The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, August 03, 1898, Image 1
Consolidated Aug. 2,1881
SUMTER. S. C., WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3,1898.
New Series-Vol. XVIII. So. 1
Published Srsry "Weiaesiay,
-BY- .
3>3\ C3r?. 0%teen
SUMTER, S. C.
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charged for.
Oar Soldiers Take Fosses
sion of Excellent Port,
SPANIARDS WERE COR
PLETELY TAKEN BY
SURPRIS? AND
ROUTED.
Washington, Joly 26 -The wi
department at 11:30 p. m. posted tb
following :,
St Thomas, Joly 26, 1896.
Secretary of War, Washington :
Circumstances were such that
deemed it advisable to take the ba
bor of Guanica, first, 15 miles west c
Ponce, which was successful accon
plisbed between daylight and 1
o'clock. Spaniards surprised. Th
Gloucester, Commander Wainwrighi
first entered the harbor ; met wit
slight resistance; fired a few sbott
AU the transporte are now in th
harbor, and infantry and artiller
going rapidly ashore. This is a we
protected harbor. Water sufficientl
deep for all transports and heavy vee
sels to anchor within 20.0 yards c
shore..* The^Spanfeh flag was lowere
and the American fiag raised at I
o*clcck today. Capt. Higginso!
with his fleet has rendered able am
earnest assistance Troops in gooi
health and best of spirits N<
casualties.
(Signed ) Miles,
Major General Commanding
Tho First And Complete D9
tails.
Port of vGruaB?ca. island of Port<
Rico, Joly 25. 2 p m., via the Islam
of St Thomas, D W I , July 26
Morning -The United States mili
tary expedition under the commanc
of Maj Gen NeUo.i A Miles, com
manding the army of the Unitet
States, which le it Guantanamo Ba}
during the evening of Thursday last
July 21, was landed here successfully
to day after a skirmish with a detach
merit of the Spanish troops and :
crew of 30 belonging to the launer
of the United S?ates auxiliary gun
boat Gloucester, formerly Mr J
Pierpont Morgan's 6team yach
Corsair. Four of the Spaniards wen
killed, but no Americans were hurt
The troops were pushed forward ii
order to capture the railroad leading
to Ponce, which is oniy about 1(
miles east of this place. From Pone?
lhere is an excellent military roac
running 85 miles north to Jau Juan.
The whole of Gen Brooke's force
with the New Orleans, Annapolis
Cincinnati, Leyden and Waep, ari
expected here withiu 24 hours.
WHY AT GUAM CA
Ponce, which is situated 10 or 15
miles from this port, is to the east
ward and a harder place to take Ju
addition, the water at Ponce h toe
shallow for the transports to be able
to get close in shore. Then, again,
Ponce itself is some little distance
irom where the troops would have
been able to land if that point had
been selected for the debarkation ol
the expedition
One advantage of this place is that
it is situated cio=e to the railroad
connecting with Ponce, which means
of transportation our troops hope to
secure to day Early this morning,
the Gloucester, in charge of Lieuten?
ant Commander Wainwright, steam?
ed into Guanica harbor in order to
reconnoitre the place With the
fleet waiting outside, the galia?t lit?
tle fighting yacht braved the mines
which were supposed to be in this
harbor, and found that there were
rive fathoms of water close in shore.
Guanica tfay is a quiet place, sur?
rounded by cultivated lands lu the
rear are high mountains, and close to
the beach nestles a village of about
20 houses
The Spaniards were taken by sur?
prise. Aimost the first tiiey knew of
the approach of the army of i: vasion
was in the announcement contained
in the firing of a gun from the Glou?
cester, demanding that the Spaniards
haul down their flag, which was float
ing from a flagstaff in front of a
blockhouse standing; to the east of
the village The first couple of 3
poonders were fired into the bills
gt /right and left of the bay, purposely
avoiding the town, lest the projec?
tiles hurt women or children Tho
Gloucester then hove to within 600
yards of the shore and lowered a
launch having on board a Cort rapid
fire gun and 30 men under the com?
mand of Lieut. Huee, which was 6ent
ashore without encountering opposi?
tion
Quartermaster Beck thereupon told
Yeoman Lacy to haul down the Span
ish flag, which was done The first
United States flag to float over Porto
Rican soil was raised on the flagstaff.
Suddenly aboct 30 Spaniards open
ed fire with Mauser rifles on the
American party. Lieut. Huse and
his men responded with great gal
lantry, th? Colt gun.doing effective
work: Norman, wha received Ad?
mirai Cervera's surren?er, and Wood,
a volunteer lieutenant, shared the
honor with Lieut Duse
Almost im mediately after the Span?
iards fired on the Americans, the
Gloucester opened fire on the enemy
with al! her 3 and 6 pounders which
could be brought to bear, shelling
the town, and also dropping shelis
into the hills to the west of Guanica,
where a number of Spanish cavalry
were to be seen hastening toward the
spot where the Americans had landed
Lieut. Huae then threw up a little
fort, which be named for Wainwright,
and laid barbed wire in the street in
front of it, ia order to repel the ex?
pected cavalry attack 'The lieuten
also mounted the Colt gun and sig?
nalled for reinforcements, which
were sent from the Gioncester. The
Associated Press dispatch boat Cyn
thia II was the only boat in the har?
bor, except the Gloucester
While rbc Mausers were peppering j
all around Lieutenant Commander j
Wainwright called to the Associated
Press correspondent and said : "They
fired on us after their flag was down
?nd ours was up. after I had spared the
town for the sake of the women and
children The next town I strike I
will blow it up."
Presently a few of the Spar.Uh cav?
alry joined those who were fighting in
the street of Goaoics, but the Colt
barked to a purpose, killing four of
them By that time the Gloucester
bad the range of the town and of the
blockhouse and al! her guns were spit?
ting fire, the doctor and the paymaster
helping to serve the guns
Soon afterward white-coated gal?
loping cavalrymen were seen oiimbiog
the hill to the westward, and the foot
soldiers were scurrying along the
fences from the tows.
By 9:45 with the exception of a fe?*
guerrilla shots, the town was won and
the enemy was driven ont of its neigh?
borhood
The Red Cross nurses on the Lam
pasas and a detachment of regulars
were the first to land from the trans?
ports.
After L"-eut. Iluse had captured the
place, he deploved his stnaii force into
the suburbs. But he was soon rein?
forced bv the regulars, who were fol?
lowed by Oo. G of the Sixth Illinois
and all other troops io quick succession.
All of 'he boats of the men-of-war and
transports were used in the work of
landing the troops, each steam launch
rowiBg four or five boats loaded co the
rails with soldiers
Everything progressed in an orderly
manner and according to the plans of
G3n Miles The latter went ashore at
about noon, after stopping to board the j
Gloucester
When the Revelation Comes.
Confessedly the baxdest thing to do
is to convince the Spanish people of
their utter impotence, of their crazy
battle against the most powerful na?
tion in tbe world. Viotory follows vic?
tory, but the Spanish peasantry go on
in blissful ignorance of disaster-go on
tn blind folly aod self conceit, believ?
ing that Spain is still keeping at hay I
the armies and fleets of America. This
is ridiculous, but st the samu rime it is
sad and tragic But the cruel awaken?
ing must come "III news travels fast"
and misfortune does not lack heralds
Just wait uotil those 22 OOO Spanish
soldiers, who have lately faced tbe
American army and felt the American
arm at Santiago, are returned to
Spain ; just wait uotil Cervera's men j
I touch the shorps of ber native land
I and relate how the earth opened and j
! 6re and brimstone rained oo them off \
I that harbor eotrance ; then the revela- !
j tion will come, then the truth will be i
j known and all the censorship wbicb
Spain *nay impose cannot prevent it
from spreadiog like wild fire It will
be like the explosion of a volcano. Let
those io reach of the smoke and 'ava
beware
The wbo-e pyramid nf ?jes ;?i!l crum- j
ble when that ragged crew tells the ?o
fual Rtory and it will ba no wonder if it
shakes toe boy king off his throne and
boris all the ruling powers of Spaio
to the nether deep. If there is not a
cataclysm when that, story is told one :
might as well cease predicting any-j
thing of humao nature -The State. j
The "White" runs light. Tbe ' White' j
sews right.
Wisdom to-day means comfort to-morrow
i?l&?SSWlaiiiHii!>ttfr a V^IH?III?S'IMIM?BI?III?II?.lilli
The Future of Cuba.
Pittsburg Times.
Spaio bas made her fight io Amer
aico watere. With ihe exception of
a few insufficient vessels hidden away
m Havana aod perhaps io other places
iu Cuba and Porto Rico ports, sbe has
nothing to help the army, and must
fall an easy prey to Gen. Miles and
Admiral Sampson working together.
Porto Rico is so easy now ;hat the
people of the United States regard the
island as already as good as captured,
merely because we are ail ready to cap?
ture it. And if peace caoojt come
uotii Porto Rico is in possession of
American forces, Spain is justified in
saying that McKiuley is responsible.
He is responsible because the Amer?
ican people would be satisfied with
nothiug less.
WHO ?S TO COUNT THE VOTE ?
Loo'sville Contier-Journal.
If it should turn cut that the people
of Cuba desire annexation to the United
States, wa are in no way estopped
from granting this wish upoo suitabie
conditions We have simply declared
that this is not a war of cocqoest, but
what free Cuba may choose to do when
Spanish domination is ended is quite
aoother matter. If it proves that a
stable governmont cannot be had there
without aid from the outside, there is
little room for doubt that the people
will turn to tbe United States for the
assistance they require. It is inevita?
ble that the annexation shall become a
live issue, both io the United States
and in Cuba, as soon as tho war shall
be ended It will be decided in ac?
cordance with canditions that may ex?
ist, when the ti.ac tor a decision shall
come.
ARRESTED IN KINGS
TREE
Kingtree, July 26.-Quite . a stir
was created in our usually quiet little
town upon the arrival of the north?
bound train this morning, when it was
announced that two United StateB mar?
shals bad arrived in town. Tbev w*re
soon driven to Barr's hotel, when it
was ascertained that they were E.
Brooks Sligh and Clarence T. Halsey,
armed with warrants, sworn out before
Commissioner Smith, for the arrest of
J. S Ilowie and Van Epps, they be?
ing in charge of the ohaiogang of this
county, and beiog the parties who rer
fused to deliver the body of Eirly P.
Lee to Uoited States Marshal Clayton
some ten days ago, under habeas cor?
pus proceedings^ They are, therefore,
charged with resisting an officer of the
United States under Section 5.398, R
S. U S Mr. Sligh found Mr. B.-B.
Chandler, county supervisor, at bis of?
fice, and after a pleasant interview Mr.
Chandler informed Mr. Sligh that tbe
chaiogang was at work some thirty
miles distant, but he would go out and
make arrangements to get a temporary
superintendent, and he would himself
deliver Howie and Van Epps to Mr.
Sligh here, which he did, and tbey all
go down on the southbound train to
nignt, where they will have a hearing
to-morrow before Commissioner Smith
io Charleston.
NEGROES LEAVE CHAR?
LESTON.
Charleston, July 26.-The steamer
Uno sailed at 8:30 o'clock this morning
for Santiago, by the way of Jackson?
ville.
The big transport came up to tbe city
last night and immediately the work of
loading the picks, shovels, machetes
and other supplies of the engineering
corps was begun The work was ac?
tively pushed, and shortly after day?
light this morning the work was com?
pleted. Ten days' rations were also
loaded on board. Water aud coal were
also supplied, the latter being furnished
by the Consumers" Coal Company,
Accompanying the negroes were Capt.
W. P. Pouloot and about twenty-five
foremen aod commissary clerks, among
whom were E H. Broods, George
Douglass, William Hutchinson and
Mitchell
Tfie negroes were happy at the
thought of leaving They shouted for
joy when the propeller began to turn
and slowly the big liner worked her
way out of the dook of pier No. 8, A
large crowd of negroes were on tbe
wharf and an enthusiastic ?end-off was
giveo the expedition. Pistole were
fired, handkerchiefs were waved, and
amidst prolonged cheering the steamer
passed down the bay and went to sea.
The Uno will stop at Jacksonville cn
route to Santiago, where lumber and
other essentials of the expedition will
be taken on board Tbe lumber will
be used in the construction of quarters
for the men, as co tents are earned.
Halifax, N. S., July 28 -The
Investigation Court which has been in
session for several days, bas, after,
bearing the evidence, decided tbat
the Bourgoyne was out of ber course
and was responsible for the ocean die
! THE PROPOSITION
I STIRS UP DIPLOMATS.
What the Representatives of
Foreign Countries are Say?
ing About lt.
THE NOTE'S CONTENTS IN?
DICATED.
Washington, July 27-In diplo?
matic quarters Spain's broblem made
through the French ambassador is
the absorbing topic, and the answer
of the President is awaited with
keenest interest The diplomats
showed their interest early to day by
calling at the state department and at
the French embassy to learn with
more exactness the details of Spain's
proposal This developed several
features of the proposition which had
not been entirely clear In the first
place, no foreign government outside
of France, has been consulted by
Spain in this overture for peace, and
the present movement is not shared,
directly or indirectly, by Germany,
Austria, Italy, Russia or Great Bri?
tain.
It can now be stated, however,
that the formal proposition submitted
yesterday has been under construc?
tion at Madrid for five days previous
to yesterday, during which tims the
British, as well as the French autho?
rities, were cognizant of the fact that
Spain was about to sue for peace.
This being settled, it appears that a
good natured but keen rivalry sprang
up between Sir Drummond Wolff,
th? British ambassador at Madrid,
and M. Patenotre, the French ambas
sador there, as to which government
should have the honor of intiating
the movement destined to restore the
peace of the world. Owing to the
cordiality existing bc-tweerj the gov?
ernments of Great Britain and the
United Stades, it was felt at first that
Sir Drummond Wolff would be com?
missioned to approach the United
States, acting at Washington through
Sir Julian Pauncefote. But Spain
appears to have preferred the inter?
mediation of the French government,
and, as a result, the negotiation final?
ly were entrusted to the -French am?
bassador at Washington
Another essential point is the ex?
act proposition made by Spain.
There has been 6ome misapprehen?
sion over this,'owing to the publica
tion of an alleged text of proposition
and other reports asserting that Spain
asked President McKinley to state
terms of peace. As a matter of fact,
the Spanish proposition does not men
tion the woid "terms," and there is
no request or suggestion in it that
thc President shall state terms of
peace Tne distinct inquiry made
by Spain is as to whether the United
States will open negotiations toward
the settlement of the war and the
arrangement of peace. It is based
on the theory that if the President
answers in the affirmative, then the
negotiations for terms will be opened
between commissioners or parties
clothed withe responsibility of bring
ing about a settlement.
Tho Spanish proposition ie clothed
with all solemnity and formality of a
government act, despite the cable
reports from Madrid that the peace
proposal is of a "private" nature
The instructions to M. Cambon bear
i the official signature of Duke Alma
dover de Rio, Spanish minister of
foreign affairs, and, besides express
iug the desire of the cabinet and the
government that the peace negotia?
tions be opened, they are given the
added solemnity of approval and ear
nest persona"! request by Queen Re?
gent Maria Cristina The iostruc
tions bear the date of Madrid, July
25. These formalities dismiss all
questions in the minds of officials
here as to the regularity of the Span?
ish proposition as expressive of the
wishes of the government of Spain
Aside from this, M. Cambon is too
much of a veteran in diplomacy to
have embarked on any private over?
tures toward peace.
As to the manner cf conducting the
peaca negotiations, several plans are
said to be open, besides that of having
Gen Porter and Senor Castillo, the
United States and Spanish ambassadors
at Paris respectively, conduct them
One plan is to have Soaio name peace
plenipontentaric-s who will come directly
to Washington and conduct tbe nego?
tiations This, however, is said to he
somewhat inexpedient, 36 it would fake
nine days for the Spanish plenipoten?
tiaries to reach Washington, and there
is every desire to avoid delay. An?
other tentative piao is is to have Spain
name M Cambon as the Spanish pleni
potentiary at Washington, thus con?
ferring on him authority to treat direct?
ly with tbe President and carry the
negotiation forward to a conclusion.
It is probable that this plan will be
more acceptable to the Uoited States,
as it would keep the negotiation st
Washington, and also give theo so
thorities have the highest regard for
?be ability and siocareity of the French
representatives here. These plans,
however, will not be settled uotii after
the President gives his answer to the
first inquiry made by Sp2ini as to the
willingness of the United States to
enter upon general negotiations for
peace.
London, July 28 -The Madrid cor?
respondent cf The Daily Mail 6ays :
"Spain will probably protest against an
attack upon Porto Rieo, after the
Washington cabinet had officially re
ceived Spsnish overtures for peace.
Should a circular note on this subject
\ be sent to the powers, it wiil contain
the exact dates of the Spanish ccmmu
oicatioos, making it clear that the
United States deferred its answer io or?
der to be able to date this after the
American forces had gained afootiogin
Porto Rico.
"Senor Sagasta said to day : 'We
resolved on peace many days ago, and
made known our resolutions to the
United States government. I regard
as null and void and as destitute of good
faith everything the Americans have
done since, and am ready to protest
against it formally.7
"An official dispatch from Porto
Rico says : 'On Tuesday the Ameri?
cans advanced in the direction of You
co, fighting most of the way. Seven
hundred Spanish regulars and volun?
teers encountered them, and an engage?
ment ensued, which lasted the whole
night, and only ceased with dawn on
the following day. The Americans
were obliged to withdraw to the coast.7 "
London, July 28.-A special dis
patch from Madrid says it is rumored
that the request of Duke Almodovar de
Rio, minister of foreign affairs, was for
an armistice lasting until Sunday. It
cannot be ascertained whether his ac?
tion was spontaneous, ic order, if pos?
sible, to forestall the invasion of Porto
Rico and the fall of Manila, or whether
it was due to advice from the vatican
and the powers.
Madrid, July 27, ll p m.-The
news that the government is suing for
peace has caused neither surprise nor
sensation here The attitude of a ma?
jority of the newspapers shows that the
country will weloome peace if it can
avoid the payment of ?o indemnity and
the loss of the Philippines, where, it is
now taken for granted, the United
States will retain a coaling station only.
A few Carlist, Republican and Inde?
pendent papers pretend that America's
demands will not be acceptable.
The king's illness has evoked a uni?
versal display of sympathy for the
court, which, at the present critical mo?
ment, may not be without effect on the
nation's future
Senor Sagasta, thc premier, aays that
?he kiog, when convalescent, wiil prob?
ably accompany the court to La Granja.
London, July 28 -The Paris cor?
responden t of-The Daily Maii reports
an interview with ene of the chief sup?
porters of Don Carlos, whom he found
"brimming over with confidence/' He
said that Don Carlos would issue a pro
nunciamento the moment Spain was
committed to a demand for peace. "Ali
the north of Spain is eager and ready,'7
said he. "We lack neither men oor
arms. Don Carlos will be proclaimed
io Catalonia and the Basque provinces
without the necessity of striking a blow
Then will come the time for war.'7
Berlin, July 28 -The National
Gazette 6ays :Although America's haste
to obtain a footing in Porto Rico is
rather contrary to the strict oacons of
military usage, it is perhaps justified
by the assumption that its conquest
will place America io a belter position
to dictate terms of peace. As Spain is
unable to pay indemnity, America has
a right to demand an offered compen?
sation
Cuban Troops Leave Camp
McCalla.
Playa del Este, Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba, July 27, 2 p. m.-All the Cuban
troops at Camp McCalla were trans?
ferred this morning to Caimanera, in
the Samoset. They will camp there,
awaiting orders. They rather expect
to go to Sautiao.
The parting between the United
Sta tes marines and their Cuban allies
was attended with quite a ceremony.
A guard was drawn up aod the Cubans
shouted "Viva Americans, '7 "Viva
Cuba Libre," and "Viva McCalla.7'
It ii geuerally conceded that they have
been of great asriUtance to the marines.
The latter remain io their original camp.
The preparations of the fleet contine
oe without incident. The Vixen,
with Gen Howard and a number of.
army nurse*, went to Santiago this,
morning. Gen Howard arrived on the
Niagara
Tho Marblchead picked up 18 sub?
marine contact mines in the upper
Guantanamo Bay yesterday. All were
covered with barnacles at:d practicallv
harmless.
Washington, July 29-The war
department bas decided that G?nerai
Shaffer's army wiil not return lo this
country until the yellow fever bas
j South Carolina to be Reim?
bursed for Expenses of
First Regiment.
Governor Ellerbe received yester?
day the following letter from Ae
assistant secretary of war. It is in
reply to a communication from Capt.
E B. Fuller to the war department
making inquiries about the expenses
incurrred by the State of South Caro?
lina in recruiting the First regi?
ment :
Washington, July 23, 1898.
To the Governor ol South Carolina.
Sir : Referring to the claims fo?
subsistence of South Carolina troops?
received at this department iron*
Capt. Ezra B Fuller, Seventh,
cavalry, mustering officer, I have the
honor to inform you that the same
have been this day referred to the
honorable the aecretary of the treas?
ury for settlement, under the act of
congress approved Joly 8, 1898, a
copy of which is inclosed herewith.
Very respectfully,
G D. Meiklejohn,
Assistant Secretary of War.
--^mw>-~ ?rn?
The Santiago Losses.
Washington, July 26.-The first
full authentic list of casualties of the
battles before Santiago bas reached
the department in an official com?
munication from Gen Shafter to Adj.
Gen. Corbin, dated July 12, 1898.
Gen. Shafter says he reports the
names of killed, wounded and miss
j ing in action at El Caney and San
j Juan on Juiy 1, 2 and 3.
Gen. Shafter says : "It is thought
thie list is as near correct as it is
I possible to make it at this date, lt
j may be subject to a few corrections.7'
The total number of casualties was
1,595. Recapitulated, the American
losses : Killed, 23 officers and 208
enlisted men ; wounded, 80 cfficers
and 3,203 men ; missing, 81 men.
The missing are supposed tobe dead,
as so far as known, the Spanish forces
took no prisoners. .
What Is Said of It In Paris.
Paris, July 27.-The following offi?
cial noto was issued here to-day : "At
the request cf the Spanish government,
the French ambassador- at Washington
bas been authorized by the French gov?
ernment to present a note from the
cabinet at Madrid to the President of
the United States. It is in the name
of Spain that M. Camboo. who is
charged to watch Spanish interests io
the United States, made thc communi?
cation to President McKioley at the
White House yesterday afternoon in the
presence of Secretary Day *'
The government of France has notr
?ed ail the French embassies of the fact
that Spain bas made proposals through
M. Camben, the French ambassador at
Washington, for peace with the United
States.
The United States ambassador?
Gen. Horace Porter, and the secre?
tary of the Uoited States embassy.
Mr. Henry Vigoaud, says the embassy
has oot received any information re?
garding the peace negotiations initiated
at Washington They ad*? that the an?
nouncement saying they would be con?
ducted here is premature.
The French government is ignorant
of th?, peace conditions which Spain is
ready to offer.
The Temps this evening nays Presi?
dent McKinley gave M. Camboo a re?
ply, which the latter bas transmitted to
the French minister of foreign affairs,
M. del Casse.
The Temps also outlines the prelimi?
naries to Spaio's request. It says the
cabinet 10 days ago concluded to in?
quire how to terminate the war, which
henceforth, in the opioion of the minis?
ters, will be purposeless They real?
ized that the Uoited States was sensi?
tive of its dignity, and that foreign in?
tervention would only irritate, and re?
quested M. del Casse, through M. Cam?
bon, to ascertain if tbe Uoited States
would consent to France tendering bet
good offices. On M. Camboa's r.?-.
spocding in the affirmative, Spain's,
note was immediately entrusted to him..
To see is 'o trv, to trv is to btiv th?.
White."
Royal ra ak cs the food pure,
wholesome and dei ic... is. R
POWDER
Absolutely Pure