Oregon City courier. (Oregon City, Or.) 1896-1898, May 20, 1898, Image 2

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    Oregon City Goofier.
A. W. OKKKXT, rnblUher.
OREGON CITY OREGON
DOINGS OF THE WEEK
A Complete Review of the Telegraphic;
Newt of This and All For
eign Lands
The North German Gazette of Berlin
nays it learns the insurgents of tbe
Philippine islands have secured all the
arm s stored at Cavite arsenals.
A Madrid dispatch says it is reported
that a strong military expedition is be
ing organized at Cadiz and that it will
shortly proceed to the Philippine islands
escorted by the Cadiz fleet
The war department's plans for an
immediate Invasion of Cuba have been
materially changed by the news cJ the
presence of the Spanish fleet in West
Indian waters. It will delay the move
ment for a time. .
The Spanish fleet sighted off Mar
tinique is said to have consisted of five
large warships and two torpedo-boats.
Tbe American squadron near San
Juan includes Sampson's six strongest
warships, the New York, Iowa, Cin
cinnati, Indiana, Detroit and May
flower. The transport steamer Gussie, which
left Key West with a big expedition for
Cuba Wednesday night, had a lively
engagement with the Spanish at
Cabanas, province of Pinar del Bio, but
succeeded in accomplishing her mission.
The Gussie carried 7,000 rifles and a
large amount of ammunition for the
Cubans. A later report says the Cu
bans failed to meet the Gussie, and
she did not affect a landing.
Chaos reigns at Nuevitas, Cuba.
Every boat in tbe harbor has been
jammed into the narrow channel to be
sunk at tbe first sign of attack. Two
thousand soldiers guard the entranoe,
13 miles from the city. The Spanish
commander told the starving citizens
to go into the country, as he could not
feed them. Many soldiers are joining
the insurgents to get food. Condi tons
at Puerto Principe are still worse.
A Washington special says: A big
surprise awaits tbe Spanish admiral if
he sails for Martinique. There he is
apt to find a new squadron, composed of
the Oregon, Marietta, Buffalo, Nich
theroy, Montgomery, Yale and St
Louis. An order has been sent to Ad
miral Sampson to effect a Junction with
Captain Clark and then remain near
Martinique. Under orders the Oregon
, hag been making rapid time since she
left Bahia.
The whereabouts of the Spanish Cape
Verde fleet has at last been definitely
ascertained. Secretary Long has re
ceived advices from Martinique, Wind
ward islands, that it had been sighted
to the westward of that island. Upon
receipt of this information Long imme
diately ordered Commodore Schley, at
Hampton roads, to put to Bea with the
flying squadron. It is believed that the
squadron has been sent in pursuit of
the Spanish fleet
The end of the severed Manila cable
in said to be on board an American war
vessel.
The Spanish "official" version of the
bombardment of San Juan is that tin
American fleet was gloriously beaten
back.
Germany has Intimated to the United
States, it is said in London, that she
expects to have a voice in the disposi
tion of the Philippine islands.
A boarding-house burned in Chicago
and three of the inmates lost their
lives, while four other were injured.
A number of narrow escapes are re
ported. A Washington correspondent Bays
that Admiral Dewey has had Instruc
tions sent him from Washington order
ing the immediate destruction of all
Spanish warships and fortifications at
the Philippines.
Spain is overrun with plottors,
Weylorites, Carlists and Republicans
re each striving to raise a revolt.
Their latest so he me is to obstruct pro
cedure in parliament, so that the people
will be in an explosive mood when the
next Spanish reverse shall occur.
Four of the mon killed on the Wins
low were laid at rest in the city ceme
tery at Key West. Thoy were buried
in the shallow lime rock, Bide by side
with the graves of the victims of the
Maine. The body of Ensign Bugle
was sent home for interment
There is a suspicion in Washington
that Freuohnion wore behind the guns
t Cardenas Wednesday. It is said
they shot too well for Spaniards. An
inquiry is probable, and if the suspicion
proves to be well grounded, complica
tions may ensue between the United
States and France over the incident.
A column of 5,000 Spaniards started
for Moron, Cuba, carrying a flag of
truce. When fired upon by the insur
gents, the commander sent word that
he was no longer making war upon the
Cubans, but was going to the const to
fight the Americans. Genetal Lope
replied: "Spain cannot fight the United
States without fighting us, Their war
is ours." Then he again opened fire,
The Spaniards lost U00 men iu four
days' march to the sea.
Minor Nirt Items.
The entire gang of train robbers who
held up the Santa Fee train near Oro
Grand, Cat., has been lodged in jail.
On the Yukon, at a distance of from
700 to 800 miles from the sea, there are
many points where the river is 30
miles wide.
Col. William Ayers, who died at his
residence in Philadelphia, enjoved the
distinction of . having been the first
union prisoner who was exchanged dui
iug the rebellion.
LATER vNEWS.
A force of telegraphers is to accom
pany the Manila expedition.
Crispi, tbe Italian statesman, says
England's motives in seeking an alli
ance are purely selfish.
As a result of General Merritt's pro
test that regulars instead of volunteers
were needed ior the Philippine expedi
tion, three regiments of troops now at
Tampa will likely be sent to Manila.
The Cubans are joining the Spanish
army. Insurgent sympathizers have
received instructions not to resist
Blanco's conscription order, and
Blanco's army thus is being filled with
Spain 8 enemies.
Andrew Carnegie, in an interview,
says war is likely to be quickly ended,
and that peace will be in sight within
ten days. Permanent retention of Jthe
Philippines he does not think advisable
for prudential reasons.
The Spanish1 people have a new objeot
of wrath. England is execrated upon
all sides and by all classes at Madrid,
and the feeling against Britishers is in
tense. Chamberlain's alliance speech
is the cause of the outburst.
Don Ignaclo de la Torre, son-in-law
of President Diaz, of Mexico, is touring
the United States. It is understood
that the object of the visit is to impress
on the people of the United States that
Mexico is in sympathy with this coun
try during the present war with Spain.
Preparations for the relief expedition
to be sent to the Philippines are being
hurried in both the military and navy
departments, says the Madrid corre
spondent of the New York World. Five
battalions, each 1.S0U men, under eight
officers, are assembled at Cadiz, Barce
lona and Valencia, all ready, or will be
ready for embarkation this weok.J
A dispatch from Havana is to the
effoot that an American war vessel en
gaged in removing torpedoes at Cardenas
was blown up, and that the entire crew
perished. The report is confirmed at
Madrid in a dispatch from Havana
which says a naval boat has been blown
np off Cardenas, resulting in the loss
of 170 lives. The United States fleet
officers off Havana harbor have not
heard of it.
Evidence that a meeting between the
Spanish Cape VerdeB squadron and that
of Sampson or Schley, possiblyjboth, is
imminent is contained in a special dispatch.-
from . Washington, which an
nounces that Spain's fleet in the Carib
bean sea is to be mot by, a United
States squadron. Preparations are be
ing made to effect a junction of Bear
Admiral Sampson's and the flying
squadrons with all possible dispatch.
The continued presence in Canada of
Senor Polo y Bernabe, . late Spanish
minister to this country, and the recent
reports which reach here of his activity
there in behalf of the Spanish oause,
have given rise to the suggestion in
Washington that it might be a proper
proceeding on the part of this govern
ment to direct tbe attention of the
British government to the ex-minister's
course, as a violation of the neutrality
laws, '
Spanish prisoners are being closely
guarded. Officers as well as privates
are kept under surveilance at Fort Mo
Pherson. Astoria celobrated the opening of the
Astoria & Columbia Biver railroad by
sending an excursion of 16 cars to
Portland.
More soldiers are needed for service.
Theie is a strong probability that the
president will soon issue a oall for 100,
000 additional volunteers.
The war revenne bill has been called
up in the senate, Allison presented it
and made a staternont to the effect that
the bill will produce $150,000,000 an
nually. ' The New York correspondents im
prisoned in Fort Cabanas in Cuba are
saved. General Blanco has courteously
acceded to an exchange, which will be
made at once.
John Leo, of Birmingham, Ala., shot
three men to show that he was not
afiaid of the Spaniards. He became
enraged upon being twitted upon his
alleged lack of courage.
It is said ttie president has decided
to abandon the peaceful blockade, and
instead has issued oiders to bombard
evory fort until Spain's guns are
silenced.
French officials deny the charge of
violating the neutrality laws. The
minister of marine declares he ha9 heard
nothing of permission having been
given the Spanish fleet to coal at the
island of Martinque.
The Spanish cabinet has resigned in
a body. Sagasta is charged with the
duty of organizing a new one, whose
war policy is to be more vigorous. The
chambers have been asked to suspend
their sessions pending theBolutlon.
The Inst of Oregon's quota of volun
teers have departed for San Francisoo.
They were given an ovation on their
departure from Portland, business
houses having been closed to permit
employes to bid their, friends and
brothers good bye.
An oflloial announcement just issued
by the governor of the island of St
Thomas prohibits the delivery of coal
to the warships of the belligerent row
era without previous permission of the
governor, who will determine the
amount each vessel may receive and
who will supervise Us delivery.
The United States government has
established censorship of telegrams,
forbidding the transmission of code
messages to or from Havana,
The oldest house in Pennsylvania has
been damaged by fire in Chester. It
was built iu 1008 and wai long used as
a tavern, and later as a playhouse.
Umleigronnd London contains 8,000
miles of sewers, 84,000 miles of tele
graph wires, 4,530 miles of water
mains, 8,300 miles of gas pipes, all
definitely fixed.
NEARLY ALL IN
Eighty Thousand Vol
unteers at Mobil
izing Points.
MUSTER IS ALMOST COMPLETE
Rejected Volunteer Will Receive Trans
portation and Food General Merrltt
Credited' With Making a Remarkable
Statement.
Washington, May 18. Beports re
ceived by Adjutant-General Corbin up
to 10 o'cock tonight indicate that 80,
000 volunteers have been mobilized in
the service. Unless something unfor-
seen ocours, all of the 125,000 volun
teers will have been mustered into
service, and be in their permanent
camps or en route thereto by the end
of the week.
All day inquiries have been pouring
in from governors of states as to
whether the department would pay the
expense of and allow per diem com
pensation to tbe men who responded
to the governor's call and were subse
quently rejeoted by the examining
officers. A decision has been reached
that the government will pay trans
portation and subsistence of all reject
ed recruits, previous to their rejection,
including transportation and subsist
ence from the state camp to their
homes. No per diem will, however,
be allowed, as the men were not in the
United States army. The various
states will have to bear the pex diem
expenses.
Wants Regular Troops.
New York, May 18. The Tribune
today says: Major-General Wesley
Merritt may not go to the Philippines
in command of the troops to be sent to
the assistance of. Bear-Admiral Dewey.
In an interview last night General
Merritt Bald:
"I may not go to the Philippines at
all. It is proposed to give me 15,000
men, only 1,000 of them regulars, and
the rest volunteers, and those from the
Northwest, who have had little oppor
tunity for training and discipline.' I
have asked the department for at least
4,000 regular troops, for I believe they
will be required. There will be no op
portunity to train the volunteer forces
before they start or after they get to
Manila. I want enough disciplined
troops so that the whole body will be
as effective as possible."
"Are you going to Washington to see
about this matter?"
"No; I am sending an office I had
conversation with Dr. Bourns; of At
lanta, who is familiar with the Philip
pines, and came on to see me, and he
and Colonel Hughes will go to Washing
ton together. The only way I could get
more regulai troops would be to take
them from the army now in Florida for
Cuban invasion; but I feel that I do
not want to go on this expedition unless
I have an entirely adequate force, and
at least five regiments of regular
troops."
The department promises to send
men, but history and experience show
that in such expeditions all depends
upon the first force sent. How can the
Charleston start if there are no men
ready? General Otis may be willing to
go on withont four or more regiments
of regular troops and take only 1,000
trained men, with 14,000 undisciplined
ones, but I am not. I do not propose
to go withont a force that is suitable
to my rank. I shall stay right here if
I do not go to the Pbilippnes. I do not
expect anything will be done in the
matter nntil it is certain what I am to
have for the purpose of the expedition."
IHerrlam In Charge.
San Francisoo, May 18. Major-Gen-eral
Merriam, commanding the depart
ments of California and the Columbia,
arrived from Vancouver barraoks this
morning, accompanied by his aid, Lieu
tenant Bennett. He at once assumed
charge of all arrangements for dispatch
ing the troops for the Philippine
islands.
Seven Lives Loss In a Quebec Blase.
St. Hyaointhe, Quebec, May 18. A
disastrous tiro occurred here tod a v.
The Materle St Joseph was burned,
causing the loss of seven lives and the
injury cf a number of inmates, of
whom there were 200 in the institu
tion, by jumping from the windows.
Thore are also five persons unaccount
ed for. The cause of the fire is un
known. The dead are: Two boys
named Boucheman, Sisters Alexandrian,
Philippina and DesGagnes; Mrs. Guer
tin, boarder; Mrs. Dunohann, of Fall
Biver, Mass. The missing are: Maria
Millette, servant; Noflette Meuncie,
servant; Mrs. Berthiaume, boarder;
Sisters Bouvier and Ange.
Heavy Railroad Robbery.
Paris, May 18. A package contain
ing over 600,000 francs in securities
and gold was stolen this morning from
a car of the Paris, Lyons & Mediter
ranean railroad. There is no clew to
the thieves.
Strategy Hoard's lHtttoult Problem
London, May 17. It is considered
in London that the Washington board
of strategy has a difficult problem to
solve on account of the mysterious
movements of Cervera's squadron,
every alleged detail of which is now re
garded with the utmost suspicion. It
is recognized that Spain's strategy will
do her no good in the end, but also that
the war will be more prolonged than
was at first expected, and that the in
vasion of Cuba may prove a difficult
matter.
BY BULLETIN ONLY.
Secretary Long Curtails the Supply ol
Information.
Washington. May 18. An order was
posted this morning, signed by Secre
tary Long, relative to the publication
of news emanating from the navy de
partment, considerably curtailing the
supply of information that has hereto
fore been rather freely given out The
secretary's order was directed to Cap
tain Crowninshield, chief of the navi
gation bureau, and he in turn gave it
out by making an order in his own
name, that no person connected with
his bureau in any capacity should have
any conversation whatever on subjects
in any way pertaining to the navy with
representatives of the press. As an
offset, it was ordered that bulletins of
such acts as have actually occurred and
are proper for publication and are not
connected with existing or projected
movements, shall be prepared and post
ed on the bulletin boaid.
The sum total of the information
published by the bulletin board today
under this rule was a notice of the in
tention to start the Philippine expedi
tion, and of the permission given to
some foreign neutral vessels to pass the
blockade at Havana.
In explanation of the issuance ot this
order, the naval authorities say that
some . leading American newspapers
have been so far lacking in patriotism
as to print plans of campaign and pro
jected movements of naval ships, with
the result that the war board has been
obliged to completely revise its plans,
in the knowledge that the Spanish had
promptly taken notice of the publica
tions, and were prepared to profit by
them.
OFFICIAL INFORMATION.
'Dewey Advised That Troops Will Soon
Ue en Route.
Washington, May 18. The naval de
partment issued the following bulletin
today, embodying such official informa
tion of the day as the department re
garded proper for publication:
Admiral Dewey was informed that
officers, men and supplies would be
sent out to Manila by the City of
Peking. About 1,200 troops will go.
Mr. Knight, correspondent ' of the
London Times, having received the
neoessdry permission from the Spanish
government to land at Havana, if en
tering the port -by- a neutral vessel,
has been granted permission by the
navy department to take passage by the
German steamer Polaria, whioh vessel
is given permission to pass the block
ade. The department hopes to make
an exchange of prisoners at an early
date.
The British steamer Myrtle Dean
has been granted permission to go to
Cardenas, as was previously granted to
the Norwegian vessel Folsio.
The Austrian man-of-war, Empress
Maria Teresa, will visit Cuban ports,
LATEST FROM FRANCE.
Not Anxious to Incur Our IU-WIU-Charges
England With Mischief.
Paris, May 18. The Journal des
Debarts, in a long article today, re
flects the anxiety experienced in gov
ernment circles here respecting the
feeling aroused in America on account
of France's open sympathy with Spuin.
It says:
"The whole affair is a misunder
standing. French opinion at the out
set of the war certainly regarded the
United States in the wrong, and some
of the papers express this opinion in
an aggressive tone. The Americans,
however, Bhould not have taken the
matter tragically, for of all foreigners,
our natural sympathies are for the
United States, and our government
throughout has acted most correctly."
After oharging Great Britain with
being at the bottom of the misohief,
and declaring that it is America's busi
ness, if she decides to interfere in dis
tant affairs, the article concludes:
"What concerns us is that America
should not, in taking up the question
of international domain, start with
preconceived ideas against us, and de
nounce the good understanding with
France which has been so useful in the
past, and which is still more desirable
in the future. The French nation
was never really hostile to the Ameri
cans, who will realize this when the
present friotion has had time to disap
pear." Tempting Fate.
London, May 18. A dispatch to the
Standard from Corunna says: The
presence of the British channel squad
ron at Villagarier is likely to lead to
some unpleasantness. The idea of an
Anglo-Americau alliance has so in-
named the Spaniards that the postmen
from the fleet when on shore to collect
letters have been hooted and stoned
Threats have been made to stop the
supply of provisions to the fleet. The
British consul protested to the alcalde,
who explained that the popular resent
ment was due to a belief in the exist
ence of an alliance, and to the further
impression that the fleet took wheat
that properly belonged to the poor.
Sherman's Son a Chaplin.
Chicago, May 18. Eev. Thomas Ew
ing Sherman, of the Society of Jesus,
counected with St. Ignacius' church,
has been appointed chaplain of the
Fourth regiment, Missouri National
Guard. Almost all the men of the
regiment are Catholics. Father Sher
man is the son of General V. T. Sher
Thousands Killed In a Cyclone.
London, May 18. A dispatch to tbe
Standard from The Hague says: Ao
cording to a private telegram from In
dia, a terrible cyclone has destroyed a
great part of Bima, a seaport town of
the island of Sumbawa, Malay arcbi
epelago. The shores of Sumbawa bay
are covered with the bodies of thousands
of victims. The town of Kupang,
island of Timor, escaped the force of
the hurricane.
COT THE CABLE
allant Work of Tars
Under Fire of
Cienfuegos.
ONE KILLED, SIX WOUNDED
Finished the Work In Spite of Terrible
Volleys From Shore Spanish Loss
Known to Have Been Heavy Forts
at Harbor Entrance Reduced.
Key West, May 17. Amid a perfect
storm of shot from Spanish rifles and
batteries, the American forces cut the
cable at Cienfuegos Wednesday morn
ing. Four determined boat crews, un
der command of Lieutenant Winslow
and Ensign Margruder from the cruiser
Marblehead, and the gunboat Nash
ville, put out from the ships, the coast
having previously been shelled.
The work of the volunteers was per
ilous. The cruiser Marblehead and the
gunboat Nashville and the auxiliary
cruiser Windom drew np 1,000 yards
from shoie with their guns manned
ready for desperate duty. One cable
had already been out, and the work
was in progress on the other when the
Spaniards in rifle pits and a battery on
a point Btanding out in tbe bay opened
fire.
The warships poured in a thunderous
volley, their guns belohing forth mas
sive shells into the swarms of the ene
my. The crews of the boats calmly
proceeded with their desperate work,
notwithstanding the fact that a num
ber had fallen, and finished it, return
ing to the ships through a blinding
smoke and a heavy fire.
One man in a Marblehead boat was
killed, and six were seriously wounded;
one of whom, Bobert Boltz, is now at
Key West, and is expected to die before
morning, a bullet having passed
through the base of his brain. Harry
Hendrickson, who also may die, was
shot through the abdomen.
More than 1,000 infantrymen on shore
kept up a continuous fire, and the bul
lets from the machine guns struck the
warships 100 times, but did no great
damage. Commander Maynard, of the
Nashville, was slightly wounded by a
rifle bullet, that, before striking him,
passed through the arm of an ensign,
whose name is unknown. Lieutonant
Winslow was shot in the hand, mak
ing three officers wounded in all.
When the Spanish had been driven
from the rifle pits, many of them took
refuse in the lighthouse fortress, upon
which the fire of the ships had been
centered. A 4-inch shell from the
Windom tore the struoture to pieces,
killing many and burying others in the
ruins. The Spansih loss is known to
Lave been very heavy, the warships
firing hundreds of shot and shell right
into their midst -
Following , is a list of the badly
wounded:
Herman " W. Kuchneizter, private
marine, shot through the jaw, probably
fatal; Harry Hendrickson, seaman,
shot through the liver, probably fatal;
Lrnest Suntenic, apprentice, fracture
of right leg; John J. Doran, boats
wain's mate, gunshot wound in right
buttock; John Davis, gunner's mate,
wound in right leg; William Levery,
apprentice, wound in left leg; Bobert
Boltz, seaman on the Nashville, 86'
verely wounded.
The remains of Eagan, who was
killed in the Marblehead boat, were
buried at sea.
The Marblehead and Nashville used
their heaviest guns, as well as their
small rapid-fire guns, and hundreds of
shots were thrown into the Spanish
troops. On board the ships a number
of men were slightly wounded. One
of the cables had been cut when the
Spaniards opened fire. The marines in
the boats replied at once, and machine
guns on the fowrard launch sent in a
stieam of bullets, while heavy Bhells
from the warships drove the Spaniards
from their rifle pits on shore.
The cable which was cut at Cien
fuegos extended from that citv to San
tiago do Cuba. It does not-'sever cable
connection with Cuba, as there is an
other line in operation between San
tiago de Cuba and Kingston, Jamaica.
The severed cable is owned by the Cuba
Submarine Company. The one in
operation to Kingston is owned by the
West Indies and Panama Company.
SPANISH LOSS AT MANILA
Acknowledge That 300 Were Killed
and 600 Wounded. i
'Madrid, May 17. A Spanish report
from Manila admits that the Spanish
lost S00 killed and 600 wounded when
Dewey annihilated the Spanish fleet
The dispatch, whioh was to El Liberal,
was dated May 9. It came by special
steamer to Hong Kong. It says:
"The arsenal has surrendered and
Cavite has been evacuated by our
troops. The Spanish losses were 800
men killed and 600 wounded. Tbe
enemy suffered considerably, including
one officer killed on the Olympia. The
Baltimore was damaged. Our shells
did not burst, and all the enemy's
shells burst.
"Admiral Dewey has had along con
ference with the foreign consuls. The
Yankees took and burned our ruer
cnant snips, torreguior island was
betrayed.
"The consulate assembly is discus
sing the horrible sitnation created by
hunger and misery. We are isolated
by the blockade and are in fear of an
immediate attack. Since the cable wai
out little has happened.
"The blockade continues."
ADMIRAL DEWEY WAITS.
Attack on Manila Has Mot Vet Been.
Made.
Cavite, via Hong Kong, May 17.
"I am maintaining a strict blockade.
I have reason to believe that the rebels
are hemming in the city by land, but
they have made no demonstration.
There is a scarcity of provisions ia
Manila. It is probable that the Span
ish governor will be obliged to surren
der soon. I can take Manila at any
moment. The climate is hot and
moist. May 12, we captured the gun
boat Callao, attempting to run the
blockade. We have plenty of coal.
One British, one French, two German
and one Japanese vessel are here ob
serving. "DEWEY."
Washington, May 17. The dispatch
es from Hong Kong brought welcome-
news today from Admiral Dewey to
the president, and particularly to Sec
retary Long and the naval officers who
are watching the admiral's movements
with so mnoh interest. While no ap
prehension existed as to his security,
nevertheless reassurance of Bafety is al
ways pleasant. The telegrams in
dicate that Dewey has lost none of the
prestige gained in his memorable fight
of two weeks ago, and tha,t while he re
frains from taking the city of Manila,
he has i practically at his mercy. The
admiral expresses the belief that the
rebels are hemming the city in by
land, but the fact that he says explicit
ly that they have made no demonstra
tion seems to disprove thoroughly the
published reports that they had al
ready entered Manila and had begun a
career of bloodshed and rapine.
NO FOOD THERE.
Reconcentrados Nearly All Dead ntl-
ful State of Affairs.
Key West, May 17. The conditions
in Havana, resulting from the block
ade, are being gradually brought out
by information obtained from fishing
smacks and other small vessels cap
tured off the cons'. Affairs at Havana
now appear to be worse than at any
time since the Weyler regime.
The fishermen who at first braved
the blockade for the high price which
fish brought in Havana, now run the
risk, not for money; but for food. A
number of these have been captured by
the vessels of the blockading fleet,
nearly all of them being released after
having been questioned by our officers.
They all unite in pioturing the state
of things at Havana as being pitiful ia
the extreme.
The press dispatch boat Kate Spencer
has accumulated all the facts obtainable
along the blockading line, the last news
being obtained through two captures
made by tbe gunboat Machias, whioh
has just returned here for the first time
Bince the blockade opened, making the
longest single service of any blockading
vessel off Cuba.
The Machias caught two fishing boats
off Havana just before her return here.
The Americans offered the fishermen
money for part of their catch, as the
fish were needed on board, but the
fishermen demuried at taking money,
preferring to have bread, and adding
that they were desperately hungry.
When questioned as to the preva
lence of yellow fever at Havana, the
fishermen said there was little sickness
at the Cuban capital, but they added
there was much starvation. The re
ooncentrados, they said, are nearly all
dead, or have been expelled from the
oity to die in tbe suburbs. This agrees
with other reports from Havana ami
Matanzas to the effect that the Spanish
authorities, on the departure of tho
consul, seized all the supplies and ap
plied them to the use of the army.
The Spaniards then drove the reconoen
trados into the desolated sections of the
country, between the coast towns and
the insurgent lines, the regions de
scribed by Senator Proctor and others
as being too barren and desolate to sup
port grasshoppers.
The insurgents themselves have beea
ohary of receiving the reconcentrados,
and hundreds of the latter, who had no-
personal frionds in the insurgent
camps, have beon left to starve be
tween the lines, whioh they did.
About Havana, the situation is even
worse. Hundreds of reconoentrados
from Los Foses, the big reconcentrado
barracks in Havana, were too weak to
walk out of town and fell in the streets
or died in the suburbs, where flocks of
vultures, "Weyler's chickens," as they
are now termed in Havana, have feasted
on the remains.
In Matanzas, this feature of the situ
ation is equally distressing.
The fishermen who have been brought
here are soon reconciled to capture,
whioh here means food and decent
treatment They say that if the block
ade continues muoh longer, bread riots
must follow in all the large towns, as
food is reserved exclusively for the
army, thus forcing many people to en
list who would not otherwise do so.
Finally, the fishermen say that cer
tain of the most desperate of the Span
iards threaten to burn Havana or blow
the city up in the event of the author
ities deciding to capitulate to the
American forces.
San Francisoo, May 17. Edouard
Bemenyi, who has held royalty en
ohanted and has enthralled fashionable
amlierrces all over the world, fell dead
this afternoon at the Orpheura theater,
in this city, while playing on his violin.
Engagement at Cardenas.
Madrid, May 17. A dispatch from
Havana says: Three American war
ships have lebombarded Cardenas with
shell, and have destroyed the British
consulate. The Americans attempted
to land men and ammunition where
the cannonade was the hotest. The
Spaniards, however, were drawn up on
the shore and replied hotly to the
American fire, inflicting severe losses
to the enemy. Seven Spaniards wer
wounded.