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About Plattsmouth weekly journal. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1881-1901 | View Entire Issue (July 9, 1898)
IU1 MS uu THE STORY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SPANISH FLEET AT SANTIAGO DE CUBA. ALL TO HAIL AMERICAN SAILORS. THE DESPERATE FIGHTING OF THe'sPANIARDS AVAILETH NOTHING AS AGAINST UNCLE SAM'S BOYS. A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT NAVAL BATTLE f THERE WERE NO COWARDS IN THIS FIGHT MANY INSTAN CES OF GREAT PERSONAL BRAVERY. Whan It Was All Over Our boys, the Demons In the Fight. Became Tender Angels of Mercy Even Before the Smoke of Battle Had Cleared Away. With Admiral Sampson's Fleet. Off Santiago. July 3. (l!y the Herald a Dispatch Boat Golden Hod to Tort An tonio. Thence to KingsUn. Jamaica) Special Scattered along: the shore for a distance of ten ml'es to the west of Morro castle now lie the four armored cruisers and two torpedo boat destroy ers that composed Admiral Cervera's fleet. In a running: fight of two hours these vessels, the cif am of the Spanish nary, wer almost annihilated Sunday morning by the powerful ships of Ad miral Sampson's fleet under the Im mediate command of Commodore Schley. Admiral Cervera. after making as plucky a fight agalrst overwhelming odds as is recorded In naval history, was compelled to surrender. He was taken as a prisoner of war, together with every man in his fleet not drowned or killed In the action. The Spanish admiral was wounded in one of his arms. His splendid ships, the Cristobal Colon, the flagship, the Vizcaya. Al mirante Oquendo and Infanta Maria Teresa, and the torpedo boat destroy ers Furor and Pluton. lie on the Cuban rocks. Phell-ridden. smoking hulks. Cervera. on the Colon, made the longest run toward liberty. He yielded to fate only in the face of death, and Is a prisoner now on the Gloucester, which before the war was J. l'lerpont Morgan's yacht Corsair. As the Golden Rod steamed past the flagship after the battle. I was In formed by an officer on the deck that Admiral Cervera. with 1.300 of his men. had surrendered. Of the prisoners, more than 400 of the crew of the Viz caya were taken by the Iowa. Captain Evans. Every vessel In Admiral Sampson's fleet went through the fierce engage ment without injury. But one man In the American fleet was killed, and two were injured. From the very first of the fighting the little Gloucester was In the thick est of it. At one time she was pour ing her six-pounder shells against the entire Spanish fleet, while the guns or Morro castle were making her their target. She riddled the Spanish de. Btroyers and fought the Vizcaya and Oquendo as fiercely as if she were a battleship. Magnificent beyond description was the bold dash by which Cervera at tempted to get his fleet out of Santi ago harbor. Cervera himself led the way with his flagship, the Cristobal Colon.It was a dash to Hherty or to Sunday quiet rested over the en trance to Santiago harbor. No signs of life were visible about Morro. Be yond and toward the city of Santiago all was still. After two days of fight ing the armies of both nations were resting In their trenches. Off this way. for a distance of half a dozen miles from shore, the vessels of Admiral Sampson's fleet lay lazily at anchor. Admiral Sampson, desiring to ascer tain the exact condition of the Spanish coast defense about Aguadores. ordered tfce flagship to go that way. Weighing anchor, the New York leisurely steamed Off to the eastward. Idle thoughts occu pied the minds of the men in the fleet. They were speculating as they had been for weeks, when would come their opportunity to "get at" the Spanish Beet In the Inner harbor. Suddenly as a flash, at 9:30 a vessel appeared near the entrance to the har bor. She was throwing out great black clouds of smoke and was pointing straight toward the American fleet. A SURPRISE PARTY. It Put Every American Captain on His Metal. The ease of the American officers and sailors was rudely disturbed. They grabbed their glasses, scanned the bar bor entrance, and were amazed to dis cover that an armored cruiser w as torn tne out. In the absence of Admiral Sampson. Commodore Schley, from the Brooklyn, ordered the American ship to rush in shore. In a few moments It was seen that the vessel emitting such great clouds of smoke was the Cristobal Colon. Admiral Cervera's flagship. She bad passed the wreck or tne Merrimar and was making for the sea at full peed. Iiefore Commodore Schley and his men could recover from their surprls other clouds of smoke came Into view beyond the Cristobal Colon. With a ruh fully equal to that of the Spanish flagship, the Almirante Oquendo came throbbing toward the open sea. Be hind her came the Vizcaa. also at full speed, while the rear was brought up by the Infanta .Maria Teresa and the two torpedo boat destroyers, the Furor and Pluton. This stirring scene, so dramatic ana o unexpected, quickly put the captain of every American vessel on his mettle. Cervera's trying to escape," was the cry that resounded through the fleet. Every American veisel quickly weighed anchor. The engines were Started, and one by one the great Amer ican warships made ready for battle. Every man scampered to his gun and the captains, knowing that Admiral Sampson had gone along the coest. eagerly watched the Brooklyn. Commo dore 9chley s flagship. In a few- mo ments the Resolute was speeding to the eastward after the New York, but the advance of the Spanish fleet was so rapid that our men conld not wait for Admiral Sampson to get back. Jus as the Cristobal Colon was pok ing her nose out Into the open sea. Commodore Schley sent the Brooklyn rushing to the westward to head off Cervera's flagship. He ordered the Mas sachusetts and Oregon to follow after, at the same time ordering the Indiana. Iowa and Texas to intercept the other vessels of the escaping fleet. Then be gan one of the greatest sea fights In history. DASH FOR LIBERTY. But the American Fleet Was Soon In Motion. Admiral Sampson this morning set out to dislodge the Spanish from their works at Aguadores. where the""Mlchl nn troops were repulsed on the line of the railway Saturday morning while they were marching westward to seize the Morro battery and blow up the fort after the fleet had driven the Spanish from the guns. Our torpedo boats were not with the fleet, and when Admiral Sampson left the Morro the battleships and the cruiser Brook- srourjea on s jaouth. It la not known whether Ad- D E. mlral Cervera had blown up the Mer- rimac or passed It in single column. His ship, the Cristobal Colon. gliileu out of the harbor and shot to the west ward, her two funnels and high black bulwarks showing plain against the green of the hills, her pennant and the Spanish red and yellow ensign In lash ing above. In a few seconds the American fleet was in motion, the Indiana, which was closest, heading straight in shore to get close range. The Spaniard opened, fire with an eleven-inch Hontorla. and mighty fountains of water ros above the battleship and wet her decks. The shell fell near her bow. The Indiana replied with her thlrteen-inch guns, and a moment later let go everything she could bring to bear. One of the first shells fell on the Spanish cruiser's deck. Cervera was going past and the Indiana rounded to give him a broad side, and then as the Iowa and the Texas opened on him the doomed ad miral turned to the harbor mouth, where the Almirante Oquendo was Just coming into view. At first one could scarcely believe his eyes, but when the Oquendo appeared and steamed swirtly westward into tne snu-ke and lightning, where Cervera's flag still Hew, it flashed upon us that there was to be history making in deed. It was a sublime spectacle of a desperate animal who had decided to give battle against overwhelming odds in the open water rather than remain and blow up his own ships In the har bor of the beUauguered city. Cervera's flag was hidden for a time and he tied westward, his port broad side emitting flashes and tongues of flame, which marked his progress. For the next five minutes he ran a gaunt let such as no ship had ever run in history, and when his consorts were burning and he surrendered his ship, he still had a gun or two capable of action. The Indiana fell on the Oquendo. paying no heed to the Morro battery. whose gunners tried nara to protect the cruiser as she moved to the west ward. The Iowa let Cervera go on into the hands of the Oregon. Massa chusetts and Brooklyn and then turneo with the Texas to pound the Oquendo. Then every American ship was in ac tion and smoke shrouded the coast ana Mew awav lazily, revealing gey sers about the ships where the Spanish shells from the cruisers and Morro tore the water. Another ship emerged from the har bor. It was the Vizcaya. coming ai ward and brought her bow guns Into play. Behind her carr.e Spain's two much dreaded torpedo beat destroyl ers, perhaps 200 yards apart. The Iowa st?amed for a time forward with the Oquendo and the Indiana did the same with the Vizcaya. but as the fight thus moved westward it became clear that the Americans wer willing that the St.anish ships should run far enough away from Morro to lose the aid of the guns, and In twenty minutes this was done. This was a bit of strategy which was developed under fire and which was accepted at once by all the American ships wlthrut orders. In fact the smoke often made It impossible to see the signals which Commodore Schley was making from the Brooklyn, so tremejndous was the firing all along the line. Both the Oquendo and 'the Vizcaya were sometimes within l.POrt yards of the Indiana. They varied, bul as a rtal it was short and extremely deadly. Nevertheless, the high speed and thick armor of their class stood the Spanish In good stead, as they followed In the path of honor marked out by Admiral Cervera. , CARNAGE WAS TERRIBLE. Crashing Sounds Heard Midst Thunder of Creat Guns. Three-quarters of an hour after the action began it was evident that the Spanish had many guns disabled and would have to rurrender. There were terrible casualties on the enemy's ships As the smoke cleared a little one could see the Spanish flagship, herport broad side spouting smoke still holding on to the westward. The Texas and Massa husetts Joined the Indiana and the Iowa. The Oquendo and the vizcaya hucired the shore and steamed after Cervera. pledged to go with him to de feat and death. Shells burst on the decks of the Spanish cruisers at short Intervals. Often they were on fire, but again and again they extinguished the flames and manned again and again the guns from which they had been driven. The green coast on their starboard side smoked w ith the shells which flew over them, and crashing sounds heard amidst the thunder of great rifles told of armor-piercing shells driven into an through their protected sides. Still they fired. Their shots fell about the Indiana and Iowa thickly. The Golden Rod was close enough to see all that thick smoke did not hide. She was too close sometimes for comfort. could not see that our battleships were hit. No doubt they were, but It seems that none of their guns were silenced. so terrific continued their Pre. Once free of the Morro battery the range of the Golden Rod stopped abreast of the Spanish destroyers to see what would lie the fate of the Gloucester. Lieutenant Commander Walnwrlght, like Nelson, seemed to have the blind eye. If he were signalled to put out he remained with his six-pounders, to work which was heroic and astonish ing. At one time the Gloucester was being fired at by the Vizcaya, both tor pedo boat destroyers and the Morro battery. That she was not sunk and that she had enough men left to work her guns was marvelous. She lay close In to where the Vizcaya came out and ran along parallel, firing at the cruls ers fiercely. In proportion to her size, as did the Indiana and Iowa. Captain Eulate of the Vizcaya probably feared a torpedo from the Gloucester, for he turned loose his secondary battery at her as he passed on Into a storm .of shells from the battleships. The destroyers came out, and the Gloucester accepted them at once as parts of her contracL These destroy ers were strong In machine guns and guns of our three and slx-pounder class. It seemed that smoke Jets burst from the destroyers In twenty places as they slipepd along after the Viz. caya. and the water all about - the Gloucester was kept splashing by shells and by bullets from machine guns, but the yacht steamed ahead. keeping the destroyers directly between her and shore and hammering them. Ths Morro was throwing shells from behind, and occasionally ths Vlscaya turned a gun or two to aid her follow ers. The yacht was often completely hidden by smoke. I could not but wonder If she had been sunk, but she always forged ahead and appeared again busier than ever. In ten min utes the fire of the destroyers slack ened, but, although some of their guns were disabled, their machinery was all right, and they moved on till Morro could no longer take part In the battle. Then the New York appeared, hurrying on the news from the Resolute that Cervera had ashed his wedge of cruis ers into the American fleet, and was dying gloriously. The New York was six miles away when the destroyers saw her. TRY TO RUN TO COVER. Amerloan Fire was too Fierce for Human Beings. The Morro thundered at Sampson as he came within range, but the admiral never heeded, seeing only In the dis tance the dim form of Vizcaya and the Oquendo. hopelessly hemmed In by a circle of Are. and In the foreground the Gloucester fighting two destroyers at short range. When the destroyers saw the flagship they sped away from the Gloucester and tried to" overtake the Vizcaya and get Into shelter on her starboard side. If that could not be done, there ought to be a chance to torpedo the Indiana and break througn our line to the open sea, where speed would save them, but the Indiana steamed in shore, and the Iowa. too. but farther away. The Indiana's secondary battery had the first destroyer range and rained shells upon it. Splintered and torn, but still with their steering gear and ma chinery intact, both destroyers turned back to run for the mouth or the har bor and seek safety Inside. The fight had been carried nearly four miles west of Morro and the New York was already past the harbor mouth. The Gloucester was ready for them close at hand. She and the de stroyers and the Indiana formed a tri angle, of which the destroyers were the apex, and American fire converg ing was too fierce for human beings to withstand. One destroyers drifted into the surf of fire a battered wreck and then crept on toward the Gloucester and the New York with guns silent and showing a flag of truce. DESTROYER BLOWS UP. Wonderful and Gamy Work of the Gloucester. She was on fire, too, and her crew ran ashore to save the lives of those who had escaped our shells. She blew up soon after they abandoned her. I was standing behind Dr. Simonds of the Iowa when the Gloucester was In greatest peril, and he could not help turnig from the main battle to watch her heroic work and shouting his hop that she would not run short of ammu nition. Her commander s skill anr courage was simply magnificent. Th Spanish admiral was lost In smoke to the westward, when, at 10:45. the iz- caya hoisted a white flag. This wa followed by the Oquendo going ashon with the flames bursting from her decks. The Iowa. Indiana. Texas and Massachusetts ceased firing, the Mas sachusetts going at once to Join tht Oregon and the Brooklyn In pounding up and smashing Cervera a ship. onc headed off. the Oquendo turned Into t small bay four or fire miles west ot Santiago, where she lay close to th land. With an ever-weakening broad side, the Vizcaya followed, first head Ing out as if to break through the lint of battle. ' The Indiana and Iowa closed In am! their formation made her escape In tha direction Impossible. Captain Eulal then attempted to reach the east sldi of the bay. followed by the Oquendo but In vain. With a glass I could e that the Vlzcaya's bulwarks near th stern had been torn away. Smoke pour in her side, and she was on tire, tlet guns, with the exception of those for ward, wer out of action. Her bo v. guns were still fired at Intervals. Thos. who were not working the bow gun crowded forward to escape the smok and fire aft. CERVERA'S CAME FIGHT. He only Wished to make his Defea' Glorious In the Eyes of the Publl The Oquendo was ashore, her gun; silent and smoke rising In thick black clouds. There was a thunderln gof guns to the westward now. and flashes In the smother told that Cervera still fought but to the eastward of his ships lay th burnlg wrecks of his two destroyers. The torpedo boat Ericsson was seen coming along with the New York. Tht Oquendo was helpless, the Indiana and the Iowa wer closing, and shell aftei sheJJ burst above and aboard ths Viz caya. Eulate hoisted a white flag on bis ship, went ashore to save the remnant of his men. and simultaneously up went a flag of white on the Oquendo. and down came the flag of Spain. An hour and a half had elapsed since Cervera left the barber, and of the fiv vessels which came out only his flag ship was still In action. The American army, with the 1.200 dead and wounded, was not yet in Santiago, but Cervera's fleet was de stroyed and Cervera himself was only struggling because he wished to make his defeat glorious in the eyes of the attentive world. He had proven, at least, that he was hot bottled up so tightly as was supposed. He had lost four vessels and perhaps more than half of his men. but his pennant was still flying and some of his guns were still In action. Cervera passed the bay In which the Oquendo had sought refuge and held on a due westward course close to the land, but evidently nourishing the des. perate hope that - he might break through the line and reach free water. He had passed in succession the In diana, the Iowa and Texas, not to speak of the Gloucester, which spouted six-pound shells at him. HOLDS TO HIS COURSE. They Might have Bettered Their Plan of Escape. Since his flag had appeared outside the harbor his ship had been struck again and again. By this time the Viz caya and the Oquendo were practically beaten, but In spite of the twelve and thlrteen-inch shells that were rained upon him at a range which was very short for such guns, in spite of the fact that his boilers and machinery were damaged, he held to his course. From a point a mile west of Morro the Cris tobal Colon was invisible frequently In low hanging smoke from her own guns and also that which drifted In shore from the battleships. Clearly now It might have been bet ter If they had moved In circles and given battle under the Santiago bat teries, whose aid would have lessened the odds against him, but the Span lards, through splendid strategy, had not been headed off until the batteries could no longer train their guns on our fleet. At half past seven Cervera saw ths Oregon cutting in short ahead of him to round htm to. The smoke was very thick. The fighting was Incessant. Cer vera's available guns were no longer well served. Shells had set Are to the ship near the stem and the flames were controlled with difficulty, but ths Spanish admiral altered his course and headed off from the coast as if to at tempt between two ships and run for It It was Impossible. The Iowa and the Texas were already moving down to close the gap and the Spanish flagship, raked by the Oregon and the Brooklyn at from 1.000 to 3.000 yards, and by the Iowa and Texas at longer range, turned In shore again and ran (or the rocks, where ths surf was breaking, He still replied occasions!!, and I wondered when ths imoki hid his ship If he would be afloat when It lifted. The Golden Rod, leaving the burning cruis ers on the beach, bore at full speed down on the Iowa as she closed In on the doomed admiral. GUNS DISABLED. Flagship Aflame and all Hopelessly Lost. I could still discern the Spanish flag from time to time as the smoke drifted away and a flash of a gun at intervals proved that the Spaniard was consist ently following the idea which led him to quit the harbor which was to make a glorious end. But his ship moved slowly now. as if disabled, and In a few minutes more his guns were silent. The black smoke replaced the swirling white. The flagship was aflame. Her men had been unable either to work the guns or smother the flames caused by bursting shells and she was headed for the rocks. She struck bow on and rested there, red flames burst through the black smoke and soon a pillar of cloud rose straight up 1,000 feet and then bent against the green mountain. Cervera ship was so hopelessly lost that the American battleships ceased firing before she struck and ran In ap parently with the Intention of saving the survivors as prisoners. This was evidently expected by the Spaniards, notably by the Vizcaya b men, hundreds of whom thronged the forward deck watching the flames eating their way toward them. Mr. Simonds of the Iowa, who accom panied me and assisted me during the engagement, said trat a fourth Spanish cruiser was unable to leave the harbor with the others because she was dlsa bled. The casualties will not be accurately determined until tomorrow. Evidently the American loss was slight In com parison with the tremendous Import ance of the accomplishment of annihi lating Cervera's squadron. The Golden Rod was the only dis patch boat near the ship in action. I would have gone to Guantanamo with a bulletin had not the Resolute headed all non-combatants to the westward by strange warning of a Spanish ship com ing from the eastward. As the Res -lute ran toward he New York with this warnlg after the engagement, a shell from the western battery, at four-mile :ange, passed a few feet over and ahead f the Golden Rod. The Spanish ships had now reached a point about seven miles west of Mor ro. and a mile or so beyond where the .oredo boats were burning and broken .n two. The flagship and the Oquendo were the first to show signals of dis .ress. Two 13-inch shells from one of .he battleships had struck the Marie Teresa at the water line, causing it .o fill rapidly. The Oquendo suffered he same fate, and both headed for a mall cove, and both went aground 100 ,ards from the shore, flames springing ruin them. The officers and crew must have been iware of the fate which seemed tefore ;hem. but it was not until the chips were on fire that the men ceased firing. The Gloucester steamed along the oast to where the armored cruisers it-re stranded and went to their res ue. There was danger from the mag. izines, and many on board swam fo shore, and many were unable to reach he small strip of sandy beach In the ove, but were thrown onto the rocks. Many of the wounded were taken ashore. But this task was a diiticult ne. An American swam through the surf .ith a line from the Marie Teresa to he shore, making it fast to a tree. The ;paniards could then land. The wound d were taken to the Gloucester, and oon the yacht was full of Spanish .vounded. The Gloucester's crew gave hem every attention possible. The shore was lined with those who ad escaped from the Almirante Oquen !o and the Marie Teresa. ..Thex .vrn WW WiV":SXSitivW0.i .-each the magazines and the boxes of immunition on deck. A dozen or more 'Xptosions followed the firing, the tinoke from which covered the hill side, running down almost to the wat--r's edge. Another column of smoke wo miles further to the westward was bserved. The Vizcaya was also in lames and was obliged to run ashore o keep from going down. The Iowa tnd the Indiana were keeping up a ter rific fire upon it and its condition was as bad as that of the others. The Brooklyn. Oregon, Massachusetts ind several smaller vessels continued '.he chase after the Cristobal Colon, and .n less than an hour were lost to view t the burning ships on shore. The Iowa and Texas both gave assistance to the Imperiled crew of the Vizcaya. Its .aptain surrendered his command, and (he prisoners were transferred to the battleships. The Vizcaya probably lost about sixty men. as It cairied a com plement of 400. and only 340 were taken aboard the Iowa. Soon after Admiral Cervera reached the shore and surrendered he wu ta ken to the Gloucester at his own re quest. There was no mistaking ths heart-broken expression on the old seaman's face as he took the proffered hand of Lieutenant Walnwrlght and was shown to the tatter's cabin, but he made every effort to bear bravely the bitter defeat that had come to him. He thanked the commander of the Gloucester for the words of congrat ulation offered on the gallant fight and then spoke earnestly of his solicitude for the safety of his men on shore. He Informed Lieutenant Walnwrlght that Cuban soldiers were on the hills pre paring to attack his unarmed men. and said he thought his sailors had suffered enough In their battle with the Amer ican forces and that be was willing to surrender his entire command, but he asked that some protection be given to his men until they could be taken off in the American vessels. Captain Walnwrlght had heard similar reports from his own officers regarding the presence of Cubans In the brush, and he sent a guard of armed sailors ashore to prevent the Spanish prisoners from being molested. Four hours after Admiral Cervera went aboard the Gloucester the Infanta Maria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo and Vizcaya continued to burn, and every now and then a deep roar, accompa nied by a burst of flame and smoke from the sides of the ships, would an nounce the explosion of more ammuni tion or another magazine. As the flame shot higher and higher above the decks of the magnificent vessels that had composed Admiral Cervera's fleet, many of those who witnessed the scene felt It had a strong connection with the destruction of the American battleship Maine In Havana harbor five months ago. Lieutenant Commander Waln wrlght. the commander of the Glouces ter, was executive officer of the Maine at the time of the disaster, and, al though he remained In Havana harbor two months after the explosion, he lived on board the dispatch boat Fern, and steadfastly refused to set his foot In the city until, to use his. own words, "the time should come when he could go ashore at the head of a landing party of American bluejackets." Today It was his ship that sank two Spanish torpedo boat destroyers and afterward received the Spanish admiral aboard as a prisoner of war. An amusing trial has Just come to a happy termination In Paris, In which Mile. Angele Thlebeau has obtained a verdict against certain newspapers which accused her of a singular meth od of cheating the publlc.Thls lady.who commenced her career some years ago as a successful opera singer, has been obliged, owing to partial loss of voice, to appear upon the music hall stage at the Moulin Rouge. Here she won great applause for what Sister Jane called her "top note." which, accord ing to IV Art Lyrique. she produced not by natural means, but by the means of a aort of popgun concealed In the bosom of her dress. WATERY GRAVES. COLLISION AT SEA WITH AP PALLING LOSS OF LIFE. 553 PEOPLE ARE DROWNED SAILORS FIGHT LIKE DEMONS TO SAVE THEMSELVES. Two Hundred and Fifty Women Went Down Only One Woman Among the Saved Greatest Dis aster that ever Happened on Sea Halifax, N. S.. July 8. The loss of life In the Bourgogne sea tragedy ex ceeds by seven souls the loss attend ing the terrible wreck of the steamship Atlantic to the eastward of Halifax a quarter of a century ago, which has heretofore held its place in history as the most appalling ocean disaster that ever occurred on or near tiie coast of Nova Scotia. Five hundred and fifty-three are the number of those whose lives were brought to a sudden end sixty miles south of Sable Island last Monday morning, after the big liner speeding Europeward at a furious gate through a dense fog, crashed into the British sailing ship Cromartyshire and met de struction, for which, from all the ac counts gathered from the survivors, her officers, who met the fate of most of those on board, were mainly re sponsible. In the many appalling stories told by those from the lost Bourgogne, no feature of the harrowing accounts stands out more conspicuously than that of the fierce, fiendish conduct of the steamer's crew, who fought like demons, and did not hesitate at any act In order to escape the fate which overwhelmed so many others. Of the 167 survivors only fifty-three were passengers. There were over 200 women, of whom only one, Mrs. La Casse. of I'lalnfteld. N. J., la alive to day, and of more than fifty children among the passengers not one survives M'KKOWN'S STORY. Patrick McKeown of Philadelphia. who had a fearful struggle to save him self, gives a graphic account of his ex periences and of the fearful fate whicr, befell another PhUadelphian. McKeown was asleep when the crash came. He Jumped from his berth and thought there was time to don his clothes, so he was fully dressed when he hurried on deck, but forgot his wal let, containing $110. which was put un der his pillow when he went to oca. McKeown found indescribable conrusioi reigning on deck. The captain was on the bridge, but the officers had evident ly lost entire control of the crew, near ly all of whom appeared to be engaged In a desperate struggle with the pas sengers to gain possession of the life boats and life rafts in order to save themselves. Passengers and seamen surrounded the boats and rafts, crowd ing them to overflowing. Half dressed shrieking women were rushing to and fro with children clinging to their night robes. McKeown says he saw a number of men forced back by frantic, half-crazed seamen, striving to get away from the steamer, without offering to lend a helping hand to the passengers and re sisting the latter as much as possible. McKeown got into a boat hanging in the davits. A sailor threw him out and he slipped down the now slanting deck to the starboard side, the rail of which was now on a level with the water. As he was forced over the side of the Doat ahandsome Italian girl waved her down her cheeks. This boat, like most other boats, never got away from the steamer. PUSHED HIM OFF. McKeown fell into the water close to a crowded life raft, which had got afloat. He caught hold of the side and somebody pushed him away. He grasp ed It again and drew himself out of the water, managing with great difficulty to secure a foothold. There he re mained until the boats of the Cro martyshire directed the survivors to the side of the ship. A few minutes after McKeown gained the life ran he witnessed the tragedy which sent another PhUadelphian to his death. He Is unable to recall the name ot the man. having made his acquaint nance only after the Bourgogne started on her disastrous voyage, but he knows he was a tailor living In Philadelphia The tailor, pushing his way through the mad mass of humanity struggling in the sea. slowly approached the raft gained by McKeown. As he drew near and attempted to grasp the side one of the steamer's seaman raised a heavy oar and struck him three fearful blows? on the head. He sank from sight with out a groan or a sound and McKeown is firmly convinced that the blows kill ed the man. Shortly afterward the Bourgogne plunged out of sight, her boilers exploding with a terrific roar as she went down. McKeown states, and his statement is confirmed by others that the steamer's engines were not running at full speed until Just before she foundered, but he says that the ves sel's headway did not slack until some time after the collision. He says It was not more than half an hour between the time the two ships crashed to gether and when the Bourgogne dis appeared in the ocean. The last scene which impressed itself most vividly on McKeown s mind as the steamer sank was that of the three priests moving about the panic-stricken people on deck, administering the rites of absolution. He saw the cap tain on the bridge Just before the steamer sank from view, but did not see him commit suicide by Bhootlng. as one passenger statea was the case- Albert Galdet, a native of Paris, who was returning to his home, was lying In his berth, almost at the point where the Cromartyshire struck La Gour gogne. He was dressed at the time and seizing his waterproof coat, rushed on deck. The doomed vessel was al ready beginning to list to the star board, the side which he was on, and he got a good view of the extent of the damage to the Bourgogne by the con tact. The ship, he said, struck the steamer at a sharp angle on the star board, the blow glancing toward the stern, and a portion anywhere from twelve to fifteen feet being gouged out of the French liner. The sailing ves sel was Just falling away In the fog when M. Galdet reached the deck. He turned his attention to assist In lower ing a life boat, which some sailors were clearing Just opposite where he stood. This was accomplished without difficulty, the, water then being up to the deck rails on that side. EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF. M. Gaidet was non-committal when questioned concerning the conduct of the crew toward the passengers, but did not deny that it was a case of every man for himself. Those In his boat, numbering about twenty, were among the first picked up, and M. Gaidet afterward returned to assist In picking up the others. This gentleman retains as mementoes or the eventful occasion the board bear. Ing the name of the life boat In which he was rescued and also the flag which was flying at her stern. The survivors agree In their state. ments that not more than two boats and four rafts got away from the steamer and all of the occupants of these were picked up by the Cromarty shire. The weather was clearing when the Bourgogne sank and had there been any other survivors they would cer tainly have been seen by the men on the ship. The only surviving woman Dsenger toJU a very sad tale vf the struggle she had lor lile. Mrs. LaCasse and her husband were second-class cabin pas sengers and were going to visit rela tives in France. Her husband is a teacher of languages lit a college at PlaJntield, N. J. As Mrs. LaCasse was narrating her sad story her eyes were Ailed with tears. When the ship went down she and her husband sank in the water. They managed to get Into a boat, but there were no oars in it and shortly after ward the boat capsized. She was sink ing when her husband caught hold ot her and kept her afloat. Then they got on a raft, on which they stayed for about eight hours. ONLY WOMAN BAVEU. She said that out of over 200 women and children she was the only woman saved. All the children, numbering about fifty, were lost. Several of these were babies. In Mrs. LaCasse s opin ion the La Bourgogne sank within halt an hour after the collision. In one boat, a short distance from the raft on which Mrs. LaCasse was, there must have been nearly forty wo men. After floating around for halt an hour she saw the boat suddenly cap size, and the women wer thrown intc the water and almost lmmeaiateiy inej disappeared from sight beneath tht waves. One of the passengers said the Bour gogne was going about eighteen knots when the collision occurreu. as iur n could be accounted for there were &J lives lost, but, according to this pas senger, there were a number of other who came on board Just previous u sailing, and these had riot been includ ed in ihtt number lost. Give Thanks to God. Washington D. c. Special Presi dent McKinley has Issued the followini. proclamation to the American people: the I'eonle of the United State of America: At this time, when to ttu yet fresh remembrance or tne unprece dented success which attended the op erations of the united Ssiaies neei ii. the bay of Manila on the first day o. May last, are added the tidings of tin. no less glorious aenievemenis oi im ..a.-ui an. I milltarv arms of our beloveu country at Santiago Ue Cuba, it is lil ting that we snouia paussc aim the feelings of exultation that too nat .imiiv attend exeat deeds wrought b our countrymen in our country s cause should reverently dow ueiore mr of divine grace ana give aevoui jiw to God, who holdeth the nations in ttu nollow of his hand and worketh upoi. them the marvels of bis high will, anu ,lV,, hm ihua far vouchsafed to us tht. light of his face and led our bravt soldiers and seamen to vicioiy. I. therefore, ask the people of thi United States, on next assembling fo. divine worship in their respective plac of meeting, to offer thanksgiving to Al mighty God, who. In his InscrutabU ivni-M. now leading our hosts upon tht ... ... iinxrn t hl triumbh. now (1 l 1 V" - -- -- - - guiding them in a strange land, througl . V... .l-o.l ct,nriwa Of death tO SUCCeSS ...... tt,.iiioh at a. fearful cost, now bearing them without accident or lost to far distant climes, nas wauueu our cause and brought nearer tne uc ..r riht ami the attainment o a Just and honorable peace. v 1th the nations thanks, let there be mingleu the nations prayers, that our biavt sons may be shielded from harm alik. on the battlefield ana in wie o h an.i snared the scourge ol suffering and disease while they are striving to uphold their country's hon or, and withal let tne nauuu s ni ..in.,. .. ith iha hniv an-f at the thoughi of the noble men who have perished as heroes die. and ue nueu wiwi passionate pity for those who suffei bereavement or endure sickness, oi wounds and bonds by reason of the aw- And above all. let us pray with ear frtv,r ihnt h the disuenser of al. good, may speedily remove from us tht intnid attliciions of wars, bring to oui dear laiia the uieBiii6n or iwtoreu peace, and to ail the domain now rav aged by the cruel strife the pricelest boon or security ana tranquility. WILLIAM M'KINLEY. Executive Mansion, Washington, I. C July 6, 1818. Transports Arrive at Manila. Washington. D. C Special. The Na vy department received a cablegram from Admiral Uewey connrming tnt Associated Press dispatch of the arrival of the American transports at Manila Admiral Dewey also states that the gunboat Leyte. which ran up a river on May 1, the day cf the battle, has come out and surrendered, having on board fifty-two army and navy officers and ninety-four men. The Leyte has a battery of one Si-inch Hontorla gun and several 2.5-Inch rapid tire guns, The admiral says the situation is sat isfactory, that the troops are debark ing, and the health of the men in ex cellent. Manila. July 1. (Via Hong Kong.)- Sneolal. The United States troops on the transports City of Sydney. City of Pekin and Australia, convoyea Dy tne United States cruiser Charleston, ar rived off Cavlte at 5 o'clock yesterday evening, after an eventful voyage. On the way here the Charleston called at Guahan. the largest of the Ladrone islands, the group In the l'aclflc whicn belonged to Spain, took possession of the whole group, made prisoners or Governor General Marina, his staff and the entire military force and raised the stars and stripes over the ruins of Santa Cruz fort in the harbor of ban Luis de la Paz. The troops are In good condition, our only loss being Private Hutchinson or the First Oregon, who died on tne city of Sydney on June 20 and was buried at sea on June 21. The Ladrone group comprises about twenty islands, only five or six of which are inhabited, the rest being mere dots on the ocean, the tops of volcanoes which have sunk beneath the sea as the crust of the earth at this point subsided. The principal Islands of the group are Guahan. Kota. Aguijan Say nan and Tin tan, but the largest Guahan. which has an area of only 200 square miles, forms nearly one-half the land area of the entire group. i-y Ing as they do, almost directly under the equator, they have every variety of tropical product, and under proper con ditlons their population might become wealthy from agriculture alone, for no finer cotton coffee, sugar or tobacco can be grown In the world than are raised In the Ladrone Islands, but tne curse of Spanish rule has blighted every industry. The people labor no more than they are obliged to and in the tropics no one is really compelled to work, for an abundance of food grows without cultivation, and clothing and shelter are almost unnecessary. Following the precedent of the Nel son mug, which must have dated from somewhere about Trafalgar, the Lam beth Pottery has produced a mug. bearing round It the words, "England's Great Commoner William Ewart Glad stone." and. surmounting an excellent portrait, the scroll. "Effort honest. manful effort succeeds by Its reflec tive action upon character, better than An instrument for seeing objects un der water has been Invented by a hy. drographlc engineer of Russia. By Its aid the bottom of rivers to a depth of from 45 to 60 feet, can be distinctly viewed. In the examination of wrecks this submarine telescope will be of great service. A Welshman has accomplished the feat of walking 4,000 quarter miles In 4,000 successive periods of nine and a quarter minutes each at Leeds, a world's record. Twenty thousand per sons looked on at the finish. He had previously walked the distance In In tervals of nine and a quarter minutes. SENATE FOR ANNEXATION, TEXT OF THE NEWLAND'S BILL TO ANNEX HAWAII. Passes the Senate by a Vote of Forty-two to Twenty-one--The President will Sign the Resolution Immediately. Washington, D. C Special The Joint resolution which passed the senate pro viding for the annexation of Hawaii was originally Introduced in the house by Mr. Newlands of Nevada, and pass ed that body June 15. Two days later it waa reported favorably to the sen ate. Its full text Is as follows: Whereas, The government of the re public of Hawaii, having in due form signified Its consent in the manner pro vided by its constitution, to cede ab solutely and without reserve to the United States of America all rights of sovereignty of whatever kind in and over the Hawaiian islands, and their dependencies, and also to cede and transfer to the United States the ab solute fee and ownership of all pub lic government or crown lands, publlo ouildlngs or edifices, ports, harbors, .nilitary equipment and all other pub lic property of every kind and descrip tion belonging to the government of he Hawaiian islands, together with every right and appurtenance thereto appertaining, therefore, Kesolved, By the senate and house if representatives of the United States f America In congress assembled, that da id cession is accepted, ratified and -onflrmed, and that the said Hawaiian .stands and their dependencies be and they are hereby annexed as a part of the territory of the United States and ire subject to the sovereign dominion thereof, and that all the property rights hereinbefore mentioned are vested In the United States of America. SPECIAL LAND LAWS. The existing laws of the United States relative to public lands shall not apply to such lands in the Ha waiian islands, but the congress of the f'nited States shall enact special laws for their management and disposition, provided, that all revenue from or pro ceeds of the same, execpt as regards such part thereof as may be used or occupied for the civil, military or naval purposes of the United States or may be assigned for the use of the local government, shall be used solely for the benefit of the Inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands for educational and other public purposes. Until congress shall provide for the government of such islands, all the civil. Judicial and military powers ex orcised by the officers of the existing government in said Islands shall be vested in such person or persons and shall be exercised In such manner as the president of the United States shall dliect, and the president shall have power to remove said officers and fill the vacancies so occasioned. TREATIES ANNULLED. The existing treaties of the Hawaiian islands with foreign nations shall forthwith cease and determine, being replaced by such treaties as may exist tr as may be hereafter concluded be tween the United States and such for eign nations. The municipal legislation of the Ha waiian islands not enacted for the ful fillment of the treaties so extinguished m l not Inconsistent with this Joint resolution, nor contrary to the consti tution of the United States, shall re main In force until the congress of the United States shall otherwise deter mine. Until legislation shall be enacted ex tending the United States customs aws and regulations to the Hawaiian islands, the existing customs and reg jlatlons of the Hawaiian islands shall wmiii" "Behangwl. The public debt of the republic of Hawaii, lawfully existing at the date t the passage of this Joint resolution. Including the amounts due te deposi tors in the Hawaiian Postal Savings bank, is hereby assumed by the gov ernment of the United States, but the liability of the United States In this regard shall In no case exceed $4,000, !X. So long, however, as the existing government and the present commer cial relations of the Hawaiian islands are continued as hereinbefore provided said government shall continue to pay the interest on said debt. IMMIGRATION OF CHINESE. There shall be no further immigra tion of Chinese into the Hawaiian-tMl-ands, except upon su h conditions as are now or may hereafter be allowed by the laws of the United States and no Chinese, by reason of anything herein contained, shall be allowed to enter the United States from Hawaiian Isl ands. The president shall appoint five com missioners, at least two of whom shall be residents of the Hawaiian Islands, who shall as soon as reasonably prac ticable, recommend to congress such legislation concerning the Hawaiian Isl ands as they shall deem necessary or proper. Sec. 2. That the commissioners hereinbefore provided for, shall be a p. pointed by the president, by and with the advice and consent of the senate. Sec. 3. That the sum of $100,000, or so much thereof as may be neces sary. Is hereby appropriated out of the money In the treasury not otherwise appropriated, and to be Immediately available, to be expended at the dlscre. Hon of the president of the United States for the purpose of carrying this Joint resolution Into effect. Omaha, July 4. At Fort Omaha yes terday an unusually active day. for Sunday, occurred, inasmuch as the en tire Third regiment is now In quarters, except one company from the western part of the state, which still lacks Its quota. Colonel Bryan was engaged nearly all day In Issuing orders, attending to the wants of the officers of the vari ous companies, who needed informa tion, wanted requisitions made for everything, and in receiving many vis itors who desired the opportunity ot seeing him as a military officer. The strong Incident of the day waa the afternoon divine service, conducted by ev. Mr. Sisson of the Hanscom Park Methodist church. Nearly 3.000 persons attended the services. The sermon was patriotic and encouraging to the new soldiers, who, at a well pointed, favorable reference to Colonel Bryan, burst forth into unrestrained and unrestrainaMe cheers for their leader. At the various quarters men were at work making themselves more com fortable sleeping places, practicing on folding their blankets and arranging their accoutrements, or reading up on "tactics." In the pleasant' day of old the cav alry was the most Important factor In warfare. The knights composing this branch of the military, encasl In ar mor, went forth to fight aeatflst bare legged peasants, poorly armedSand on foot. These they would "pit" onSii11" lance point after the gallant tr,wV val fashion of the times. It wa X harmless sort of sport for the k I I knight his chance of getting hu 1 very little. . V That foot soldiers corld Sur urxf ShdJ biiw-R OI neaw nvalw -..rv as It waa with twtlloo t . ..hi ",ZV-' was A Correspondent saMm.t.. population Of Tinnn an.. -".iiiairn 6.140.0WO. and 7.600.000 In 192L win ,'" peopie or xxorway are alarmed at the spread of liquor drii Ing among them. artnk IFI.. - l - if f. J 4 1! t J J - "X y- '
