J
JL. J a
VOL. VIII.
Fourteen American
CAPE HAYTIEN, May 31. A dispatch, which has just been received from San
tiago, states that the American squadron, under Commodore Schley, which has been
blockading the port for a number of days, began to bombard the fortifications at 2 o'clock
this afternoon, the evident intention being to reduce them in order to get at Cervera's
squadron, which is at anchor in the bay. ' ' .
The American fleet comprised fourteen vessels. The dispatch says that among the
attacking vessels was one which seemed to be the New York, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral
Sampson.
There is great excitement in Santiago. The, Spanish residents fearing that the
Americans will soon be in possession of the city, when the firing commenced, many of the
men, whose sj'mpathies were with the rebels, started for the insurgent lines, which are but
a short distance from the town, to offer their services. 1 '
The fighting began just about 2 p. m., when the signal to begin the battle was set
on the Brooktyn. Owing to the height of the hill on which Morro Castle is situated it was
impossible for the Americans to run in close to the shore and elevate their guns to a suf
ficient height to do any great amount of damage.
THE BDMBARDMBNT
OF SANTIAGO DE COM
The Battle Lasted But Fifty-Five Minutes-The
Cannonading Was Terrible.
THE AMERICAN FIRE WAS VERY EFFECTIVE
Little Damage Was Done to Our Fleet
Bianco Says He is Pleased With the
Result-Spanish Loss of Life Was
Undoubtedly Large.
NEW YORK, June 1.
t
C
C
C
C
t
tonight that Schley resumed
Santiago batteries and Moro fort today. Up to mid
night, however, nothing further has been learned that $
would confirm the report.
Kingston, Jamaica, June 1. By the
dispatch boat from Santiago. The outer
defenses at Santiago are practically in
rains. Yesterday the battleahipB Iowa,
and Massachusetts and cruiser New
Orleans, the laster with her immense
long English 8-inch gnns, engaged the
batteries and also Cervera's flagship, the
Crietobal Colon.
The batteries were practically silenced
after which the American ships retired
without having once been hit, and with
no casualties on board them.
Schley determined on Sunday to learn
definitely whether Cervera's squadron
was at Santiago or not, and thereupon
sent the cruiser Marblehead in close to
Morro castle. She went swiftly up and
got within the range of the gum of the
castle. The officers on board got a good
view of the harbor as far as Panta Gorda
THE DALLES. WASCO COUNTY,
Warships Open Fire on the Fortifications The Forts Respond
Said to Have Entered the HarborMany Inhabitant Flee
A. report is current here
the bombardment of the
- $
and saw fonr Spanish cruisers and two
torpedoboat destroyers lying behind the
batteries between Smith coy . and Cbur
rnca point. In addition to these was the
old cruiser Keina Mercedes, moored
broadside. .
On making her discovery tbe Marble
headturned about and steamed swiftly
back to the squadron with the news.
Schley was elated and determined to be
gin the attack at once.
. Yesterday he discovered a portion of a
new masked battery recently construct
ed near the entrance to the harbor.
At noon Schley transferred his flag
from tbe Brooklyn to the Massachusetts,
which led tbe way, followed by the New
Orleans and Iowa in tbe order named,
six hundred feet apart. They started
across the entrance to tbe harbor, - well
off shore and about two and a half
miles from Morro fort. Two miles far
tber out stood the rest of the fleet anx
iously waiting the outcome and -disappointed
at not being in the fight.
Tbe Massachusetts opened the fire on
tbe Colon, using the forward 8-inch
guns on tbe port side, then following
with her 13-inch rifle. The concnesioc
of the latter was something terrific and
caused the waters to vibrate and the
ships to tremble. -
The Colon and four batteries, two on
the east, one on tbe west side, and one
on Smith Coy, replied. They need 10
and 12-inch Krupp gnns, while the
shells from the warships were 13, 12, 8
and 6-inch.
The first shots fired by both sides went
w' "o American fleet passed twice
betoro the batteries at full speed. On
tbe second round they got their range
and nearly every shot landed. Morro
Fort was struck time and time again,
tearing great rents in the walls and
sending skywards great masses of guns
and masonry that fell back into the
ruins with great crashes. The lower
batteries suffered equally as well. .
On the .second round eeveral shells
burst over the Iowa, and three fell near
tbe New Orleans. One shell exploded
in front of the Massachusetts, but did
no damage. After the firing had lasted
fort) ' minutes, tbe fire from three
of tbe Spanish batteries was silenced,
the fortifications having practically been
demolished. ' Five minutes later the
shipB ceased firing. For twenty minutes
longer the Colon and a battery on tbe
western shore kept up a weak fire, but
all shots fell wide of the mark. 'The
battle last fifty-five minutes.
A shot from tbe Iowa which struck
the Colon apparently set her on fire, but
tbe flames were quickly extinguisbed.
The Colon fired the laet shot.
The only newspaper dispatch boats
which witnessed the engagement,' were
those of the New York Sun and Journal.
They steamed along side of three of the
vessels when '. "iey came out of the action
and obtaineo ..ue story of the fight. No
body was hurt and no damage whatever
had'been done. It is impossible to state
the Spanish loss, but the officers said !
that it must have been heavy. ..
Sampson's squadron, including tbe
battleship Oregon, is expected to arrive
off Santiago tomorrow, Thursday. .'
Spanish Version of the Fight.
New York, Juns 1. A dispatch from
a Spanish correspondent in Havana says
that Blanco has received full details of
the figLt at Santiago, and sent an official
dispatch to Madrid saying 'that ten
American battleships and cruisers yes
terday at 2:15 began the bombardment
OREGON,. SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 1898.
Consequently the big ships with rifles stood some distance off the shore from where
they could pour in more effective discharges, while the smaller vessels nearer the shore de
voted their attention to the sand and mortar batteries on the" shore beneath Morro Castle.
By standing off shore the big vessels had plenty of water to maneuver in when they
passed ,to and fro, before the entrance to the harbor.
Some of the s'hells from the big rifles went clear over Morro Castle landing in the
other fortifications on the same side of the entrance. Thousands of persons, when they
found that the shells did not reach the city, went to points of vantage where they could
witness part of the bombardment.
The '. sound of the bombardment was deafening, but whether or not the Americans
entered the bay ; t known. It is reported they did, but this is doubted, as it is scarcely
supposed Schley. , aid attempt to run the forts, through a channel which is known to be
filled .with mines. It may be that Schley did enter the harbor for a short distance, and is
now awaiting a more favorable opportunity to proceed up the bay and engage the Spanish
warships. It is certain that the ferocity ceased shortly after 4:00. Just before it ceased,
the cannonading was the heaviest of the day.
of Morro castle, and the batteries Soca
pa and Panta Gorda later replied, as did
also the Cristobal Colon, which was an
chored in front of the Panta Gorda. Tbe
enemy fired sixty to seventy shots with
out causing the least damage.
The bombardment lasted from three
to four hours, the Americans finally
withdrawing with damages to an aux
iliary cruiser. Two grape shots explod
ed on the poop deck of the Iowa, while
another armored snip caught fire. The
naval commander at Santiago wired to
Blanco that he was immensely pleased
with the result of the bombardment.
Havana is wild with enthusiasm. A
performance was suspended at tbe Al
bise theater to announce tbe result,
whereupon there was great cheering.
A11 houses are' decorated with banners,
and everywhere immense enthusiasm is
shown.
TRANS-MISSISSIPPI
EXPOSITION OPEN
President McKipley Pressed the Magic
. Button at Washington.
Omaha, June 1. Amid the music of a
hundred bands, tbe cheers of hundreds
of thousands of people, the blast of
many whistles and tbe waving of in
numerable flags, the- trans-Missieslppi
exposition was" dedicated this morning.
Nothing occurred to mar tbe occasion.
At 9:30 o'clock the great civic parade
started on its march from the center of
the city to the grounds. The parade
was three miles long. Eev. Dr. "Nichols
of St. Louie, opened the exercises st the
grounds with an appeal to "He who
doeth all things well" to shower his
blessings on the enterprise of the people
of tbe trans-Miepiseippi region, espec
ially. President G. W. Wattles, Hon.
John L. WebBter, of Onu-ha, and John
J. Baldwin, of Council Bluffs, eulogized
tbe occaston. . ,
; President McKinley addressed the as
sembled multitude by long-distance tel
ephone, touched the magic button and
the exposition was dedicated.
Sutro May PoaslDly KecoTer.
San Francisco, May 31. It is stated
that there is a possibility ot Adolph Su
tro partly recovering hia health, not
withstanding that his physicians bave
pronounced his mental and physical
condition incurable. Today he was able
to sit by a window and watch the pass
ing of a body of troops. He also die
cussed business matters on which for
some time his mind baa been a blank. ,
With Little Damage
From the City.
SPANIARDS WANT
. VOLUNTEERS
Offer Prizes to Natives Dewey's Offi
cers Training Aguinaldo's Men
Spaniards Taught a Lesson.
Hong Kong, May 31. The late Span
ish governor of Cavite and 2,000 men are
at San Roque,five miles from Cavite and
Malabon. They are offering prizes for
native volunteers, aud have won Aguin
aldo's cousin, Baldemero, by making
him general. -
Aguinaldo's men are being trained by
Dewey's naval officers. Aguinaldo offers
to fight with machettes only, if Dewey
gives the word, and no one questions bis
bravery and patriotism. All the Chi
nese shops in Manila have been closed.
The Hong Kong government will ex
plain the temporary seizure and search
of United States Consul Wildman's
launch.
Admtral Dewey has had to teach the
Spanish forces in Manila another Bharp
lesson. He had promised that if the
Spaniards refrained from strenghtening
their defences,' be would not do any
bombarding. One week ago Spaniards
were observed violating their pledge,
and Admiral Dewey fired a shot over
their heads as a warning. Nobody was
hart, and the work on the' fortifications
was stopped immediately. '
THE PHILIPPINES .
ARE OURS
Laws for the Government of the Island
Being Prepared Effect From a
Commercial Standpoint
Washington, June 1. The treasuiy
officials, who are charged with tbe doty
of preparing rules and ; regulations for
tbe customs and ' internal revenue ser
vice in the Philippine Islands, have al
ready encountered many serious difficulties.-
It Is very easy to say that the
same laws which fit the United States
proper can readily be adapted to any of
the colonics which this country may ac
quire; but this very easy theory is diffi
cult to work out practically. The con
dition of affairs in the Philippines is so
radically different In every respect from
that which prevails in this country, that
NUMBER 31.
to the Fleet-Schley
should the islands be permanently ac
quired it will be necessary to adopt a -code
of laws absolutely dissimilar to -those
in successful operation within the -confines
of the republic itself. It is un
derstood very generally that the princi- -pal
reason for European opposition to
the acquisition of the Philippines by tbe -United
States arises from the fear that
this country may put these very laws,
into force in her new possessions.
Such a course could have but one
effect, and that would be to give Ameri
can manufacturers the practical monop-
oly of the trade of the entire group, for,,
of course, If the Philippines become a
portion of tbe United States and the
same laws which apply here are made'
to fit there, imports from the Philip
pines will all come Into the United
States entirely free of duty, and vice,
versa.
On the other hand, the custom laws
of this country applied toits new colo
nial possession, would form a barrier
against foreign trade, and would un
doubtedly result in embarrassing trade
arrangements which have existed for
many years.
It is the knowledge of these facts that
has retarded the movements of the
treasury people, and it is this same
knowledge that has induced many lead.
ers of the house to unsuccessfully try to
secure from the administration some
expression as to tbe ultimate intention
of the government concerning the future
of the Philippines.
BRYAN'S TROOPS
ACCEPTED
His Regiment Will Go to the Philippines
The Decision Based on a Dis
position to Be Fair With Bryan.
Washington, June 1. The govern
ment has definitely decided to accept
Bryan's Nebraska regiment. . The de
cision was based on a disposition to be
.fair with Bryan and also to remove all '
cause for criticism in which his parti
sans indulge. It is understood that the '
regiment will be sent to tbe Philippines
to guard outlying islands of that group,
or else to the Lad rone or Marine islands,
if the United States decides to take pos
session of the latter. "
Sailor on the Cruiser Boston III.
Hong Kong, ' Ma? 31. According to
Manila advices dated May 27th, there ia
serious illness on board the United States
cruiser Boston. It is believed that the
Spaniards poisoned the-fish.
The anti-British demonstrations at
Manila are intensifying. Tbe quern's .
portraits are insulted, and all foreigner!
are preparing to take refuge at Cavite.