The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, May 11, 1898, Image 6

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tails of the Magoifi cerrt Victory in the Philippines. THE SPANISH FOUGHT WITH DESPERATE BRAVERY. Owing to the fact that the cable between Hong Kong and the Philip? pine Islande was not in working order, having been cut, it is said, some dis tance from the capital of tbe islands, there baa been delay in obtaining a detailed accourt of the battle, and P the facts in the case were only avail V abie when the United States gunboat Hugh McCullough arrived at Hong 3 Hong Dommodore Dewey's orders were ; to capture or destroy the Spanish Heel, and never were inst ructions, ex eeuted in so complete a fashion. At I the end of seven hours there wa3 ab { so?ntely nothing left the Spanish fleet . .feet a few relics. The American commander had $1 most skillfully arranged every detail * of the action, and even the apparent? ly most insignificant features were carried ont with perfect punctuality eudrailroad time table order. At the end of the action Commo I dore Dewey anchored his fleet in the bay before Manila, and sent a mes? sage to Governor General August i announcing the inauguration of the blockade, and adding that if a shot ? was fired against bis ships be would . -destroy every battery about Manila The position occupied by the Spaniards, the support which their / ships received from tbe land bat? teries, and the big guns they had ashore gave them an enormous ad? vantage. Therefore, when it is con J sidered that the Spaniards lost over < 690-men in killed and wounded, that all their Retape, amounting to about 14, were destroyed,. and that their - naval arsenal at Cavite was also de strayed, with ita defenses, it will be? come apparent that the victory of the American commodore is one of the most4omp?ete and wonderful achieve meats in the history of naval war? fare. V Not a mau on board the American fleet was kilted, not ? ship was dam? aged to aoy extent, add only six men were injured slightly on board the Baltimore. This great achievement ia quite as much due to the generalship of Com? modore Dewey as to the fact that the American gunners, ships and guns are superior to anything in the same tine afloat anywhere. Credit must also be given to the fullest extent to the officers under Commodore Dewey for, to a man. they seconded their gallant commander in every way pos sf ble and thus helped him earn the laurels which are so justly his When the squadron left Hong Kong it touched first at a point in the Philip pines near Bolino, as Commodore Dewey wished the insurgents' agents to disembark there, ascertain the Strength and disposition of the insur? gent forces, arrange to prevent need : jess bloodshed and inform the insur gents of his intention to change the govermeut of the Philippine islands, the commodore strongly objecting to * giving the rebel? a chance to commit excesses. The insurgent leaders, how? ever, refused to disembark under any consideration, and the American ships coasted in search of the Spanish but failed to find them Commodore Dewey arrived at Su big bay, about SO miles north of Manila . bay, on Saturday. April 30. and sent the Bal? timore and Concord to reconnoiter the enemy. They found Spanish ships at the entrance of the bay, and so tbe commodore decided to to risk the mines and proceed that same night after dark into the bay of Manila, which be did T?e American fleet entered Manila bay on Saturday night with the greatest of ease. The Spaniards had not established a patrol and there were no searchlights at the entrance of the bay. In fact, the American ships would probably have passed inside the bay without any challenge had it not been that some sparks flew up ftom the McCclloch's funnel. Thereupon a few shots were exchang? ed with the batteries on Corregidor island, but the fleet did not slow down and soon took op a position Bear Cavite, awaiting dawn in order to commence hostilities The early hours of the morning re? vealed the opposing ships to each other, the Spanish flagship opening fire. Her action. was followed by some of the larger Spanish warships, and then the Cavite forts opened np and the smaller Spanish % vessels brought their guns into play The American squadron, which had been led into the bay and throngh the channel by the flagship Olympia, did not reply, though the shells of the Spaniards began to strike the wa? ter around them. The ships moved majestically coward. When nearing Baker bay, a sudden upheaval oil water a snort distance ahead of the Olympia showed that the Spaniards had exploded a mine or a torpedo This was followed by a second and similar explosion They wero both utterly unsuccessful. The American fleet was then draw ing nearer and nearer to the Span? iards, whose gunnery was very poor, tbe shots from tbe Cavite batteries and from the Spanish ships being equally badly aimed, either failing 6hort or going wide of the mark. When the American fleet entered the bay, coming through the south ern channel between Caballo and Prile islets, the following was the order : The flagship Olympia, Balti? more, Raleigh, Concord, Boston, Pet? rel and McCullough. wi,th the two store ships, the Nanshan and Zaflro, briuging up the rear, and in that order they swept grandly before the city and faced the enemy in column line. Though the Spaniards had opened fire at 6,000 yards, the Americans re served their fire until within 4,000 yards of the enemy, when the real battle began. The Rema Cristina, Castilla, Don Antonio de Ulloa, Isla de Coba, Isla de Luzon and the Mindanao were in line of battle outside of Cavite at that time, with four gunboats and the torpedo boats inside the harbor. The American ships then passed backward and forwarded six times across the front of the Spaniards; pouring io apoo the latter a perfect hail. cf shot and ^hell Every American shot seemed to tell, while almost every Spaoish shot missed the mark After having thus seattered death aod de? moralization among the Spanish fleet and the Spaoish batteries, the Ameri? can fleet retired for breakfast, aod in oideotally a council of war was held on board the Olympia. By this time the Spanish ships were in a desperate condition The flagship Reina Cristina was riddled with shot and shell, ooe of ber steam pipes bad burst and she was believed to be on fire. The Castilla was certainly on Are. They were eventually burned to the water's edge. The Doo Antonia de Ulloa made a magnificent show of desperate bravery. Wheo her comma G der found she was so toro by the American shells that he could not keep her afloat, he nailed her colors to the mast, and she went down with all bands fighting to the last. Her bull was completely riddled and ber opper deck had been swept clean by the awful fire of the American goos, but the Spaniards, though their vessel was sinking beneath them, continued working the guns on ber lower deck until she sack. During the engagement a Spanish torpedo boat crept along the shore and round the.ohing, in ao attempt to at? tack tbe American store ships, but she was promptly discovered, and was driven ashore and shot to pieces. The Miodanao had io the meanwhile been run ashore to save her from sink tog and the Spanish small craft had sought shelter from the steel storm be hind the breakwater. The battle, whioh was started at about 5:30 am., and adjourned at 8:30 a. m., was resumed about noon, wheo Commodore Dewey started in to pot the finishing touches of bise glorious work. There was not much fight left io the Spaniards by that time, and at 2 p. m the Petrel and Concord had shot the Cavite batteries into silence, leav? ing tbsm heaps of ruins and floating the white flag The Spanish gunboats were then scuttled, the arsenal was on fire, aod the explosion of a Spanish magazine caused further mortality amoog the defenders of Spain on shore. On the water the burning, sunken or. destroyed Spanish vessels could be seen, while only the cruiser Baltimore bad suffered in any way from ibo fire of the enemy. A shot whioh struck ber exploded some ammuoitioo near ooe of her guns, and slightly iojured naif a dozen of the crew. Several shots passed dangerously close to Commodore Dewey, but little or no damage was done on board the flagship. On the other hand, about ooe hun? dred and fifty men are said to have been killed on board the Reina Cris tina, which wae totally destroyed. Ad? miral Montejo, the Spanish command? er, traosferred hts flag to the Isla de Coba when his ship oacght fire, but the latter was destroyed also in due course of time. The Reina Christina lost ber captain, a lieutenant, her chaplain and mid? shipman by one shot, whioh struck her bridge. About one hundred men were killed aod sixty wounded on board the Castilla Indeed, some estimates place tbe number of Spanish wounded during the engagement at over a thousaod men The Olympia was struck five times ahont ber upper works, and a whale boat of the Raleigh was smashed. Although the Krupp guns os the Esplaode of Manila were fired continu? ously during the engagement, Comuso dore Dewey did not reply to them, and ; the battery afterward hoisted a white flag in token of surreodor. The terms of the capitulation were still unsettled wheo the McCullough left Manila, and it was said Commodore Dewey feared rioting upon the part of the insurgents if he attempted a bom bardment of the remaioiog fortifications at Manila The forts m at the entrance of the bay were dismantled on Wednesday, after they had capita lated. It is said the American commodore ordered the cable to Ue cat because the Spaoiards refused to permit bita to use it pending the?complete surrender of the oity. It is said that the Spanish ships ri id not get under uteara uctiS after the alarm was given It ie said also thur the Spanish commander informed the governor general that it was advisable to surreoded io the interest of human? icy, as it was impossible to resist sac cessfslly, but that be and his men were willing enough to fight and die. Even wheo the Spaoish flagship was shot half away, her commander, though wounded, refused lo leave the bridge uotil the ship was barning and sinking, her stern shattered by a ehell and her steam pipe burst. As yet there ara no ^arther details of the fighting. After it was over. Com? modore Dewey sent an ultimatum to the city battery ordering ic to cease firiog or he would bombard. The Petrel chased a gunboat up the River Pasig, and the Spaoish captain oame in a boat to negotiate conditions of surrender. The American captain re? plied : "Unconditional surrender or fight." To this the Spaniard answered: "We are willing to fight Piease al? low us to send for ammunition, because our store is exbosted." On a proposal to the existing author? ities to continue, temporarily under the American flag,' pending the termination of the war, the Spaniards delayed their decision and kept wiring to Madrid. The Americans requested the privilege of using the wire, and when this was refused they cut the cable The Esmeralda, from Hong Kong, arrived right in the middle of the bat tie. During the adjournment for breakfast an American cruiser was de? tached to meet ber, as it was believed she might be a Spaniard. When it was fouod that the new arrival was a British, vessel she was warned to keep away. \ The Esmeralda, therefore, moved up the bay 10 or 15 miles. There are still two or three Spanish gunboats about the Philippines, but no resistance from them is probable. One recently captured an American bark Rioting in the Provinces Continues and Spreads. At Linares Yesterday There was a Serious Outbreak. Madrid, May 9 -The political sit nation here is unchanged. The con sultation between the Queen Regent and Senor Gamazo, the Liberal leader as well as her Majesty's conference with Senor Montero Rios, the presi dent of the Senate has been without result. Everybody appears loath to assume toe responsibilities of assum? ing office under the existing condi? tion of affairs Port Mahon, the capital of the isl and of Minorca, (Balearic Islands) is being prepared for possible attack upon the part of a United States Squadron. It is said that torpedoes are being planted in all ports and the artillery on the Mola has been pre? pared for service. There was serious rioting at Lin? ares, twenty three miles from Jaen, yesterday. The mob assembled in front of the town hall and, fin?ing the door locked, tore ont the win? dows swarmed into the building and threw everything into the streets. The civil guards Intervened and a desperate struggle followed in the passages of the building. The riot? ers were finally driven out by the civil guards who frequently fired into the mob. Some of the rioters pro? cured guns and returned the fire Later the mob made another at? tack on the town hall and drove out the civil guards The rioters were well supplied with ammunition and kept up a galling fire, while shouts of "Down with the taxes" were rais? ed on all sides. After forcing an entrance into the town hall the rioters pillaged the butting Subsequently they captured the residence of the tax collector by assault. They de? molished everything in sight, stole 2,100 pestas and a box of jewels and attempted to set fire to the house Revised figures show that 12 men were killed and 50 wounded. The bodies of the killed and wounded persons were allowed to lie in the streets, the fusilade from the town ball being so incessant that it was impossible to rescue the wound? ed. The last reports received from Linares said the fighting was contin? uing and that, profiting in the confu? sion, merchants and other3 were in? troducing quantities of goods into the town without paying the duties. Serious disorders have occurred at Brones. near Seville, at which place the village priests have been stoned to death The disorder in the Spanish prov ince is increasing. Riots have now bro? ken out at Cadiz and Alicante, and thc troubles are expected to spread to parts of the country which have hith? erto been quiet Martial law has been proclained iu the provinces of Albacte and Jaso. With the prospect of two interna? tional wars, outside of Central Amer? ica, engaging simultaneouely the at tention of the Western hemisphere, and one of these involving the United States, argument on this side of the world may be said to be booming It is now reported that Chile de? mands of Argentina an immediate de? cision, either for peace or war, upon the boundary dispute For the sake of her prestige iii South Amen" can affairs, Argentina is likely to make it war. Fortunately however, these two nations will settle their quarrel at a point so distant that there is no danger of their fleets get? ting mixed up with the little scrim mage that is scheduled to take place off Porto Rico. TO REINFORCE DEWEY State Troops and Regulars i From "Tbe Slope." Washington, May 7 -The details for the proposed expedition to the Phil? ippines under thc direction of th-; war department have been advanced mate? rially as a result of conference? held to? day between Secretary Alger, Gen. Miles and other officers of the army. The expedition, which will carry in all aboat 5,000 meo, wili start from Sau Francisco as soon as arrangements can be perfected. It is not yet finally de? termined whether all the troops will go at ODoe, although this is not thought to be likely, nor bas the exact composi? tion been fully decided upon The statement was made this after? noon that in addition to the regular sol? diers the quotas of the national guard from the States of California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington will in ali probablity be detailed to go, and an order for their rendezvous at San Fran cisco is expected very soon. Senator Shoup's oompany of riflemen, which was to join one of the three specially authorized regiments of mounted men, is mentioned as likely to be sent As for the regular army7 troops there are two regimens of cavalry, four compa nies of the Fourteenth infantry and a regiment of artillery readily accessible to San Francisco The four companies of infantry were stationed at Vancouver barracks, but ir is ?aid have recently been ordered to San Francisco ; 10 com? panies of the Third artillery, are scat? tered along the coast, but the greater number are io California, the Fourth cavalry is distributed among the posts and forts in Washington, Califoroia, Wyoming and Idaho and the Eighth cavalry is in North and ??oath Dakota Gen. Miles believes ii would be advisable to have cavalry >ps accom? pany the infantry and an..lery for the reason that they would b3 extremely valuable for pacrol duty. uTheir num? ber, however, necessarily would be lim? ited because of icc great amonnt of room required for the transportation of horses. NO SUMMER PICNIC. Uncle Sam to Pursue a Vig? orous Policy in the Pacific. Washington, May T- The Post will print the following : "All day yesterday, following the receipt of the official advices from Dewey, important conferences were in progress at the White Honse, the War and Navy Departments. As the result of these conferences, plans have been perfected for the retention of the Philippines, the inmediate in? vasion of Cuba and the occupation of Porto Rico. Telegrams have been sent in all directions advising mili? tary and naval commanders of the adoption of an aggressive policy, and in six weeks the war ought to be at an end. lu the meantime, Spain's fleet on the Atlantic will be sent to the bottom of the ocean It is to be no silkeu glove that the United States ia to stretch out over the Pa ciflc. lt will be a hand of mail Armed men are to be seor;, with guns and bayonets and iig?t artillery, and the expedition is to be nc summer picnic The military governor of the islands will probably be General Henry C Merriam, a brave fighter and a fine executive officer There is to be no turning the isiands over to a provisional or experimental gov erument of the inhabitants, as will be the case in Cuba. Such a step would endanger the lives of Spam ?VJS as well as Europeans, and would lose to the United States all the fruits of Dewey's victory The flag of the United States is to float over the islands in fact as we i as name There is to be a new power in the Pacific, all the rest of the world to the contrary notwithstanding " Sherman's Treatment. The disgraceful treatment Secretary Sherman received at the bands of the administration nae beeu fitly character? ized by es Senator Iogalls RS the culmi? nation of one of the^must cruel ^nd dis creditable intrigues that ever dishonor? ed a politioal party. For selfish aod paltry personal ends, it turned a histor? ical character into a puppe:; mide a giant a catspaw of the pigntict, ; expos? ed an international reputation to unfeel? ing and unjustifiable reproval, and nub jsoted the innocent and nelpie?* to hu? miliation, from which by every sug? gestion of honor and manhood they bbouid have beeo sheltered and defend? ed -Sparenburg Herald - m -???-^^ Wheat One DoUar and Ninety Cents a Bushel. Special to The Daily Item. Chicago, May 9.-May wheat ad vanced to $1 90 to day, and the high? water mark has not been reached The tendency is toward a sn'll higher price, and $2 or $2.50 wheat ?B not an improbability - nilli . ? ? - -<BB?" The Washington Post claims that j the bands on the American iLgnhip i played the Washington Po&t March during the Manila engagement Thia is important if true It lets in a flood of light on the action of the spanish Bailors in drowning them? selves with their ships.-Augusta Chronicle. The Pocket Nerve is Affecting France Hostility to Americans Be cause She Owns Spanish Bonds and Railroads New York. May 8.-GeD. Stewar L. Woodford, United States minister t Spaio, arrived on Li Tonraine tb: afternoon. La Touraine also had 01 board an amber of the attache of the Uoited States legatioi at Madrid, ?Dclu?iog George Stan ford Sickles, first secretary of the lega tion ; Capt. T H Elise, Col. Kellogg miliitary attache ; Capt L Dyer, na val attache. A reception committee from th< Uoion League dub and U. S. Gram Post, 327, G A. R., met Geo. Wood ford at quarantine and accompanier! bim to this city. Geo. Woodford de dined to be interviewed by reporters stating that be was still in the diplomat ic service of the government and could say absolutely nothiog f ir publicotion. Mr. Sickies when informed thal cable dispatches had stated that the crain on which the members of the le gatioo bad come from Madrid to Parie had been attacked by a mob and that stone? bad been thrown at the party, said:h "Well, some things were thrown al the train but tbe demonstration wa? not of a serious charac? ter A oumber of students, not a large number, had gathered at Yal ladolid and cried. "Loog live Spain,'' and a few other partriotic cries. They were not directed against us particular? ly, I aseure you. but were the result of a patriotic feeling oo their part. A few windows io one of tbe cars next to that ocoupied by the party were brokeo, but none of us was injured, none at all waa burt. While in Mad? rid we'were treated with the utmost oourte6y 11 J S. Highlands, another American on the steamer, said be had gone abroad to visit his soo at Madrid He bad intended staying for about six cnootbs but the anti-American demon? strations bad beeo so great that he was forced to leave that place within three weeks after bis arrival, and bis son was forced to See to Lisbon. Mr. Highlands said' that the signs on the offices of the American bouses had been smashed and torn down. W. G. Cannon of Denver, Col , who bas been traveling abroad, said tba* io Paris the feeling is most bit cerly aoti American Every persoo who ia thought to be an American is elbowed off the sidewalks, jostled by the orowds and everything possible done to show the antipathy of the Frenoh. Petty annoyances are prac? ticed, for instance the street oar will not stop to take on Amerioo passen? gers, rates of exchange in money in most oases are exorbitant and small purchases are not encouraged by many of the shopkeepers except at figures three or four times (he actual value. Bishop John L Spalding of Peoria, stated that tbe feeling of the Frenoh towards the Americans was intensely hostile. He said that he understood that one of the reasons for this was that eight-tenths of the public debt of Spaio was held by tho French people and that the latter oouotry also ownc-d nearly ail of toe railroads in operation in Spain Off to tho Front. At 1:47 o'oloek this morning Mr N G. Gonzales, editor of The State, bade goodbye to thc members of the staff and force and left for Tampa, Fla., via the Florida Central and Peninsular road Mr Goozales expeots upon bis arrival at Tampa, to either get into the regular army or elsejoio the Cuban forces now being collected there to ao compaoy or precede the American sol? dier to Cuba -State. May 10. Tbe prospective retirement of Sir Julian Pauncefote, the present. British Ambassador to Washington, will be fiocerely regretted not only in official circles but also by thc American public, by whom be ban loog been regarded as one of tbe ablest and most accomplish? ed diplomats "ver accredited to this govern meet. His official career as Washington has been distinguished, tactful and of constant helpfulness to bis government and our own. while his social and intellectual associations have been worthy of the highest ideals of English hospitality and culture Sir Julian's retirement from diplomatic life is merely in compliance with British law, which fixes an age limit against continuance in thc ranks, and will doubtless bc followed by his elevation to the peerage, an honor whioh he has earned by a long period of faithful and brilliant service to bis government. No member of the diplomatic corps at Washington is more heartily admired, and there is none whoso departure would bo more keenly deplored -N. Y. Mail and Express. In a let-er from Tho Mail and Ex presa correspondent at Kcj West, un? der dat?; of April '29, published in last evening's i-sue. the tot.iil number of Spanish pri^ooor.-* rakm with rnerohaot prizes was given The crews of the i^n vessels named a^^regage 266-a men for everv man launched into etern iry fro?) 'he Maine, and not a man to ! snare Bat here tbe parallel ends, j Our v^nseaDce is not found in these I 266 It lie? beyond, with its begin- i ning in thc China Sea and its conclu? sion-let us hope-in the waters that lap 'be shores of Cuba.-Mail and Ex? press. Tile Capture of French Mail Steamei And Taken to Key West Ali the Result of Mistakes. Key West, Fia, May 6-The LaFayetre, of tbs French G?nerai Trao8 Atlantic company's lice, a ves? sel of 3,394 tons gross register, booed from Corunna, Spain, on April 23. for Havana, was captured yesterday eveo iog off the latter port by the Uoited States gunboat Annapolis, Commander J J. Hunker, while trying to ron the blockade, after having previously been warned off. She has on board a large number of passengers, and a valuable general cargo, possibly containing con? traband of wa. The LaFayette which hails from St. Nazaire, Fraoce, is a fine vessel of the old type. She is over 344 feet long, bas 44 feet beam and is over 28 feet deep. She was built in 1864 at Green? ock, of iron. Her capture was effected shortly be? fore suodown last night in the follow? ing manner : The LaFayette was heading for Ha? vana and was boarded by an officer cf the Annapolis aod warnedmot to enter the port. She afterwards made an at? tempt to do so and was captured, after ao exciting chase. Thc Wilmington, Newport and Morrill tock part in the capture of the Frenchman. After an examination of the LaFay? ette^ papers bad been made, a prize crew from the Aon a pol is was placed on board and she was sent to Key West, escorted by the Wilmington. Previous to this step being taken, Commander Hunker of the Annapolis, the temporary flag officer, and Com? mander C C Todd of the Wilmington exchanged signals for over an hour It is reported that the L?Fayette, in addition to beiog a large French' mail steamer is a Freneb naval reserve ves-' sel, mounting gans and carrying a crew sufficient to make her ready for active service at 6bort notice. This, it is said, adds considerably to the case. mm - The Government Had Prom? ised to Permit Her to Land Certain Passengers and Mail. Washington, May 6.-Any inter? national difficulty connected with the seizure of the French steamer La? Fayette has been removed by the prompt release of the vessel immedi? ately upon notice of ber capture reach? ing the state department. The expla? nation for this action on the part of the administration is given in the state meet which follows, and which was is? sued from the White House to night : "The LaFayette was released in pur? suance of orders issued by the navy department previous to her seizure, but which had not beeo received by the commanding officers of (he vessels teat made the capture. Tbe facts are that on April 29 the Freoch emba?sy made an informal inquiry as to whether the LaFayette, which left Sunt Ntzaire, Fraoce. for Vera Crcz b? way cf Ha? bana before ?he war was declared or in? formation ot ibo blockade received, would be allowed to land at Habana cerraic pa-sengers, her mail bags and the di*p*icb bag o? the consulate gen? eral of France, and to take some Frencb passengers on boaid. An assurance was given that, if this privilege should be granted, the steamer would be for? bidden by tbe Freoch consul to land good?. "Tbe matter was duly considered, and it was declared that without re? gard (o the strict law of blockade, and as an act of courtesy, the request of the Frenoh government should be ac ced?d to Orders were accordingly seot on the second day of May. Wheo information wos received cf the cap? ture of the steamer and of her having been brought to Key West, these orders were communicated to theoaptors, with instructions to release the steamer, aod to see that the orders were duly deliv? ered so tbnt they might be carried into effect. Ni demand was made either by or on behalf of the F.-eoob government directly or iodi/eotly, for the steamer's release. "The Wilmington will escort the j LaFaycrre to Habana to-nigbt *' SPAIN'S PL?N IN OPERATION, "one quick dash/' she says, "will end it." Gae quick dash of your horses in au emergency will end your car? riage-if it isn't made of the best materials, and by a reliable maker, such as our haudsome and stylish stock o? buggies, phaetons, traps, runabouts and carriages are. Our as? sortment is both handsome and relia? ble Respectfully, H. KARBY.