off, if possible, the retreat of the enemy into the harbor.1 The evolutions had to be carried oa with great care, to avoid getting in line of fire from the other American i ships. The searchlights flayed fire- j quently asd private signals burned! brightly. A dim object, like a small j boat enveloped in smoke, was seen on j the pert hand from the signal bridge, and Ensign ilustin reported to (J?p-! tain Chad wick: '"A torpedo boat or.e i r point forward on the per; b?am, sir; headed this way." j Captain Chad wick, with Rear Ad| y"~ miral Sampson, was on the forward ^ bridge. Bsfore a shot was fired from the flagship this curious, lurking ob j jact disappeared. It must have been xwoor tnree miles away frcm the "Naw YnrV and the same distance frcm l the New Orleans. | The Oregon, grim and big, crossed the New York's boat in the direction ^ _ the torpedo beat was reported. The F boat was still headed for shore. When a mile away and close to Morro Castle an object was seen against the cliffs. It was thought to be a torpedo boat, the Ntyr York's forwards inch Hds bellowed out, making a hideous Vnoise in the quiet night. Oi shore a figfew sparks close to a dark object show I ftlwhere the shells struck. The 4 inch and 6 pounder guas >rol* Bred suit, and for afe?7 minutes a Bu-p fire was kept up. The btfom of ft Oregon's big guns was twice heard Hthe eastward. "Cease firing" was HWnen sounded. The searchlights failed W to reveal the presence of the enemy, and nothirg but the bare coast cculd ?|L be seen. After a careful search, the New kjL UIA dlCAUICU yaVA LW uCi ?**V4 the men went back to their ham mocku. Tiiere had been no firing from the forts, Captain Fo.lgcr reported that he had sighted a small steamer, perhaps & gunboat that she had failed to answer the private signal, and that he had fired on her; , He believed she Jiad escapcd along the beach, or had fcfcp destroyed he could not tell which. Bonded the night attack and ' the Hfcsperience here with iorpedo Ha naval warfare. HBi notuniil the Porter, this Bn, found the torpedoes, that Hoger of last night's affair was EHyrealized. The Porter was steamtwo miles from shore and well to Re Eastward of Morro Castle, when two torpedoes were seen floating on the water. Ensign Gillis j umped overboard and swam around tnemf He 4l^O WO* YIAPA Vsilf a i UMCU IAJ UUOUGT1 U1U njU JUWU, WIA> nuu torpedo itself turned tco easily in the ^ water. He returned to the Porter, and Commander Fremont finally got ft one of the torpedoes safely on board. The other sunk as he was getting it in. , Commander Fremont tben brought the torpedo alongside the New York. It was a 14 inch Whitehead of modern make, and worth about |3,5C0. It was in perfect condition. *nd had any of our ships struct it wiuie it fbated it would have exploded aad psrhups suik the ship, tterfore the find was not only valuable, but mcst fortuuate. * A curious fsct is that the to;pido which surk had an (xjrciie head on and had no war nose, and wonld not have exploded. Thiseither mears that the Spaniards are terribly ignorant or cireless about torpedoes. Precautions against night torpedo attack have teen a distin guxshicg feature of Admiral Samp ft OWAl a Ctw "3il.Vv jfl||ftmest of the war, and last night proved jpt:;;e eSLcacy of the arrangements. " Everything moved as smoothly as if in the case af a day engagement, In spite of the.diffi^uity ezp-rienced in seeing the enemy, had a torpedo boat come any where rear the effective range of fire, it would undoubtedly have been shot to pieces. It is possible that^there were tv;o tor rpedo boats Thursday night although ^ only one is believe to have approached anywhere near our ships. A Rgmsnt.'c Harriagv Miss Evangeline Cisneros, whose n rcuntic escape frcm a Spasiah prison in Havanah several months ago, is recalled, was married at Baltimore Oo-?k^v oil t^Vso JL 1_L1X1 QviOjr Tf iJLVJ assisted in her rescue. Tne ceremony took place at the Hotel Renneri at soon. The happy couple left for Washington an hour later. i3lvvuj S'.Dt iH 7 SlDpd, s-? A special a from Savannah, Ga., says: In a private letter xeceived in Savannah <rom a soldier at Tampa it is stated that during a rlci a Tampa on Monday night four men vrere killed and several wouv.dcd. A CUBAN VICTORY. Tee Spstiarde Sarprlsed are L'efeattd and Surrendered. News has just reached the Cuban Junta in New York of a victory schieved by the Cuban forces over a division of the Spanish army at Jiguani, providenc9 of Santiago, on May 22. ' It was one of the most decisive battles which the patriots have gained in many months, and the most im nr.a since war was declared bv the United States against Spain. A column of Spanish soldiers 1,300 j strong. acUDg under orders from Ha vana to abandon the interior towns and advance toward the coast, evacuated the town of L* Piedra, after havirg destroyed their forts to prevent them from falling into the hands of the insurgent, and camped at Jiguani, where they expected to remain await, irg further orders. They were also joined there by a detachment of 300 Spanish soldiers from Santa Rita, and the two forces were united in oamp at Jiguani. The Spaniards were surprised on the morning of May 22 by being attacked by a division of the first corps belonging to General Calixto Garcia'd command, under the leadership of Colonel Jose Jesus Rahi. With him also were Col. Lora, commanding the first cavalry, and Col. Montaire of the infantry regiment "Cuba Libre " The Cubans altogether numbered a little mere than 1,000 men, -while th? Spaniards had fully twice that number. The Cubans advanced in good order, being well equippsd with arms and ammunition, and tcok the enemy com pletely by surprise. At the start the Spaniards scattered, but afterward made an effort to rally their forces. They only succeeded in being able to retreat in regular order \o the -village of Palma. There they w.re reinf jrcad by several hundred men from Aguacote and Arroya Blanco, and turned upon the Cubans, and the battle was renewed with fury. The ^Spaniards were beginning to recover some of the ground which they had lost, when, at a most opportune moment, the Cuban ie^i ment "Aguilera" came up ;from Gen. Garci&'s command and attacked the enemy in the rear. Simultaneously with this the regiment "Santiago" attacked them upon the left fl ink, so that the Spaniards were forced to fight, hemmed in on both sides. The Cubans succeded in making several advantageous positions which they maintained throughout the fight ing. In their flight from their camp at Jiguani the Spaniards were forced to leave behind much of their arnmu nition and supplies, so that they were to a considerable extent handicapped in Sgiuing, while, on the other hand, the Cubans seemed to be well equip ped and on the aggressive. After six hours hard fighting at Pal jnst, which, is oniyasnort distance from Jiguani, the Spaniards raised a flag of truoe and expressed themselves as being willing to surrender. Terms were speedily arranged, and the Cubans took as prisoners one Spanish colonel, seven captains and several other officers, besides 103 soldiers. The Spanish loss amounted to 76 dead, be sides a large number who were wound ed. IiiJudii i in the Spanish losses were 13 c fibers. The Cubans sustained a heavy loss, but it was considerably smaller than that of the SDaniards. I; is reported thai there were 45 killed, including nve cfillers of lesser rank, and ab^ut} 60 wounded. After the battle, which was oae of the bitterest of the war, the Cubans relumed to Jiguani. There they recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition from the deserted Spanish .camp, together with provisions and supply wagons, which the enemy had been compelled to leave behind. Ihese were much needed, and were sent to the headquarters of General 9-arcia'a camp at Bayamo. The people of tha two towns of Jiguar.i and Santa Rita came out to greet the victorious Cuban army, and taere was great rejoicing among the inhabitants. who had before that time been forced to conceal their sympa thies while the towns were occupied by Spanish soldiers. General Jesus R ibi at once set to work organizing a civil government for the towns, acting unHpt thA nrrfprs of Ganeral Garcia in a proclamation which he issued two days after the battle. REWARD FOR CONVlCTs. Two Have Eicaped?Iircy Oollara Each Tnelr Capture. Colonel Neal, Superintendent of the penitentiary, issued the following notice Wednesday: We will pay a reward of $50 each for tha capture and delivery at this offic3 of Harvey Lackey and Bill Yeargan, who escapsd from W. Holmes Hardin, Jr., camp in Cheiter county; June 4 th, 18Q8, N -? 14 r?0R Harvftv Laekev was tried and convicted of burglary and larceny at the February term of the court in Laurens county in 1898 and sentenced to five years in the penitentiary. He is 22 years old, six feet two and onehalf inches high, black hair, dark brown eyes and complexion mulitte. H. A. and star in India ink on ri?ht arm above wrist; scar on right- shoulder blade and scar back of left wrist. Xo 14,508?Billy Yeargan was tried and convicted o! manslaughter at the February term of court m Laurens county in 1893 and sentenced to five j ears in the penitentiary. He i3 23 years old, 5 feet 11 inches high, black hair, dark brown eyes and complexion, two scars on right aide of body and scare on left arm from vaccina tion. W. A. NeaJj, Supt. S. C. Penitentiary. Tke Ciltoo. Acreage. Messrs. Latham, Alexander & Co., one of the most reliable cotton firms ip New York, has sent us a copy of their latest cotton circular, which gives some interesting figures as to the cotton acreage. It shows that the acreage in 18PS is 22,736,000 as compared with 24,091,050 in 1897. Every State shows a decrease, the per cent, in this State being five; Alabama, :?our; Arkansas, seven; Florida, five; Georgia, six; Louisiana, three; Mississippi, three; Norih CdroLna, seven: Tennessee, e:ght; Texas, six. Some of this redaction in acreage is no doubt due to the agitation on the subj set last Un* T.o4kory> A loro-nnu* Pa YYLilLCIy i^av.A.?uuwi w wv. explain it thus: ''Our correspondents reports that the reduction in acreage has been brought about by the lower prices of cotton, reluctance of commission merchants to make as liberal advacc?s to the planters as last year, in the face of war, and the increase in acreage in tobacco, wheat and corn, on account of the high prices of these ^ commodities." I <? i A DESPERATE BATTLE j i j BETWEEN THE AMERICANS >ND SPAMADS NEAP. SANTIAGO j Thtitiea Honrs Qca'.Jncoua yj?.li'.irg in : Barber c7 Gaaxtasairo -Foar A merle ?ns Kli'ed scd 0.1? TV?anded--The Vpaslsb l_v tsiisuvrur Tha invasion of Cuba by the Amer| ic&n forces began Friday. Six hundred marines have pitched their tents about the smoking ruius of the outer fortifications-ot Guantanamo, and the Stars and Stripes for the first time float from a Spanish flagstaff in Cuba. To Capt, Clark and the battleship Oregon belong the honor of aceompJishing the first successful landing of. the war. Forty marines from the battleship went ashore Saturday morning and occupied the left entrance of the bay until the troopship Panther arrived with 000 marines. These, under command of Lieutenant Colonel R. W. Huntinzton. ar rived at 3 o'clock and, within half an I hour, th6y had burned the buildings of th9 Spanish camp and had set fire tt the miserable little village which crouched on the beach under the hilltop of G-uantanamo. The whole operation of silencing the guns and landing the forces was as easy as placing a Sunday school picnic. The Marblehead, backed by the Vixen andDclphin, opened fire on tte earthworks Friday. The snore to the right of the entrance was lined with guns and ride pits, but the Spaniards stampeded after firing a few shots. The city of Guantanamo lies fjur miles up tne bay, and a little Spanish gunbaat came down to help the shore batteries, but she stayed just lone enough to turn around. Numerous shots were fired by the Spaniards, but not one landed, aid no Americans were injured. rue main fort lies within the citj? limiis, and is atiil to be reduced, but it is not a difficult position, and the American officers say tney can take it in 15 minutes when desired. Tn9 Marblehead, Vixen, Dolphin and two colliers have been off the entrance of the harbor for several days, and Saturday morniug they sailed into the channel. A mile furtner up they opened firing, sending 50 shots at the fertilisations on the left. The hills on the right of the entrance were deserted. There are no defenses on the right side of the harbor. No attempt was made to land until the Oregon steamed in early Friday morning. Captain Clark immediate1M * A A mnSiiMAn #? *-? /4 OA XJ acixu IV lUCfcX.LU.VO AUU^V ll^UI tne Mardlehead followed. They found evidence of a hasty departure by the Spaniards. Watches, hammocks and amaauni- , tionwere scattered about tbe earthworks, and a Spanish flig was fouud in one of the rifle-pita. The little detachment of marines held the place until the Pantner ar- ! rived, when they were recalled and ; the wors of disembarkation began. i The first boatload had scarcely landed when the village burst into flames. Company B, under Lieutenant Hall, i was tne flrat ashore, aad, without the loss of a moment, tne column started up tne steep, rjeky hillside to tne earthworks. !!?or an hour a brown ' column of marines filed up tha narrow path, eventually taking up a pssilion at tne top of tna hill. As soon as tne Amsr;can fUg was swung out ; to the breeze from tne flagstaff of the ponti*.Qnonich />amn the* Hi?flrrnn VMUA k/j HUW VlVf^VU steamed away to rejoin tiie lieet oil Santiago. i The marines will hoi<J tae position until the arrival of ine expected troops i ia the meantime, scouting in the vicinity, with the Maroleneaci, Vixen ana Dolphin lying Dy to protect them. R ar Admiral oampson now nas a haroor and a base of supplies on the < soutn side of tne islana, and troops can be landed at will. *" i The troopship Panther reach id the fleet off Santiago early .Friday. < On her way over, tne Yosemite fired 1 a dozen shells into the Port of B&quiri, i but received no response. Guantanamo is bu.t 40 miles east of Santiago, and is a splendid location < for a base of supplies for the blocking squadron. It is understood that the island of | fiu ha is entirelv cat off from cable i communication with the cutsids world ; Report here has it that the cabieship Ooria cut the cable running from G-uantanamo to the Mole SJ. Nicholas, Hajti. She was interrupted in the work by shells from the shore, but the Marble- 1 head sent se?eral shells at the soldiers ; and scattered them. DETAILS OF THE BATTLE- ; ? U i. ( WMch Iiibt d Until Si. O'clock Sacdayj; Horning. Lieut. Oal. R W. Huntington's oat I talion of marines, winca landed irom the transport Panther on Frd&y and 1 encamped on the hill g"i\rding aban- 1 doned cable station ai the entrance to J the outer harbor of Guantanamo, has been engaged in beating off a bush at- J tack by Spanish guerillas and regu- 1 lars since 3 o'clock Satuday ofternoon. 1 The fighting was almost continuous : for thirteen hours, until 6 o'clock Sun- 1 day morning, when reinforcements i were lacded from the Marblehead. Four of our mea were killed and one 1 wounded. The advance picket?, ur.- 1 der Lieutenants Naville and Shaw, are unaccounted farAmong the killed is Assistant Surgeon John Blair Gibbs, son of Major Gibbs, of the regular army, who fall in tie- Cu3ier massacsre. His home Was at Richmond, Va., but he had been practicing in New York, and he ~ entered the servic9 since the war begun. He was a very popular officer. The otters killed are: Sergeant Charies EL Smith, of Small wood. Private William Danpby, of Gloucester, Mass. Private Jaine;> McColpan, of Sioneht.m, Masp. Corporal Giais -was accidentally wc u aded in the head. The Spanish loss is unknown, but it was probably considerable. The splashes cf olood feu rid at daylight at I the position the Spaniards occupied i indicate fatilities, but their comrades : carried eff the killed and woundeJ. The engagement began with desul tory tiring as ine pickets, a thousand I yards inland from the ciinp, Captsin | Spicer's coaapany was doing guard | duty and was driven in, finally raily; ing on the camp and repulsing the 1 enemy at 5 o'clock. y" Tie bodies of Privates McCogl&c and Dunph.v were found, both shot in the head. The lar^e cavities caused by the bullets, which, inside a rarge of 500 jar da have a rotary moiior, indicate that the victims were killed at close range. The bodies were stripped of shoe?, hats and cartridge belts and hc-riibly mutilated -with machetes. When they wer6 brought in the whole battalion formed threa sides oi a hollow square about the camp on ih-) hill top. low in ine oay were me wars-iipa at anchor. Inland from the hill camp is a deep ravine and beycnd this are high hills. Tee a-Jjieent ccualry is heavy with a thicket growth. The sky was blanketed with clouds, and when the sun set a gale was blowing seaward. Night fell, thick and impenetrable. The Spanish squads concealed in ths cfcapparel cover, hsd the advantage, the Americans on the ridge furnisaing fine targets against the sky and tha white tents. The Spaniards fought from cover till mid night, discoverable only Dy nasaes, a: which the marines fired volleys. The repeaters sounded like crackers in a barrel. The Marbiehead launch, a Colt ma chine gun in her bow, pushed uo the bay enfilading the Spaniards, send it is thought that some were killed. The marines trailed much blood to the water's edge and there lest it. Sharks are numerous in the vicinity. The ships threw their searchlights ashore, the powerful electric eyes sweeping the deep tropic foliage and disclosing occasionally skulking parties of Spaniards. It all resembled a transformation scene at the harbor. Each discovery of* the enemy was greeted by the cracks of carbine fire along the edge of the camp ridge or by the long roll of the launches macainegun, searching the thicke's with a leaden stream. Shortly after midnight came the main attack. The Spaniards made a gallant charge up the" southwest slope bat were m.t by repeated volleys from the main body, and b:*oke before they were one-third of the way up the hill; but they came so close that at points there was almost a hand to hand struggle. The officers used their revolver!. Three Spaniards got through the cp?n formation to the edge of tfha caaap. uoi. J ose uomprna, tne uuoati guide, discharged his revolver, a^d they, turning and finding themselves wiihout support, ran heiterj skelter down the .reverse side of the hill. It was during this assault that Assistant Surgeon Giobs was killed. He was shot in the head in front of his own tent, the farthest point of attack. Ha fell into the arms of Private Sullivan and both dropped. A second ballet threw du3fc in tneirfaces. Surgeon Q-ibb3 lived 10 minutes, but did not regain consciousness. The surgeons of the hospital corps then removed their quarters to the trenches about the old Spanish stec&ade north of the camp. I'he attacks were C3ntinued at intervals throughout the rest cf the night, with firing from small sqaacts in various directions, Toward morning.the fire slackened. n i nrn ic tliA fo ttahi fa ti rv\a f r% * f 1 r? br ls ix xo bug xav as tiie east paled, the marines, lying on their guns, were aroassd. Some were actually asleep, as they had had no re3t for 48 hours and tired nature could no longer stand the strain. Bat no attack came. Three new 12-pound ?L;ld guas, which could no; be U3ed during the night, for fear of hitting cur o?m men, shell?.d several squads of Spaniards after daylight. 'I'ney dove into the bushe3 like prairie dogs into burrows as the shells broke over them in the gray dawn. As th3 correspondent o! the Associated Pres3 talked with j&ajor Coskrell, who was in charge o: the outposts, wo:d came of ;he hnciag cf tiie body of Sergeant r^mith. Lieutenant Colonel Huntington and M3 jor Cockrell gave high praise to the nerve and steadiness of oflisers and men, especially the young ones, as the engagement was baptism ox fire for a large mayj Drily. Tne men ware in darkness and in a strange land, but ihey stood to their posts with courage and f jrtitude anu tnerj svas no sympt ;m of panic, Tne marine;, though exhausted, were eager for mDre fignting, pro mis Lug to inflict heavy punishment. They complimented the aaring oi the Spaniards with characteristic camp profanity. Sunday the amplest pre caution 3 have been taken, and as the Dauntless was Leaving, reinforcements w.ere lauding from tne Marblehead. A storjiyiime was PXDORrftd. Estimates vary as to the attacking force, some saying 200 and the figures running as high as 1,000. Colonel Campina, the Cuban guide, siid the Spaniards were mostly irregulars, but tne reports of the discnarge of Mauser nfl.es would indicate that ihey weie regulars, as most cf the guerrillas carry Remingtons. The guerrillas, as i rule, have more dash and c:u.-a^e chan the regulars. l'te new campaign uniforms prove satisfactory a ad ara almost ir.visible at a distance of 200 jears. The Lr.e ?ul.s caused several^accidenls in drawng cait ilges. Despite the loss of ths men, who are keenly regretted, the marines .re j jice kUAb MM?J ua v c iu tirst fieht on Cuban soil. They sailed rrom Nevr York the day war was declared and expected to land within a week at Hibana. Sinca then, until they landed on tne shore ol 9-uantanamo bay, they have been coopad up on the Panther and they had begua to fear that the troops would beat them after alJ. He-a by the 2Isrbl?h:>d. The navy department Friday posted the following bulletin: "On June7th Admiral Sampson ordered the ilarblenead, Commander McUalla, and the Yankee, Commanc/er Brownson, to take poss?ssion of the outer bay of G-uantanamo. These vessels entered the haibjr at daylight on the 7.h, ? ur.Ving u opauibu guuuoou mtu tuc mb-:> harbor, and took possession of the lower bay, which is now held by tiia Marblehead." Spisish ."-iilps iJadiy D&znsg-d. A special from Kingston, Ja, reports that the Spanish cruiser V.z:aja and :he torpedo boat aeslroyer Furor were bacly damaged during th6 bombardment of Sanusgo,s defences on Monday. A shell irom the Brooklyn is said to burst undj? the V zjaya" port quarter, dismounted a <ua, ir-j iring ine cruisers rudder ani wounding several of her sailors. TThsre Did Xhey C;m; F.onaf A dispatch just received from Cape Henry says four Spanish warships are lurking in the vicinity of the cape?. , A Hi RILLING STORY, f THE BR LUANT EXPLOIT OF P.0350N AND HI5 CR = W. Full Accjuat v>: ths CArryics cl iie Str?5mac lato Santiago Harbar and Ecr Ii:inz ?crk 7b; re-Tie of '.ho Heroic Cresr. The folio wing is a detailed story of the set ci heroism, perfes-med oj Lieutenant Richmond P. Hobsen and his s?v;n companions in sinking the col aer jdcr.-imac across the c'aanne; lading into tee harbor cf Santiago ae C^ba, a short account of which we published ksi week: The Spanish ileet is now helpless, -being held eapti? e in Santiago de Cuba harbor. The narrow channel leading into the harbor was completely blocked when the United States collier llerrimac wassuak acrcss its entrance. It is now impossible for the Spaniards to get out, ar.u it is equally impossible for any vessel to get into th6 harbor. Therefore, the Soanish lirst class armored cruis.rs Maria Teresa, Cristo bal Colon, V.zsaya and Almirante Oquendo, with the two torpedo boat destroyers Furor and PIuton, are no loader of a_.r use 10 Spain. Tais gran- result was accomplished through the heroism of Lieutenant Richmond Hobson, assistant naval constructor, and Daniel Montague, George Charette, J. T. Murphy, Oicar Dirgraan. John P. Phillips, John Kelly and H. Clausen. The latter, a cox swain on trie New York, took part in the expidition against orders. They were all captured by the Spaniard?; but th9 Spanish admiral in reco& i tion of their bravery sent word to the American admiral under a flag of truce, that he was willing to exchange the prisoners and assuring the American commander that they"' would be treated with the greatest kindness. Money aid provisions have bien sent to them and the necessary steps are being taken to bring about their ex , change. Daniel Montagu* is chief master-atarms cf the New Yjrst. He has served fouryear3 in the n^y, is 29 years . pf a?e, and his home u in UrcoKlyn. : George Charette is a gunner's mate ; of the first class on board the New York. Es has served fourteen years in the navy, is 31 year3 old and re- i sides at Lowell, Mass. J. T. Murphy is a coxswain of the , Iowa. i Oicar Dirgman is a coxswain of the - Merrimac and is about 24 years old. ] JohnT. Phillips is a machinist of the first class, belonging to the Merri- i mac. He is 36 years of age, and his J home is in Boston, John Kelly is a water-tender, aboat i 35 years of age. His home is neat i Glos^ow, Scotland. ! H. Clausen, who slipped on board * the Merrimac without permission, in < order to taka part in the expedition, is a coxswain of tne New York. Tne fortune that protects men su 1 premely brave protected them. No * lives wera lost. Lieutenant Rich- 1 mond P. Egdsoi* and his seven heroes ! are prisoners of war on board the ] Spanish fhgship. The Herrimac is a wreck on ine bottom of the narrow ' j channel of Santiago harbor, more J I useful there than waen she sailed the 5 ocean. No Spanish ship can leave Santiago. \ No succDrin? Spanish ship can enter i it. The work cI Lieut. Hobs on and his seven men makes it imoossible. ' TI.AM A! L - A I? ? 1 Xii3^ fcuaus I.UB Si/jppar III i.D.9 DOUie. ? The Alerrimac i3 the cork. ( It was magnifbent and it was war. \ | The Spanish fleet is helpless. It re- < maios for the iaad forces to come to < j the aid of the Sampson fleet and take j possession of the city and the flower j of the Spanish warships. had.been deliberately planned. 1 Tne plan of closing the harbor com pleteiy b7 sinking a vessel in it had long been under consideration. So important was the work considered lhatitwas proposed to send stoneladen scows all tie way from an American port, send them then to Santiago with a tug, and have the .swiftest torpedo boat lashed to the stern so that the men could escape. It was abandoned for two reasons. The first was the news that the Cadiz fleet was perhaps needed fcSantiago. The second wa3 the ' js's of j time and the Sanger. The cour<; te of 1 ] the American sailors solved the ^ rob-1 j I AS-. U-I. | Soon after Admiral Simpson's a?. *i- i val in Santiago he decided'the chan* I nel should ba closed. Ha had at his 1 disposal a vessel admirably fitted for the purpose but utterly useless as a J transport?the Merrimac, a sl.eel ve3- i sel of 3,330 tons, formerly the Nor i wegian sieamer Salveig, an unruly, unlucky craft continually breaking 1 down. ] i The Msrrimae was nearly emplied < of coal. The officers were glad tcget < rid of her. Admiral Sampson resolv- < ed to make the hulk serve a glorious ' end. 1 rp i. il. _i-: ? ' -Liiii yiiiu W-AS IU ran tue amy iuu. th/: narrowest pirt of th6 channel, I over the first line of mine3, and sink ( | her where there was a sharp tarn. Taere was another purpose, the de termination of the location and p^wei of the Spanish min?s. There was little hope that she could proceed far, but it wa3 -thought that oy the time she was sunk by the Span ! ish gui3 or blown up by a mine she would still'eff .-dually block the bar boi. I; was known that mines of greai power had been planted ia the cnannel. The Merrimac would have to pass under the. noses of the great modern riHas so close that-the worsi Spanish gunners could not misj her. < Ine danger of the crew of the col- J lier cannot be exaggerated Adinirai 1 Samoson regarded the mission as one ; of almost certain death. Wherefore he gave no orders. The colored 6ig i I m n In krt n H .?? I rvvi vt f V. A -\ f* / UttlS UC^viU .UU'ACxlU? iiUUl liiC | N ship. The wigwaggers waved tiieii i banners. FOUR THOUSAND VOLUNTEERED. Sampson was calliDg for volunteers. Ha waited men ready lo take the i most desperate chanc23. Only by a miracle could they escape with tneir i jives. j Sampson wanted eight men ; 4,000 volunteered. * To the everlasting glory and honor ] of American sailors ba it said that ; every man in the fleet was ready, nay, : anxious, to enter upon the perilous i venture. Men dispute with each other. They < bagged and pleaded for the privilege J of soing to an honorable death, li 1 devolved upon the otficera to make j the selection. I But no officer should be risked in i i, this duty. The smallest possible num-,i ber that ccuid handle the ship should go upon ihe Merrirrac. TEE LEADER OF HEROES. An officer cot in the line vas chosen to lead, and one who had devoted bis short naval career to the building or ships, not to sailing them, a man of twenty-eight, Richmond P. Hobson, from AIabama.au assistant naval constructor with the rank of junior lieutenant, who has won high distinction for scientific knowledge. He was fit I'.u oj nis training to piace me nuiK ia the rnosi; dangerous position where it would obstruct the channel. There were you eg officers in the E.eei ' ro wept because the honor of leadiL-.^ j hat expedition was denied them. Besides him a man to stand at the wheel, men to rua the engines and to keep up steam vere all that were needed. Lite on Thursday afternoon and during the night the greater part 0? the c<5al remaining in the Merrimac was placed on board the warships. Commander J. M. Miller, Engineer R. K. Crank and the crew of forty left the collier and Lieut. Hob3on and his seven went on board. His orders were simple. He was to run into the ehannel to a certain point, if the Merrimac was not sunk in the meantime, then blow up the ship and take the chances of escape. When Lieut. Ho'osonand the seven bade their comrades goodby those who ovirl fV? Ar?a t*t ?r\ "tt aw aw O^jrcu VCLllUU OJU bUUO? Vf 11U nfCU b <J il never expected to see each othar again And the four thousand envied the eigh;, who joked about their good fortune. UNDER FIRE OF BIG GUNS. The start was made at 3 A. M. Friday morning. Tae Merrimac lumbered along under her own steaaa. rne big American warships drew nearer to protect the collier from the 3panish fire as bast they could. Every light was hidden, and the collier moved abng.' Sh3 slipped by tne scouts guarding tne entrance to the harbor. It was 4 A. M. when she entered the channel. Then the guns of Fort Morro discovered* th8 Merrimac ploughing ahead, bent on proceeding as far as possible b3*ore she sank, fearful of running aground before an idvanta eeous piaca was reached. Tne guns from Socapa fort and from the batteries along shore opsned fire. The gunners had the range to a foot. It was fair for them to suppose that | the Merrimac was a big warship and that she was leading the way for the others, that the whole llest was ti^- ; ing to force an entrance to the harbor. ! If they sank her no oiher ship could pass. ; The shot fell upon tin collier like , rain in a tropical storm. Sae had a path of 150 feet wide.' She must keep ia it. -On either side, before and be- ' aiad, tha great guns boomed aad ' roared. As the collier moved along ; ;he Reina ilercedas, the Spanish flag- ' ship,gunboats and torpedo boats open- J ;d lira upon her. . . Tae Merrimac wa3 no warship with protected sides, with great guns?no ightmgship. Sh.9 was but a merchantman that had been condemned, ffhose thin shell could no more stop ;he great projectiles that -jo much paper. And the men aboard could not fight aack. They had no arm 3. They could aot know the exhilaration and excitement of combat. Thev coull onlv withstand the rain of shot a3 baas ;h?y c 3 aid, mar7eling each second ihat taey ware still alive. HOBSON ON THE BRID3S. J Upon tho bridge stojd Lieut. Hob- ( son/ Now and men his brother offi- 1 ;ers could catch a giimpsa of his fig- J ira b7 maaas of thair powerful glass* J is. i'hey knew ha was measuring his i ;hancas quietly and coolly as ha ! aaade his calculations over his draw- j iag table in a navy yard. 1 Down in ths waist of the ship wera 1 the strokers and engineers. They ;ould hear the roar of the guns that j reverberated batwaen the cliffs. Taey J :ould work, bat they knew that i' 1 anything happaaei to the ship no J power on earth could save them. \ there was lofty, sublima courage in i the stroke-hole o' the Blarrimac that ! morning. ! The ship was approaching the first bad of torpedoes, those submarine 1 mines filled with tha most powerful 1 5xpl33ives, each one of which could j blow the Merrimac to atoms. Thfira wac nn insniratinn r?f nrnh?. ble victory to exhilarate these men such as Farragut felt at Mobile, If \ they were blown up their death, would ] 3how the exact position and power of * th9 mines and the hulk would block the channel. Biu ;he Merrimac passed over the ! Srst bed of mines. The ship did not J rise up under them. The Merrimac j noved further in toward the city. The fire of the Spaniards grew hot- ' ;er and hotter. There could not have Deen a better target. The Mammae is 1 $30 feet long and she stood high out J 3f the water because she was nearly inapiy. She was riddled like a sieve. 1 Phe whole Spanish fire was concen- : :rated upon her. Still she sailed on. rhere were American sailors aboard that ship. The water hissed and boil;d with the Ia3hing of shot. The ves | ;el was a mass of splinters. The man at the wheel was injured, j Another sprang to take hi3 place. There is a certain turn in the chan- j ael where Lieut. Hobson nad deter- , dined to sink her should fortune fa- ( 70r him?a place where it is narrow- , ist and navigation most difficult. ' Nearer and nearer the ship drew to it. Lieut. Kobson was waiting. The men strained iheir ears for the order. It ;ame at last, the order that marked the end of the enterprise, to let go the anchor. As the iron slipped into the sea an Di-der to lower the boat. The sight had fulfilled their part to their country; it was their duty now to try to save themselves. A torpstio had been carefully placed in the Merrimao, an infernal machine d? great power, so arranged as to blow 3, great hole in her bottom. Lieut. Eobs^n made a last examination of it. < rnen he set the electric machine to < working. Hurrying on deck again iae j followed his men into the boat. < They pulled away from the Herri- ( aac, wnile the storm from the Span- ? [sn guns rained about them. \ W nen they were well clear of the j ship the torpedo exploded. The Mer- < rimac was raised high out of the water ind then she sank. her spars showing \ ibove the water when she reached < oottcm. 5 It was splendid daring and magnifi- , sent courage upon the part of Lieut. Elobson and his seven men to bring ] ;he Merrimac through the channel. < It would have been foolhardiness for i them to try to row back in an open < boat. , ] Thicker and faster came shell and j -- shot. The roar cf guns, the shritk and hiss of shell grew mere dreadful. Tbe Merrimac was near the end of her last voyage. It could be measured in feet. They made directly for the Reina Mercedes and the Spanish ceased firing. Now they welcomed the galiani men. whose bravery commanded their ad miration. And it was this recognition of the enemy which led to Admiral Sampson learning of the fate of hi3 officer and men. For Admiral Cervera sent a flag of truce to the American commander, telling mm ;nat tne mernmae was sunk in the chancel and that L;.eut. Hobson and his men had escaped from her ard were on board the Rein* Mercedes, held as prisoners of war. Two-are slight'y wounded. Admiral Cervera said he seat the flag of truce in recognition of the bravery of Lieut. Hob3on and the seven, and, while they are held as prisoners, they will be treated with consideration. There was thea great rejoicing on the American ships and wonder over the miraculous escape of Lieut. Hobson and his seven. A DREADFUL ACCIDENT. . ... Two Mea Killed Oa'jlght and TJirea In-J j ared by Explosion. A terribly distressing accident occurred at St. John's Bluff, Fla., Friday morning at about 9 o'clock, in which J. J. O'Rourke and Ed Hsuston, two well known young citizens of Jacksonville, were instantly killed and Lieut. Harts of the United States engineering corps was seriously in jured, and a stenographer named Barnham and a negro were also painfully hurt. For several weeks Lieut. Harts has been engaged in laying mines in the river at St. John's Bluff. He has baenassisted in this work by J.J. O'Iburke, who for a number of years has been line foreman of the Western Union Telegraph company. This morning Mr. O'Bourke and Mr. Houston were near the cable hous9 on the L.i.-?C J ^ _ j. J ujLuiL ana were lesang a torpsao. L;.eut. Harts was about 15 feet away aad the stenographer and negro were a few yards distant. Mr, O'ffcourke had the testing wires in hi3 hands and Mr. Hoaston was bending over the: deadly 'explosive. By some unaccountable reason Mr. O'Rsurke connected the battery wire with the firing plug, instead of the testing plug, and in a moment a terrible explosion took plac3. Mr. Houston was blown to atoms, the only part of his body b8ing recovered was a leg. Mr. O'Bjurke was instantly killed, bat was not very badly mutilated, and Lieut. Harts was struck in the small _ ? I t 1_ J x C 1 J !i.L ui tus DasK ana in lae neaa WHO. piecas of the shell. The Stenographer and negro were also strack by fljing piec83 of the torpedo. By a strange coincidence Mr. 07R Durke's father was killed, by the premature explosion o! a shell. After che war ne was digging around at Fort Sumter wnen nifc- pick struck a 3heli lying embedded in-the earth, and axploded, killing him instantly. ON CHICKAMAUSA FiSLD. Ttn Firs; Re_jimeit of goalh Carolina Volnateery, U. S. A. A 7 J! i. - %j.i r* _ r .a. spec*! uuipALca to tna uji.um.Dia Rsgi-jster says (Joi. Alston's battalion irrivad at the little station in the central part of Gamp Thomas Tuesday ibout noon, the other battalions within short ister7al3, except CoL Till inn's, which was delayed six hours it Chattanooga. As the battalions arrived, they were at once marched four miles eastward to the camp re 3ently used by the First Illinois regi- ' ment bsfore leaving for Tampa. During the march th9 boys suffered 1 terribly from the dusty roads, but the < kindness of the Fiftn Pennsylvania md Twelfth Minnesota regiments will ' never be forgotten by the Sauth Carolinians. E rery accommodation at all ' posssible was rendered the tired and ' worn-out soidfers from the Palmetto State. Tne regiment is happily situated in \ forest of oak trees. Tnere is an artesian well justi in front of the ?amp, ' *nd three springs within two hundred J yards, yielding the purest freestone water. Another well- is being sunk 1 within the camp. Bathing facilities ire good. Chicfcamauga creek flows in sight of the camp. 'JCnis mountain 1 stream, with its sandy bottom is con- ( sidered a luxury by the boys. Those that were sick stood the trip 1 well and are rapidly convalescing. ' None of the usual military duties were I engaged in today. Every one was Dusy perfecting camp arrangements. Although the South Carolina regiment 1 was not oraereu until ia;e to unickamauga, it was honored by being placid in the brigade * of the first division of first army corps. The other regiments of tne brigade are the twelfth Minnesota and the Fifth Pennsylvania. Ehosya Holler. ACie*er AtuefGuor. The Kansas City Journal says: A i Ebur merchant at Eigar let trie story *et out that while ha was stooping 3 ver his flour bin a $150 diamond ring aad slipped off his finger into the 1 lour. He appeared to be greatly ex3rcised over the loss, got a notice in the local piper, but finally announc- < id with a sigh that he would have to give it up; that the ring was in the 1 hour somewhere; that he supposed it would turn up in a sack of flour, but ne had 110 idea what one. Well, yoa ought to have seen the boom that guileless man had in the flour trade. < tTor the next week he had to hire ex- | Lra help to fill sacks out of that bin. Due man who never bought a sack from him before came m and laid in a winter's supply. And the smooth, i zierchant whistled softly as he filled . .he sacks and winked tne other eye." : * i tmmm???. A j&jetery. Great excitement prevails on Blue , 3tone river, West Virginia, on ac , jount of the mysterious poisoning of ;he fish in that stream. As a result, 5 men ar9 dead from eating some fish jaught from the river. Late reports say that a number of persons and cat- j ;ie have died from the effects of drink* ] ing the water.'The fish have been ] iying in large numbers and are being 2 washed ashore. It is not thought that j there is one left in the stream. The ? stench from those washed ashore is } ilmost unbearable. The people are greatly exciled, ana will not use the water from ihe wells that are near the river. Where tha poison came from i Dr what it consists of is a mystery. ! 3ne theory is that the poison is due to i 3ome mineral substance in the water, ' and it is said that a peculiar sediment 1 has been found on the rocks. 1 r [ THE ARMY SAILS. " f A FORCE OF TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND-MEN TO INVADE CUBA. :3 1 General chaffer la Command?Santiago flliut be Taken a* Oace-nie Grand Army . y A-iunr vu VUWJU ovu?X Q13UUUQ1 U1 bUfl X?Z? pedition. The first United States army for the invasion of Cuba sailed from Tampa, Fla., last Wednesday, under command of Gen. Shafter. The force numbers 27,000 men,. composed of infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineers and a signal corps. The infantry consists of twenty seven regiments, sixteen regulars and eleven volunteers, as follows: Of the regular regiments, the First,* Second, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Twen- ~ ? ty-first, Twenty second, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth. Of the volunteer regiments, there were the Seventy-first New York. ] lf.-L. TTt- * 1 xixukjr'cov^jiiu iuauui^tuL. xirn ana Fifth. Ohio, Second New York, First District of Columbia, Fifth .Maryland, One Hundred and Fifth-seventh. Penn- v sylvania and the Third Peiinsylvani*. . Ihe total infantry force is 21,600 men. ^ la addition, there are a battalion of engineers, a detachment of the signal co'rp3, five squadrons of cavalry, four batteries of light artillery and two batteries of heavy artillery. General Shafter's order was as follows: Headquarters Fifth Army Corps, Tampa, Fla., May 31,1898. (jwnerai ureter in o. 5: ' The following troops will hold themselves in readiness to move immediately on board transports upon notification from these headquarters: 1. The Fifth army corps. 2. The battalion of engineers. 3. The detachment of the signal corps. 4. Five squadrons of cavalry, to be selected by the commanding general of the cavalry division, in accordance with instructions previously given. 5. Four batteries of light artillery, to bs commanded by a major to be se-^ iected by the commanding officer of < the light artillery brigade. 6. Two battenes of heavy artillery, , ? to be selected by the commanding officer of the siege artillery battalion, with eight siege guns and eight field v mortars. 7 Th? a? *i auw VI LUUQIIj lUOill* fantry and cavalry will be sapplied with 500 pounds of ammunition par man, ^All troops will carry, in addition theiourteen days'field rations now on hand, ten days' travel rations. \ 9. Tne minimum allowance of tent- " age and baggage as prescribed in General Orders 51, A. Gh O., current series, will be taken. 10. In addition to the rations spaci- * ,:-; fied in paragraph 8 of this order, the ' chief commissary will provide sixty days field rations for the entire command. . <; 11. All recruits and extra baggage,' the latter to bd stored, .carefully piled anH (Vivowui Will ko iaft "* ? iM*i? vv i V4VW) nui wo UI 1U . ri cbarge of a commissioned offices to .be selected by the re/imental command- 1 mmv>*m e?.x Where there are no recuits available, the necessary guard only will ba left. 12. Travel rations will be drawn at once by the several commands, as indicated in paragraph 8. By command of Major General 2 Shatter. E. J. McClernand, Assistant Adjitant General. The Fiftn army corps includes only two volunteer regiments, the Seventy- >: first New York and the Second Massachusetts^ /In the corps are about 12,300 man. In the other branches of the servica the numbar of men ordered to ^ go is about 3.000. The whole of the tirst invading forca is therefore about L5,000.? .f| Cn Saturday night General Shafter " Issued an ordar tr^nsferriu* to his corps ali the voluntear tcoop3 in Tam pa and vicinity, except the Georgia ana Florida regiment3, to his coaamaud, taking thereby many regiments prop3rly baionging to General Laa's corps. Tais was done, 01 coarse, to strengthen the invading fores. Folio Hingis a copy of General Saafter's order: . :~M Headquarters Fifth ArmyCoros, Tampa, Fla., June 4,1898. General Orders No. 11. A provisional division, Brig. Gen. Simon Snyder, United States Volon- ? teers, commanding is hereby organized is follows and assigned temporarily to the Fifth army corps: FIRST BRIGADE. Brig. Gen. Guy Y. Henry, United States Volunteers, commanding. j tt -1 - ' iiwumgaa voiuniear. Tnird Onio V olunteer infantry. Fifth Ohio Volunteer infantry. SECOND BRIGADE, Brigadier General L. H. Carpenter, CJ. S. Volunteers, commanding. Second New York Volunteer infantry. First District of Columbia volunteer infantry. Fifth Maryland volunteer infantry. THIRD BRIGADE. Brigadier General B. H. Hall, U. 8. volunteers, commanding. First Ohio volunteer infantry. One Hundred and Fifth seventh. In' liana volunteer infantry. Third Pennsylvania volunteer infan' J ry. % By command Major Graner&l Shaf ter, ufcuyiwiuiiuu) Assistant Adjutant General. Tdis addition to the Fifth army :orps increased the invading force from about 15,000 to nearly 25,000. Giant Powd rr la Goal, While unloading a carload of coal for the Shadley Tnreai company in Holyoke Friday, a shoveler discovered & can of giant powder in the coal, rhe can contained abaut five pounds of the explosive, enough to cause a disastrous explosion if it had been saoveled into tne Are under a steam ooiler. KU?rj in S^palxu Cjuatess Casa Valencia wife of the former Spanish ambassador to Great Britain who started a Spanish fund in London which only realizad a thousmd pcuads $5,000, has received irom Madrid a dispatch describing the jhccking misery of the Spanish sick - ind wounded. ? ? 0?rgo of Arms Seized* ? The police have seizad a cargo of irms on board tho British steamer rshig, owned by Tsang Sam Yung, of tiong iS.ong. i t is supposed tue arms srere destined for the insurgents of the Philippine Islands. They were seized under the neutrality law.