Newspaper Page Text
The Abbeville Chronicle.
VOL 11.
I
15,000 Start For
Cuban Shores.
(band Total of the Expedition
Consists of 773 Oflicers
and 14,564 Enlisted
Soldiers.
It was formally announced at the
war department Monday that the
military expedition had left Key West
at daylight bound for Santiago. All
day Sunday there was a lively confer
ence between the officials of the navy
nrinl war departments, and after an all
day session the war board completed
its plans for convoying the troop
transports. Major General Shatter,
who commands this expedition, has
with him a force of 773 officers and
14.561 enlisted men.
Tue United States regular troops
make up the greater part of the force,
t ere being bu three volunteer or
ganizations on the ships. These are
the Seventy-first New York infantry
volunteers, the Seeond Massachusetts
iufautry volunteers and two dismount
ed squadrons of four troops each from
the First United States volunteer cav
alry, the regiment which Colonel
Wood commands and of which Theo
dore Roosevelt is the lieutenant colo
nel.
It was difficult to prevail upon the
mounted riflemen to leave their mounts
behind, but this' was a matter of ne
cessity, it is said, owing to the lack of
accommodations for the horses on
shipboard.
Tho best that the department could
do at this time in the way of supplying
the cavalry contingent for the expe
dition was to include among the troops
one squadron of the Second United
States cavalry, fully mounted, with
nine officers and 280 enlisted men.
By far the larger portion of the ex
pedition is made up of infantry, al
though an unnsually large number of
artillery is included; and that the cav
alry is almost altogether lacking. It
is expected, however, that the dis
mounted cavalry with the expedition
will be mounted later on in Cuba
either from the .stock of native forces
or. from mounts that will follow them
from this country.
Captain Taylor, of the battleship
Indiana, was in 'command cf the naval
convoy fleet which accompanied tho
transport ships. The make-up of the
convoy fleet was withheld.
The war department announced
Monday that it had begun active prep
arations for the eecond army of inva
sion. It is believed that the second
army will go to Porto Rico.
SOUTHERN PROGRESS.
The N ftv Industries Iteported in the South
During: the Past Week.
The new industries throughout the
south reported during the past week
include, among other enterprises, largo
cotton ginneries at Louisiana and
Georgia points, another cotton mill
for North Carolina, an electric light
plant in Virginia, an electric light aud
power plant in Mississippi, a SCO,000
bushel grain elevator in northern Tex
as, an engine works in Kentucky, a
flouring mill in Arkansas, a handle
factory and a knitting mill in Georgia,
companies in Texas, North
Carolina and Arkansas, planing mills
and sash and door a riff blind factories
in North aud South Carolina and Ar
kansas, a shingle and stave mill in
Georgia, large silver mining develop
ments in Arkansas, .and a soap factory
in Texas.—Tradesman (Chattanooga,
Tmin.)
LYNCHED IN PUBLIC SQUARE.
Kansas Mob Makes Short Work of Mur
derer Becker.
In the public square of South Bend,
Kan., fronting on the principal street
of the city, a murderer was lynched
at 8 o’clock Monday evening by a mob
of piobably 500 persons. It is esti
mated that at least 1,000 men of Great
Bend’s population of 2,500 persons
witnessed the tragedy.
Tbe victim was John Becker, a
young white man, who, on April 8th,
killed Myrtle Huffmeister, the sixteen
year-old daughter of William Huff
meister, a farmer living midway be
tween Great Bend and Ellenwood.
ABBEVILLE. GA.. THURSDAY, JUNE 16. 1898.
SAMPSON PRAISES HOBSON.
Admiral Send* Official Report Regaril
inK Mevrlmac Affair.
The navy department Saturday post
ed the following bulletin giving a de
tailed oflu-ini report from Admiral
Sampson upon the heroism of Lieu
tenant Hobson and his men in sink
ing the Merrimac in the Santiago chan
nel :
Flagship New York, Off Santiago,
June 3, 18!) .—Permit me to call your
special attention to Assistant Naval
Constructor Hobson. As stated in a
special telegram before coming here I
decided to make the harbor entrance
secure against the possibility of eg itss
by Spanish ships by obstructing the
navrhw part of tho entrance by sinking
a collier at that point.
Upon calling upon Mr. Hobson for
his professional opinion as to a sure
method of sinking the ship lie mani
fested the most lively interest in the
problem. Affer several days’ consid
eration he presented a solution which
he considered would insure the im
mediate sinking of the ship when she
reached the desired point in tho chan
nel. This plan whs prepared for exe
cution when we reached Santiago.
The plan contemplated a crew of seven
men and male Hobson commander,
who begged that it might be entrusted
to him. The anchor chains were ar
ranged on deck for both the anchors,
forward and aft, the plan including
the anchoring of tho ship almost auto
matically.
A careful inspection of tho harbor
from this ship showed that the vessel
Merrimac had been sunk in the chan
nel. This afternoon tho chief of staff
of Admiral Cervera came out under a
Hag of truce with a letter from the ad
miral extolling the bravery of the crew
in an unusual manner.
I cannot too earnestly express my
appreciation of the conduct of Mr.
Hobson and his gallant crew. I ven
turo to say that a more brave and dar
ing thing has not been done since
Gushing blew up the Albemarle.
“Referring to tlie inspiring letter
Avhieh yon addressed to the officers at
the beginning of the war, I am sure
you will offer a suitable professional
reward to Mr. Hobson and his com
panions.
“I must add that Commander J. M.
Miller relinquished his command with
the greatest reluctance, believing he
would retain his command under all
circumstances. He was, however,
finally convinced that the attempt of
another person to carry out the multi
tude of details which had been in
preparation by Mr. Hobson might en
danger its proper execution, I theve
fore took the liberty to relieve him for
this reason only. There were hun
dreds of volunteers who were anxious
to participate; there were. 150 men
from the Ioxva, nearly as many from
this ship and large numbers from all
the other ships, officers and men alike.
“W. T. Sampson. ”
OUIl FLAG RAISED IN CUBA.
Sampson ami Schley Still "Watching Off
Shore at Santiago.
An Associated Press dispatch,under
date of Sunday, sent from Kingston
says: For four clays the scene of mili
tary and naval operation has been
Gaimanera aud Guantanamo bay. The
American flag is flying on the shore
and in the harbor, first planted on Cu
ban soil by United States- marines
from the transport Panther, under
Lieutenant Colonel R. W.Huntingion,
covered by the guns of the cruiser Mar,
blehead, commanded by Commander
McCalla, whose name is a synonym for
activity and fighting.
The battleship Oregon hasaheady
coaled in the smooth waters of the
harbor and lias sailed away. She was
followed by other ships.
Tho squadrons of Rear Admiral
Sampson and Commodore Schley are
still off Santiago, maintaining a
strict, watch day and night to pre
vent {bo possibility of the escape of
Admiral Cervera.
Severe storms prevail between San
tiago de Cuba and Jamaica. The
press dispatch boats have encountered
these storms for the last ten days,
making the voyages very difficult,
The heat adds to the discomfort, but
a daily service is maintained,
Alabama Miners to Meet.
The Alabama miners will hold a con
yeution in Birmingham on June 25th
f or the purpose of dismissing an ad
vance j n wa ges which will be asked of
the various companies, and for the
transaction of other important busi
ness.
THE HO WARD-BAKER FEUl).
Kentucky JmlS® Anxiously Await* Troops
For Protection.
The news from the Howard-Baker
feud in Clay county, Ky., is startling.
Howard’s party, fifty strong, lias
taken possession of the town of Man
, following,
Chester. The Baker con
; listing of forty well armed men, have
rendezvoused three miles from the
. town.
j proceed Judge with Brown holding is wholly court. unable Although to
he expects troops sent by Governor
' Bradley, it is feared the two parties
will come into collision before the
troops can arrive,
i
ITS APPEARANCE IN M’HENRY,
MISS., CAUSES ALARM.
PRECAUTIONARY STEPS TAKEN.'
Senators and Congressmen Urge That
Troops in Exposed Territory lie
Sent to Safe Points.
A special from Jackson, Miss., says:
Tlie executive committee of the state
hoard of health has issued notice to
the people of the state, railroad offi
cials anil other common carriers, stat
ing that yellow fever having been an
nounced at McHenry, in Harrison
county, Mississippi, and believing the
same is not an importation and fearing
an outbreik at other coast towns
where fever occurred last year, and
ordering:
That inspectors shall be placed at
once on the lines of tho railroads run
ning through Harrison, Hancock and
Jackson counties.
Pending an investigation no person,
baggage, freight or express matter
will be allowed to come into any other
comity in this state from Harrison,
Hancock and Jackson counties.
McHenry is a small place, isolated,
and there is little danger of its spread
ing outside the limits there But the
fever cases are officially believed to be
‘due to germs that have hibernated at
McHenry from last season when the
fever was much in evidence in that
section.
Burgeon General Wyman is quoted
as follows:
“Ordinarily if we had not been on
the lookout these cases might have
been progressing for a long period
without being recognized and the
diagnosis might have been disputed.
But there is hope now in view of their
prompt discovery that tho spread will
be prevented. In several places last
summer the fever was quickly recog
nized and did not spread, attributable
to the prompt preventative measures
adopted. We are keeping a close watch
not only at McHenry, but elsewhere.”
A Washington special says: Senator
Bacon, of Georgia, had a conference
with the president Friday concerning
the reported yellow fever in the south
and the precautions that will be neces
sary for the government to take to
protect the troops from the disease.
Senator Bacon advised the presi
dent to see to it at once that tho
United States forces enlisted be re
moved from the legion of contagion
either by sending them to Cuba or
Porto Rico, or by moving tho per
manent camps from the lowlands to
higher elevations. Tho wliolo matter
has been referred lyy the president to
Surgeon General Wyman, who was
instructed to make a report on it at
tho earliest possible moment.
The Mobile board of health has
quarantined against the entire gulf
coast pending an investigation. There
is no alarm felt there over the yellow
fever at McHenry. Mobile is enjoy
ing excellent health.
A special from Austin, Texas, says:
“In view of the outbreak of yellow
fever in Mississippi, State Health Offi
cer Sivearinger will inspect the state
quarantine stations with a view to pre
venting the importation of the epi
demic. Govenor Culberson states that
all the power and resources at his
command will be exerted toward shut
ting out the fex’er if possible.”
SYMPATHY FOR MRS. OKI BLEY.
Citizens of Olympia, Washington State,
Send Condolence.
A special from Olympia, Wash.,
says: Governor Rogers has forwarded
to Mrs. Gridley, widow of the late
Captain Gridley, of tho cruiser Olym
pia, on behalf of the people of the
capital city aud the state of Washing
ton, an eloquent expression of sympa
thy for tlie loss of her gallant lius
fland.
JAPAN REGISTERS KICK.
Says Our New Revenue Measure Will
Ruin Ilor Tea Trade.
Japan has entered a strong protest
against the duty on tea provided for
in the war revenue bill. Tho protest
was sent to tho state department Fri
day, and by it forwarded to the con
ference committee.
T IE SECOND EXPEDITION.
Arrangements Therefor Being Hurried at
War Department.
A Washington special says: Arrange
ments for the second expedition of in
vasion from tlie United States for the
West Indies are being hurried at the
war department. There seems to be
no doubt that this expedition, if its
number approaches the fifst, will he
sent from the east coast of tho United
States.
The experience in embarking the
first from Tampa has demonstrated
to the war department officials that
other ports where the railroad and
other facilities are more adequate than
at Tampa.
SOLDIERS TERRORIZE TAMPA.
Drunken Mob Tak«n Poaaeesfon Of Bar
rooms aiut Pillage Cafes.
The details of rioting among the
United States troops at Tampa are
becoming move ami more public as
letters are received in Savannah from
troops now in Florida.
The whole aft’air was a most dis
graceful one. The press censors kept
the story from reaching the nowspa
pnpersfor neatly a week.
Ybor Monday evening Fort Brook and
city were virtually in control of
a mob. Tho most disgraceful scenes
were enacted, and, to their shame he
it said, tho disorderly mob was co n
posed entirely of soldiers of the United
States army. The soldiers were nearly
all colored, and were members of the
Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth United
States infantry regiments.
They began their work of destruc
tion by forcibly taking possession of
barrooms' in Fort Brook.
The mob visited the Seinmore cafe
at the end of the car line in Ybor City
and demolished everything in the
place.
Another mob broke into half dozen
saloons and the same scenes were en
acted as at Fort Brooke.
Tho provost guard and the city
police wore powerless to stop the
mob, and the disorder was continued
until after daylight, when a battalion
from the Second Georgia regiment of
volunteers was sent out with orders to
stop the rioting.
A number of shooting scrapes took
place. Four privates, all negroes, and
one officer are reported on good au
thority to have been killed. Several
other soldiers were wounded, but the
oflicers and men refuse to give the
names of the victims.
KILLED BY TORPEDO.
Fatal Accident at St. John’s Bluff, Near
Jacksonville.
A Jacksonville, Fla., dispatch says:
At St. John’s Rluff Friday morning J.
J. O’Rourke and Ed Houston, two well
known young citizens of Jacksonville,
were instantly killed, and Lieutenant
Hart, of thoUnited States engineering
oorps, was seriously injured, and a
stenographer named Baruliarm aud a
negro were also painfully hurt.
For several weeks Lieutenant Hart
has been engaged in laying mines in the
river at St. John’s Blnff. He has beeu
assisted in this work by J. J. O’Rourke
The men w«Te testing a torpedo,
when by gome unaccountable reason
O’Rourke connected the battery wire
with the firing plug instead of the
testing plug and in a moment a terrifio
explosion took place.
Houston was blown to atoms, the
only part of bis body beiug recovered
was a leg. O’Rourke was instnntly
killed,but was not very badly mutilated
and Lieutanent Hart was struck with
pieces of shell. The stenographer and
negro, too, were also struck by flying
pieces of the torpedo.
FAVOR AN INVESTIGATION.
Barbee, Smith and Stahlman Ask Sus
pension of Judgment*
A Nashville dispatch says: In con
nection with, the proposition to inves
tigate the passage of tho Southern
Methodist Publishing house claim,
the following telegram is of interest.
It was sent to a number of senators
Friday:
“Nashville, Tenn., June 10,1898.—
We hope the Lodge resolution will
pass and that a thorough investigation
may follow. We do not care to discuss
the matter now. All we ask on our
behalf, as well as the church, is that
you and other senators who supported
the claim shall suspend judgment and
refrain from comment or criticism un
til after the committee shall ho able to
show, to the satisfaction of the com
mittee and the senate, that all state
ments made by us, designed to promote
the passage of the bill, were justified
liy the facts aud circumstances of tho
case. Bakiiee & Smith.
“E. B. Stahlman.”
THE WHEAT ACREAGE.
tiuveTnmttnt Issue# Report Gathered From
Preliminary Returns.
Preliminary returns received by the
government of tho spring wheat acre
age, with the two Dakotas in partic
ular subject to revision, indicate a
total area seeded of 1(5,800,000 acres,
added to the area in winter
wheat, 26,200,000, makes a total wheat
acreage of 43,000,000, or rather over
3,500,000 acres greater than last year.
FIRED ON CABLE CUTTERS.
Spanish Gunboat Forced to Retreat By
the Marblehead.
Advices via Kingston state that
while the Yankee and tho St. Louis
were cutting tho cable at Guantanamo,
sixty miles oast of Santigo de Cuba,
Sunday afternoon, the Marblehead
fired at a small Spanish gunboat and
she returned the fire, the old-fash
ioned forts joined in the engagement,
the gunboat retreated into the harbor
and the forts were silenced by tho.
Marblehead. It is not believed that
tho Spanish gunboat was struck, as
the range was too great. The Marble
head and the Yankee returned to the
blockade at midnight.
RETORT OF SPANISH WARSHIPS
NEAR CUBA CHANCE PLANS.
MORE PROTECTION IS FURNISHED.
Soldiers Win Not Move Until the Way Is
Known to lie Absolutely
Clear of llanaer.
The reports that Spanish warships
were hovering in the vicinity of Ha
vana caused tho turning back of the
transports which had departed from
Tampa on the way to Cuba.
The reports also caused the forma
tion of another formidable Amo: ican
fleet, consisting of sixteen warships
of va ious classes, headed by tho big
battleship Indiana, to servo as a er.n
voy for the troop transports. The
navy department has not given serious
credit to those reports, yet they were
more or less circumstantial. In order
to avoid the slightest possibility of a
dash by some Spanish ships against
the troop transports, this new flert of
sixteen warships was determined upon.
Whether it was orderod from Wash
ington or was due to the precaution
ary measures of the officials in com
mand in the south l's not disclosed.
It is known only that Commodore
Remy, commander of the naval base
at Key West, brought togothor this
powerful floet of convoys. It is strong
enough, both in numbers of sliipR,
of individual ships and arma
ment, to cope with any Spanish war
ships that might be at largo in the
West Indies, and it entirely elimin
ates any possible danger that might
attend the transporting of the army of
invasion to Cuba.
Wore Umlcr Way.
The fleet of transports was under
steam Wednesday afternoon, with Gen
eral Shatter leading on his flagship.
The last troops embarked Wednesday
morning at daybreak, and by noon tbe
fleet had been arranged in line with
the convoys as an escort. The trans
ports moved to sea with the bands
playing martial airs and amid the
shouts of 28,000 soldiers.
Two hours out the Helena, that had
gone in shore for the final orders and
with dispatches, rushed to the flagship, had
and in a few minutes the ships
been signalled that the expedition had
been delayed. It was then that it was
learned that Spanish warships were in
waiting, or supposed to be, and the
determination was reached not to pro
ceed without a heavier convoy. Thus
tho delay.
The president announced to would the
cabinet meeting Friday that he
not permit tho transports to sail again
until all suspicion of Spanish vessels
in Cuban waters are removed.
. REVENUE BILL PASSES.
Sonata Acree. To llm Conference Report
On tho Measure.
The senate put the final touch on
the war revenue bill Friday by agree
ing to the conference report. Tho
_democrats,with against its adoption. eight exceptions, These votod
were op
posed particularly to the bond feature
and the emasculation of the seigniorage
provision. indicated
The debate generally that
tho bill as agreed upon by the con
ferees was reasonably satisfactory to
everybody, except as to tbe bond pro
vision.
The votes cast against the adoption
of the report reflected the opinions of
three senators who are opposed to any
increase in the interest-bearing debt
of the country. Tlie report was agreed
to by tho decisive vote of 43 to 22.
Every republican voted for the measure
and the votes were supplemented by
those of eight democrats, one silver
republican and one independent. 'The
democrats who voted for the adoption
of the measure were Caffery, Gorman
of Lindsay, McEnery, Mitchell, Mor
gan, Murphy and Turpie; the silver
republican was Mr. Mantle anil tbe in
dependent was Mr. Kyle.
The vote against the report was cast
by sixteen democrats, three silver re
publicans and three populists. Those
voting nay were: Bacon, Bate, Butler,
Gannon, Chilton, Clay, Cockrell, Dan
iel, Heitfeld, Jones of Arkansas, Jones
of Nevada, McLaurin, Martin, Mills,
Money, Pasco, Pettigrew, Pettus, Raw
lings, Roach, Sullivan, Teller.
MUST BE UNMARRIED.
No Benedict# Wanted In the Ray Regi
ment of Immune#.
There is much interest in the an
nouncement by Adjutant General
Corbin that married men will not bo
accepted in Colonel Ray’s regiment.
This is understood by some to mean
that while there is no such thing as an
immune, this regiment, having assum
ed to be so, will be treated as if com
posed of men actually enjoying immu
nity from yellow fever, and will be
put in the places most exposed to
yellow fever.
On this account, some thmk, men
with families dependent on them will
not be allowed to go as immuues.
NO. 21 .
ASK RETURN OF MONEY.
Tin. M«>t hod i.t It..oil Concern Itoantoil
By Senate uh.
• A Washington special says: The
Methodist Publishing House matter
came up in the senate Monday and
evolved a very acrimonious debate.
Senator Chandler charged that the
senate had been deceived by the Dem
ocratic senators and that the latter
should join in with the Republicans to
persuade the book concern to pay the
$288,000 back into the United States
treasury, or as much of it ns was left
after the fees had been settled.
Senator Pasco answered this indig
nantly and resented the statement that
the democrats had entered into any
scheme to deceive the senate; that
they were innocent of any deception
and had been deceived themselves.
Senator Bacon made a plain state
ment of the case and showed his con
nection with it. He said that as a
member of tbe committee of claims of
the flfty-fourth congress he had done
all in his power to have this
claim settled. He said that he was
not a member of the committee in the
fifty-fifth congress but that he worked
just as zealously for it, believing that
it was as just and us righteous a claim
as ever came before congress.
Ho had been given assurances by
Major Ktuldmau that there was no con
tract for fees, and that upon this as
surance lie lmd gone to other senators
and had assured them that they could
vote for the bill with the full con
sciousness that every cent would go to
the church.
Ho deeply resented the injustice
which had been done to him and to
other senators, and said that he had
been most grossly deceived in the
whole matter.
Senator Tillman was especially se
vere in his denunciation of the entire
matter and said that the passage of the
hill under tho circumstances was ob
taining money under false pretenses.
Senator Morgan ssid at the proper
time he would offer a resolution direct
ing the judiciary committee to inquire
as to the legality of the claim and its
final payment.
MORE FIGHTINU AT GUANTANAMO
The Missing Advance Pickets Show Fp
Safely tit Camp,
A special via Kingston says: When
the Associated Dress dispatch boat
Dauntless left Guantanamo bay after
the thirteen hours’ skirmish between
the United States marines and the
Spanish guerillas and regulars, it was
expected that (be fighting would be
renewed. The Marblehead was ’ aid
ing re-enforcements.
At !) o’clock Monday morning the
firing was again renewed by the Span
iards, who appeared oft' the camp on
the edge of a small island, about a mile
to the northeast. It was promptly re
turned by thirteen rifles and a three
inch field gun, and in a short time all
signs of the enemy had disappeared.
It was then decided by Colonel
Huntington to abandon the posi
tion first occupied as a camp, as there
were no signs of reinforcements of
troops, and it was known thnt a force
of Spaniards six times more numerous
than the marine battalion was in the
vicinity. Therefore, the crest of the
bill which the troops held was given
up to the batteries and rifle pits and
the tents were pitched on tho side of
tho hill near the harbor, which is pro
tected by the warships.
To the great delight of the marines
in camp, Lieutenants Neville and
Shaw, with thirty men of company D,
returned in good shape, but much
exhausted by eighteen hours of picket
duty. One man, Sergeant Smith, of
company K, had been shot through the
abdomen and instantly killed.
It is believed that tho Spanish cas
unities were heavy.
The battleship Texas arrived Mon
day morning and sent ashore forty
mar.nes and two automatic Colt guns
as re inforcements. The Marblehead
also sent an additional small detach
ment.
CONTROLLING THE FEVER.
Surgeon# of 1 he Army and Navy Are Taking
Kvery rreeautiou.
Surgeon Generals Sternberg, of tlie
army, and Van Reipen, of the navy,
have taken every precaution to protect
the army and navy from yellow fever.
Up to the present time neither of
them has received any report of conta
gion in either branch of the service,
nor do they feel that the present con
ditions give ground for apprehension,
although our troop ships are now in a
country infested with yellow fever.
MILLIONAIRE ADVANCES CASH.
First Regiment Of North Carolina Volun
teers In Luck.
A dispatch from Raleigh says: Juliau
S. Carr, a millionaire tobacconist of
Durham, has udvauced xnonoy out of
his private funds for the pay of tho
officers and men of the First regiment
of North Carolina volunteers, in camp
at Jacksonville, Fla., for the time they
have been in the United States service.
The amount is about $25,000. There
is no intimation as to when the gov
ernment will pay the regiment, con
sequently tho men aro rejoicing over
their good fortune.