The Abbeville chronicle. (Abbeville, Ga.) 1896-1953, May 19, 1898, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Abbeville Chronicle. VOL. II. 1 IS * Are Ordered to Join Sampson. They Will Assist In the Chase For the Spanish Fleet. Left Hampton Hoads In a Hurry. Five vessels of the flying squadron, under Commodore Schley, led by the flagship Brooklyn, steamed out of Hampton Koads Friday afternoon to join in the chase for the Spanish fleet, which has now entered the Carribbeau sea. After passing the Virginia capes the vessels took a southerly course, going, it is said, to augment Admiral Sampson’s fleet now in the vicinity of Porto Bico. The order directing the squadron to put to sea was received at midnight Thursday night. A few minutes later •the signal “be ready to put to sea at daybreak” was flashed from the flag ship. men-of-war the Back from the came answer. In a jiffy the men were summoned to the decks and the work of making the ship ready to sail commenced. Suppressed excitement, mingled with delight, prevailed. Then the men waited for the signal to weigh anchor. Day broke, but the signal was toward not hoisted. The day wore on im noon. Excitement gave way to patience, for the men had been lying off Old Point for six weeks waiting for orders to go to sea and they were afraid they were to be disappointed. The Signal Run Up. At 4 o’clock the signal ordering the battleship Massachusetts, the Texas, tho dispatch boat Scorpion and collier Sterling to weigh Brooklyn’s anchor was military run up to the top of tlie mast. Thirty minutes later smoke was from the stacks on the ships W 1 -"-pi nm^i - PF i ■-I. -- £ V m : c 1 mm iV! r $ 1 (i !M m a r ' -E—•€ e- •g v, BATTLE SCENE ON OLYMPIA’S GUN DECK. and they were plowing tho sea at a rate of fifteen knots. The cruisers Minneapolis and New Orleans were left behind, as was also the auxiliary cruiser St. Paul, which was taking on a supply of ammunition. At 8 o’clock Friday night the Min neapolis hauled up her anchors and steamed out at full speed to o. ertake the squadron. St. Paul, Captain Sigsboe, of tho and the commander of the New Or leans also received orders to proceed at midnight. laden The fact that the Sterling, with 4,000 tons of coal, accompanied the fleet indicates that a long sail is contemplated, The arrival of the flying squadron will greatly strengthen Admiral Sampson’s fleet. in circula There was another report tion Friday night that a flotilla of Spanish torpedo boats has been sighted cruising along the Atlantic coast, and that the flying squadron has been ordered out to intercept the fleet and sink the boats; but an officer from the St. Paul says no credence should be placed in the rumor. Commodore Schley left under sealed orders. The Movements Explained. A Washington special says: The re ceipt of the news from Sampson of his attack on the forts at San JuaD, and the news of actual presence of the Spanish flying squadron off’ Martin ique, only 500 miles miles away from Sampson and less than 1,000 miles from Havana, caused the dispatch of the flying squadron under Commodore ABBEVILLE. GA., THURSDAY, MAY I!). 1898. Schley nnd the delay of the army of invasion of Cuba. It is to the navy that the govern ment again locks for a battle that may end the conflict. The news of the Spanish fleet revealed the possibility of a quick move on tlie part of the Spanish fleet that cut the line of com munication by water between Cuba and Key West, exposing to great peril any American landing force that might be caught between a superior Spanish army in Cuba and the sea patrolled by Spanish cruisers. It became necessa ry, therefore, to defer the departure of the military expedition from Florida until the Spanish fleet is mot and crushed or driven from West Indian waters. Orders flew thick and fast from both the war and navy departments. The first checked the movement on Flor ida, setting in from all parts of the country, nnd diverted the troops to ward the concentration camp at Chick nmauga. The navy department wired Sampson informing of the approach of the Spanish fleet and directions what to do, nnd another order flashed to Schley, who has been eating out his heart at Hampton Bonds in his eager ness to get into the fray, to start with his vessels at the earliest possible mo ment. The commodore took no chance of a cancellation of those highly desir able orders, but at 3:45 o’clock had put himself beyond the reach of any telegraphic recall. What is expected of him cannot be^Iisclosed at the navy department, and, naturally, is purely a matter of conjecture. Sampson’s fleet is strong enough un aided to overcome the Spanish flying squadron, if he can ever catch it out of the reach of fortifications. Schley’s fleet, however, is lacking in speed as compared to the Spanish vessels, and co-operation on the part of our flying squadron would add very much to the chance of cornering the Spaniards and forcing the fight which is believed to be necessary to the success of the Cu ban campaign as now planned. CHAOS AVI) FAMINE Reigns In Many Cuban Towns—Pork Sell ling at SI.50 a Pound. A dispatch to the New York World from Neuvitas, Cuba, by way of Nas sau, Now Providence, says: Chaos reigns at Camaguey and fear and famine at Neuvitas. People are starving. Salt pork costs $1.50 a pound, rice 50 cents and goats bring $100 each. The Spanish commander told the starving citizens to go into the coun try, as he could not feed thetn. Many soldiers are joining the insur gents to get food. The conditions at Puerto Trineipe are still worse. The surrounding forts are almost abandoned. RELIEF FOR MANILA. Report that Spain Will Send Bis Kipedl tion to the Philippines. A cable dispatch from Gibraltar . says: The Cape Verde fleet is at Mar tinique, but a second Spanish fleet is now at Cadiz. The second fleet consists of the bat tleship Pelayo, the armored cruiser Emperador Carlos V., the cruiser Al fonso XIII, the Bapido and the Pat ria, auxiliary cruisers, formerly the Hamburg-American line steamers Col umbia and Normania, and three tor pedo boats. It is reported that a strong military expedition is being organized at Cadiz and that it will shortly proceed to tho Philippine islands, escorted by the Cadiz fleet. WINSLOW OFF KEY WEST. Slie Will lie Ready For Sea Again In a Short Time. The torpedo boat Winslow, dam aged in the engagement at Cardenas, reached Key West Thursday night un der her own .steam in charge of En sign Bailey, of the Wilmington. It is believed the boat can ho 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 tho crew who was standing in the conning tower had his coat liter ally shot away but received nothing hut a slight flesh wound in the right side. Eighteen shells struck the Winslow during the engagement. INFORMS THE NAVY DEPARTMENT OF HIS FIUIIT AT SAN JUAN. JHE VERDE FLEET AT MART1NEQUE Official Report Hus Been Received That Leaves No Doubt of That Fleet's Location. At 7:20 o’clock Friday morning the navy department received the follow ing dispatch from Admiral Sampson. It was dated St. Thomas, May 12, and was as follows: “A portion of the squadron under my command reached San Juan this morning at daybreak. No armed ves sels were found in the port. As soon as it was sufficiently light I commenced attack upon the batteries defending the city. This nttaek lasted three hours and resulted in much damago to the batteries. The batteries replied to our fire but without material affect. One man was killed on hoard the New York and seven slightly wounded in the squadron. No serious damage to any ships reulted. (Signed) “SAMrSON,” Admiral Sampson’s statement that he entered the harbor with only a por tion of his fleet is taken to indicate that he did not find it expedient to take the entire squadron into the har bor, though it is not believed be has separated bis fleet. The navy depart ment officials were at a loss to know bow bis dispatch reached St. Thomas until receipt of the Associated Press dispatch announcing the presence of tho Yale at St. Thomas. Details of the Flglit. Additional dispatches regarding the bombardment of Porto Bico state that the forts were bombarded by part of Beal Admiral Sampson’s fleet until they were silenced. The enemy’s loss is believed to be heavy. The American loss is two men killed and seven men injured. After three hours’ firing the admiral withdrew the fleet, and headed for Key West. He said: “I am satisfied with tho morning’s work. 1 could liavo taken San Juan, but I have no force to hold it. I only wanted to administer punishment. This 1ms been done. I came for tho Spanish fleet and not for San .Tnan." The men killed were: Seaman Frank Widemark.of tho New York; Gunner’s Mate-, of tire Amphitrite. The latter died from tffects of the extreme heat. Of the injured, three were on board the Iowa and four on board tho New York. Ths names of those slightly injured on the Iowa: Seaman Mitclieli, Pri vate Marine Merklo, Apprentice Hill. The injured on the New York: Sea man Samuel Felton, serious; Seaman Michael Murphy, and two other en listed men, slightly injured. The Now York’s men were injured by the burst ing of a shell on deck. The American ships were uninjured. The engagement began at 5:15 a. m. and ended at 8:15 a. m. Tbe town in the rear of the fortification probably suffered. Bear Admiral Sampson’s fleet bom barded the forts at San Juan until they were silenced. Our loss was two killed nnd seven wounded, The enemy’s loss xvas severe. The city could have been taken but there was no land forco to hold it. Tho object in reducing the fortifications was to prevent the Spanish fleet from running in under their walls for protection at some future date. It was definitely made known at Washington Friday,despite all Spanish statements heretofore to tho contrary, that the Cape Verde fleet is at Port de Franc, capital of the island of Martin ique, four hundred miles from Porto Bico. It is also stated positively received tlmt the commander of (lie fleet orders Friday after the bombarding of San Juan by Sampson to put to sea at once. Madrid advices received in day morning state that tbe fleet will sail for an unknown destination im mediately. Long out At 9:40 Secretary information gave had a statement that official been received that the Spanish squad ron had been sighted to the westward of Martinique. THE LAFAYETTE WAS 0. K. An Explanation Is Given Out By the State Department. The state department has given out the following: “In view of the widely published report that the French mail steamship.Lafayette, which was recent ly permitted to enter Havana and d.s charge her official mail, had violated the neutrality under which the privilege was accorded her by the government of the United States, it is authoritatively stated that the department of state lias been satisfactorily convinced lmt nothing of the kind was done; that no merchandise whatever no contraband of war and no Spanish gunners were recently lauded at Havana by the Lafayette. I Spanish Cabinet Is Broken. a New War Cabinet Will He Named and Will Be Prac tically Dictated By Weyler. Advices from Madrid state that all the members of the Spanish cabinet have resigned. Senor Sagasta commu nicated tbe situation to the queen re gent, who entrusted him with the task of forming a new ministry. The Spanish cabinet which has just resigned was composed as follows: President of the council, Senor Sa gasta; minister of foreign affairs,Senor Gullon; minister of justice, Senor Groizard; minister of finance, Senor minister of Senor \\\ 7*. ■ • - 'P* mm 1 tliiw •i . TOEPEDO BOAT WINSLOW. Capdepon; minister of war, General Correa; minister of marine, Admiral Bermejo; minister of agriculture and commerce and of public works, Count Xiquena; minister of colonies, Senor Moret. The Liberal cabinet under Senor Sa gasta was formed shortly after the as sassination of Senor Canovas Del Cas tillo, who was assassinated on August 8th, 1897, by an Italian anarchist named Golli. Senor Moret, the miuister of the colonies, has confirmed the state ment that any changes made in the composition of tbe cabinet would be wholly in the direction of a more active war policy. Tbe war cabinet to be named will be practically dictated by Weyler. The queen regent has charged Senor Sagasta to form a new cabinet. The premier, Monday evening, conferred with the presidents of. the chambers nnd with Senor Gamazo. Marquis Vega d’Armijo, president of the chamber, has advised Senor Sa gasta to end the crisis as quickly as possible. Senor Moutero Bios, presi dent of the senate, has offered his sup port, but does not desire to enter the new cabinet. Senor Gamazo, who is ill, also declines to enter the cabinet, but he promises to support any minis try organized by Senor Sagasta. The difficulty, it appears, is to find men who are willing to assume office under the conditions which now pre vail in Spain. An empty treasury, internal disorders and the loss of the Philippine islands, Cuba and Porto Bico, are not the only problems con fronting Spanish ministers, and it is not astonishing that under the circum stances a military dictatorship lias been discussed. PROHIBITS DELIVERY OF COAL. Oovernor of IbIiwi(1 st . Thollla . Adopt< strlnacnt sf«tt»nro». An official announcement just issued by the governor of the island of St. Thomas, prohibits the delivery of coal to warships of tho belligerent powers without the previous permission of the governor, who will determine the amount each vessel may receive and who will supervise its delivery. HOSTILE TO ENGLISHMEN, The British Elect at Coruna In Refused Provisions By Spaniard*. A dispatch to The London Standard f Coruna says: / The prefleuc of the British channel ^ at Villagarcia is likely to to BOme unpleasaIlt „ess. The ; , ka of an Anglo-American alliance ! has B0 in fl amod the Spaniards that the pogtmen f roiu the fleet when on shore to co n ec t lefters have been stoned. Threats have been made to stop the , of provisions to the fleet. The con8u , proteBte d to the alcaide, who explained that the popular resent meut was dne to B belief in the exi8t . of an al]iance , ADMIRAL SAMPSON ('llAMIES HIS FLANS OF OPERATION. HE 15 CHASING THE SPANIARDS. Another Spuninh Huge Revealed anti Which Will Fail of Its Purpose. It was said at the navy department that Admiral Sampson reported to the department. Monday by cable from Cape Haytien. It was also stated that Admiral Sampson, by reason of infor mation just received by him, changed his plans of operations, and instead of going to Key West, directed his ves sels toward Oienfuegos. The Spanish fleet, last seen at Cura coa, is presumed to be beaded toward Cienfuegos, and this places Sampson in chase. The navy department takes with great allowance the report that the Spanish strategists have succeeded in sending n second sqadron, under Ad miral Villamil, to the WoHt Indies, and that it is also off Martinique, Eveu if the alleged information did not bear the suspicions earmarks of a Madrid date, the department would not be surprised to hoar that Admiral Villamil, as well sb Admiral Gervera, was with the Spanish force in the l'ibean sea. The fact that the report came from Madrid satisfies the officials here this is another ruse to center' our attention on Martinique while their ships have passed westward. Vill The report has it that Admiral amil has with him the cruisers Cisne ros, Cataluna and Princess de Austur ias. It is known, however, that Villa mil is not the admiral of those ships, and that at least one of them, the Cis neros, is on the other side of the water. It is also known that Adimral Villa mil lias arrived with his fleet at Mar tinique, but this is merely the torpedo adjunct to tho main fleet and was re ported when the fleet first made its ap pearance. the alleged report of The fact that the second squadron passed a Madrid censor indicates the desire of the Spanish authorities to spread abroad this misleading information. Its purpose, it is believed, is to in duce Admiral Sampson to remain with I IP <45- a II ise n? r -MU ' WWK EX8ION WOUTII nXOLF.V. (First American killed In tbe war with Spain.) his fleet at or near Martinique,in quest of the shadowy second squadron so as to take him away from the pursuit of Admiral Cervera and the actual Span ish game already in sight. W. C.T.U. NOT ENDORSED. Methodist Conference at Baltimore Ob jected to “PoIltUml Work." A Baltimore dispatch says: The committee on temperance reported un favorably at the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church a pro position to endorse tl.e Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, nnd a lively debate ensued. The resolution was opposed “on account of the po litlcal work of the organization.” After considerable debate the friends of the resolution accepted an amendment which endorsed the temperance work of the white ribboners. NO. 18 . SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND MEN ARE NOW READY FOR BATTLE. ORDERS AFFECTING VOLUNTEERS. A List of Vui loim Division* of Troops nnd the l’olnta of Concentration for Each Is Given Out. A Washington special says: Sixty five thousand troops Lave been nins tered in. The following order has been issued: “With the approval of the secretary of war, the following assignment of troops is ordered by the major general commanding the army: H. C. Coubin, Adjutant General. To Camp George H. Thomas, Chick awauga. Ga.— Arkansas, two regiments infantry; Colorado, two troops cavalry; Illinois, three regiments infantry, one battery light, artillery, one regiment cavalry; Indiana, three regiments in fantry, two batteries artillery; Iowa, three rogiments infantry; Kausas, one regiment infantry; Kentucky, two reg iments infantry, two troops cavalry; Maine, one regiment infantry; Mary laud, one regiment infantry; Massachusetts, one regiment infantry; Michigan, two regiments in fantry; Minnesota, two regiments in fantry; Mississippi, one regiment in fantry; Missouri, three regiments iu fantry,one battery light artillery; Mon tana, four troops cavalry;Nebraska, one regiment infantry, New Hampshire, one regiment infantry; New Jersey, one rigimeut infantry; New York, six regiments infantry, two troops cav alry; Ohio, four regiments infantry, four batteries light artillery, eight troops cavalry; Pennsylvania, seven rogimeuts infantry, three batteries light artillery; South Carolina, one regiment infantry; Tennessee, two regiments infantry; Utah, two troops cavalry; Vermont, one regiment in fantry; West Virginia, one regiment infantry; Wisconsin, two regiments infantry; Wyoming, one troop cavalry; District of Columbia, one regiment in fantry; North Dakota, two troops cav airy; South Dakota, five troops cav airy; Idaho, one troop cavalry; Ne vada, one troop cavalry. Totals, fifty-three regiments infant ry, eleven light batteries artillery, one regiment and thirty troops of cavalry. To San Francisco, California—Two regiments infantry, two batteries heavy artillery; Colorado, one regi ment infantry; Knnsas, one regiment infantry; Minnesota, one regiment infantry; Montana, one regiment in fantry; Nebraska, one regiment in fantry; Oregon, one regiment infantry; Utah, two batteries light artillery; Wyoming, one battalion infantry; North Dakota, two battalions infantry; South Dakota, one regiment infantry; Idaho, two battalions infantry. To Key West—Massachusetts, one regiment infantry. To New Orleans—Louisiana, Olio regiment infantry: Texas, two regi ments infantry; New Mexico, four troops cavalry; Arizona, one troop cavalry; Oklahoma, one troop cavalry; Indian Territory, two troops cavalry. To Mobile—Alabama, one regimont of infantry. To Department Commanders—Ala bama, one regiment, one battalion; California, two battalions infantry, two heavy batteries, two battalions light battery; Connecticut, one regi ment infantry, one light battery, two heavy batteries; Delaware, one regi ment infantry; Georgia, one regiment infantry, two light batteries. To Tybee—Louisiana, one regiment infantry; Maine, one heavy battery; Maryland, two battalions; Massachu setts, one regiment infantry; one regi ment heavy battery; Mississippi, one regiment infantry; New Jersey, one regiment infantry; New York, three regiments infantry; North Carolina,one regiment,one battalion infantry; Penn sylvania,four regiments infantry; three troops cavalry; lihode Island, one reg iment infantry; South Carolina, one battalion infantry; one battery heavy artillery; Texas,one regiment infantry; one regiment cavalry; Washington,ono regiment infantry. To Washington, D. C.—Illinois, two regiments infantry; Indiana, one regiment infantry; Kansas, one regi ment infantry; Kentucky, one regi ment infantry; Massachusetts, ono regiment infantry; Michigan, one regi ment infantry; Missouri, two regi ments infantry; infantry; New Jersey, one regi ment New York, two regi ments infantry; Ohio, two regiments, one battalion infantry; Pennsylvania, four battalions infantry; Tennessee, one battalion infantry; Virginia, one battalion infantry. To Tampa, Fia.—Florida, one regi ment infantry; Georgia, one regiment infantry; Illinois, two regiments in fantry; Iowa, ono regiment infantry; Michigan, one regiment infantry; New York, one regiment infantry; North Carolina, ono regiment; Ohio, two regiments infantry; Virginia, two reg iments infantry; Wisconsin, one regi ment infantry.