The Hemineiord Herald.
VOLUME IV.
HEMINGFORD, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, JUNE , 1808.
NUMBER 10.
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"STONEWALL" GOMEZ
GREAT HERO REPELS THE
ENEMIES' OVERTURES.
BLANCO'S APPEAL TO GOMEZ
THE SIREN SONG ABOUT "WE"
CUBANS AND SPANIARDS.
The Spanish Proposition For tho
Cubans and Spanish Forces to
Unite Against United States In
dignantly Declined.
Tampa, Fin., May 30. On Apill 19
Don Eliza Glbega Leopold Sola, Ednar
do Dolz nnd Franclfreo Rabel, repte
sentlng the autonomist government of
Cuba, attempted to have an Interview
with the Cuban revolutionary govern
ment, In which they were unsuccessful,
for which reason on May 21, from Santa
Cruz del Sur, they wrote a lengthy let
ter to the said government, offering
all sorts of favors and privileges It
they would accept a very liberal form
of autonomy. To this document they
received no answer.
On May 4 General Blanco decided to
make a supreme and final attempt to
win over the Cuban forces, writing a
letter to General Gomez. A copy of
this letter, as well as the answer of
General Gomez, both important docu
ments of the last days of Spanish
sovereignty In Cuba, were secured by
the prefect of Havana, who sent It
here yesterday by Commander Llena,
who only a few days ago was picked
up by the Tecumseh, fifteen miles from
Havana. The letter of General Blanco
is as follows:
General Maximo Gomez, Commander-in-Chief
of the Revolutionary Forces
Sir: With the sincerity which has al
ways characterized my acts of address
ing myself, not doubting for a moment
that due to your clear Intelligence and
noble feelings which I, as an honorable
enemy, frankly acknowledge you will
favorably consider. It cannot be con
cealed from you that the Cuban prob
lem has radically changed. We Span
lards and Cubans find ourselves facing
a foreign nation of a different race, of
a natural absorbent tendency and with
tendency not only to rob Spain of her
Hag over the Cuban soil, but to exter
minate the Cuban people due to its hav
ing Spanish blood. The blockade of the
ports of the island has no other effect.
It is not only harmful to the Spaniards
but It also affects the Cubans, complet
ing the work of extermination of them
begun in the horrors of our civil strife.
The supreme moment has, therefore,
arrived in which we should forget our
past misunderstandings, and in which,
united by the interests of our own de
fense, we Spaniards and Cubans must
repel the Invader. Spain will not forget
the noble act of her children of Cuba,
and once the foreign foe is repulsed
from this island she, like a fond mother,
will open her arms to another new
daughter of the nations of the world
who speak her language, profess her
religion and feel In their veins the no
ble Spanish blood. General, due to these
reasons, I propose to make an alliance
of both armies In the city of Sinta
Clara. The Cubans will receive the
arms of the Spanish army and with the
cry of "Viva Espana" and "Viva Cuba"
we shall expel the Invader and free
from a foreign yoke the descendants
of the same people. Your obedient ser
vant, RAMON BLANCO.
General Ramon Blnni:o,Corr.marider-In-Chlef
of the Spanish Forces Sir: I
wonder you write to me again about
terms of peuce when you know that
Cubans and Spaniards can never be at
peace on the soil of Cuba. You repre
sent on this ccntinent an old and dis
credited monaichy. We are lighting for
an American principle, the same one
of Bolivar and Washington. You say
that we belong to the same race and
Invite me to fight against a foreign
invader, but you are mistaken again,
for there nre no differences of races
and blood. I only believe in one race
of mankind, and for me there are but
good and bad nations. Spain having
until now been a bad one and the
United States performing these move
ments a luty of humanity and civiliza
tion. From the wild, tawny Indian to the
refined blonde Englishman, a man for
me Is respectful according to his hon
esty and feelings, no matter what coun
try or race he belongs to or what relig.
ion he professes, so are nations for me.
and until now I have only reasons for
admiring the United States. I have
written to President McKlnley and Gen
eral Miles, thanking them for the Amer
ican intervention in Cuba.
Until now I do not see the danger of
our extermination by the United Stales,
to which you refer In your letter. If It
is so, history will Judge. For the pres.
ent I have to repeat that it Is too late
for any understanding between my
army and yours. Your obedient ser
vant, MAXIMO GOMEZ.
i - '
Uncle Sam will Grab the Carolines
s Washington, D. C, May 31. The com
plete capture of the Philippines by
the army and navy of the United
States will be followed by another Im
portant campaign In the South Pacific.
The Caroline islands, a dependency ot
Spain, it Is understood, will be seized
Some of Admiral Dewey's ships and
possibly the admiral himself will un
dertake the conquest. It is the opinion
here that the Islands will fall an easy
prey to our ileet unless Spain should
fend navnl reinforcements to the
Pacific. The Carolines have given the
American government a good deal of
trouble during the last few years, be
cause of the persecution of American
missionaries.
Washington, D. C, May 31. During
the Cuban Invasion the army will hnve'
three immense observation Imlloons for
watching the movements of the enemy.
General Greely. chief signal officer of
the army, has purchased for the une of
the army three balloons furnished with
all modern Improvements for signalling.
General Greely says there will be no
difficulty In raising a baloon over Santi
ago de Cuba to ascertain where Ad
miral Cervera is cooped up in the
harbor.
Lord Courtenay (Henry Reginald
Courtenay), eldest son of the earl of
Devon, is dead, aged 63.
TWO SPANISH SPIES ARRESTED
Formerallv Were Plnkerton Men
and Stopped Cuban Aid.
Key West, Fla., May 31. Two of
the three alleged Spanish spies, who
tried to dynamite Fort Taylor Saturday
night, have been captured. They gave
the nnmes of J. R. and F. II. Ball of
Jacksonville, Fin. No Information can
be obtained as to the documents found
In their possession or of the proof ob
tained by the government that they
are actually spies, other than a state
ment by Sergeant Richards that they
are the men who visited the fort on
Tuesdny evening. The Ball brothers
came here In a small boat named the
Privateer, a fortnight ago. They started
out from the east coast of Florida, near
Miami, and dawdled along through the
keys for a week or more before they ar
rived here. For several days they have
frequented the Cuban cafes, and on
more than one occasion they hnve been
seen In company with the Spanish cap
tains of the prizes In the harbor. The
secret service men began work Satur
day morning with the cab drivers. They
finally found the man who had driven
the two to the fort. He was pressed
Into service and a search was begun
At 1 o'clock the Ball brothers were
found In a Cuban cafe on Duval street
and were soon afterward arrested. They
protested their Innocence and denied
being spies. The tall Spaniard who
shot the sergeant has not yet been ap.
prehended.
It hns been learned that the two men
were formerly employed by Plnkerton
to watch for expeditions from the east
coast of Florida. They were very sharp
nt the business, nnd several expeditions
were caught. Their vigilance made
them many friends among the Spanish
sympathizers. They speak Spanish
fluently. They deny being the men who
visited the fort, but they were posi
tively identified by Sergeant Richards.
POISONED THROUGH PASTRY
Nebraska Boys at Frisco Will Eat
No More Donation Doughnuts.
San Francisco, Cal., May 31. Ne
braska boys firmly believe an attempt
has b?en made to poison them, though
the medical officers ate inclined to lay
It to overloaded stomachs. The fact
remains .hat a score of men were taken
suddenly ill Thursday evening, nnd so
seriously that they have not been able
to drill since. Thursday evening men
nnd women appeared with bnskets at
the fence iicar the Nebraska lines.
They furnished the volunteers with
cakes and doughnuts, which were taken
to tents and eaten during the night by
the men of company F. By midnlgnt
every Nebraskan who had partaken of
the food became violently ill with head
ache, cramps and vomiting. The symp.
toms were these of arsenical poison
ing. The men Insist that an attempt
was made to poison them. They had
eaten freily of cakes, pies and the like
before but never with such disastrous
results. Private Ish was one of those
who fell a victim. Quartermaster Ser
geant Wetzler was another cf the un
fortunates. Sergeant Kennedy and Privates
Shaddy and Hall also found them
selves fit -jubjects for a surgeon's care
after disposing of their cakes. Twenty
six men appeared at the hospital dur
ing the night, nearly all of them vic
tims of the dc nations. R. II. Wessel
was seized with cramps before mid
night, and about the same time John
W. White, one of the guards, became
suddenly 111. Orders were Issued today
that hereafter donations must be made
through headquarters.
NEBRASKA IN THE LEAD.
Her Offer of Volurjtoorsfor Second
Call First of All.
Washington, D. C, May 31. The great
state of Nebraska, which has already
furnished two regiments of volunteers,
Is the first to come to the front with
offers of two more regiments on the
president's second call for volunteers.
Congressman Stark today received the
following dispatch from Governor Hol
comb, tendering the services of more
Nebraskans t fight Spain:
"Nebraska desires to furnish two
regiments of Infantry or one of in
fantry and one cavalry If preferred,
the excess ui der this call to apply on
first call In lieu of states falling to fur
nish full quota."
Under Instructions from the governor
Mr. Stark "ailed on the secretary of
war and idered the services of the
two reglrr nts. The secretary told Mr.
Stark he- would give the matter his
earnest nnd Inr mediate consideration.
It is interesting to know that Ne- i
braska was about the first state to
furnish and have enrolled in the vol
unteer service of the United States her
quota of troops, called for by President
McKinley. Looking over the records of
the war department, it Is found that
each regiment consisted of 1,026 men.
There are In active service 2,025 of
them, not counting chaplains, staff offi
cers or supernumeraries, and the re
port of another mustering officer yet to
be received. This Is truly a great rec
ord, and one of which Nebraskans
might be justly proud.
Colonel Clarkson Next.
Lincoln, Neb., May 29. Governor Hoi.
comb wired the president, through the
war department nt Washington, asking
that Nebraska be allowed to make up
some of the deficiencies of other states
under the first call.
In the event the federal authorities
comply with tills request of the gov
ernor. Major T. S. Clarkson of Omahu
past commander-in-chief of the Grand
Army of the Republic, will be np
polnted by the governor to command
the nddltlonnl regiment, which will be
known as the Fourth Nebraska volun
teers. Major Clarkson offered his serv
ices to the gcvernor some time ago and
the command of one of Nebraska's regi
ments has been by the latter consid
ered as no more than a psopor recogni
tion of his deserts personally, nnd as
the representative of the veterans of
the civil war. This Is the highest mili
tary commission the governor can con
fer. The master of the fishing schooner
Johan, which arrived there, reports
having picked up a yawl containing
two reconcentradoos escaping from
Santiago. He says they told him Ad
miral Cervera's vessels are in the har
bor, and that they wore coaled and
ready to sail when the Cadiz squadron
arrives next week and breaks the
blockade.
REPORTS ON SPANISH FLEET
HARVARD SAYS ITI3STILLAT
SANTIAGO DE CUBA.
Three Spanish War Vessels Off
Port Antonlo-ThoTorror Evaded
Our Spies Think They Have
Cervera For Suro ThlsTlme.
Kingston, Jamaica, Mny 31, The
United States auxiliary cruiser Har
vard arrived at Kingston at 9 o'clock
Sunday morning for coal. The Hnrvard
reported that at noon yesterday nn
American Ileet of twelve ships was
lying oft Santiago do Cuba, and that
the Spanish fleet was Inside the harbor.
No engagement had taken place up to
the time of the Harvard's departure.
The Harvard left the Mole St. Nlcho
las on Thursday, started along the Cu
ban const and renched Santiago Satur
day morning. She left Santiago ut
noon, lay off Port Morant Saturday
night and came Into Port Roynl at 6
o'clock Sunday morning. The colonial
authorities will provide her with fresh
water and coal and ship supplies as
are required.
Mr. Preval, the clerk or the United
States consulate here, who went out
to the Ileet as Interpreter, was taken
off by the Harvard and landed In King
ston this morning.
Three Spanish war vessels were
sighted off Port Antonio late yesterday
afternoon. They were slowly steaming
west and It Is feared they are trying
to Intercept the United States dlBpatch
boat Eagle, which has put In at Port
Antonio.
It is announced that the Spanish tor
pedo boat destroyer Terror hns arrived
ut San Junn de Porto Rico, hnvlng
evaded the Amerlcnn warships which
were watching for her.
Key West, Fla.. May 31. Admiral
Cervera Is Imprisoned at Santiago Je
Cuba. This fact was confirmed late
Saturday afternoon by an auxiliary
gunboat which arrived- direct from
Clenfuegos. south coast wlf Cuba, with
dispatches for Washington.
The gunboat left Commodore Schley's
squadron on Thursday. The squadron
had lost four previous days by watch
ing the mouth of Clenfuegos harbor In
the belief that the Spanish fleet was
there and In hourly expectation that
It would give battle.
Commodore Schley has with him the
battleships Massachusetts, Indiana and
Texas, besides the flagship Brooklyn
and several smaller vessels. While this
formidable fleet waited outside the har
bor the men actually slept and ate at
their guns. The entire squadron could
have gone Into battle any moment of
the day or night. The war ships par
aded by day past the narrows at the
entrance to the bay and at night
turned their searchlights on the mouth.
The Spaniards made no sign. The
British steamer Adula, then in port,
was not permitted to sail.
The Scorpion left the fleet and dashed
east to Santiago. Five American war
ships were parading before that harbor,
but they were not strong enough to
attack the forts and mines. As soon
as Commodore Schley learned that he
was watching an empty harbor at Clen
fuegos he proceeded to Santiago. Hf
was due there Saturday. There should
be action Sunday morning exactly
four weeks to a day since Dewey met a
similar emergency In Manila. Admiral
Sampson's fleet Is believed to be off
the north coast of Cuba, midway be
tween Havana and Porto Rico, ready
to head off the Spaniards If they should
try to escape to the north.
Olllcers of the fleet no longer doubt
that Admiral Cervera is in Santiago de
Cuba and short of both coal and provi
sions. They expect a fight on Sunday
Twelve American war ships are now
outside the Santiago de Cuba harbor
and Admiral Cervera and the Spanish
fleet are almost certainly Inside, but
nothing certain Is known as to tho
communication which Commodoie
Schley has had with the shore, or as to
the number of Spanish fighting ves
sels bottled up In the harbor.
It Is to be piesumed that the Harvard
has Important dispatches for the naval
authorities at Washington.
m m
IT MAY BE WAR WITH AUSTRIA
She Has Paid Spies In America to
Give Dons Secret Information.
Washington, D. C, May 31. Diploma
tic relations between the United States
and Austrln may be severed In a few
days.
There is even a possibility that war
will be declared against Emporer
Francis Joseph's country.
It Is nlmost certain when all facts
are known that McKlnley will give
Austrian Minister Hengelmuller his
papers and order him to leave the coun
try. The state department has direct In
formation that the Austrian minister
Is operating a spy system in the in
terest of Spain.
There Is proof that the Austrian
legation Is the headquarters of a num
ber of Spanish sympathizers who are
engaged accumulating Information for
Spain under the management of the
minister.
It Is said that his work Is counten
anced and encouraged by his govern
ment. Hostilities will follow unless Austria
makes satisfactory explanation and dis
avows connection with her minister's
machinations In the Interest of Spain.
The gravest apprehensions nre felt
If there Is war with Austria It will
cause hostilities on a scale of such
magnitude that all European countries
are bound to be drawn Into It.
The Information regarding the action
of the Austrian nmbajsador was given
to the state department by Dr. llerr
mnn Schoenfeld, professor of continen
tal history In Columbian university.
Key West. Fla., May 31 the rainy
senson Is Just beginning In Cuba, and
the fleet of warships and newspaper
dispatch boats have experienced bad
weather during the last week, with fre
quont violent rain storms. Off the
Cuban coast the weather Is pleasant.
The new ciulser New Orleans, for
merly the Awazonns. at rived and ex
cited the admiration of all naval men
during hr present cruise, on account
of her speed and apparent effectiveness
as a lighting ship.
.
The new charter submitted to the
electors of San Francisco has un
doubtedly been cnrrled by a majority
approximating 2,000. ...; i .1 w I
HONOLULA TO TREAT TROOPS
Birr Preparations Doing Mndo to
Recelvo Uncle Sam's Soldiers.
Honolulu. Mny 20 (vlft San Fuinclsco.
May 30.) The cltironstof this city held
a in(nss meeting ot tlifc evening of the
17th Inst., nnd mode prrnngements to
entertain the United States troops
when they pass through this city.
The meeting was a most enthusiastic
one. Stirring speeches were made by
United States Minister Sewnll, Consul
General Haywood. William O. Smith,
attorney gencrnl for Hawaii; William
Kinney and others.
A committee of 100 prominent men
were nppolnted to handle the nffalr.
Meetings hnve been held from day
to day, and all preliminary arrange
ments have been made. The govern
ment has tendered the use of the huge
drill shed nnd the grounds surrounding
tlud'executlve building.
A sumptuous spread will be pre
pared for Uncle Snm's defenders, under
tho direction of the ladles of Honolulu.
Fruits nnd flowers In profusion will
be provided for the guests, and every
thing will be done to mnke the short
stay' of the soldiers at Honolulu a
memorable one. Over $5,000 will be sub
scribed for the entertainment.
There Is much speculation In regard
to the visit of the soldlern. Many be
lieve the men win not be allowed to
land. If the men do not come ashore
this affair will be marred to a consid
erable extent, but the boys will be pro
vided for, nevertheless.
Well cooked food, fruits and other
luxuries will be sent on board of the
steamers, to be eaten on the trip.
A squad of ten men was sent ashore
from the Bennington yesterday to as
sist In decorating the drill shed, where
the soldiers are to be feasted.
The Bennington may convoy the City
of Pekln to Manila.
The fnct that the AhTt Is to come
here seems to wnrrant the Impression
that the Bennington Is for other ser
vice thnn to He nt anchor In n peaceful
port while battles are being fought
elsewhere.
The Pekln Is expected to bring orders
for the Bennington.
U. S. COAST PATROL.
After several weeks of work along the
entire stretch of the Atlantic Gulf coast
the navy department has completed
the most comprehensive nnd efficient
system for observing the npproach of
a hostile fleet that lias ever been put
Into operation. A new bureau has
been created for this purpose known
as the const signal service In charge
of Captain Bartlett, of the naval
board of Information.
The system has 3,200 men stretched
along the const from Bar Harbor,
Maine, to Galveston, Texas. These are
divided Into thirty-four central stn
tlons about sixty to 100 miles. The
stntlons are connected directly by
telegraph with the coast signal office-'
of the navy department nnd operators
are on duty night nnd day keeping the
navy department In' constant touch
with the entire stretch of Atlantic and
Gulf coasts. Secretary Long projected
this plan a month ago, and $75,000 was
set aside to establish the points of ob
servation along the coast. After
selecting the thirty-four central points
from Maine to Texas, rush orders wers
given to build observation towers,
The naval militiamen, 233 In number,
with the rank of naval quartermasters,
are now on duty at each of these
stations. The light house force of
1,200 men scattered from Maine to
Texas and the life-saving service of
1,060 life savers are added to the ob
servation force. The thirty-four sta.
tlons with tiie numerous light houses
and life saving stations make a com
plete chain of observation points all
connected by telegraph or teleprone
with one another.
By arrangement with the telegraph
companies the reports from these ob
servers take precedence over the pri
vate telegraphic business, so that the
navy department Is enabled to get lm.
mediate notice of the approach of any
hostile fleet or suspicious ship. The
work of observation has been thor
oughly systemlzed. Watches nre kept
throughout the day and night. Tho
life-saving crews In particular were
assigned to night duty nnd they pa
trol the beach throughout the night on
the outlook for approaching ships. The
observers have been supplied with tele
scopes and with torches, rockets and
other paraphernalia for signaling. The
results already secured have shown
the efficiency of the plan adopted.
Naval vessels passing nlong the coast
are able to signal day or night by
torches and otherwise with the naval
observers along the beach and these
signals are Immediately telegraphed
to the navy department.
Captain Bartlett sleeps throughout
the night alongside the telegraph In
struments, ready to convey to his su
periors word of the approach of any
hostile ship. The first thing each morn
Ing reports nre received from every
point from Bar Harbor to Galveston
stating briefly that everything is quiet
or otherwise, as the case may be. Thus
far they have been uniformly assur
ing, but the night reports nre nt times
alarming. The observers being alert
and new to their work, report every
suspicious light seen off shore and fre
quently attach serious significance to
It. Since Captain Bartlett has an
swered some of the scare reports with
the laconic message "Sea serpent," the
observers have been more cautious nnd
the reports show evidence of careful
observation. With this system In its
present perfected state, the navy de
partment feels assured that It knows
exactly the conditions of affairs nlong
the entire Atlantic and gulf coast. The
system Is simply a precautionary one
as the department hns hnd no renson
to believe that Spanish ships were men
acting points along the coast.
It has also become obvious that a
force should be planted on the southern
coast near Clenfuegos to take and hold
that town -and form a Junction with
the troops'" In nded on the north coast.
Within tlie last three days It has also
become dear that to do the work thor
oughly in Cuba a force of 1S.0O0 or 20.000
must be debarked near Santiago for the
purpose of occupying that iwrt and the
adjacent country.
It Is a curious thing that our rein
forcements for Manila start from the
Presidio at San Francisco; for Presidio
Is, of course, the Spanish word for
fortress, which has come Into common
American usage on the Pacific coast,
as a rollo of the days when men of
Spanish blood huld the fqrt at the
Golden Gate.
DENTS MYSTERIOUS ERRAND
OUT IN THE STORM HE FOUND
A CUBAN PILOT.
Hurried Thnt Pilot to SohloySan
tlngo Hnrbor and It's Minos aro
Now an Opon book to Our Fleet
How SohloyTrappodthoSpanlard
Kingston, Jamulcn, May 31. The ves
sels of Schley's fleet aro lying four
miles off the Morro castle. Schley's
Ileet. on leaving Key West, consisted
of only the llngshlp Brooklyn, the ha
tleshlps Massachusetts and Texas and
the scout bont Scorpion.
It wns followed otic day later by the
battleship Iowa and the torpedo boat
Dutnont. Those two Joined the squad
ron at Clenfuegos. where It was first
thought the Spanish would bo found.
The cruiser Cincinnati was left to
guard the Yucatan channel, together
iiu me uymimiic cruiser Vesuvius.
The New Orleans was sent to cunrd
the Bayamo channel tin the cast, so that
me hpanish Ileet could not slip around
either end of the Island without due
warning being given.
STEAMS TO SANTIAGO.
After blockading Clenfuegos until
Tuesdny night. Schley's fleet. aug
mented by the gunboats Casttne nnd
Eagle, steamed slowly to Santiago de
Cuba, arriving there Wednesday.
Every move made by Commodore
Schley Indicates his purpose to push
boldly Into the harbor of Santiago at
once, unci crush Cervera at one de
cisive blow.
To Insure the safety of his shins In
the dash through the narrow winding
channel behind which Cervera took
renigc, Commodore Schley hns en
gaged one of the most skillful Cuban
pilots In all the Island.
He was at one time pilot of the Span
ish cruiser Relna Mercedes, and for sev
enteen yours he hns been piloting ships
In Cuban waters, moBt of the time In
and near Santiago.
Every mine planted In tho Santiago
channel Is known to him, nnd his
knowledge will enable Schley speedily
to clenr a channel for his ships.
DENT'S SECRET MISSION.
Now that this pilot Is safely aboard
the fleet It Is nn open secret that the
mysterious trip made by United States
Consul Dent one night last week was to
secure him and see that he reached
Schley safely. Mr. Dent disappeared at
midnight, during n drenching rain, and
on his return twenty-four.hours later It
was given out thnt he hnd been after
a boat to send dispatches to the fleet,
there being no steamer here that he
could charter.
Tho coming of the pilot keyed tho
men on the fleet up to concert pitch.
They expeot a fight now at any min
ute, and It can't come too soon to suit
them.
The dispatch boat Harvard brought
dispatches from 8chley to Secretary
Long, which were nt once forwarded
by cable. The Harvard Is In need of
some repairs, but as Monday Is a holl
dny here nnd her twenty-four hours'
limit of stay will expire then, Captain
Cotton finds himself In an awkward po
sition. He has requested that he be al.
lowed to remain pending completion of
the necessary repairs, and It Is prob
able that the request will be granted.
WHAT SAMPSON IS DOING.
Was Prepared, to Head Cervera at
Elthor'End of Cuba.
Key West, Mny 31. Sunday with the
fleet, waiting, watching In silent, sunlit
seas, a group of great battleships ac
tlonless under the tropical sun, broad
decks scorched and seared by day, lan
guid and dreamy under the stars by
night, a fleet of iowerful sea lighters,
an army of brave men drifting at Bea
waiting for something to do that tells
the story of Rear Admiral Sampson's
fleet for past days and nights.
Stretching away to the sea line the
sky Is gleaming and motionless, and
one can senrely Imagine It the same
sea that hos been rolling and tumbling
for weeks past. It Is a picture of trop.
leal languor, but there Is method In
Sampson's Inactivity.
Until he Is definitely advised that the
Spanish fleet Is Imprisoned In Santiago
de Cuba harbor he Is here In a posi
tion to move quickly In any direction
where the Spanish ships may appear.
If the Spaniards should escape Com
modore Schley on the southern coast of
Cuba and mnke for enstern seaports of
the United States he Is In a position
In a few hours' run to cut them off In
the Windward passage. One or more
scout boats nre kept In that position
constantly. On the other hand, If the
Spaniards should come around the
western end of Cuba In the hope ot
getting Into Havana, he Is here where
he can Intercept them on short notice.
It Is Irksome to wait here day after
day.
A most vinllant watch Is kept by the
fleet day and night In apprehension, in
hope, that the Spanish fleet may come
In sight. The sailors hang over the
rails scanning the horizon and tho
gunners lie In the shadow of the big
rifles, longing for a chance to see tho
great monsters thundering.
"What a perfect day for a battle,"
they say, looking far out over the mo
tionless sea, but days and nights go by
and the enemy does not come. At night
the lights are all put out and the tor
pedo boats and small gunbonts con
stantly patrol the surrounding waters.
Spanish Conclude Cervera Is Lost.
Madrid, May 31. It Is now known
that nothing developed at the cabinet
council to irake clear whether Admiral
Cervera's fleet Is In Santiago harbor
or outside of. It, but General Correa,
the minister of war, announced that
he had recoived a dispatch from Goneral
Blanco to the effect that twelve Amer
ican warships were off Santiago Satur
day, but that most of them disappeared
today, going in a westerly direction.
General Blanco gives it to be under
stood that Admiral Cervera's squadron
remains In Santiago' harbor.
-
Dewey and Sampson have already
captured considerable prize money, but
the captors of the Spanish Cape Verde
fleet will hnve money to burn. The
four cruisers are worth at least $2,000.
000 and the two torpedo boat destroy,
ers $600,000 each. That prize beats the
band.
AUTONOMY FOR INSURGENTS
Philippines to Hnvo Native Gover
nors nnd Fight Undo Sam.
Hong Kong, Mny 31. Spain Is trying
In the Philippines the same game of
offering homo rulo that fulled la Cuba.
The Spanish governor nt Manila la
malting desperate attempts to bribe or
coax the rebels to drop their quarrel
with. Spain nnd mnke common causo
against tho Yankees,
Ho Is offering to grant every conces
sion demanded by tho rebels short ot
Independence. To the leaders he has
tendered bribes nnd offices. Two prleBta
were the first emissaries to Agulnnldo.
They offered him 20,000 gold ounces and
provincial governorship If ho would
abandon the rebellion and fight beside
Instead of agnlnst the Spaniards.
"Tell the governor," was the rebel's
answer, "that I will take that and as
much more as I want after I court
martial him for murder."
Hu sent the priests back, first cau
tioning them not to return to the rebel
en in p.
Next, two prominent merchants of
Manila, to whom the rebel chief was
under obligations for assistance given
him In yenrs gone by when he most
needed It, were sent to use their Influ
ence In the Spanish Interest.
ONLY SAVED BY GRACE.
Agulnnldo refused to see them nnd
ordered tlair Imprisonment. "For tho
snke of our old friendship I would spare
your lives," he sent word to them, "but
your crime Is not against me, nnd a
my officers decide, so must your fate
be."
A second delegation, come on the
same errand, shares the Imprisonment
of the two merchants. It Is not be
lieved they will be executed, as Aguln
nldo wants to Impress on the Amer
IcntiB Hint the rebels nre civilized men,
fit to be trusted with the government of
the Philippines.
Nenrly nil the Spnnlsh provlnclnl gov
ernors have been removed, and natives
appointed to their places In conson
ance with the governor's policy of re
conciliation. Tho Spaniards are con
stantly cabling that Agulnaldo has
Joined them. Ab Agulnaldo surprised a
Spanish supply train and captured 4,000
rlfiOB and two bullock car loads of am
munition Inst Wednesday, these reportB
deceive no one. Tho Spaniards were
using the telegraph from Manila to
Hollo, with a swift steamer to cover tho
gap to Labun. Dewey figured this out
and cut the wires.
INSURGENTS DRILLING.
The Insurgents an; drilling and pre
paring to act with the American troops,
the first or which are expected about
June 14. The Philippines nre now well
Americans, and have plenty of ammu
nition. They demonstrated their value
nltton. They demonstarted their value
Friday evening by advising Dewey that
the Spanlnrds Intended to attack Cav
lte. Dewey stationed the Petrel, Mc
Culloch and the captured gunboat
Callno where their machine guns could
sweep the neck ot land over which the
attuck must come. The Spaniards
abandoned the proposed move.
The blocknde of Manila Is complete
and starvation Is only a question of
time. The Spnnlsh soldiers are mutin
ous nnd uneasy, A million dollars In
gold, given the governor by the priests
from the chuich treasury, has been dis
tributed to the troops as part payment
of their arrears. This has quieted
them for the time, but the disorder Is
only checked, not averted.
The rebels have taken St. Thomas,
killing all the Spanish officers they
could find.
The third-class Spanish cruiser, El
Cano, about the only Spanish warship
remaining afloat In Philippine waters,
dodged Into Hollo the other day and
dodged out again before Dewey could
plan to catch her.
THIRD CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.
Unpopular Enlistment Plan will not
Fill Up the Ranks.
Washington, D. C, May 31. A third
call for volunteers Is likely to be Issued
within the next two weeks.
Military authorities are convinced
thnt there is to be a demand for troops
which cannot be met with the force
available under present conditions. It
Is evident that the regular army can
not bo Increased to the desired strength
of 62,000, and the war department will
consider Itself fortunate If the regular
army attains a force of 40,000. Army
officers are perplexed as to why men
are not willing to enter the regular es
tablishment. The conditions are Identi
cal to the volunteer service, and the
regulars stand a chance of being better
enred for, as the system of distributing
supplies to regular troops Is more near
ly perfect than In the volunteer army.
A conservative estimate by an officer
competent to Judge provides, first, for
an. army of 125,000 for Cuba; second, an
army of 60,000 for the Philippines; third,
an army of 30,000 for Porto Rico.
How the necessity for larger Invad
ing forces than originally expected has
grown Is exemplified In the case of
Cuba. Originally It was thought that
a force of 30,000 men would be sufficient
to take Havana, and the plan was to
land such a body within ten or fifteen
miles of that port. Since then Blanco
has extended his shore batteries al
most forty miles to the east and west
of Havana, and the American landing
force for that reason must be consid
erably greater.
A Jury In the United States circuit
court has awarded to Robert Barr, the
novelist, a verdict of $1,000 damages In
his libel suit against the New York
Sun. The court refused to let the Jury
award punitive damages. The libel Ih
well known. The Sun stated In a L n
don letter that Mr. Barr had ben re
moved to nn asylum for inebriates at
Twickenham, and thnt his family were
In destitute circumstances in conse
quence of his bibulous habits. The
statement was never retracted, though
every opportunity was offered tht Sun
to retract it, and It was shown that
another man of the same name wan
the Inebriate In the case; hence the s'Ut
for damages resulting. It is said that
since he came to America to press hlu
suit, Mr, Barr has sold $2,400 worth of
short stories.
John Oliver Hobbs has taken up her
abode in the Convent of the Assump
tion In London, and announces her In
tention of staying there for two years.
She has a pretty room at the top of
the house, which Bhe has beautified by
all sorts of artlstics trinkets from the
"outside world."