Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, July 09, 1898, Image 1

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l. m. 0ei8t a sons, publishers. } %Jfamitg Deicspaper: |[or the promotion of the political, Social, ^griijuttueat and Commercial Interests of the South. ! terms^^ooa^vear ^^advance, established 1855. YORKYILLE, S. C., SATURDAY, JULY 9 1898. NUMBER 55. jljllH er- ^ ! L rj ; ^ ftftm ^ ?Hgj^jSK. ?, -jr^-* 1 i?.:.v;<tA Vr'?? > OVanTI-W ?.A6{f0NE fc^'?NTaP' l*V*KOS- ^ ite ^ Mum 6& - OhiYknirt* t 4 ? lr ?5^ choline is " MAP SH pisccUancouji palling. ! CERVERA'S DASH FOR LIBERTY. 1 i Some More Particulars About the Destruction of the Spanish Fleet. 1 The main facts connected with the 1 destruction of the Spanish fleet have 1 already been published ; but addition- ' al details are still coming in. Just why the Spanish admiral de- 1 cided upon his bold dash, does not 1 clearly appear; but there are several ( probable reasons. * It has been several times stated that 1 General Blanco was very much dis- 1 pleased with Cervera as commander ' of the fleet. Among other things, it was stated that Blanco had ordered Cervera to go out of the harbor and fight, and upon Cervera's failure to do 1 so, Blanco cabled the queen asking that Cervera be superceded in com- ' ofApioo noma Ku WfllT nf Hi a LIU. JL UWO OWW4 1W VUUiv wj n wj v* , Madrid and may or may not be true. On Saturday afternoon, Admiral Cervera called a consultation of bis 1 officers, and by a small majority, it 1 was decided to make an attempt to 1 leave the harbor. The minority argu- ! ed that destruction was certain, and besides the fleet was in a bad condi- 1 tion for the attempt. Among other things, firemen had mutinied and the best gunners were in an exhausted condition as the result of their service of the guns of the land batteries on 1 Friday and Saturday. The admiral ' himself was in favor of making the attempt, and as the majority was with him, all agreed. 1 Early Sunday morning careful observations were taken of the American fleet from the overlooking heights. To the east, at Siboney there were a ' number of transports that had just arrived with reinforcements, and the ( Spaniards had information that there 1 ? ? /\ f mnHokina itrSf K ' WCro H uuuiuci ui uaioutpo mvu them. This, however, was, incorrect. Out to the west the blockading vessels were scattered along and the prospect did not look quite so discouraging. Had the admiral chosen the east, he would have probably met with more success ; but luck was against him and he chose the west, intending, if possible to make Cienfuegos, or Havana. Admiral Sampson had gone that morning in the flagship New York to 1 Siboney, for a conference with General 1 Shafter. The Brooklyn, Texas, Iowa, | Oregon, Indiana, along with the other smaller ships, were out on the blockading line. They were not expecting anything so startling as a dash from the fleet, and were really not in the very best position to receive such a dash. The vessels came out of the harbor, preceded by the two torpedo boat destroyers. The Cristobal Colon came next, and following her came the Vizcaya, Oquendo aud Infanta Maria Teresa in the order named. The ships had been cleared for action, the men 1 were at the guns and officers were i nerved ud to the serious business that they knew was before them. The commodore's flagship, Brooklyn, was the only vessel of the blockadiug fleet that was in position to cut off the Spanards, and the commodore at once steamed forward to engage the whole squadron. He opened fire on them and they returned the fire direct at the Brooklyn, with every gun that could be brought to bear. The two torpedo boats also rushed viciously toward the Brooklyn. She let dive at them also ; but the converted yacht Gloucester, formerly the "Corsair," bravely rushed in and engaged them both. The Gloucester made a remarkable fight, especially considering her light gunsaud the torpedo boats soon had enough of her. They tried to engage the Brooklyn again ; out witnin a very iew minutes both were in a sinking condition. There were 60 men on the Pluton,and only 20 escaped to the shore. Lieutenant Wood rescued six drowning men from the Furor and the Gloucester got the flags of both boats. The torpedo boats were sunk within four miles of the harbor ; but before they were sunk, the Oregon, Iowa, Indiana, Texas and Vixen had closed around the Spaniards to the assistance of the Brooklyn and Gloucester. The Spaniards were, of course, next ilpl /SSSSfc tent teas! fe&8? tep *>**. te ' "y7 ?W$? X i W:& *' ?>' lS0k ?% a^' V _ _ 5ax5w'(ffi ***WAJt- "o\ z < L-fcwai. [OWING CUBA, PORTO RICC to the shore. The American vessels were soon formed in a parallel line, and the fight was a running one. The firing was terrific?that of the Spaniards wild ; but that of the Americans well directed from first to last. The big guns on the American fleet roared continuously and the rapid fire guns poured a perfect hail of steel into the Spaniards. TLe Almirante Oquendo was the first vessel to get enough of it. Shot almost to pieces and in a sinking condition, she made for the shore and ran on the beach. The men poured over her sides, and many of them were drowned as they tried to escape to land. The Maria Teresa, on which was Admiral Cervera, shortly afterward met the same fate ; and next the Vizcaya went to the shore with nearly all of the ships battering her to pieces. All three were wrecked within 20 miles of the mouth of the harbor. Now only the Cristobal Colon was left. The swiftest ship of the squadron, ' she kept in the lead from the start. She is said to have been the finest armored cruiser in the world, and at no time since the war commenced, has anybody considered the Brooklyn a match for her. But Schley 3tuck right along with her, hammering her with all the fury of his guns. For awhile the fight was between the two vessels. Presently Schley saw where, by heading due west to Cape Caney, he could gain several miles and cut the Cristobal Colon off. He did this, making escape impossible. Then the Oregou came up, and the two vessels finished the job so pluckily commonnnd hv t.hfi "Rrnnklvn. The CristO bal Colon ran on the beach and struck her colors. As to how badly damaged she is, accounts differ. The first story was that she was a wreck, and subsequent stories are that she may yet become a valuable addition to the Amercan navy. After disposing of the torpedo boats Commander Wainwright participated in the sinking of the other ships, and then began picking up the enemy. He picked up 300 Spaniards on the beach, including Admiral Cervera and a number of his captains. The Spanish admiral was in a pitiable condition physically and mentally. Wainwright extended his hand and complimented Cervera on his courageous fight. The admiral acknowledged the compliment as best he could, begged Commander Wainwright to prevent the massacre of his unarmed men by the Cubans on shore, and then broke into tears. He and his officers were at once conducted to the best quarters on the Gloucester and treated with all the courtesy to which their rank is supposed to entitle them. Afterward Cervera and his officers were allowed to send cablegrams to their families in Spain, telling them of * ' ? ? /* Knf + V* Ann no K1 c. lUCir UUUUlllUUj Cbl/i j uuu nuwoo v?wiv~ i grams, of course, were carefully censored to see that no information was given that could be of use to the enemy. TWISTED WRECKS OF THE FLEET. InHpectlon of the Ruing of the Once Splendid WnrshipH. From the New York Sun. Port Antonio, Jamaica, July 5.? This dispatch, filed here by a Sun correspondent, was written yesterday on the quarterdeck of the Spanish cruiser Vizcaya, which now lies on the southern coast of Cuba, with gaping shot wounds in her port side, her bows blown out by the explosion of some of her forward magazines or a torpedo, blackened by fire, beaten by the waves, and as nearly a collection of scrap iron as a once splendid war sbip could get to be. The readers of The Suu who saw the Vizcaya a few months ago when she was lying in New York harbor would never recognize this battered wreck as the same vessel which then so proudly carried the colors of Spain. Last night's despatches to The Sun told of the attempt of Admiral Cervera's squadron to escape from the harbor of Santiago, of the mighty sea fight which followed, and the complete destruction of the Spanish vessels. At an early hour yesterday morning The Sun's dispatch boat started down the coast to make a closer is-j-Vi?-^Mir:^/V*^^iv^:H-V^-A\\\Vt:-^^rC^^fl^^-*>t-:^vA--it>:-':i>?? V, ?? .* * ,NWS,?,/l^'l?('kV,,,'^V * **v* W/?',*'';^ ! / '') !' *' &r, ??*4j ^ijSL \ ^%a ), THE PHILIPPINES, LADROi inspection of the wrecked warships than was possible on Sunday, when t fire was sweeping over them. The c first inspected was the Almirante a Oquendo. She was run ashore in a o small bay, and now lies well up on the t beach, where she is likely to stay until 1; time and the action of the elements v complete the destruction begun by the q American guns. Her sides are scarred r by many shots, and in her port bow s there is a tremendous hole made by a a 13-inch shell. On her port quarter, I HAWAII IS 1 rru- PconlnMnn ?Tn?X1 JII1C kJCimiC JL UU? V|> vUV 4 a Vote of 4 The long fight over the propositi resolution was called up in the senat vote of 42 to 21. It had already pai eluding Senator McLaurin, voted for not present; but was paired against /V////AU ./(AHULAN^ KoncUhac f?U THE HAWAII/ The Hawaiian, or Sandwich, Islands much controversy in the United States fc public of Hawaii on July 4, 1894, nave a a population of about 110,000, of whom J waiians, 24,000 Japanese, 22,000 Chine icans and a few thousand British, Germ the republic was proclaimed, Sanford B.! ending Dec. SI, 1900. In 1896 the tota and the exports amounted to $15,436,00 rice and bananas. When the war with ? nexation affair, threw neutrality to the i the United States in the attack upon the near the water line, there is a large t rent. Her military masts are gone 1 and her decks present a scene of wreck ? and confusion. f A small boat was lowered from the s dispatch boat and The Sun corres- 1 pondent was pulled alongside the 1 Oquendo. As the vessel was approach ed a ghastly sight was presented. Dead Spaniards were seen floating all < about in the water. They were srtip- i ped to the waist, as they had stood to i man their guns. The boat was steered t nervously among the awful things, the ( sight exciting feelings of pity, but r some satisfaction, as well, that the ^ Maine had again been so well remem- f bered. 1 About this time the gunboat Suwa- t nee came up, and Lieutenant Blue ^ started ashore in her whaleboat to t look for survivors of the crews of the t Spanish vessels and to take them pris- j mi? C~ V ? oners, i no men in iuc ouu s ifuui, < determined to follow him, notwith- s standing the fact that they had neither t a lifeboat nor life preservers, as had \ the men from the Suwanee. The surf s was running high on the rocky beach, t but the little boat reached the shore \ without difficulty. Lieutenant Blue, c however, was not so lucky. When r his boat was about 20 yards from the shore a huge breaker lifted it, threw t it forward, and Lieutenant Blue was t dumped into in the sea. His boat I reached the shore all right, and his t men dragged him out of the water. ( A band of Cubans were found on s the beach. They, too, were looking c for Spaniards, but it is to be feared s that their intentions were not as hu- r mane as those of other seekers after t the enemy. No Spaniards were found, c however, and Lieutenant Blue return- c ed to the Suwanee, which put to sea. 1 ... /; B*j:^R?aV. )v' ""?* W'^wv' lUtt BgsssiS'v ti pg&vf I n" > \<gr--" WW i \ ?' -y f$P 9 \ ft ^ \ ^ <5^a NES, CAROLINES, CANARIES The newspaper men then concluded i hat it would be an excellent idea to ! apture some prisoners on their own 1 ccount, so they joined some of the I ither dispatch boats and headed for he Infanta Maria Teresa, which was ying further along the coast to the 1 westward. This vessel was not in |uite so bad a condition as the Almi- ' ante Oquendo. She was battered by ! hells and blackened by fire, but her fter military staff was still standing, ler bridge, though much bent and ANNEXED. pectedly on Thursday and Passed It By .2 to 21. on to annex Hawaii is over. The o on Wednesday and passed by a 3sed the house. Six Democrats, inannexation. Senator Tillman was the proposition. HAWAIIAN' '.OHAJ ^ jmPJffAWAUl ISLANDS. \N ISLANDS i, which have been the subject of so ir six years and which became the retotal area of 6,740 square miles, and i 1,000 are Hawaiians, 9,000 part Ease, 15,000 Portuguese, 5,500 Amerians, French and Norwegians. When Dole was elected president for the term 1 value of the imports was $7,165,000 0. The principal exports are sugar, Spain began, Hawaii, owing to the anwinds and did all ehe could do to aid Philippines. wisted, was recognizable as a bridge. Nevertheless, she was the first of the Spanish ships yesterday to give up the ight and head for the shore. She was itill smouldering with the fire of yeserday, and occasionally cartridges vould pop as though feebly endeavorng to continue the fight. The shore was closely scauned for Spaniards, and finally some 20 men were seen huddled together in a corler of the beach. The newspaper nen shouted at them and made a lemonstration with their firearms, rhe men, who proved to be Spaniards, vere thoroughly cowed, and with treat alacrity they waved a white tandkerchief. A landing was made md the Spaniards were told that they vere prisoners and that they would be aken aboard a boat and turned over o the American admiral. They appeared rather gratified than otherwise vhen they were told this, for they ieemed to dread the Cubans more than hey did the Americans. A launch ( vas sent for, and the correspondents i itood guard over the prisoners until it irrived. Several Spanish bodies on vhich the vultures had fed were lying 1 in the beach, and the prisoners were i nade to bury them. Most of the prisoners were wounded, i hey having been in the hottest part of : he fight. It was learned from them low the gunnery of the Americans I lad become more and more fierce and i leadly until the Spanish crews deerted their guns, when they were shot i lown by their own officers. They I aid that as the battle grew more and I nore desperate the wines and liquors lelonging to the officers were handed I >ut to the crews, so that with drunken < iourage they would keep up the hope- 1 ess fight. At last the officers them- i aa"?. * ?^ \ ^\\ i AND THE REPUBLIC OP I 3elves gave up, and ordered that the sea valves of their ships be opened. Then the ships were driven on the beach. Sixteen of the prisoners were from the Vizcaya, six from the Almirante rtquendo, and seven from the Infanta Maria Teresa, making a total of 29, They were taken on board the The Sun's dispatch boat, which headed for the fleet. As the boat passed the Texas she signalled her capture and received a hearty cheer from the sailors aboard of her. When the flagship was reached Admiral Sampson thanked the newspaper men and asked them to deliver their prisoners on board the St. Louis. This was done and a receipt was given for the Spaniards in due form by the officer of marines who was in charge. Aboard the St. Louis was Captain Eulate, the commander of the Vizcaya. He expressed his grief at the sad turn affairs had taken, but said he had done his best and could, do no more. Admiral Cervera was also on board tbe St. Louis, Having neen iransierrea from tbe Gloucester. He is a fine old gentleman, and presented an imposing figure as be stood still proudly in bis full uniform, with all the gold braid ol his rank and several decorations. Afterward the dispatch boat went to the wreck of the Vizcaya, which was found to have a great hole in ber bow and a tangle of ironwork on her deck. SOME OF WAR'S HORRORS. There Wan Gallantry and Courage But Al80 Much Savagery. All the reports from Santiago, up tc and including those of Tuesday morning, indicated certain victory for tbe American attacking columns. There was no exception even in the case of the official advices of General Shafter ; but since then the newspaper correspondents have been sending stories that have thrown a different light on the situation. The fighting has been desperate on both sides, and it seems that the Americans have not had a walk over. The stubbornness of the Spaniards has been simply remarkable, and during last Saturday they held certain advantages of position that had not been previously reported, and these advantages they used to the terrible distress of the Americans, especially of the hospital corps. It seems that during Friday night, quite a large force of Spanish sharpshooters managed to post themselves in such position as to be within range of General Sbafter's headquarters, three miles behind the American firing line back to the field hospital. Gen eral snatter iaia sick id uis icut uu Friday, and several bullets passed within a feet of him. The sharpshooters in range of the road made it their business, all day, to pick off men returning to the rear. These included men who were able to walk, those who were being borne in litters, together with their bearers, newspaper correspondents, and Red Cross nurses and surgeons. Many of these were killed along the road by the vigilant sharpshooters. The Americans made several attempts to dislodge the sharpshooters and succeeded partially ; but not effectually. However, for all the horrible features of the situation the Spaniards were not responsible. It is related, as a positive fact, that during the fighting around El Caney, some 40 Spaniards were making a last desperate stand in a little stone fort. The dead and wounded were lying all around them, and they seemed determined to fierht as long as there was breath. The Americans sent a Spanish prisoner to inform them that within a few moments a dynamite shell would be fired at the house and they had better surrender. They gave up their arms and were soon afterward turned over to the Cubans under Honore Laine, the famous Cuban correspondent of the New York Journal. Laine sent the Spaniards to the rear with instructions to his men to cut the heads off all of them. This was done. The story of this horrible affair is told by Editor Hearst himself. He was 3D the ground, and learned of it shortly after it occurred. He admits the savagery of the act; but excuses Laine ? ^auo^/ A/y ?7 "AiMilVA* f"' OAA A uifr'i'-''' '4iXilili MAIL i on the ground that he has seen the Spaniards treat hundreds of his own men in the same manner. REASON OF THE DELAY. Washington Thought That Shatter Should Wait For Re-Enforcements. , The reasons why General Shafter I failed to commence the bombardment , of Santiago on Tuesday, in accordI ance with the terms of his ultimatum, have developed. It was not because of General Shafter; but of the president. During Tuesday the war department got information of the arrival of Pan, do's forces in Santiago, and bad reason to believe that the total Spanish forces numbered something like 16,000 men. Including re-enforcements previously received, and taking into account the I * 1 1 /-^i * _ i x. sick ana wounaea, onauer nas not. more than 17,000 or 18,000 effective i men. It is generally calculated that in attacking an entrenched enemy, the attacking force ought not to have less than two to the enemy's one. All the while the Americans have been fighting overwhelming odds; but the presr ident is inclined to put a stop to this, and desires that there shall be no more , of it. i General Shafter and Admiral Sampson held conferences on Monday and Tuesday under instructions from the president; but there developed a sharp difference of opinion as to the best course to be pursued. General Shaft , ter desired Admiral Sampson to enter Santiago harbor; but in the opinion of the admiral this was not practicable. 1 The war deparfment backed Shafter, and the navy department Sampson, and hence the hitch. Shafter was disposed to begin operations on his own respon1 sibility ; but upon this the president put his veto. The understanding on Tuesday afternoon was that the proposed bombardment would not be commenced until after the arrival of some 10,000 re-enforcements, which were expected as soon as possible?probably within a week from Sunday. The navy department thinks that an attempt to enter the harbor before Morro castle is captured, would be foolhardy. WAIFS FROM WARREN. Good Ralnn at Last?Children'a Day?Personal and Other Notes. Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. Warren, July 6.?A much needed rains is falling this afternoon and crops have quite a refreshing and growing appearance. Some old corn has been "laidby," and as soon as the rain is over and the ground dries, we will begin to give the later planted corn and the cotton the last plowing and soon be ready to enjoy a few weeks' recreation. Children's Day at Antiocb will be on Friday, the 22nd of this month. There will be recitations and other exercises by the children in the forenoon, and in the afternoon speeches by the pastor, Rev. J. B. Harris. Rev. R. A. Young, of East Chester, and Rev. Mr. Henry (I believe from some circuit in Lancaster county). Mrs. Humbert, wife of the Rev. Mr. Humbert, of Yorkville circuit, has also promised to be with us. We expect to make the occasion pleasant as well as beneficial, esneciallv for the children. x *r When the attending physicians announced that a Negro living near Betbesda church, and not far from this place, had small pox, it caused some excitement around here ; but no new cases have developed and the scare has about subsided. Oak Grove and Hickory Grove schools will open on next Monday with Mr. E. F. Scoggins in charge of the one, and Mr. Alec Smith in charge of the other. Antioch school will also open on Monday with Miss Anna McCarley asteacher. Your correspondent has been confined to his bed for about three weeks with fever; but is better and able to be up and walk out a little at this writing. Mr. William Haston, from North Carolina, is visiting his sister, Mrs. Wm. Newson. Mrs. Maggie Teal, wife of Dr. Teal, of Hickory Grove, is visiting here.