The Abbeville chronicle. (Abbeville, Ga.) 1896-1953, May 12, 1898, Image 1

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The Abbeville Chronicle. II. A Naval Victory Unparalleled! Eleven Spanish Warships Sunk and Hundreds of the Enemy Killed. REPORT RECEIVED AT WASHINGTON After a Long Delay, and Causes Unbounded Enthusiasm and Rejoicing Throughout the Whole Country. The state and navy departments re ceived several dispatches Saturday morning from Hong Kong announcing the arrival there of Dewey’s dispatch boat, the McCulloch, and subsequent ly two reports direct from Commodore Dewey. Secretary Long gave the newspaper men at 10:30 o’clock the following translation of the first report, written by Dewey immediately after the great battle: Manila, May 1. —The squadron ar rived at Manila at daybieak this morn iug. Immediately engaged the enemy and destroyed the following Spanish vessels: Reiiia Christina, Castilla, Ulloa, Isla de Cuba, General Lezo,tlie Duero, Ccrreo, Velasco, Mindanao, one transport and the water battery at Cavite. The squadron is uninjured and only a few men were slightly wounded. The only means of tele graphing is to the American consul at Hong Kong. I shall communicate with him. Signed, Dewey. The second report from Commodoro Dewey was given to the public au hour later. It read as follows: Cavite, May 4. —I have taken pos session of naval station at Cavite on Philippine Islands. I have destroyed the fortifications at bay entrance, pat rolling garrison. I control bay and can.take city at any time. The squad ron in excellent health and spirits, Spanish loss not fully known, but very heavy; 150 killed, including cap tain of Reina Christina. I am assist ing in protecting Spanish sick and wounded. Two bundled and fifty sick and wounded in hospital within our lines. Much excitement at Manila. Will protect foreign residents. Signed, Dewey. Other dispatches announced that Dewey cut the cable himself and that he was in complete command of the situation. It was also stated in private dispatches from Dewey that he was not in need of anything. AVa» Joyful Now*. Notwithstanding the fact that every body had been in momentary expeota tion of cable advices from Commodore Dewev, Washington was thrown into the wildest excitement by the issue of extra papers early Saturday morning; announcing the arrival of McCulloch at Hong Kong with dispatches for tho government from Commodore Dewey, The publication of newspaper dis patches telling of terrible mortality among the Spanish and the escape of the American men and ships from se rious injury, added to the excitement and to the intense satisfaction with which the long expected news was re ceived. The first dispatch was the merely formal report written by Admiral Dewey the day of the battle. The in formation it contained of the condi tion of the squadron and the men seemed almost too good to he true. The fact that such a battle could occur without serious injury to the ships of our squadron and without some loss of life had never been enter • tsined. At ihe navy department it was con fidently expected that there would he forthcoming a list of officers and men who hod died doing battle for their count) y, and it seemed almost beyond belief ihc.t of all the 1,600 meu who were to a greater or less extent expos ed to the fire of the enemy’s ships and powerful shore batteries, not one was killed, and none were seriously in jured. ABBEVILLE. GA., THURSDAY, MAY 12. 1898. In the general rejoicing of tho offi cers of the navy over tho safety of their fellows and of tho families of officers whose homes are in Washington, the entire city joined. buttle Ma In many respects this of nila will go down in history as perhaps the most remarkable in the bistory of the world. At the embassies and legations Com modore Dewey’s reports were read with great interest and served to re new the high tribute of the foreign authorities to the gallant American, According to advices from Madrid General Weyler may again be put at the head of the Spanish army in Cuba. The former captain general of Cuba is W \ JH 7 U Pr-'Tp’o oznebal valeriano weyleb. (Tlia man of the hour In Spain.) extremoly popular with the masses in Spain, as his brutal tactics are in full accord with their ideas of warfare, Weyler > B high-handed methods in deal iug with the Cubans hastened the present war. CRISIS IN ITALY. The Kingdom Is Now Facing Grave In ternal Troubles. Advices from Rome state that grave trouble faces Italy on account of po Utica! disturbances and the high prices exacted for breadstuff's throughout the kingdom. Riots have occurred at ma)1 y places and a number of rioters bave b een killed by troops in an nt tempt to prese rve order, 10 yal decree has been issued pro claiming martial law in Tuscany, one 0 f the most fertile provinces of the kingdom. Sunday was a terrible day at Milan. ^ veritable battle occurred in the Via Somtraire. Thousands of tiles and l^vieks from chimneys were hurled f rom the roo f s upon the troops, who were compelled to retire. A similar fight took place in the Via Torino, and it j s believed that no fewer than 300 people were killed and 1,000 injured. GOV. BIRD WARNED. Notified That Spaniards Have l’lottod to Kill Him. Governor Budd, of California; has been warned of what is alleged to bo a p j 0 t against his life by Spaniards, 'pjjg story of conspiracy "against the governor’s life came from a Southern Pacific railroad bralcemau, who over heard the conspirators, Tbe brakeman followed the Span j a j- c ] s to Sail Francisco and the gov ernor and police were notified of his suspicions. The governor makes light of the matter, but his friends are dis posed to regard it as serious. HOSPITAL REGULATIONS. President McKinley Issues an Order In Regard to This Service. President McKinley has issued an order directing that all the hospitals of the marine hospital service be used for the reception and treatment of sailors and soldiers of the navy and army wherever a necessity therefor ex ists. There are about twenty of these lios pitals in .all and they nre scattered along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts. At the time of the Maine ex plosion that at Key West was used for the reception of the sailors who were wounded on that ship, WILL BE AGGRESSIVE. Officials at Washington Ailvise Knergctic Policy In Pushing War. The Washington Post printed the following in Sudnay’s issue: “All day yesterday following tho report from Commodore Dewey, irn por tant conferences were in progress a j. (j ie vvliite house, the war and navy departments. As the result of these conferences plans have been perfected for tbe re tention of the Philippines and j mme di a te invasion of Cuba and the occupation of Porto Rico, __ THE TEMERARIO SAILS. Spanish Torpedo Boat Leaves Buenos and fioe ® Northward, A dispatch from Buenos Ayres says: “The Spanish torpedo gunboat Tern erario, which has been, it is alleged, undergoing repairs at Ensenada, on an estuary of the La Plata, thirty-five miles from here, and which was said to be without a crew and disabled, sailed Friday, probably going north ward.” PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE OF REC OMMENDATION. JOINT RESOLUTION IS PASSED. A BIU Introduced Increasing Admiralties To Make Boom For Dewey's Deserved Promotion. President McKinley sent the follow ing message to congress Monday: To tiie Congress of the United States: On the 24th of April I directed the secretary of the navy to telegraph or ders to Commodore George Dewey, of the United States navy, commanding the Asiatic squadron, then lying in the port of Hong Kong, to proceed forth with to the Philippine Islands, there to commence operations and engage the assembled Spanish fleet. Promptly obeying that order, the United States squadron, consisting of the flagship Olympia, Baltimore, Ral eigh, Boston, Concord and Petrel, with the revenue cutter McCulloch as au auxiliary dispatch boat, entered the harbor of Manila at daybreak on the first of May and immediately engaged the entire Spanish fleet of eleven ships, which were under the protection of the fire of the land forts. After a stubborn fight, in which the enemy suffered great loss, these vessels were destroyed or completely disabled and the water battery at Cavite silenced. MAP SHOWING THE SCENE OF COMMODORE DEWEY’S NAVAL OPERATIONS r. Y. Sr* V # -v”' C i ^yMno^CKONC <r 1 t? £ I A t. i^/^iikKPANG. CaifF £A,$HtC CHANNfl ' friMtt.lt ■ ■ y CVLCor'U* l G ■ 'CHANNEL RlTJ v , y£ fit r UN TANA BABUYAN Tm M N g CLARO w, $>* . ^ O^-v ' V ✓ s' r f /,rs .HUP " .J » §> C.MU.imjwJ '«& l i <* > smwVi f; & D.WOltUO 'Ntiej • ■ ; ; > “ • , MANILLA} S^q ft wujf.ivtw <7 •‘ HTI jVi C Y)< ? CATALBM turnC»>HCS « P IPPJNE 15 *,«& 9’<=> ‘CL M i i * C2 Of our brave officers and men not one was lost and only eight injured, and those slightly. All of our ships escaped any serious damage. By the 4th of May Commodore Dewey had taken possession of the naval station at Cavite, destroying the fortifications there and at the entrance of the bay and paroling tlieir garri sons. The waters.of the bay are under bis complete control. He lias estab lished hospitals within the Americnn lines, where two hundred and fifty of the sick and wounded are assisted and protected. this The magnitude of victory can hardly be measured by the ordinary standards of naval warfare. Out weighing any mat rial advantage is the moral effect of this initial success. With this unsurpassed achievement, the great heart of our nation throbs, not with boasting nor with greed of conquest, but with great gratitude that this triumph has come in a just cause and that by the grace of God an effective step lias thus been taken toward the attainment of the wished for peace. To those whose skill, cour age and devotion have won the fight, to the gallant commander and the brave officers and men who aided him, our country owes an incalculable debt. Feeling as our people feel and speak ing in their name, I at once sent a message to Commodore Dewey, thank ing him and his officers and men for their splendid achievement and over whelming victory and informing him that I had appointed him as acting rear admiral. I now recommend that following our precedents and expressing the fervent gretitude of every patriotic heart, the thanks of congress be given Acting Rear Admiral Dewey, of the United States navy, for highly distinguished conduct in conflict with the enemy, and to the officers and men under his command for their gallantry in the de struction of the enemy’s fleet and the capture of the enemy’s fortifications in the bay of Manila. William McKinley. Executive Mansion, May 9, 1898. Passes Both Houses. In both branches of congress a joint resolution followed the reading of the message was adopted as follows: “Joint resolution tendering the thanks of congress to Commodore George Dewey, United States navy, and to the officers and men of the squadron under his command: “Resolved, By the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America in oongress assembled, Tlint in pursuance of tha recommenda tion of the president, made in accord ance with the prov'sions of section 1508 of the Revised Statutes, the thanks of congress and of the Ameri can people are hereby tendered to Commodore George Dewey, United States navy, commander-in-chief of the Asiatio squadron, for highly dis tinguished conduct in conflict with the enemy ns displayed by him in the de struction of the Spanish lleet and bat teries in the harbor of Manila, Philip pine Islands, May 1, 1898. Sec. 2. That the thanks of congress and of the American people arc hereby extended through Commodore Dewey to the officers and men under his com mand for the gallantry and skill exhib ited by them on that occasion. “Sec. 3. Be it further resolved, That the president of the United States be requested to cause this resolution to bo communicated to Commodore Dewey and through him to the officers and men under his command.” The following bill was also passed raising the number of admirals from six to seven to provide for Commodore Dewey’s promotion: of Section 1. That the number rear admirals in the United States navy now allowed by law be, and is hereby increased from six to seven, and this act shall be construed and taken as validating and making in force and ef fect any promotion to said rank of rear admiral in the United States navy made heretofore or hereafter and dur ing the existing war, and based on the thanks of congress. Secretary Alger sent in the draft of a bill for the protection of harbor de fenses and fortifications of the coun try, recommending early action. The house passed the senate bill authorizing the army to feed Cubans and arm people in the island of Cuba. Senator Lodge presented and the senate passed a resolution to present u sword to Dewey and medals to offi cers and men under him who were in the buttle at Manila. It appropriates $10,000 for the purpose. OPPOSING FLEETS IN ATLANTIC. Ships of Sampson’s Squadron nml Spain’s Cape Verde Fleet. Now that a battle between the North Atlantic squadron under Sampson and the Spanish flotilla, known as the Cape Verde fleet, is looked for, the make-up of the opposing naval forces is hero presented: ships—New York,armored American cruiser, 22 guns; flagship, Captain E. F. Chadwick; Iowa, first-class battle ship, 32 guns; Indiana, first-class bat tleship, 34 guns; Terror, double tur reted monitor, 12 guns; Castine, gun boat, 14 guns; Marblehead, cruiser, 19 guns; Detroit, cruiser, 18 guns; May flower, torpedo boat destroyer, used as dispatch boat; and the Montgomery, cruiser, 18 guns. Spanish ships—Infanta Maria Teresa, first-class armored cruiser; Vizcaya, first-class armored cruiser; Almiranto Oquendo, first-class armored cruiser; Cristobal Colon, first-class armored cruiser; Alfonso XIII, second-class cruiser; Eeina Mercedes, unarmored steel cruiser; Ariete, torpedo boat; Rayo, torpedo boat; Azor, torpedo boat. NEWS FROM CHICKAMAUGA. An Army of C0.000 Mon Will Soon He at the Park. It was given out officially Monday that 40,000 men of the volunteer army would be mobilized at Chickamauga park just as soon as they have been mustered into the government service. With the regiments of regulars now at the park filled to war strength, the army at that point will number 50,000 men. It was also announced that Major General Fitzhugh Lee, Major General Joseph Wheeler and Major General James H. Wilson would be in com mand, the purpose being to form the volunteer men into three army corps. The first regiments that are raised in each state will be hurried forward to Chickamauga Park and will be kept there a short while, during which time they will be whipped into shape. The second divisou of regiments will go to Washington, while the third is to remain where they are mustered, to be held there subject to call for duty in the Philippines or for general reserve purposes. LOCATION OF FLEETS. Sampson's Ships Hovering In Vicinity Porto Hico. The Spanish cruiser Isabella II, an irou vessel of 1,130 tons displacement and carrying u crew of about 130 men, arrived at St. Thomas,West Indies, at an early hour Monday morning. Her commander communicated with tho Spanish oonsul at that port and the cruiser cleared immediately, destina tion unknown. A special to The New York Herald from Washington says: Cable udvices received from Rear Admiral Sampson announce his arrival off the coast at Hayti with a division of hiH fleet. IIe will remain at the point where he is now located until one of the scouts informs him of tho appearance of the Spanish mon-of-war which sailed from St. Vincent over a week ago. The naval board has calculated the Spanish squadron to be at or near Porto Rico, and it is in the hopo of bottling up the fleet in the harbor of San Juan that the men-of-war of the north Atlantic squadron are hovering within a short distance of Porto Rico. SWEPT UNDER ICE. Party of Klondike™ Lose Tlieir Dives In Peculiar Manner. A special to The San Francisco Ex aminer f om Victoria, B. C., says: On Monday last the ice covering a stream in a defile near Crater lake gave way under a passing throng of Klondikers and more than a score of meu were precipitated into the water and carried to certain death beneath the river’s frozen coating. An ice slide over a mountain stream lias been utilized as a path for sleds by the fortune seekers. A number of men were advancing in almost au unbroken rank, each hauling a heavy laden sled, when there was a sudden crash. The ice opened for 30 feet or more, and in an instant 22 men were whirled down and under the smooth surface o' the stream to drown without even the chance of battling for life. The names of the victims are not given. SOUTHERN PROGRESS. The New Industries Reported in the South During the Past Week. Steady industrial progress in nil lines throughout the south, is typified by the following new enterprises select ed from reports during tho first week in May: Arkansas, a flouring mill; Texas, an extensive saw mill; Louisi ana, a $100,000 tobacco factory, a $50, 000 cotton compress, and a planing mill; Florida, two large cigar factories and a phosphate company; Georgia, an iron works and a $100,000 heating and lighting plant; South Carolina, a hundlo factory and a furniture factory; Tennessee, a shuttle block factory, Kentucky, a coal ruining company, a lumber company and an ice factory; West Virginia, a stave and heading mill and an electric light plant.— Tradesman (Chattanooga, Tcdu). GOMEZ IS THANKFUL. All II© Needs I» More Assistanho to Drive Spaniard* From Cuba. A commissioner sent to Gomez’s camp has returned to New York with the Cuban leader’s formal official thanks in behalf of Cuba to the United States, a letter to President McKinley and one each to General Miles and Ad miral Sampson; also thanks to the American people, says a dispatch to The World from Key West. Gomez wants rifles, food, clothing and United States troops in the order named. Armed and supplied he pi onl ines to drive blockaded Spaniards out in six months. Gomez formally declares his readi ness to co-operate with Miles and Sampson, and now the United States have available the principal land forces necessary to take Havana without risk ing many of our soldiers. DEWEY MAKES PROPOSALS. He Recommend# Surrender of Manila Be Demanded. A dispatch to The New York World from Hong Kong says that dispatches signed by Commodore Dewey have been sent to Washington recommend ing that the surrender of Manila be demanded and that a provisional gov ernment for the Philippines be estab lished pending tbe settlement of the war with Spain. His proposal is for a commission to take charge of the government. He asks that sufficient troops be sent him in the event that his plan is adopted to maintain order. AN INTERESTING QUESTION. Holding of Roth Civil and Military Po Kltlons Prohibited. An interesting question has arisen at tho war department in connection with tho appointments to military places in tho volunteer army of per sons who now occupy federal positions. It comes up particularly with reference to Assistant Secretary Roosevelt, Con sul General Lee and Representative Wheeler, of Alabama. The judicial authorities of the war department say that when a person holding civil office returns to the du ties thereof after having been sworn into the military service he ceases to be an officer of the army. NO. 17. SIXTEEN PRISONERS RECEIVED AT FORT M’l’HERSON. TRANSFERRED FROM KEY WEST. Arrival Witnessed By a Great Throng of Patriotic Americans—Dons Objected to Search. Sixlcen Spanish officers and privates, captured by the navy of the United States, arrived in Atlanta, Ga., Sun day night, accompanied by a guard of twenty-live men, and were at once placed under lock aud key at FortMo Pherson barracks. The men were the first captives taken by Captain Sampson’s blockad ing fleet off the coast of Cuba. There are sixteen of them in all. Seven offi cers of General Blanco’s army, one naval officer from the Spanish cruiser Alfonso XIII and eight non-commis sioned officers and privates. The offi cers are: Colonel Vincente de Cortejo, Third cavalry, Principe; Lieutenant Emilio Mato Oabeyn, Third cavalry, Principe; Lieutenant Buldomero Zam brano, Fifth battalion; Lieutenant Juan Giminez Ramos, Ninth battalion, Soria; Lieutenant Cleto Milla Castro, Alphonso XIII, Lieutenant Pedro La pido Alvosly, Third battalion; Lieu tenant Juan Gonvalez Vorgu, Twenty recond battalion. The non-commissioned officers and privates are: Sergeant Enrique Al mos Olie, Third cavalry, Principe; Juan Cabnllero,Twenty-second cavalry, Cadiz; Jose Nunez, Ignacio Sova, Val entine Martiner, Andreas Gomez, GaiiBtino Albest and Carlos Olivar. The Spanish prisoners were taken by the cruiser Nashville from the Span ish schooners Barco and Mar a few leagues out of the harbor of Cienfne gos in the province of Santa Clara some two weeks ago. As the Spaniards alighted from tho special car in which they came, in the very teeth of 1,000 overjoyed Ameri / fl V w, o 0ATTAIN T. E. CHADWICK. , .H. (In command ot Bear Admiral Sampson's flagship, the New York.)] cans there to give them a proper re ception, they presented a cowed and downcast appearance and evidently looked for rough treatment at the hands of tho crowd. Accompanying the prisoners was a de tacliment of ton stalwart men from the Twenty-fifth infantry under the com mand of Lieutenant Moss. Colonel Henry Cook, who has been ordered to return, with the headquart ers of the Fifth regiment, to Fort Mc Pherson, will he in command of the post as soon as he arrives. He will as sume charge of the post and the men stationed there will have supervision of the prisoners of war. Upon arriviug at the prison it was decided that the officers and men should ho searched before going to their cells. Colonel Vincente De Cortejo, rank ing officer among the Spaniards, imme diately stepped forward and in perfect French denounced the idea of search ing an officer of Spain. “Wf are men," ho exclaimed. “In our country thieves and cut-throats are searched, but honest men, never.” In equally good French Lieutenant Moss replied that his orders were to see that every prisoner was searched and that he could not go behind the commands of his superiors. This practically ended the commu nication between the two and one by one the Spaniunls were carried out and subjected to the galling process. SCHLEY IS READY. Flying Squadron at Hamrton ltoads Com plnle and In Fighting Condition. Friday’s developments in the flying squad-on at Hampton Roads would seem to indicate that Commodore Schley will bo given a cbance for action within a few days. The cruiser Minneapolis and the New Orleans are now with the fleet. These additions make a squadron of fighting ability. The New Orleans as a fighting ship is superior to the Co lumbia, which was detached, and the Scorpion, with her splendid armament, give helps fill out a squadron that will a good account of itself.