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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (May 6, 1898)
mil', tapient Lasted a Half Hour. SPANISH RETURNED THE FIRE Brest Damage Done to the Fortiflca " tlons of the Cnhan Port Believed There Was Also Io of Lire No Damage Done to American Warships. On Board the Flasship New York, off Jlatanzas, April 30. Tlie New York, the Puritan and the Cincinnati bom bsHorl the forts at the mouth of Matan iii harbor tliia afternoon. Tliere were no casualties on our side, but it is be lieved that the buil of iron which pounded in the forts must have oaused loss of life to the Spaniards, though nothing is known definitely. The engagement commenced at 12:57, and ceased at 1:15. The object of the attack was to prevent the completion of the earthworks at Punta Gorda. A battery on the eastward arm of the boy opened fire on the flagship, and this was also shelled. About 12 8-inch shells were fired from the eastern forts, but all fell short. About five or six light shells were fired from the half-completed battery. Two of these whizzed over tho New York, and the others fell short. The ships left the bay for the open een, the objeot of discovering the whereabouts of the batteries,having been acoom plisbed. In the neighborhood of 800 shots were put on land from the three vessels from a range of from 4,000 to 7,000 yards. Rear-Admiral Sampson, when asked if he was satisfied with tlie result, said: "Yea, I am. I expected to be." The half -completed Spanish earth works and battery were apparently blown up by the shells. All the ships engaged showed ex cellent markraanship throughout the engagement, and when they were firing at the shortest range, nearly every shell took effect. The forts which were bombarded were on a low-lying point, and were considered merely earthworks. They did not make a good target, yet when the big buns were fired at the shortest range, portions of the forts could be seen flying in the air at every shot. The flagship returned to Havana, and the Puritan and Cincinnati were left on the Matanzaa station. Department Not Informed. Washington, April 29. So far as could be learned, the officials of the Administration were not notified of tlie bombardment of Matnnzas yesterday afternoon. The navy department keeps a telegraph office open in the building all night and a confidential official re mains at the department all night to translate the inessaa.es as received. There was considerable business done over the wires till the early morning hours, but none of the dispatches were sent either to the White House or to the secretary of the navy. BOMBARDMENT OF HAVANA. Not the Present Purpose of the Gov ernment. Washington, April 29. The war sit uation is substantially this: The blockading squadron remains passive before Havana, with no present purpose of bombarding or of drawing the fire of the shore batteries. The strategic purpose of an effective block ade of the Cuban coast is being accom plished to the entire satisfaction of the authorities here. There is no indica tion that a part of the fleet will be withdrawn for the purpose of affording additional protection to North Atlantic ports. So word had come to the department up to the close of office hours of the ar rival of the Montserrat at Cienfugos. The offloials are inclined to believe that if she has gotten into port Bhe did so Wore the blockade of Cienfugos had begun. The very faot that the Madrid offi cials have rather ostentatiously de- dared that the Spanish fleet has sailed to bombard the cities on the North At- I lantic coast is taken as a certain indi cation at the navy department of the utter improbability of such a movement. L"1.'8 were contemplated, the Spanish officials would be the very last to make their purpose public. The navy department, as yet, has Hade no arrangements for the care of Prisoners taken by our warships, but hf legal officers of the department think they should be sent to Boston "aval prison. TO GUARD THE COLUMBIA. Auxiliary Nuvnl Vessel will I!e Sta. . tloned at the Month. Washington, April 30. It is the in tention of the navy depaitment to have one auxiliary naval vessel stationed at tho mouth of the Columbia river for its protection, or in case of necessity. The probab lities aro that oue of the mer chant vessels which have been negoti ated for on the coast will be used for this purpose, or some vessel that can be readily obtained on the Columbia. She will probably be armed with six pounders and rapid-fire guns. Tho Or egon naval reserve will probably bo mustered in for scrvioe as her crew, as it is desired that men familiar with the river and Pacific Northwest be in command or in position to render ser vice on board the cruiser. MINES IN THE COLUMBIA. Governor Lord OttlclaUy Notified of Their Kxistence. Salem, Or., April 80. Governor Lord today received from Adjutant General Corbin, at Washington, the following telegram: "The secretary of war requires me to inform you, in reply to your tele gram of the 22d inst. instructions have been sent to engineer officers to plant mines in rivers and harbors. Regula tions for navigation of friendly vessels have been approved and published by the secretary of war." The governor desires thot all persons concerned take notice of the facts in the telegram. READY FOR THE SIEGE Forto Kleo Warehouses Are Full of ProvUiuna. St. Thomas, West Indies, April 80. Porto Kico advices received here to day say that four Spanish gunboats are at San Juan de Porto Eico. They are being painted black or possibly dark gray. Martial law has been pioclaimed in Porto Kico, and it is being enforced in a tyrannical manner. Crowds of peo ple are leaving for the interior, and the capital is almost deserted by the civil ian population. The military are most actively en gaged in preparing for defense. Thirty toipedoes have been planted in the channel. In addition, an old steam ship has been sunk across the harbor entrance, the buoys in the channel have been altered and from Monday last, after tho news of the blockade of Havana reached there, accompanied by a report that the Cuban capital had been bombarded, all lights were order ed extinguished at night. The French residents, when these advices left San Juan, were seeking refuge in the French cruiser Admiral Rigault de Genuilly. An American sugar estate, it is an nounced, was plundered after the re ceipt of the news of the declaration of war between Spain and the United States. The British consul at San Juan, who has charge of American in terests, has cabled to his government requesting that a British warship be sent to that port. Spanish steamers landed at Maiguez, 70 miles from San Juan, Tuesday, a quuntity of arms and ammunition, and there was a similar landing of supplies at San Juan Tuesday. Besides this, about 50,000 tons of provisions were landed at San Juan Sunday last. The warehouses of Porto Rico are reported to be full of provisions, and the Span ish authorities say they can stand a eeige of two months. All their coast lights have now been ordered to be extinguished. FRANCE IS NEUTRAL. Official Notice flan Keen Received of the Proclamation. Washington, April 80. The French embassy today received a cablegram from Paris announcing that a decree of neutrality between the United States and Spain has been issued, and that a detailed copy will be forwarded by mail. On receipt of the dispatch, the French ambassador, M. Cambon, wrote to the state department informing it of France's neutrality. The cable notice is brief, stating only that the decree follows the treaty of Paris of 1850. The state department has also been informed that Mexico, Aigentine Re public, Corea and Belgium have pro claimed neutrality. Corea's neutral ity is considered important, owing to her proximity to the Philippines. The state department has heard nothing from Germany, but this causes no apprehension, owing to the strong assurances Germany has given that she will observe strict neutrality between the belligerents. This assurance was conveyed to Ambassador White, and is looked upon as practically equivalent to a foimal declaration of neutrality. Germany, Austria and Portugal are the last of the important European nations to declare their attitude. . Powder Works Destroyed. Taotnn- Pa.. Anril 80. Tha town of Dover, in Morris county, N. .J., and the country within a radius oi xu miles ma oturtlpri this afternoon hv a series of terrific explosions, the first of which occurred at 2:10 o'clock:. IDe explo sion occurred in the Atlantic Powder Company's works, and the plant is now a mass of ruins. Six workmen were killed and four others were seriously injured, some prooauiy utittiiv. HIS ill Seized the Big Spanish Liner Panama. IIAD PROVISIONS FOR HAVANA Captain Everett' Threat to Sink the Spaniard Brought It to a Stop The Panama Carried Two 12-Pounders, But Did Not Use Them. Key West, April 28. The lighthouse tender Mangrove puffed proudly into Key West hurbor this morning with the Holiest prize of the war thus far. The captive was the Panama, Captain Que vedo, a big trans-Atlantic liner, and an auxiliary cruiser of the Spanish navy, which has been plying of late between New York and Havana. She hud 29 passengers, including three women, one Frenchman and one Mexican, and a crew of 72. As the Panama carried two I2-pounders, she could easily have annihilated the little Mangrove, and as the latter came into the harbor with her prize, there was not a craft that did not salute her. The Mangrove, under Lieutenant Commander William H. Everett, was cruising along the Cuban coast, navi gated by Ensign Palmor, shortly before 6 o'clock last evening, about 20 miles north of Havana. At 9:45 she sighted the Panama. When the latter came within range, a shot from one of trie Mangrove's 2-pounders was sent across her bows, but the Spaniard ignored the challenge and went on. Another shot followed without result, but the Mun grove was drawing nearer the stranger, who calmly proceeded on her course, apparently without any intention of running away. When the third shot was fired, the Mangrove was within 100 yards of the Panama, and Lieutenant-Commander Everett shouted to the deck officer that if she did not surrender he would sink her. The Mangrove's officers admit that they expected the enemy's 12 pounders to open on them in response to the threat, but the Spaniard prompt ly came to. Ensign Dayton, the 6enior officer of the Mangrove, boarded the prize. The battleship Indiana had seen thecapture, and meanwhile drew up to the Man grove, giving her a lusty cheer. Lieutenant-Commander Everett reported to Captain Taylor, of tlie battle-ship, and the latter put a prize crew aboard the captive. They then proceeded to the flugship, where a formal report was made, and Rear-Admiral Sampson ordered Lieutenant-Commander Everett to convoy the prize to Key W-est. The Panama is of about 2,800 tons, and her passengers were mainly Span ish refugees fleeing from New York and other points to Havana. The Panama carried a valuable cargo of genoral mer chandise, including a large quantity of corn. Mucn of it was meant to pro vision the Spaniards in Cuba, and the cargo, with the ship itself, undoubtedly makes the richest prize thus far taken. Under the regulations, however, the battle-ship Indiana will share in the prize-money, as she was in sight when the capture was made. The entire fleet have been on the lookout for the Panama for several days, as she was due at Havana yester day or today. If the pace set by the vessels of the North Atlantic squadron in the taking of prizes be long maintained, Spain's merchant marine is destined to need reconstructing from the ground up be fore the war closes. During the five days since hostilities opened, 11 prizes have been brought in. and there is a prospect that several other Spanish vessels now in Gulf waters will also be captured. The gunboat Newport brought in the Spinish sloop Paquotte and the Spanish schooner Pireno, Cuban coasting ves sels, captured off Havana this morning. These captures, following upon the Mangrove's clever achievement, have roused the people here to a high pitch of enthusiasm. New York, April 28. Agents of the captured Spanish steamer Panama say the vessel and cargo are valued at over $250,000. FAMINE IN HAVANA. The City's Supply of Iteef Hai Given Ont All Price! Have Advanced, New York, April 28. A correspond ent of the World sends the following Cuban advices via Key West: Havana is completely out of beef, al though large shipments are expected from Mexico. All necessaries of life have gone tip to prices never heard of, and if some thing is not done at once, many will perish of hunger. Families of means have stored large supplies of stores in their houses. All Cuban families leaving are urged to stay, the offer being that they will be respected and protected. Blanco has issued orders to arm all men, and the order is being obeyed. WAS IT A SPANIARD ? Bungling Attempt Marie to Itlow I'p Torpedo Moats. Portland, Or., May 2. A bungling attempt to set fire to the shop or fnuht en the workmen on torpedo-boats 12 and 13 was made under tlio wharf of tho Wolff & Zwicker iron works about 11 o'clock last night. While nothing could be learned of the perpetrator, a Spaniard or a Mexi can who was seen hanging about the place all day and who had been several times ordered away is suspected by the police. The late workmen, who were just quitting the building, were startled, us the whistle blew, by a dull repoit ap parently just below the wharf on which the torpedo-boats are building, which shook tlie structure to its foundation. The Madison-Rtreet bridge night watch man also heard the detonation and saw a blinding flash directly under the torpedo-boats. Three of the workmen seized lantorns uml huuiud beneath the whatf. Ju-t as they reached the ground, a second report, like that of a shotgun or re volver, was heard, and they saw a light flash for an instant, but that was nil. Groping about by the dim light of theit lanterns, they were unable to find any thing which could have made an ex plosion, and they finally decided to abandon the quest till daybreak. The Spaniard whom the police sus pect of having set off the explosion, either with the deliberate purpose of blowing up the torpedo-boats or set ting fire to the building, or thinking to terrify the contractors, had been slink ing about tlie place all day. Whatever was the purpose of the man who Bet off the explosion, he failed to do any more harm than to Bet the town agog, for tlie wharf and boats were unscathed. ALLEGED GERMAN NOTE. Humor That She Will Not Permit the Bombardment of Manila. Madrid, May 2. A great impression has been produced here by a rumor that the German government has is sued a note declaring that it will not oppose the landing of troops in the Philippines but will not permit a bom bardment, owing to the important Ger man mercantile interests in all the towns of the island. Germany's omision to declare neutrality is held to be the cause of the rumor. Japan bus requested permission for Japanese naval officers to watch the operations in the Philippines from the Spanish headquarters. The United States fleet is not expect ed to reaoh Manila until Tuesday. The Spanish fleet has been divided in two. It will be reinforced by a large auxil iary cruiser. According to dispatches from Ma nila, the Vos Espunola describes the port of Mauila as impregnable. The paper also says that the forts of Male ton, Sud Malatea, Pastui, Mirallas and St. Lucia Pilar bristle with guns, chiefly Krupps. PORTUGAL'S NEUTRALITY. OfHclully Announced In a Proclamation 111 Lisbon. Lisbon, May 2. The official gazette today publishes the neutrality decree of Portugal in the war between Spain and the United States. It is similar to the deorco issued at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war, und contains the following six ar ticles: First Forbidding the equipment ol privateers in Portuguese waters. Second Forbidding the entry of privateers into Portuguese waters. Third Permitting belligerents to make a short Btay in Portuguese ports. Fourth Defining legitimate trade as regards the belligerents and forbidding trading in goods considered contraband of war. Fifth Warning Portuguese and for eigners in Portugal against actions contrary to the security of the state. Sixth Refusing protection to any infringers of the decree. COST OF THE WAR. Sum Needed for Additional Army Expenses. Washington, May 2. The secretary of the treasury today received from the secretary of war estimates of defi ciencies in appropriations for the ex penses of the war fur the remaining two quarters of the present fiscal year, aggregating $34, 019,1)87. In his let ter, Secretary Alger says that the acts of congress approved April 22 and 20, 18U8, authorizing the enrollment of a volunteer army and placing the regulur army on a war footing, will necessitate this increase for the organization, sup port and maintenance of tha new forces. This estimate, which will be trans mitted to congress, is entirely inde pendent of the allotments made by the president to the war department out of the 130,000,000. This will indicate that up to July 1 next (two months) the increased expenditures on account of the war will be approximately $90, 000,000. The Spanish government officials are bewildered at the attitude of Great Britain. They believe the government and people of Great Britain . hold divergent opinions, and that the official acts of Great Bri tain aro due to a secrut compact with the United States. DEWEY'S FLEET. Asiatic Squadron Goes to Manila to Secure a liase of Operations. Washington, April 29. As to the imminence of a naval battle off the Philippine islands, the naval authori ties hero seriously doubt whether the Spanish fleet will make a stand against the American ships. Their teason for this belief is that the Spanish fleet is very inferior to the American force under Admiral Dewey. The depart ment, therefore, is satisfied that the Spanish will not do battlo on the high seas with Admiral Dewey, but will re main in port to secure the protection of the batteries of Manila, and the de partment is not expecting on engage ment for about two days. Without giving nn explanation for Betting this time, the department allows it to be surmised that the estimate is based on its knowledge of Admirul Dewey's whereabouts. There is no oertainty thot there will bo an engagement at n!l in the imme diate future. The main purpose of the American expedition is to seize and hold some suitable Spanish territory in tho Philippines as a base of operations. It is thought this can he done without attacking Manila at all, by seizing some convenient point on the islands. The Spanish fleet at tho Philippines may resist the United States fleet for a short time, with assistance of the guns from the Spanish forts, but other wise the American vessels would make very short work of the Spanish squad- SAILED FOR THE WEST. Spanish Squadron to ltamhard Northern ' Ports of the United States. Bayonne, France, April 29. Ac cording to a letter just received here from Madrid, dated Tuesilay, a Span ish squadron, consisting of four iron clads 1 three torpedo-bout destroyers sailed for t.Ae Urited Staies yesterday. It was run&tred that the squadron was to steam directly across the Atlantio sud bombard Northern ports of the United Statos. The port from which this squadron sailed is not mentioned. It was said, however, that a second squadron, consisting of four iron-cluds and two cruisers, wub being foimed at Cadiz. Its destination was unknown. HIS FIRST INFORMATION. Surprising Ignorance of a llrltlsh Skip per Stopped by the Flagship. On Board the Flagship Kew York, off Havana, April 28. The first news from Havana reached the squadron this evening, when the British steamer Lurline wan stopped by the flagship. The Lurline is commanded by Captain Tucker. She hails from London, and was bound from Havana for Bermuda. She has 200 cabin passengers on board, besides a cargo of horses and sugar. She is the first boat known to have left Havana since last Friday, when tho blockade was commenced. She was seen coming out from EI Morro about 0 P. M., and was about six miles from land before the New York started on her trail. Smoka ponred fiora the flagship's smokestack as sho rushed through the water to cut off the stranger, who was going at a good puce. Lieutenant Marble was sent on board by Captain Chadwick. The Cubans on tlie deck shouted "Hurrah I" and wuved their hands at the New York. Cap tain Tucker gave satisfactory proofs of the Lurline's identity. He said the people in Havana did not know that the war was in progress. The English consul-general had said nothing to him, so the captain alleged, about the war or the blockade. When asked what explanation wub given in Havana for the appearance of the Amorican ships outside El Morro, Captain Tucker said he hud not bothered his bead about it, and had not heard any one talking on the subjoct. It is the opinnion of this correspond ent that very little reliande can be placed on Captain Tucker's story. The El Morro batteries were believed to be firing at something about fi P. M., but it was impossible to 'ascertain definitely whether thiB was sojor not. The news from MatanzuB, Cardenas and Muriel is meager, but it , indicates tlint the blockade has been firmly estab lished at those ports. The Oregon Nearlng Montevideo. Chicago, April 29. A special to the Wews from Washington says: The navy department has received word, thut the battle-ship Oregon was spoken a few hundred miles below Montevideo. The Vessel was booming along under forced draught, and making good speed. She will stop at Monteviileo for oal, and will proceed to Key West with all pos sible haste. The officers are not con cerned for her safety. Letter From an Oregon Apprentice. Tacoma,' April 29. Mrs. Susio Peters, of this city, today received a letter from her son, who is an appren tice on tho battle-ship Oregon. The letter is dated Calluo, Peru, and says they are on the lookout for Spanish torpedo-boats, and expect to see one. He says a Spanish warcliip left Calluo three days before the arrival of the Oregon. The latter expected to leuvoXJalluo as soon as she finished coaling, y Maine factories sold $250,000 worth of wooden shoe pegs in 1897.