SPECTACULAR ADVANCE IN THE PHILIPPINES, GOOD WORD FOR CORTLAND HOSPITAL, AND GRIP'S HISTORICAL SOUVENIR

 

Maj. Gen. Loyd Wheaton.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, November 11, 1899.

SPECTACULAR AFFAIR.

Landing of American Troops at San Fabian.

Several Sharp Skirmishes Ensue and Our Troops Kill and Capture a Number of Insurgents—Gunboats Do Great Execution With Big Guns.

   MANILA, Nov. 11.—The landing of the American troops at San Fabian was the most spectacular affair of the kind since General Shaffer's disembarkation at Daiquiri. The co-operation of the troops and the navy was complete. The gunboats maintained a terrific bombardment for an hour, while the troops rushed waist deep through the surf, under a heavy but badly aimed rifle fire from the insurgent trenches, and charged right and left, pouring volley after volley at the fleeing rebels. Forty Filipinos were captured, mostly non-commissioned officers. Several insurgent dead and five wounded were found in a building which had suffered considerably from the bombardment. The town was well fortified. The sand dunes were riveted with bamboo twenty feet thick, which afforded a fine cover.

   When the transports arrived in the gulf, they found the gunboats Princeton, Bennington and others waiting. After consultation with General Wheaton, Commander Knox of the Princeton and Commander Sheridan of the Bennington anchored on the shallow two miles off shore. The gunboats formed a line inside the Helena, Callao and Manila, close in shore. With the first gun of the bombardment the small boats were filled rapidly without confusion by Major Cronite's battalion of the Thirty-third infantry and Captain Buck's battalion of the Thirteenth infantry. While the lines of boats moved shoreward, the gunboats poured the full force of their batteries into the trenches, soon forcing the insurgents to flee through the burrows dug back of the trenches. About two hundred men held their places until the keels of the boats grated on the shore, when their Mausers commenced to sing overhead.

   The battalions formed in good order. Captain Buck with Pierce's and Patton's companies pursued the insurgents on the left in the bamboo thickets. On the right was a frail foot bridge, across the river, leading to the towns.

   General Wheaton, personally commanding, ordered a charge across the bridge, and Captain Howland of his staff led Coleman's and Elliott's companies of the Thirteenth and Shield's company of the Thirty-third, who behaved splendidly under their first fire, into the town, which was found to be nearly deserted, except by the aged and some Spaniards who had hidden in the buffalo wallows, and who came shouting delightedly toward the Americans.

   Two companies of the Thirty-third had a skirmish along the Dagupan road with the retreating Filipinos. Major Shiels of the staff with his command captured several insurgents.

   The troops camped in the rain during the night, and in the morning General Wheaton established his headquarters in a church, quartered his men in the houses and sent the captured Filipinos beyond the outposts, with orders not to return.

   The inhabitants describe all the roads as practically impassable, and say they believe Aguinaldo has secreted a yacht in the River Longapo, near Subig, for use in his flight when he finds his capture is inevitable.

   Wednesday was devoted to reconnaissances. Major Logan went northward to Santo Toma and burned the Filipino barracks.

   Captain Buck's Thirteenth went to San Jacinto and disposed of small bands. Marsh's Thirty-third went toward Magdalen on the Dagupan road, and had several sharp fights with small parties. They killed eight men, brought in 20 prisoners and had five men wounded.

   The Santo Toma road seems to be the only possible means of retreat for a large body north from Tarlac, and General Wheaton commands it. The insurgents of this section are going to reinforce Tarlac.

   The battleship Oregon has arrived here from Hong Kong.

   Captain Chynoweth and Lieutenants Davis, Van Horn and Bradford with two companies of the Seventeenth regiment, reconnoitering northeast of Mabalacat, have attacked and routed a battalion of insurgents, killing 29 of them. Three Americans were wounded.

 

USS CAESAR (AC-16).

Movement of Warships.

   WASHINGTON, Nov. 11.—The Brooklyn has sailed from Port Said to Suez, en route to Manila. The Solace has dropped down from Mare Island to San Francisco, to prepare for another trip to Manila. The Lancaster has arrived at Pointea Pitre, Guadeloupe, the Caeser and Uncas have arrived at San Juan. The Monocacy has arrived at Chin King.

 

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Hollanders in the Transvaal.

   Edgar P. Rathbone, an Englishman who was for seven years chief inspector of mines under the Boer government at Pretoria, has given his version of the causes of the war in South Africa in an article in the London Times. As the only Britisher ever in charge of a Transvaal government department his views are of especial interest.

   Mr. Rathbone lays the blame for the hostilities almost wholly upon the recent Holland immigrants rather than upon the Boer farmers. He makes the surprising statement that a clique of recent arrivals, typified in Dr. Leyds, in collusion with President Kruger, constitutes a "charmed circle, a gang of national bloodsuckers, who live on high salaries, amounting in 1897 to nearly a whole quarter of the espenditure of the country.'' Mr. Rathbone ascribes the advancement of the Hollanders to their education and ability to talk the Dutch language. But be also inadvertently mentions another reason, equally strong, for the favoring of the Holland uitlanders and the discrimination against the British uitlanders:

   "Unlike the English, the Hollander, after becoming naturalized, which he must be in order to hold a government appointment, can never regain his position as a Hollander on returning to his native land."

   It is exactly this English idea of becoming citizens of the Transvaal while still practically remaining British subjects that has caused the deepest hostility on the part of the Boers. The assumption of the British uitlanders that they should have a voice in the government of the Transvaal, with no idea of permanently surrendering allegiance to Great Britain, has evidently had fully as much to do in provoking war as have the machinations of the Hollander clique to which Mr. Rathbone refers.

Admiral George Melville.

   ◘ The bureau of naval construction is agitated over a controversy as to the speed of the three new battleships authorized by the last congress. It is the intention to give them a speed of 18 knots, but Admiral Melville wants them to have a speed of 20 knots, and there is apparently no good reason why they should not. The faster the battleship the more efficient it will be, as demonstrated by the Oregon in her historic trip around the Horn and in her important part in the destruction of the Spanish fleet off Santiago. Speed is sometimes of more consequence than gun power. Then why should we not have the fastest as well as the most powerful fighting ships in the world?

 

Cortland Hospital at North Main Street.

GOOD WORD FOR HOSPITAL.

Ladies Who Have Been Cared for There State Some Facts.

   We desire to express our appreciation of the care that we received while inmates of the Cortland hospital. Too much cannot be said of the uniform kindness, tender sympathy and strict attention to duty that was shown us by Mrs. Waters and her whole corps of able assistants. We feel that we would be doing that institution great injustice did we not try to correct the impression that we were not pleased and more than satisfied. This statement comes entirely unsolicited from any member of the board of managers and no doubt will be a surprise to them. We simply wish to publicly acknowledge our gratitude for the patience and goodness that we at all times received, and believe the same attention was paid to patients in wards as in private rooms.

   People of Cortland should realize what a blessing and privilege it is here, not only in caring for emergency cases, but in being able at any time to secure the services of trained nurses. This alone should be more appreciated and, instead of unjust criticism, an effort should be made to lift the burden that so handicaps its sphere of usefulness. We cheerfully recommend all those who may need good care to await themselves of this opportunity.

   MRS. A. E. BENTLEY, MRS. C. B. MAAS, MRS. W. A. RUSSELL, MRS. R. J. LUCAS, MRS. F. H. DOWD.

 

CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW.

Annual Opening at Hopkins' Greenhouse, 31 North Main-st.

   The annual opening and free chrysanthemum show at Hopkins' greenhouse, 31 North Main-st., commenced last evening and will continue all through next week. More than the usual number of visitors availed themselves of the opportunity of visiting the greenhouses which were illuminated with Japanese lanterns and presented a most inviting and attractive appearance. The chrysanthemums were magnificent in all colors and forms; rare tropical plants, ferns etc., roses carnations and violets lent their beauty and fragrance and added to the attractiveness of the surroundings. The new department of crockery, fine china and glassware will be open for inspection during the week and visitors will find this worth of more than passing notice.

 

Miss Gilbert's Success.

   Miss Ethel M. Gilbert, who graduated from the Normal in February, 1899, and on examination obtained a position in Greater New York, recently took an examination in music given by the supervisor in music, Dr. Frank Damrosch, and as a result was offered her choice of six positions in various parts of the city at a largely increased salary. She chose a position in the Greenwich-ave. school, No. 41, grammar department. Miss Gilbert's friends in Cortland will be glad to learn of her success as a teacher.

 

Election Expenses.

   But two candidates have as yet filed statements of election expenses at the county clerk's office as required by law. Hon. George S. Sands, who was reelected to the assembly, paid the Republican county committee $20. Thurlow Blackman of Homer who ran for county treasurer on the Prohibition ticket expended nothing.

 

GRIP'S HISTORICAL SOUVENIR

To Contain Many Fine Views and Valuable Historical Matter.

   Ladies are taking orders for Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland and they report splendid success, selling the book in every house. The edition will be limited, so that those who desire to make sure of securing copies can do so only by giving the agents orders in advance of publication. The expense of publishing the souvenir is too great to warrant the issue of more than can be sold. The experience in other places where this particular souvenir has been published is that the sales amount in the aggregate to the population of the village which they represent. The ladies and gentlemen who have consented to write the historical sketches of the several social church and fraternal societies are respectfully requested to turn in their productions at the earliest possible opportunity, as it is intended to close up the work of collecting material within ten days.

   All of the several views have been taken. These include thirty-three views of the public streets of this village, the largest number ever collected for publication. These views are all taken expressly for this souvenir and are exceedingly pretty. They include the first set of views of the paved streets ever taken. The birdseye view of the village taken from the cupola of Mr. J. S. Bull's residence, made up of nine large matched views is on exhibition in the window of McKinney & Doubleday's store. This will be made into a plate 5 feet long and printed on paper available for framing. This alone will be worth what is charged for the souvenir. The ladies who are taking orders for the souvenir are Mrs. Harvey Dickerson, Townley-ave., Miss May Bowker, 5 Clinton-ave., Mrs. Bowdish, 29 Pendleton, Mrs. E. M. Eaton, Graham-ave., Miss May Kennedy, 70 Clinton and Mrs. Lucy Huntington, 7 1/2 Main.

 

BREVITIES.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Electric Yeast, page 5.

   —The stock wire is out of order to-day and in consequence there is no stock report.

   —The board of supervisors will meet in annual session at their rooms in the county clerk's building on Monday, Nov. 13, at 1:30 o'clock.

   —The Normal [School] football team expected to go to Greene to-day to play the team of that place, but a telegram this morning told them not to come as the game was cancelled owing to wet grounds.

   —The Avalon club held another of its delightful dancing parties at Empire hall last night. McDermott's orchestra furnished fine music and excellent refreshments were served at the Candy Kitchen.

   —The regular monthly meeting of the Y. M. C. A, directors will be held on Tuesday evening of nest week at 8 o'clock, instead of on Monday evening on account of numerous conflicting engagements and attractions on Monday.

   —The second annual ball of Hitchcock Hose Co. is to be held at C. A. A. hall next Thursday night, Nov. 10. Elaborate preparations are being made for it and the result will no doubt be a great success. McDermott's full orchestra will furnish the music.