 |
| USS Iowa (BB-4). |
Cortland
Evening Standard, Friday, May 13, 1898.
PORTO
RICO BOMBARDED.
Admiral
Sampson Wins a Great Victory.
MET
FEEBLE RESISTANCE.
Morro
Fort Reduced to Ruins in a Few Minutes.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, May 13.—The American fleet
under Rear Admiral Sampson has bombarded San Juan de Porto Rico. The following
are the details of the bombardment thus far received:
The bombardment began Thursday morning. Rear
Admiral Sampson with nine warships arrived before San Juan just before sunrise.
As a signal the battleship Iowa fired the first shot which took effect. Then
the battleship Indiana opened fire and in a few minutes Morro fort was reduced
to a heap of ruins. The fort made little effort to respond and was silenced
almost immediately.
The Spanish steamer Rita was captured by the
United States auxiliary cruiser Yale, which took her crew on board.
Thousands of the population and the foreign
consuls sought refuge in the interior of the island.
The foregoing dispatch is from a reliable
staff correspondent at Port-au-Prince, who received his advices from foreign
office sources. His advices are believed to have reached him from Porto Rico
via Santiago to Kingston and thence to Port-au-Prince.
SPANISH WARSHIPS.
Cape
Verde Squadron in French West Indies.
NOW AT
PORT DE FRANCE.
This
Information Given Out by Spanish Officials.
LONDON, May 13.—The Madrid correspondent of
The Daily Mail says:
"Admiral
Bermejo has admitted that the Cape Verde squadron is "now at
Port de
France on the west coast of Martinique, French West Indies."
SPANISH
FLEET FOUND.
Is Now
Headed for Cuba—Harvard Held in Port.
NEW YORK, May 13.—A dispatch to The Herald
from St. Pierre, Martinique, via Hayti says: The Spanish torpedo destroyer
Furor arrived at this port late Wednesday night, but immediately put to sea.
Her arrival caused tremendous excitement.
About 5 o'clock Thursday afternoon the
Spanish destroyer Terror arrived.
Five
Spanish war vessels are in sight, bound northward, apparently in the direction
of Cuba. They are the Spanish Cape Verde fleet.
The United States scouting vessel Harvard is
in port. She came in here to send dispatches to the government in Washington.
As a Spanish vessel was in port, and left after the Harvard arrived, the port
authorities served notice on Captain Cotton that he would not be allowed to
leave until twenty-four hours after the departure of the Spanish vessel.
SAMPSON'S
REPORT OF THE BOMBARDING OF SAN JUAN THURSDAY.
Battle
Lasted Three Hours—Shore Batteries Badly Damaged and City Somewhat So—The
Answering Fire Was Immaterial—No Serious Damage to Ship
—Only
Part of the Fleet in the Action.
WASHINGTON, May, 13.—At 7:20 this morning
the navy department received the following dispatch from Admiral Sampson. It is
dated St. Thomas, May 12, and is as follows:
"A portion of the squadron under my
command reached San Juan this morning at daybreak. No armed vessels were found
in the port. As soon as it was sufficiently light I commenced attack upon the
batteries defending the city. This attack lasted about three hours and resulted
in much damage to the batteries and incidentally to a portion of the city
adjacent to the batteries. The batteries replied to our fire but without
material effect. One man was killed on board the New York and seven slightly
wounded in the squadron. No serious damage to any ships resulted, (signed)
SAMPSON."
Admiral Sampson's statement that he attacked
with only a portion of his fleet is taken to indicate that he did not find it
expedient to take the entire squadron into the harbor though it is not believed
he has separated his fleet. The navy department officials were at a loss to
know how his dispatch reached St. Thomas until the Associated Press dispatch
announcing the presence of the Yale at St. Thomas.
SAN JUAN
SURRENDERED.
Great
Damage Done to the City by Our Ironclads.
LONDON, May 13.—The Evening News this
afternoon publishes a dispatch from St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, saying San
Juan de Porto Rico surrendered at 6 o'clock yesterday evening. The dispatch
adds that immense damage was done to the city and that a number of important
buildings collapsed. The Iowa and Detroit, according to this dispatch, fired
430 shots with terrible effect. The Americans did not attempt to take
possession of or destroy the town beyond razing the fortifications.
LANDED
THE ARMS.
Insurgents
Assisted the Gunboats in Driving Back the Spaniards.
KEY WEST, May 13.—The transport steamer
Gussie, which left here with a big
expedition for Cuba on Wednesday night, had a lively engagement with the
Spaniards at Cabanas, Province of Pinar del Rio, yesterday, but succeeded in
accomplishing her mission.
The Gussie, which came here from Tampa,
carried 7,000 rifles and a large quantity of ammunition intended for the
Cubans. The expedition was directed by Captain J. H. Dorst of the United States
cavalry, who took with him over one hundred members of the First infantry and
ten Cuban scouts.
After a rough voyage, the Gussie was met off
the Cuban coast by the auxiliary gunboats Wasp and Manning, who escorted her
in. As they approached the shore, a large body of Spanish soldiers opened fire
upon the expedition and the gunboats replied with effect, enabling the expedition
to land. On shore the battle was renewed. The Spanish troops had retired to
their works and to the woods and directed a constant but inaccurate fire upon
the landing party. The latter, later, was reinforced by a body of armed
insurgents, who had been informed of the coming of the expedition. Then,
assisted by the fire of the gunboats, the Spanish force was compelled to
withdraw and the mission of the Gussie was accomplished. One of the American
party was shot in the arm. The Spanish loss is not known, but must have been
heavy.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
Reconnoiter
and Repulse.
The gunboat Wilmington, the torpedo boat
Winslow and the auxiliary torpedo boat Hudson went into Cardenas harbor, Cuba,
Wednesday in search of Spanish gunboats. They found several of them, and in the
exchange of shots that ensued inflicted severe damage and received damage in
return. The little torpedo boat Winslow was the worst sufferer on our side,
losing five men by death and having three or four wounded. The Spaniards had
the advantage of knowing the range of the harbor. They improved it by opening
on the American boats before the latter discovered the whereabouts of the
enemy. Shore batteries also joined in. The Cuban story of the engagement,
received via Madrid, sustains the claims of the commander of the Hudson that
the enemy suffered severely in boats, men and shore property. The Winslow was
rendered unmanageable by a shot that injured its machinery and the utmost
efforts of the Hudson were necessary to secure and tow the derelict out of
danger. The fatalities on the Winslow were inflicted by a shell which exploded
among a group of men trying to secure a line thrown them from the Hudson.
These are the first casualties inflicted by
the Spaniards since war was declared. It is possible there was rashness in the
venture of the Americans. The poor marksmanship shown by the enemy may have
begotten contempt for his abilities. And it is evident the Spanish strength in
Cardenas harbor exceeded the calculations of the attacking force. The coolness
of the latter under the hot fire encountered, and its success in bringing away
the injured boat and the killed and injured, are the sole comforting features
of the engagement. We are reminded that the fortunes of war are not all
one-sided.
 |
| USS Winslow (torpedo boat # 5) |
WINSLOW
HAS RETURNED.
Can be
Repaired and Ready for Use in a Few Weeks.
KEY WEST, Fla., May 13.—The torpedo boat
Winslow, damaged in the engagement at Cardenas, came in here last night under
her own steam, in charge of Ensign Bailey of the Wilmington. It is believed the
torpedo boat can be repaired and made ready for active service again in a few
weeks. Two of the seamen on board of her were badly injured. They say that one
of the crew, who was standing in the conning tower, had his coat literally shot
away, but he received nothing but a slight flesh wound in the right side.
Eighteen shells struck the Winslow during the engagement.
The remaining members of the crew of the
Winslow who are also on board, are G. P. Brady, chief gunner's mate; P. Cooney,
H. Johnson, R. E. Cox, D. McKeon, J . J. Cavanaugh, B. B. Bassie, W. Lauglejah,
J. J. Madden. W. O'Hearn, M. Leary, W. Myers, J. Gray, H. Anderson and W. W.
Jones.
Cox said that when they left Cardenas it was
understood on board that the
Wilmington
was to go in and bombard Cardenas on Thursday.
CRISIS
IN MADRID.
Four of
the Cabinet Ministers Have Resigned Their Offices.
MADRID, May 13.—At the cabinet council, the
queen regent presiding,
Senor
Sagasta, the premier, reviewed the situation and the latest war news. A second
council was held, dealing with the ministerial crisis, as it is now certain
that Admiral Bermejo, minister of marine; Count Xiquena, minister of public
works; Senor Moret, secretary for the colonies, and Senor Gullon, foreign
minister, have resigned. The retiring ministers offered various excuses,
such as illness and weariness, for their withdrawal.
Senor Sagasta begged them to remain until
the indemnity bill had been passed, but it is believed that at this cabinet
council the resignations became definite, though it is impossible to verify the
exact situation at this hour.
Senor Sagasta is still trying to induce Senor
Gamazo and Senor Mausa to accept portfolios, but both are reluctant to
compromise their personal prospect at the head of the Liberal party by joining
a cabinet certain to be beset with difficulties and short lived.
SPANIARDS
INCENSED.
Those at
Manila Think Great Britain Aided Admiral Dewey.
LONDON, May 13.—The Hong Kong correspondent
of The Daily Mail says:
"The Spaniards at Manila are incensed
against the British because it
is
believed that the Esmeralda piloted the Americans into the bay. It is feared
that the Spanish soldiers, who are unpaid, will attack the British factories.
The British gunboat Linnet brought from Manila both the Spanish and American
mails. The Spanish authorities and Admiral Dewey have been equally courteous in
permitting communication with the land and sanctioning the forwarding of
letters and documents by any and all means which offered themselves. But the
Spaniards have made up their minds to hold out to the last.
"They are in a position to give the
Americans a deal of trouble. There are 25,000 Spanish soldiers in the garrison
at Manila and 100,000 volunteers enrolled. Scores of coasting steamers are
imprisoned on the river Pasig, which is blocked at the mouth by some sunken
schooner."
VISITED
THE CAMP.
INTERESTING
LETTER FROM MRS. E. H. BREWER IN FLORIDA.
A Party
from Winter Park Took a Trip to Tampa—Description of the Camp and Barracks, of
Soldiers and Their Inspections—Cubans Crazy to Begin the Attack.
Mr. Andrew Ainslie has just received a
letter from his sister Mrs. E. H. Brewer, at Winter Park, Fla. With her cousin
Miss Pomeroy, and others she paid a recent visit to the United States camps
at Tampa and Port Tampa. Her descriptions will interest many friends in
Cortland and we have obtained permission from Mr. Ainslie to reprint it. Omitting
the personal parts of the letter, the remainder of it is as follows:
Anna (Miss Pomeroy) and I took a trip a day
or so ago, which I thought might interest you. A party often was gotten up to go
to Tampa at half fare, and with about two hours' notice. We left here on Friday
at 3 o'clock. At the Tampa Bay
hotel we saw scores of the officers, and our attention was centered on Generals
Wade and Shafter, the heads of the army. Both are men between 50 and 60 years of
age. Wade is a bald-headed, round-faced man of fine build, while Shafter is a
man weighing over 300 pounds as broad of shoulder and thick of chest as any man
I ever saw, in fact, an immense man physically. Two bands, the First and
Twenty-first regiment bands, played on the veranda alternately until 10:30.
About 300 officers and many of them with their families are quartered at this
hotel.
In the morning we went out to Tampa Heights,
where about 5,000 men are camped. You can imagine a fine piece of pine woods
free of underbrush, just filled with tents and soldiers. Each camp is laid out
in streets—a main street with the officers' tents on one side, and running off
from this side streets with privates' tents and small ammunition tents on either
side. In the side streets companies were undergoing inspection. Some companies
were all ready as if to march; others with only blankets; others with canteens
and cups; and still others with only bayonets. The roll is called and then the
captains and lieutenants take each man's gun from him and cock it, look down
the barrel, take out and replace the bayonet, etc., before handing it back.
They go through some maneuvers, but we were not fortunate in seeing a drill. Saturday
and Sunday no drills are had.
The commissary department was in full
working order, and on the outskirts of the camp huge boilers of beans were
being cooked, and big ovens of bread baked. Everything looked clean and tidy. Two
bands were playing in different quarters of the camp, while the bugle call sounded
as we have read. The officers are very respectful and courteous, and answered
all our questions. A beautiful flag was presented to the Sixth regiment by the
people of Newport, Ky., where they were camped before coming to Tampa. This was
in front of the captain's tent. There is a hospital tent in each camp, which is
known by a red Greek cross on the side.
A comical sight was twenty or more men in
all attitudes around a 6-foot circle on the ground playing ''crap'' dice, for
money too. Some lay flat on their stomachs, others squatted or leaned over, or
stood up, but all intent on the game.
From this camp we took the train out ten
miles to Port Tampa, where are several thousand more men. We saw all the
artillery, the mounted cannon, and hundreds of horses, fine looking animals. In
two separate yards, we saw the 500 mules which were being sent to Cuba, having
been purchased by the Spaniards, and were at New Orleans when war was
declared, and the United States intercepted and took them for our war. At the
Port we saw the First regiment which had just been quartered. They came from
San Francisco. No tents were up yet, and the men lay in huddles and heaps sound
asleep, tired out. They never minded sun, sand or heat. One lieutenant, whom we
talked to, said his home was in Maine, he came from San Francisco, and was way
down here in Florida, the extremes of the United States claimed him. Seven transports
lay at the docks. Their freight decks are being floored with slats, and separate
stalls for the purpose of carrying the horses and mules to Cuba.
I heard the superintendent say, "This
work must be done by Tuesday." We saw a train of flat cars loaded with ambulances,
in all about fifty, while whole trains of coal filled bunkers were standing on
the tracks.
The colored troops are as fine a looking set
of men as you ever saw; large, well formed and very polite. During the day I
only saw two drunken men—one, being escorted home by two bayoneted men, and the
other had not yet fallen into their hands.
We went also to the Cuban camp, and though
we could not understand the most of their conversation, we found it very
interesting. Gen. Sanguilly, who had charge of the Cubans from New York, took
us about and introduced us to Gen. Laciet, the one with Gen. Nunez, who is to
lead the troops into Cuba. They are actually crazy to go into active service.
They seem inferior soldiers when compared with our standing army, as they are
short, slight, and so many of them young. But they are enthusiastic.
Today was to be a gala day at the Tampa Bay
hotel. All of the regiment bands, twelve or more, were to be stationed in
different places on the grounds; colored electric lights were to be burned
everywhere, and a great time expected. We reached home about 12 o'clock, tired
but well satisfied with our trip. We are hoping now to "trip"
homeward the last of the month, and shall be very, very glad to see you all.
Another
Hen Heard From.
A. W. Graham of the clothing firm of Graham
& Chatterton has a White Minorca hen which the other day laid an egg which
is 7 7/8 inches in circumference one way and 6 5/8 inches the other way, and
weighs 3 3/4 ounces. Zach Lowe, one of the clerks at the store, says that he
will take his breakfast out of the egg tomorrow.
O'LEARY
& MCEVOY.
Down
Town Furniture and Undertaking Office at 101 Main-st.
O'Leary & McEvoy are now ready to
receive orders and attend to all business in the furniture and undertaking line
at their new office, 101 Main-st., Cortland. Additions to their line of
furniture are being received daily and they will be pleased to show goods and
quote prices in both departments at their new store, 101 Main-st.
University
Center.
Prof. C. Daves, who has been in town for a
number of weeks engaged in the preliminary work of organizing the University
Center, left this morning for Ithaca
where he is to begin a similar work and will to-morrow address a meeting of the
teachers of Tompkins county which is to be held in Ithaca. He will return
Monday to be present at the organization of the University Center which will
take place that evening in the parlor of the Y. M. C. A. at 7:30 o'clock sharp.
It was originally planned to organize the Center this evening, but organization
has been postponed until Monday evening on account of the Nazarene lectures by
John B. Koehne at the Presbyterian church.
The class is very large and representative,
including nearly all of the Normal teachers, many of the teachers of the
village schools and a large number of the cultured men and women of the
village. Others desiring membership should apply on the night of organization
as the limit of membership will then be reached.
BREVITIES.
—One tramp occupied a cell at the police
station last night.
—A long distance telephone has been placed
in the office of F. H. Cobb & Co.
—There will be an important meeting of the
Sons of Veterans at 8 o'clock this evening.
—The public schools of Cortland raised $14.30
to help swell the Sheldon memorial fund.
—Mrs. Weeks will not be at the Conservatory
of Music this week, being still detained by Mr. Weeks' illness.
—Attorney B. T. Wright has accepted an
invitation to deliver the Memorial day address at Lisle. He enlisted from Lisle
when he started for the war.
—The spring meeting of the Cortland Union
Beekeepers' association will be held with President M. R. Wood near South
Cortland on Saturday, May 21.
—The Corlonor and Clionian fraternities will
adjourn this evening to attend the lecture by Prof. Koehne at the Presbyterian church.
—There will be a change of time on the Cortland
and Homer division of the electric railroad on Monday to conform to the change
of time on the Lehigh Valley R. R.
—L. M. Loope is to-day moving his real
estate office from 39 Main-st. to 27 Main-st. over McGraw's shoe store in the
office formerly occupied by B. A. Benedict.
—New display advertisements to-day
are—Angell & McFall, Coffee, etc., p age 6; Samson's Compound, page 5;
Baker & Angell, Shoes, page 6; Case & Ruggles, Fur Collarettes, page 4;
Bank Reports, page 7.
—Dr. C. C. Wilbor, president of Cazenovia
seminary, will deliver an address at the Homer-ave M. E. church next Sunday
evening at 7:30 o'clock. Subject, "The Cause of Education and the Seminary."
—Mr. John B. Koehne will to-night at 8
o'clock deliver his popular lecture entitled "The New Aristocracy or the
Rise of the Common People" at the Presbyterian church. No admission.
Everybody is invited.
—The employees of The STANDARD office do not
propose to see this section of the country immediately depopulated either by
war or enlistment. In five days last week three items were provided by their
force for the vital statistics column, Messrs. Chas. Mee, Jr., E. D. Foote and
F. B. Miner having an increase in their families.—Democrat.
McGRAW.
Breezy
Items of Corset City Chat.
Complaint is made of the nuisance caused by
a dead dog on the road around Greenwood hill. It has been there some days and
the perfume wafted to the nostrils of the passerby is not equal to the rose,
although much stronger.
Five dollars reward will be paid by the
postmaster for information that will lead to the conviction of any person who
shall injure or maliciously deface in any manner the building occupied by the postoffice.
It may not be generally known that the squirrel
is a carnivorous animal; but such is the fact. A red squirrel has aroused
hostility at the Presbyterian manse by preying upon the nest of a song sparrow
and tearing in pieces and eating the young birds.
Mr. H. E. Harned of Syracuse will preach in
the Baptist church on Sunday, May 15, in exchange with the pastor, Rev. N. S.
Burd. Mr. Harned will also preach at Solon.
Silas Stevens, who has been sick for a long
time, died Thursday at 5:30 P. M., aged 71 years.
Mrs. D. L. Talbot has received the news of
the death of her brother, Abram Boice, in Harford.
No comments:
Post a Comment