The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, November 30, 1898, Image 6

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The Peace Commission WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN RABIS. Parie, Noy. 27,-Senor Monteros Rios, president of tbe Spanish peace commission, is this evening wafting for the reply from the Spanish gov? ernment, and unless there is some change in the faii.uation before noon to morrow, the reply will be an acceptance, under protest, of the American offer of $20,000,000 for tbe Philippines. Even up to a late hour this evening telegrams have been exchanged' between tbe Sp&uish commissioners and Madrid, bat ail the Americans in a position io.spe&k'with authority are convinced that the foregoing outlines the Spanish reply. Senor Abarsenza 5 -expressed tho opinion this evening that there would be (no break in the work of the commissions. Marquis de Comillas, who is the largest individual creditor of Spain and baa been here from the outset in behalf of the numerous important enterprises of which he is the head, also indicated this evening that Spain had made op net mind to yield. He is in very close touch with the Span? ish commissioners "Nothing that we have done here," says the marquis, "bas made any Impression upon the minds of the American commissioners From the very first their intention was to take the Philippines and they have never wavered." There is no troth in the report, cabled here from Washington, that io the last American memor?ndum a demand for the Solo group hadjbeen odded to the previous American de? mand. The original American claim was upon territory within lines longitu? dinally and latitudinally defined. It embraced the so-called Solo group There has been no change since the ?rst demand, and according to the atatemoot of one of the American commissioners there will be no mod? ification of it. Mad rid, Nov. 27.-The cabinet bas agreed upon the instructions to Senor .Montero Rios, president of the Span? ish peace commission fer to-morrow's join* mission at Paris, at which the treaty will be sighed x Part?, Nov. 28.-The joint peace eoomisaiooers met promptly at 2 o'clock to-day. The Spanish commissioners Immediately announced Spain's accept? ance of the American demands. The -two commissions were in separate session all the morning. There is no denying that the whole European continent will bitterly resent the American acquisition of the Philippines. This sentiment b not confined ?to diplomats, bat here in Paris the opinion is constantly expressed io the highest French society. Paris, Nov. 28 -Editor Stead, who ~ bas just returned from a tour in France, Belgium, Germany, Russia, Austria Turkey and Italy, and who has inter viewed the highest politicians in each country, and in some eases the rulers of these COUD tri es, said to-day : "The immense majority of Europeans are feosctately ignorant as to what bas happened, and neither know nor care what occurs in other hemispheres, but Europeans who read newspapers and form publie o pi o ion are practically unanimous io their opposition to Amer? ican possession of the islands, aod the alleged motives of America for going to war." Paris, Nov. 28.-The Spanish acceptance was made verbally, the written' acceptance will be presented later. The Spanish oom missioners said that being authorized by their govern ?tent to reply that the American propo siti?os are inadmissable oo legal principles, bot on the Spanish part all diplomatic resources have been exhaust? ed. The commission was now asked to accept or reject America's propositions. Spain, inspired by reasons of patriot ism, as well as humanity, aod to avoid the horrors of further war, resigns herself to the power of the victor. She accepts the offered conditions io order to ooo elude thc treaty of peace. Paris, Nov. 28 -The American demands included the acquisition of the Philippines and the Sula group for $20,000,000. It is understood that America will also purchase the Caroline group. The question of the debt was left cn settled until the next meetiog oo Wednesday. Paris, Nov. 28.-Spam has accept? ed the United States' offer of $20, 090,000, and at a joint session of the peace commission this afternoon, consented without condition to re? linquish Cuba and to cede Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippine islands. The document presenting this acceptance contained only 300 words. It opened with a reference to the final terms of the United States and said that the Spanish commissioners, after having taken cognizance of the terms proposed by the Americans, replied that their government had tried to give as equitable answer as possible, but that they were not prepared to commit their government to the acceptance of the principles embodied in the American argument. Spain rejects these principles, the note continues, "as she always has rejected them." Basing her attitude upon the jus? tice of ber cause, the note then says, she still adheres to these princif. "which she has heretofore invaria formulated " However, the note adds, in desiire for peace she has gone as as to propose certain compromis which the Americans have a!wi rejected. She has also attempted, [ is farther asserted, to have submit! i to arbitration some of the mate] particulars upon which tba two g< ernments differed. These propos for arbitration, it is added, the Am icana had equally rejected. These allegations, in Spain's rep as to attempted arbitration, refer her proposal to arbitrate the cc struction of the third article of t protocol and also to submit the Sps ish colonial debt of Cuba and t Philippines to arbitration. The li proposition has been made in written communication. Since presentation/ and in return for su arbitration. Spain offered to cede t territory in dispute The America refused both propositions for arbitr ?ion Spain's reply to day in substan continued by declaring that ti United States bad offered, as a ku of compensation to Spain, somethii very inadequate to the sacrifices tl latter country makes at this momei and she feels, therefore, that ti United States' proposals cannot 1 considered just and equitable. Spain bas, however, exhausted i the resources of diplomacy in i attempt to justify her altitud Seeing that an acceptance of tl proposals made to Spain is a nec? eary condition to a continuance negotiations and seeing that tl resources of Spain ar? not such as I enable her to re enter upon war, si is prepared, in her desire to avo: bloodshed and from considerations . humanity and patriotism, to subm to the conditions of the conqerin nation, however harsh they may. b She is, therefore, ready to accept tb proposals of the American commit sion ae presented at the last sitting The reading and translation of til document occupied less than fiv minutes. At the conclusion of th translation the commissioners en powered Ojeda, secretary of tb Spanish commission, and Secretar Moore of the American com'missio to draw up articles which are t embody the relinquishment of Cub by Spain and the cession of Puert Rico and the Philippines. Thea articles, which may be considered a constituting ?he conditions of peace will be ready for submission o Wednesday. ' A great deal of interest was take; in to-day's meeting The two com missions arrived at the foreign off?c in carriages in the raia almos simultaneously, and repairing to tb conference room, immediately opene< the only business before them. Senor Montero Rios, the presiden of the Spanish commission, ba usually preceded the presentation o a Spanish communication in writing by verbally summarizing it, bu today Senor Rios was silent anc unusually grave. His face wa; deeper lined, and he clearly showei the mental strain under which be wai laboring as he approached the fina relinquishment of Spain's colonia possessions. Without a word, Senor Monten Rios produced two typewrittei sheets and passed them to the inter preter of the United States commis sion, Mr Ferguson, who read then substantially as cabled, the outline o: 'the Spanish document being furnish ed later to a correspondent of thc Associated Press by Senor Ojeda. . The commissioners left the foreign office immediately after the secrets ries had been directed to prepare thc articles of the peace treaty. There was scarcely any conversa t?o o between the American and Spanish commissioners after the adjournment. Among the Americans only the most grave consideration for their Spanish colleagues was apparent. The Spaniards seemed to be relieved at having arrived at the conclusion ol a long controversy After the session the Spaniards repaired to their quarters and bad an animated and lengthy session SPAIN'S FRIEND. The leading articles in The Temps to-day, a column long, is devoted to a severe arraignment of the American attitude toward Spain, in which Acoertoa ie made to appear as & merci less conqueror imposing Draconian conditions cn a helpless foe sod exaot \ ing the signature of a treaty at the point of a bayonet. The Temps adds : "The Spanish commissioners should, tn submitting, I protest to tbe civilised work against the spoliation of tbe weak by the strong/' The American commissioners are natnrally well pleased at the successful conclusion of their mission. The ques? tiona that remain are comparatively unimportant and admit of speedy settle? ment. The American commissioners will basteo matters, with a view to having ;he treaty signed wi rh in 10 days or so, and of 8ailiag for New York by Decem? ber 17. Judge Day said this evening : "We have done the only thing possible regarding the Philippines. Our op? portunity of giving them up was lost when admiral Dewey did not weigh anchor and sail away." Whitelaw Reid entertained the Uni tel States commissioners at dinner this evening, after whioh al! went to the opera. Count YOD Munster, German ambassador to France, the. first diplomat to call at the An ioan headquarters this afternoon to congratulate Mr. Reid on the c mission's successful work. He i the settlement would meet the apprc of Germany. What Officials Think of the "Open Door" Polk They Say the European Pr( ls Raising a Racket Abou Nothing. Washington, Nov. 27.-Admin trallon officers do not expect that 1 so-called "open-door policy" v take an important position io 1 discussion of the coming session congress, but believe debate on tl matter will wait on the final dispo tion of the Philippines. A prominent official to day sail "The phrase 'open door' is a limit application and has been naed ot with reference to Ahe possessions Europeans on the - eaBt coast of As Originating io the treaty of 'ope ports in China and Japan, tbe wor have been extended to cover poi which China bas leased or surrend? ed to foreign powers. The phrs means that in Bach ports the ali government has in fact imposed i discriminations in tariff navigatl charges against imports or vessels other countries, Bot has treated the on the same plane as its owp irapor aad its own vessels. In other word foreign powers holding Chinese pot by seizure or treaty, have mere annocced that they will keep op< such ports in the same manner th China bas opened certain free por to the commerce of nations, witho discrimination, or favor. The opei door policy has been politically obi gatory, as the reverse policy won be indirect hostility to the purpose the civilized nations, steadily pursue for years, and concurred in by Chit by opening the Asiatic trade i commerce. "The phrase "open door" bas i pertinence to the western henri sphei and no relevancy to the West Indie The matter has been Completel misunderstood by foreign newspapei giving the phrase an application 1 this continent. The United State restricts trade between the ADD erica ports to American vessels, precise! as the Dominion of Canada restrict trade to British vessels beiwee Canadian ports Under the Britis law, any nation which elects to ailoi British vessels to engage in its coas in g trade can obtain the privilege c entering the coasting trade of Canadc The United States bas never availe itself of this opportnnity, hold in that the privilege to be granted i very much more valuable than thi privilege to be obtained. The restriction of trade betweei the United States aod Porto Rico t American vessels is based on th policy which the United States ba always followed under ail administra tions, a fact overlooked by th* European press There seems to b< no disposition here to change thi policy in this sphere from the men fact that by the possession of th Philippines the United States mus determine whether il will follow thi "open door policy' of other laatiom with possession by seizure or cooees sion on the east; coast of Asia Commercially, the restriction of th? trade between the United States ant Porto Rico is of relatively litth moment as the direct commerce ii very small and is absorbed by Amer ican and Canadiau vessels. The valut of Porto Rico is BS a fulcrum for tb? development of American com merci in the West Indies " -S- wm --- I White Woman Elopes With a Negro. Barnwell, No?. 27.-On Thursday, November 24th, George Owens, a negro employed by S. W. Mead, a white farmer of Mobley Pond, Scriven oouoty, (ia., eloped with the wife ol Mr. Mead, carrying with them $212 75 belonging to Mr. Mead, mak? ing their way to Barnwell, the former home of the negro. The eloping oouple wore followed by the enraged husband, who wau determined to find the elopers. A posse was formed here byan officer of the peace, which found the oouple to-day about 10 miles from town and brought them baok here, where they are now safely lodged in the county jail. There have been some threats, but DO demonstration is expected. Santiago, Nov. 27 -Lieut. Lucien Young, of the Hist, who some days ago examined the wreck of the sunken cruiser Reina Mercedes and found her with about 110 fee;, banging over the channel bank, made another examina, tion yesterday He found that tbe wreck bad moved slightly and is now io an extremely dangerous position. A southwest wind of any strength would send the vessel into the channel leading to Santiago harbor and completely block it. Parties who have gone on board have felt the wreck mo?iug. If work is not etarted soon the vessel will probably be lost. At the present moment only a comparatively small amount of ?cork would close the valves and pump out the hull. A Great Storm in the North. Boston, Nov. 27.-A record-break? ing November blizzard swept over tbe greater portion of New England last night and to-day completely demoraliz? ing traffic of every description and well nigh paralyzing telegraphic and telephonic commuoioioation, while the northeast gale, corning on a high coarse of tides, drove the sea far beyond its asnal limits and made a mark along shore exceeded only by the memorable hurricane of 1851. j Hull. Mass., Nov. 27 -With the exception of the Nantasket Chutes and the main building of the Hotel Nan? tasket is the only structure left standing on Nantasket beach between Atlantic Hill and the Ocean View bouse. Hotels, daooe halls, bath houses and other structures succumbed to the high wind and the tidal wave of the storm. Wreck and ruin now line the beach. Philadelphia, Nov. 27.-The blizzard which came out of the west reached this oity at ll o'clock yesterday morn? ing and raged furiously until 1 o'clock this morning. As unexpected as it was violent, it wrough great havoc not only here but throughout the entire State. In those 14 hours the snow fall reaohed a depth of over nine inches and the wind a velooity of 45 miles an hour. These figures are unprecedented in the November records of the local weather bureau, and the officials there say rbat the storm in general was the worst since the memorable blizzard of 1888. WORST SINCE '88 IN NEW YOKK New York, Nov. 27.-When the people of New York awoke this morn? ing they found the blizzard that raged when they retired was still in progress. The storm, which beg au with a soft, sleety snow on Saturday at noon, increased greatly as the day wore OD, with heavier snowfalls, the wind blow? ing a gale at midnight. There was a slight abatement of the wind this morning, bat the snow still fell sod drifted high and the temperature dropped rapidly It looked'this morn? ing as though the blizzard would continue all day, but at 10 o'clock there was a break away in the west, a bright? ening of the light and finally the storm ceased altogether and the severest blizzard since the memorable one of Mareh, 1888, came to an end. The wind blew at the rate of 59 to 60 miles an hour daring the height of the storm. Shipping Strewn Along the Shores. The Loss of Life and Vessels Has Been Very Great. Boston, Nov. 28 -It ie known definitely to-night that more than 70 lives have been lost io the wreck of tugs, schooners and coal barges during the storm of Saturday night aod Sun? day morning, and if the steamer Port? land bas also gone down, as now seems possible, the list of casualties will rise to a hundred and forty, with over 100 vessels of all descriptions ashore. There is scarcely a bay, harbor or inlet from the Penobsoot. Maine, to New London, Conn., that has not on its shores the bones of some staunch eraft, while along Massachusetts bay, and especially Boston harbor, the beaches are piled high with the wreokage of schooners aod coal barges. The record, although hourly lengthening, is still incomplete, for that ocean graveyard of Cape Cod is yet to be beard from, aod as it has never failed to give up some grim tale at such a time, will not be found lackiog on such occasions as this The islands of BoBtoo harbor are with out exception strewn with wrecks and wreokage. No less than 29 vessels are ashore at Gloucester ; over 20 in the supposed safe harbor of Vineyard Haven parted their anchor chains yes? terday and are high and dry on tbe beach. Every life saving crew performed deeds of heroism in rescuing crews of seameo from stranded vessels and tug boat oaptains risked life and property io their endeavor to save lives. London, Nov. 28 -The Times in an editorial this morning in praise of the foresight of the United States government in increasing the army says : "Looking to immediate needs, Mr. Alger's estimates of 100,000 is below rather than above the mark, for considerable forces will be re? quired to bring the new population io to subjection." ?? o-? An Enterprising Druggist. f There are lew men more wide awake aod en terprising than J. F. W. DeLorme, who spare no pains to secure the best of everything in their line for their many customers. They now have the valuable agency for Dr. King's Now Discovery for Consumption, Coughs and Colds. This is the wonderful remedy that is producing suca a furor all over the country by its many startling cures. It absolutely cures Asthma, Bronchitis, Hoarseness and all affections cf thc Throat, Chest and Langs. Call at above drug store and get a trial bottle free or a regular size for 50 cents and $1. Guaranteed to cure or price refunded. 5 UNDER ? WAR BALLOON. Wood's Cavalry Brigade In Its Plunge Over "Hell's Crossing." SALUTED THE SPANISH SHELLS. The Son of a Veteran Winning Hi? Spars-Negroes. Led by a Boy, Tear Dovrn Barbed Wire Fences-Strong Line of Battle-Old Soldiers at the Front. [Copyright, 1898. by the Author.] vin. ROOD'S brigade was led on the march from El Poso down to the bloody crossing on Joly 1 by the r o n g h riders. When the line was formed for the charge, the rough riders were at the front, ? fact that was ; r i t i c i sed by ?orne of the offi ;ers of the regu? lar regiments in the brigade. They held that it was done simply to give its leader the post of honor. General Sumner said that such was not the case, but that it was the turn of the rough riders to be at the front that day. Some time after Sumner s brigade, under Colonel Carroll, including the Third, Sixth and Ninth (colored), fol? lowed by the rough riders, as the ad? vance of Wood's brigade, had passed on beyond Giimes' position at El Poso, the two remaining regiments of Wood, the4 First United States and Tenth (col? ored), started forward. By the time these two regiments reached the danger point in the road the Spanish fire had somewhat abated. In fact, but for the balloon the columr would have escaped casualties until it reached the San Juan fords. The balloon moved just ahead of the Tenth cavalry, which was first in the column. It was high enough to draw fire, and one of the officers said at Camp Wikoff, " What the balloon didn't get hit us." The firing at the balloon also caused some casualties from shrap? nel and bullets in the ranks of the First cavalry. ? Finally the balloon was pulled down, the observers got out, and it was tied to ? tree, where it floated above tree tops and still drew fire until the Spaniards destroy3d it. One of Kent's infantry regiments had a similar experience with the balloon, for it was passing down a trail to the left of a road where the cavalry was marching and just abreast of it .At Hell's Crossing the Tenth cavalry lost half a dozen raen. As the shells at that point passed overhead with their peculiarly startling shriek, the negroes straightened up at attention and saluted them. The two regiments lay half or three-quarters of an hour in the river bed, which was dry at the time, "except at the deepest part, where the river cur? rent runs. In order to escape the fire they then moved ont, changing direc? tion twice and passing in front of Car? roll's brigade to cover under a high bank, and lay there another half hour. From this point, looking through the trees in front, as described in the story of Carroll's cavalry brigade, the Span? ish position could be seen. It was well known to the officers what was expect? ed of the line, and finding in front of them a barbed wire fence of six strands, all hands went .to work to clear away the obstruction. The men pulled out the posts and twisted and broke the wire, all the time under fire. A boy hero was developed at this time in the son of the colonel of the Tenth, Theodore N. Baldwin, Jr. Young Baldwin was a civilian, who went along to see the fun. He was 19 years old. He had picked up a carbine, intending to fight along with the rest and was foremost in tearing down the fences. Afterward he charged up the hill with the line, and President Mc? Kinley commissioned him for his gal? lantry. After the fence had been level? ed the line of Wood's brigade Was formed, with the rough riders in front. Much had been said about this, that and the other one having initiated tho charge on San Juan hill. It is evident from what has been told of the situa? tion in Carroll's brigade that the line officers and men were not left to their own devices at this crisis. Wood was the colonel of the rough riders (" Wood's Weary Walkers," as their regular com? rades called them, imitating the first alliterative title), and it is to be sup? posed that he looked to them and to the rest of the brigade as well. He was new to command-in fact, comparatively new to the service. Colo? nel Baldwin of the Tenth is a regular army war veteran ; same with J^ajor S. T. Norvell. Major Theo Wint of the Tenth is a war veteran of the Sixth Pennsylvania cavalry. Colonel C. D. Viele of the First has been in the regu? lar army since ?361, and Major A G. Forse was at West Point from 1861 to 1865. When the line was formed, the barbed wire fences cl earea away-all of this some hours, be it remembered, after the Spanish guns began their killing work in the crowded road and at the crossing -Colonel Wood appeared on the line of his brigade and gave the order to ad? vance. Colonel Baldwin of the Tenth arranged his two squadrons one in front and the other as support. Colonel Viele of the First cavalry took his squadron commanders through the fringe of trees and pointed out a red house on a hill (to the right of the blocklmusi ?>. which will be spoken of hereafter as San Juan hill or "Kettle Hill." He said to Captain Tutherly, commander of the First squadron, "That is your right. " Tutherly asked, *\\'hen shall 1 fire?" to which Viele answered, "Don't tiro on our men; fire when you see the Spaniards." The First was in the.third lino of the brigade. Colonel Vieie's caution about firing was timely, for there were many ob? stacles to be passed which would break the line, and besides Kent's infantry on the left of the cavalry was already working toward the blockhouse. Tho two columns were to converge slightly before reaching their separate goals and might in the excitement of battle mis? take each other for the enemy. The gallant Hawkins, leader cf Kent's ad? vance brigade, impatient to dash at San Juan blockhouse, which he declared that he could take in the flank, passed up the road to the front, while the cav? alry was halted in the bed of the creek. Said a cavalry officer, "Hawkins was the finest soldier there, and the cavalry knew him well. ' ' All the older regular officers are known to all the other offi? cers and to the long service privates as well, because promotion takes them from one regiment to another. Hence,, although Shafter's was a new army, it was by no means an army of strangers. It was about noon when the line of the cavalry division was actually formed for attack on the ridge in its front, the ground having been reconnoitered and points for attack shown to leaders of regiments and squadrons. As usual in such cases, the exact time was not noted down, and perhaps'the term noon may be used to cover the time between 12 and 1 o'clock. An officer of the First cavalry said it took three hours to pasa down the road from El Poso to "Hell's Crossing, " and that the march began at 8:30. About 1% hours seem to have been passed in the bed of the creek by some of the cavalry, perhaps by all. It should be remembered that this was midday, and a tropical midday at that. The soldiers, when inactive, could barely keep their feet They were in a valley without a breath of air. They were wet, some to the knees and some to the waist, from wading in tho streams. For more than an hour they had seen the dead and wounded brought into the angle, victims of the Spanish marksmen in front of them on the crest of the ridge. It was this time, if at all, that the general impulse to charge the hill swept down the line. Regiments, battalions and companies had been formed to attack. Full directions had been given with the exception of the word "go." It is said that just then a volunteer field officer, who all the morn? ing had been rather heard than seen outside of his own regiment, called out with a theatrical wave of the hand: "This hill must be taken! If there are three men here who will go with me, we will take it !" Already parts of the line were in motion, and shortly the entire column surged forward, carrying the excited volunteer along with it, or perhaps swallowing him up, for he was not seen by the regulars again until they had planted their standards on the? first hill. Obstructions were encountered every few rods. At the outset there wera two LIEUTENANT THEODORE N. BALDWIN, JB. 1 [One of the San Juan heroes.] _^ wire fences and hedges, which were ca? through and jammed down, the First and Tenth cavalry keeping a good line across the clearing and making straight for the Red House. Carroll's brigade, moving to the right of Woods', found the hill beyond the hedges and fences steep and rocky.. The men clambered up and at the top reached level ground-in fact, the fields and yards of a country house. Their position was swept by fire from Spanish . intrencbments in front No Spaniards were seen by Carroll's men, but they had been there and could be seen by the men of Colonel Wood's brigade, rapidly retreating to the right The Tenth cav? alry unfurled its colors, planted its staffs in the ground at the Red House, ? which immediately drew a heavy fire ? from the Spanish in San ?Juan fort. The time is set down by the Tenth cavalry as about noon. In Carroll's brigade this first hill was called "Kettle Hill" be? cause there were some huge iron cal? drons set up at the crest. Near these kettles the flag of the Third cavalry was planted. Soon after reaching the hill, Colonel Carroll, commanding the brigade, was shot, Lieutenants Thayer and Meyer of the Third wounded and Hamilton of the Ninth kiixed. In the ascent of the hill Lieutenants Smith and Ship of the Tenth were killed and Lieutenant Rob? erts wounded. Judging 'rom the num? ber of cavalry officers hit on this first hill, it would seem that those who esti? mated the casualties suffered at the creek, was from 75 to 90 per cent of the total may be mistaken. The Spanish fire encountered here was from San Joan blockhouse, later taken by the in? fantry, from the ridge still farther on in the American front and an intrenched house located there. When the cavalry was in possession of this San Juan or "Kettle Hill, " General Sumner gave or? ders to the First cavalry not to leave the hill. Said he, "We must make a* stand here in case our folks are driven out of our extreme front. " There were then on the hill three troops of the Third cavalry and a few rough riders, and Sumner's orders included them in the force that was to stay there and hold it. GEORGE L. KILMEB. Come and see us before buying or tradiog. can please yon with a White-Randie. . ^ Old Sewing Machines mide new at Randie's. If you want your macbine made new riDg it to Randie.