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About The Abbeville chronicle. (Abbeville, Ga.) 1896-1953 | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1898)
The Abbeville VOL. II. Twelve Thousand People Were Witnesses of Great Event. Exultant Americans MM Ttasete Hoarse ffitl Delight as 01A Glory Was Inn Up. AFTER SURRENDER GEN. TOItAL’S SWORD WAS RETURNED BY GEN. SHAFTER. The City Is Left Temporarily In Possession of Ita Municipal Authorities, Subject to Control of General McKibben. Shafter Cables Washington. An Associated Press dispatch from. Santiago under date of Sunday at 1 o'clock p. m , says: The American flag is floating in tri umph over the governor’s palace at Santiago de Cuba. General McKibbin has been appoint ed temporary military governor. It was amid impressive ceremonies that the Spanish troops laid down their arms between the lines of tbe Spanish and American forces at 9 o’clock Sun day morning. General Shafter and the American division and brigade commauders and their staffs were-es corted by a troop of cavalry, and Gen eral Toral and his staff by 100 picked men. Trumpeters on both sides sa luted with flourishes. General Shafter returned to General Toral the latter’s sword after it had been handed the American comman der. Our troops, lined up at the trenches, were eye-witnesses of the ceremony. General Shafter and his escort, accom panied by General Toral, rode through the city, taking formal possession. The ceremony of hoisting the stars and stripes was worth all the blood and treasure it cost. A concourse' of 12,000 people wit nessed the stirring and thrilling scene that will live forever in the minds of all (he Americans present. epi A finer setting for a dramatic sode it would be difficult to imagine. The palace, a picturesque old dwelling m the Moorish stylo of architecture, fftces the Plaza de la Reina, the prin cipal public square. Opposite rises the imposing Catholic cathedral. On one , de is a quaint,brilliantly painted building, with broad verandas—the club of San Carlos—on the other a 1 Riding of much tlje same description —the Cafe de La Venus. Across the plaza was drawn up the Ninth infantry—headed by the Sixth cavalry band.' In the street the palace stood a picked troop of the Second cavalry, with drawn sabers, under command of Captain Brett, Massed on the stone flagging between the band and the line of horsemen were the brigade commanders of Gen. Sliafter’s division, with their staffs. On the red tiled roof of the palace stood Captain McKittrick, Miley and Kieutenant Wheeler; iin immediately over them, upon the flagstaff, the illuminated Spanish arms and the legend, “Viva Alfonso XIII.” All about, pressing against the veranda rails, crowding the windows and doors a-:d lining the roofs, were the people of the town, principally women and non-combatants* THE FEVER STATUS. Sixteen New Cases Among Troops and One Death. The war department at Washington posted the following at 10.30 a. m., Sunday: Stboney, via Ilnvti, July 10.—Stern berg, Washington: Sixteen new cases past twenty-four hours, one death. Sanitation measures rigid. Greenleaf, “Chief Surgeon.” CERVERA AT ANNAPOLIS. He and Oilier Spanislt Officers Quartered In Historic Town. Admiral Cervera, the recent com mander of the Spanish squadron which was destroyed off Santiago, and about forty Spanish officers, were transferred to Annapolis, Md., Satur dav and are now prisoners of war within the historic precincts of the United States Naval Academy. The auxiliary cruiser St, Louis car l-ied the foreign prisoners up Chesa peake bay. A few of the Spaniards were dressed in the Spanish uniform, but most of them were rigged out wholly or in part in duck uniforms that had been furnished them American officers. ABBEVILLE. GA.. THURSDAY, JULY 21. 1898. As the chimes of the old cathedral rang out the hour of 12 the infantry and cavalry presented arms. Every American uncovered his head and Cap tain McKittrick hoisted the stars and stripes. As the brilliant folds unfurled in a gentle breeze against a fleckless sky the cavalry band broke into the strains of “The Star Spangled Banner,” mak ing the American pulse leap and the American heart thrill with joy. At the same instant the sound of ron’s the distant battery, booming firing of salute Captain of twen- Cap- J a ty-one guns, drifted in. When the music ceased, from all directions around our lino came floating across the plaza the strains of the regimental bands and the muffled, hoarse cheers of our men. The infantry came out to “order arms” a moment Inter, after the flag was up and the baud played “Rally ’Round the Flag, Boys.” Instantly General McKinbin called for three cheers for General Shafter, 1 t which were given with great enthusi asm, the band playing the “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The ceremony over, General Shafter and his staff returned to the American lines, leaving the city in the possession of the municipal authorities, subject to the control of General McKibbin. Official Notice From Shafter. The war department posted the fol lowing at Washington at 5:15 p. m., Sunday: “Santiago de Cuba, .Tnly 17.—Ad jutant General United States Army, Washington, D. C.—I have the honor to announce that the American flag has been this instant, 12 noon, hoisted over the house of the civil government in the city of Santiago. An immense concourse of people present. A squad of cavalry and a regiment of infantry presenting arms and band playing national airs. Light battery fired salute of twenty-one guns. Perfect order is being maintained by munici pal government. little “Distress is very great; but sickness in town. Scarcely any yellow fever. A small gunboat and about 200 seumfcn left by Cervera have surren dered to me. Obstructions are being removed from mouth of harbor. “Upon coming into the city I dis covered a perfect entanglement of de fenses. Fighting as the Spaniards did the first day it would have cost 5,000 lives to have taken it. Battalions of Spanish troops have been depositing arms since daylight in armory, over which I have guard. General Toral formally surrendered the plaza and all stores at 0 a. in. “W. R. SnAFTER, “Major General.” _ _ DESTROYED SPANISH GUNBOAT, Cruiser New Orleans Plays llavoc With the Antonio Lopez. Advices from St. Thomas state that the United States cruiser New Orleans g a t ur( j a y completely destroyed the Spanish gnnboat Antonio Lopez,whose captain recently ran his vessel ashore at Silinas, near San Juan de Porto Rico, upon being chased by American vessels, while attempting to enter San Juan with a cargo of provisions and war material. THE LIST OF CASUALTIES Since Our Troops First Landed on Cuban Soil—A Remarkable Showing. According to advices from Gen. Shatter’s headquarters, the final report of casualties in the army since it land ed iu Cuba three weeks ago has been forwarded to Washington. It shows an aggregate of 1,941 officers and men killed, wounded and missing. The killed number 24C, of whom twenty one were officers; wounded, l,u8iof whom ninety-eight were officers, and missing, eighty-four, of whom none were officers. Of the wounded only sixty-eight have died. Colonel Pope, the surgeon-m-cnie _ , says this is a remarkably small num ber of fatalities. THAT SANTIAGO WAS SUHREN DERED WITHOUT A SHOT. ADMINISTRATION DICTATED TERMS Twenty Thousand Spanish Prisoners to Be Cared for Until They are Sent Back to Spain. Advices of Friday from Santiago via Kingston state that the reverses to the Spanish arms in eastern Cuba are completo. Santiago has fallen and with it all the eastern end of the island. General TornI, the Spanish command er, agreed to the general torms of the surrender at a personal interview with General Shafter Thursday afternoon, at which General Miles was present. The victorious American army, after a campaign of three weeks of almost unprecedented hardships for both offi cers and men, accepts the news witu heartfelt relief. The victory is greater than appeared at first. All the Spanish troops in the Fourth corps, the military division of Santiago province from a line drawn north from Acerraderos, eighteen miles west of Santiago, through Las Palmas, Palmas Soriaun, Alcantara to Sagua de Tanamo, on the north coast and eastward to Cape Maysi are sur rendered and the territory is abau doned. Between 18,000 and 20,000 Spanish prisoners are taken, about 10,000 of whom are in Santiago. The remainder are at Guantanamo and others are garrisoned in the towns of eastern Cuba. All these troops are to be embarked and sent back to Spain under parole, General Shafter Pleased. General Shatter bears hi* honors modestly. To n correspondent of the Associated Press he said: “Tim enemy has surrendered all the territory and troops east of Santiago, The terms were dictated from Wash ington. It has been a hard campaign, one of the hardest I ever siw. The difficulties to contend with were very great—never during our civil war were more difficult problems solved. The character of the country and the roads made it seem aimost impossible to ad vance in the face of the enemy. The transportation problem was hard, but all the difficulties have been success fully surmounted. Our troops have behaved gallantly. They fought like heroes and I am proud to command them. During all the hardships they have suffered they .have shown resolu tion and spirit. Thoy deserve to cou quer. “The resistance of the enemy has been exceedingly stubborn. General Toral has proved himself a foeman worthy “The of any man’s steel. negotiations which culminated in the surrender of General Toral have been dragging on for ten days with the intermission of Sunday and Monday, when our batteries and" fleet bombard e « the enemy’s position. Throughout these periods of truce General Toral has shrewdly played for time, always declining to surrender unconditionally and falling back when hard pressed, upon the statement that he was simply a subordinate and powerless to agree to the proposals without the sanction of his superiors except under penalty of being courtmartialed. At the same time he seemed to intimate that per sonally he thought it useless to hold out any longer. But he and his garri s °u were soldiers, he said, and could die if necessary, obeying orders.” TO GOVERN SANTIAGO Is a Problem Now Receiving tlie Atten tion of Officials. The political status of Santiago, its method of government and adminis tration, is now receiving earnest atten tion from the authorities at Washing ton, for with the acquisition of several thousand square miles of Cuban soil, with a large commercial port and har bor as its center, it becomes necessary to determine how it shall bo adminis tered. For the present it is expected that the military authorities will have direction of affairs, both at Santiago city and the outlying country, When the details of the surrender «« earned out there will be time to consider the larger question of the permanent status of this tract. THE ADULA AT SAVANNAH. Spanisli Prize Ship llrougbt Into Harbor lly I.ieutenant Anderson, A g avanna b dispatch says: “Lieu tenant u A Anderson, with a prize crew of gaven men from tiic United States cruiser Marblehead, brought the British steamship Adula, Walker, mas ter, into port Friday morning and will turn her over tQ tbe United States court to be treated as a prize. The Adula was captured on June 29th as she was attempting to run the block n(le and enter Guantanamo bay. She was without a cargo, and was chartered by J. R. Solis, a Spaniard, for tlie purpose of carrying refugees away f rom Santiago and Manzanillo. ” VESSELS TO BE WELL WITH AMMUNITION. WILL SOON BE OFF FOR SPAIN. Administration Will Leave Nothing; Un done That Will Assure Success of tlie Move, A Washington special says: Com mander Brownson, of the auxiliary cruiser Yankee, was in conference with Secretary Long Saturday, arranging for the trip of his ship with the largo cargo of ammunition for Commodore Watson’s squadron in its attack oil the coast of Spain. The Yankee is at Nor folk and will sail at once for Santiago. When she reaches her destination the big stock of ammunition will be placed aboard the battleships and cruisers. This transference of powder nnd shells is a delicate operation,requiring time, and it is probable that the week will be well along before this and the recoaling of the Yankee will permit this squadron to actually got under way for Spain, Owing to the important mission of Commodore Watson’s squadron and its possibility of long absence from an American port, every magazine wn the ships will be full when the ships sail, Admiral Sampson recently made the requisition for tho ammunition sup plies, as these had run low as a result of the engagement with tlie Cervera squadron and the frequent shelling of Santiago. Aside from a big equipment of shells the squadron is well provided with solid armor-piercing steel shot. There has been no call for a renewal of the armor-piercers, as Admiral Sampson’s fleet seems to have used very few of them thus far, confining their work to the big explosive shells. The latter, although not made for armor-piercing, are tested by the navy department to pass through four inches of solid steel, not exploding until through the steel. They have done such execution that Admiral Sampson has reserved almost his eu tiro stock of armor-piercing shells. The navy department will not set a time for the departure of Commodore Watson's squadron, but with tho de livery of the Yankee’s supply of am munition very few days will he lost before this formidable squadron will be headed for Spain. NOT AVERSE TO PEACE. President Thinks the BpujiiRh Cause I a V irtually at An I£ti<l. President McKinley has given ex pression to a strong hope for an early peace. Responding to congratulation in the success of the Santiago cam paign, he said: “I hope for early peace now.” In tho course of other interviews lie gave voice to tho same sentiment, not expressing his entire belief, but a strong hope that peace would come. The dispatch from Madrid announc ing the royal decree suspending indi vidual rights in Spain was quickly communicated to the president and was read at the cabinet meeting. As in Madrid, it was generally to mean the first move of the Spanish govern ment for a cessation of hostilities. ENGLISH PRAISE UNITED STATES. Buy We Showed Valov and Discretion in tho Santiago Affairs. The English weekly papers expresB grout satisfaction over the fall of San tiago de Cuba. Tho speaker thinks the events presages the end of the war, but describes it as “a stroke of good fortune which the Americans had no right to expect. He adds: “The termB of surrender are not dis honorable. They reflect credit upon both sides.” The Saturday Review explains its change of attitude in favor of America and declares all its original antagonism was produced by “America’s aggressive humor," while its present attitude is a somewhat “tardy but ungrudging ad mission of American courage and hu manity.” of high The paper proceeds in terms the praise of the United States ulong lines of its article a week ago. MAY ASK FOR RIDS For Transportation of JJ5,Of)0 Prisoners to Spanish Territory. A Washington dispatch says: Con cerning the transportation to Spain of tho 25,00(1 prisoners surrendered to General Shafter, Colonel Heoker, in charge of the question of transporta tion, aays that as yet no final decision has been reached. Tlie general opinion, however, is that advertisements will be published in Washington and abroad inviting proposals for the transportation of tho men to Spanisli territory. Natal’s wool production decreased 1807 20 per cent. An Agreement Finally Reached After Many Conferences. Proposition Made on Basis flint ftniik Arif Be Beni Bad to Spain Bf United Biaies Boforiom CAPITULATION EMBRACES ALL OF EASTERN CURA WITH A SPANISH ARMY CORPS. Terms of Surrender Were Previously Referred to the President and Approved—Official Notification Received From Roth Miles and Shafter—Transportation of Spanish From Cuba a Problem to he Solved. At 8 o’clock Thursday afternoon San tiago was surrendered to the Ameri. eons, General Toral giving up men and territory. During tfio morning General Toral, commanding tlio Spanish forces in Santiago do Cuba, sent a communica tion to General Shafter indicating his willingness to accept tho terms of sur render proposed nnd asking tho Ameri can commander to appoint commis sioners to meet the Spanish commis sioners to arrange to send Spanish troops back to Spain. This will be promptly done. Tho surrender of General Toral not only means the fall of Santiago, but by the termfflbf surrender the whole east ern end of the island falls into the hands of the United States without firing a shot. The surrender is to include all the Spanish troops at Santiago, Guantana mo, Caimera and Guaya, composing tho Fourth corps of the Spanish army. The portion of tlie province of San tiago do Cuba that lies east of tlie lino from Sagua, via Las Palmas, to Acer raderos, is surrendered to tho United States. General Miles Notifies Department. Tho war department received tho following dispatch from General Miles, written, apparently, before the final surrender of Santiago at 8 o’clock: “Playa dei. Este, July 14. Before Santiago, July 14.—-Secretary of War, Washington: General Toral lias for mally surrendered the troops of his army and the division of Santiago on the terms and understanding that his troops shall be returned to Spain. Geneva! Shafter will appoint commis sioners to draw up tho conditions nnd arrangements for carrying out the terms of surrender. “This is very gratifying, and Gen eral Shatter and tlie officers and men of this command are entitled to great credit for their sincerity and fortitude in overcoming the almost insuperables which they encountered. “A portion of the army has been in fected with yellow fever, and efforts will be made to separate those who are infected and tlioso free from it, and to keep those who are still on board Rhip separated from those on shore. Ar rangements will be immediately made for carrying out further instructions of tho president and yourself. Nelson A. Miles, Major General of the Army.” From General Shafter. Washington, July 14.—The adju tant general received tho following from Playa del Este Thursday: “Adjutant General, Washington: Have just returned from interview with General Toral. He agrees to surrender upon the basis of being re turned to Hpain. This proposition embraces all of eastern Cuba, from TO MOVE FEVER PATIENTS. Those in Cuba Will Be Hurried to Diy Tortuous. Rush orders have just been sent to the army officials to turn Dry Tortugas over to the marine hospital service. Twenty-four hours are given to tho garrison of colored troops there to got to Key West. Dr. Wyman will re-eslablish tho quarantine system there and receive all yellow fever cases from ships com ing from Santiago. No vessels will be allowed to touch at any harbor un til it has gone through a strict quaran tine at Tortugas. A cable is being laid between that point and Key West. NO. 26. Accorradoros on the south to Sagua on tlie north via Palma, with practically the fourth army corps. Commission ers meet thiH afternoon at 2:30 to de finitely arrange the terms. “Shafter, Major General.” The fall of Santiago brought rejoic ing nnd a feeling of great relief to tho officials from the president down. There had been so many disappoint ments nnd tho fever advices were so alarming that the news of the surren der was thrice welcome when it came. While Santiago’s copittilation is good news, the officials realize that the bat tle in eastern Cuba lias just begun. As compared with the yellow fever, tlie Spanish army is nothing. General Alger states that everything possible will be done to isolate those who have been exposed to the fever nnd to keep it from spreading. The authorities realize that they have n big contract on their hands, however, and would not be surprised if the nows from about Santiago during tho next few weeks is not particularly cheering. They will, so far ns possi ble, send the men to comparatively lioaltliy localities and will send tho First and Second regiments of im muues to garrison the city. A Problem to Solve. One of the biggest problems facing the war department is that of furnish ing transportation for tlie Spanish army, which they liave on their hands. The army has use for all its transports in the Porto Rico expedition, which is to bo pushed forward at once. The authorities have determined to advertise fo. - ships of foreign lines to act as transports, but it is considered doubtful whether thoy will succeed in getting any, because of the fear of fever infection. What will be done in that emergency the secretary of war does not attempt, to say. The prospect is one the authorities do not euro to contemplate. As for tho men now in Cuba, they are not to ho brought hack until all possibility of their bringing yollow fever is past. Tho war depart ment officials give assurance that no chances will be taken in this respect, and that the interests of southern ports will be carefully guarded. , CRANK MAKES DISCOVERY. GrjUinm Credits Dewey’* Great Victory to ttngllHli Gunners. A London dispatch says: Mr. Cun ningham Graham, former member of parliament who wrote u scries of arti elos most insulting to Americans, in the Westminster Gazette, has written a letter to tho St. James Gazette, which was published Thursday that the ex cellent gunnery exhibited by Admiral Dewey’s squadron was due to the fact that “most of the gunners were En glishmen,” who were “decoyed from our Chinese squadron by promises of $500 monthly.” this matter Mr. Graham urges that he brought to the attention of parlia ment. INVASION OF PORTO RICO. Every Detail Has Been Prepared For the Kmbavkailon. General Brooke has been ordered to Washington to get final orders and in structions regarding the invasion of Porto Rico. The expedition is ar ranged and every detail prepared for embarking, with tho sole exception as to what troops will be withdrawn from Santiago. Tampa within The troops will leave one week, it is said authoritatively at the war department. to Cuba No more troops will be sent save two regiments of immunes from New Orleans and Galveston.
