Grand Rapids Herald-Review Newspaper, May 21, 1898, Page 2

The Revald--Review. By E. Kiley. MINNESOTA. GRAND RAPIDS - You cannot judge a man’s religion by the condition of his front yard. Again has Spain demonstrated her pre-eminence in diplomacy, She drop- ped it first. It is confidently asserted that during this little scuffle tea, coffee and breath will be untaxed. England can never be considered an ally of ours while her army continues to blow African savages from the mouths of her cannons. Mr. Croker will do his part of the fighting with Spain on the racing grounds of England; but as to his struggle with Hill he will leave orders and fight by substitute. A correspondent of the New York Press believes that if the clergy united in prayer to that end God would sink every Spanish war vessel. It is well to have faith, but it is safer to keep your powder dry. Suppose, for in- stance, the Spanish should pray the Almighty to sink all of our navy? Jhy would not the efficacy of suppli- ation be as great in one case as in the other? The frequent difficulty in balancing count books has been solved, accord- ing to the Chicago Post, by the treas- urer of a woman’s club, who explains her system thus: “I just add up what I have received, and substract from that what I have paid out, to show what is due the club, and then I make my husband give me a check for the amount.” Unfortunately many expa- triated cashiers have no husbands. At the recent celebration of his eighty-third birthday Prince Bismarck walked with the help of a gold-handled cane that was given him by the pres- ent emperor. Those who saw him thus supported may well have thought of the fateful days when the first Em- peror William Jeaned on Bismarck as on a strong staff, and by that aid was enabled to walk sturdily along untried and perilous paths to the imperial throne. A man in New York gave his girl two brand new front teeth as a wed- ding gift, “to fill up the gap,” as he expressed it. Directly the two separ- ated, and then, on the highway, he tried to pluck the teeth from the gap, and the magistrate before whom he was taken fined him ten dollars for it. The proprieties of life ought to be re- spected. Only a stingy man would have limited his generosity to two teeth. He should have given her a ful ect, a wig, and a cork leg. W. S. Gilbert wanted five thousand dollars as damages because a London paper said he was given to pomposity, envy and ingratitude, and the jury cisagreed. Mr. Gilbert satirizes men, women and ideas rather more than any cther man, and it is not reasonable that he should be sensitive to that sort cf thing as applied to himself. It re- inds one of the generous lad who said to his companion, “Let us play. I will hit you with a club and you will back up againgt the fence and cry.” The suggestion that those who give should be willing to take would evi- cently come to Mr, Gilbert as a new Muncie and Richmond, Indiana, are preparing to try the Pingree lot-garden scheme this year on a more extensive scale and systematic basis than any city in Indiana has yet attempted. Richmond has been experimenting along these lines for the last three years—not individually, but as a city, and under city management. The re- sults have been wonderful. The poor of the city have thus been employed and have raised enough each year to take them through the winter with plenty of food. The city council has just voted an appropriation of several hundred dollars to carry on the early spring preliminary work, and citizens are pledging their vacant lots to the city—not to individuals. More than 150 lots will be given over to that pur- pose this spring and the city superin- tendent, who is appointed by the mayor and paid by the city, is now entering the names of those who want the gar- dens and assigning them to certain lots. Only the poor need apply and the amount of ground given is regulated by the size of the family. The ground is broken and prepared by the city, and the city, through the government, pro- vides all of the seed. All that is re- quired of the poor is to plant, till and care for the ground and harvest the crops. The city superintendent super- vises all of this work, and if he finds that a man is negligent he will appoint others to attend to the work and reap the reward. This system costs the city something, but the cost is slight when compared with savings in the long winter months when such de- mands were made on charity. No North or South, no East or West, no parties or half parties; but the un- ion a unit_for free Cuba and the Mon- | roe doctrine in its broadest sense. No more wholesale starvation, no mcre white slavery, no more foreign govern- ment control of anything or anybody on this continent. The value of the instruments and machinery exported from the United States during 1897 for scientific pur- poses was $3,054,453, which was an in- crease of $500,000 as compared with the exports in 1896. DIED IN THEIR COUNTRY’S CAUSE. FIVE AMERICAN SAILORS LOSE THEIR LIVES. Result of a Hot Engagement in Car- denas Harbor—Spanish Fire Con- centrated on the Torpedo Boat ‘Winslow—Solid Shot Crashed Inte Her Hull and Destroyed Her Boiler —The Winslow Badly Damaged in the Encounter—Americans Madc Furious Havoc With Cardemas Harbor and Tcwn—Spanish Gun- boat Sunk—Enemies’ Losses Can- not be Estimated. Key West, Fla., May 14.—America’s first dead fell yesterday in a fierce and bloody combat off Cardenas, on the north coast of Cuba. Five men were blown to pieces and five men were wounded on the torpedo boat ‘Winslow. The dead are Worth Bagley, ensign; John Varveres, oiler; John ‘Daniels and John Meek, first-class firemen; Josiah Tunnell (colored) cabin cook. The wounded are R. E. Cox, gun- ner’s mate; D. McKewon, quarter- master; J. Patterson, fireman, F. Gray and Lieut. J. B. Bernardou. The battle lasted thirty-five minutes. It was between the torpedo boat Wins- low, the auxiliary tug Hudson and the gunboat Wilmington on one side and the Cardenas batteries and four Span- ish gunboats on the other. "The Wins- low was the main target of the enemy and was put out of service. The other american vessels were not damaged except that the Hudson’s two ventila- tors were slightly scratched by flying shrapnel. The enemy’s loss is largely conjectural. One of their gunboats caught fire. The flames spread to the barracks and swept away several small warehouses, and for a time the whole water front seemed to be ablaze, The Hudson’s crew also believe that two Spanish torpedo boat destroyers were disabled, but they admit that their estimate of the damage is large- ly guess work as the action was too sharp for outside observations to be made. The Winslow was within 2,500 yards of shore when the shells struck. ‘How she came to be so close was told by her commander, Lieut. John Ber- nadou. He said: “We were making observations when The Enemy Opened Fire on us. The Wilmington ordered us to go in and attack the gunboats. We went in under full steam and there is the result.” He was on the Hudson when he said this, and with the final words he pointed to a huddle of Amer- ican flags on the deck nearby. Under the stars and stripes were outlined five rigid forms. The story of the fight as told by the Hudson’s men is as follows: “The Winslow, the Hudson, the Ha. chias and the Wilmington were among ‘the ships of Cardenas on the blockade, the Wilmington acting as flagship. The Machias lay about twelve miles out, the Wilmington 500 yards and the Hudson and Winslow being sta- tioned close in, on what is called the inside line. At 8:45 in the morning the Hudosn, under Capt. Newton, was taking soundings in Diana Caypars and Romero Cay, just outside Carde- ngs, so close to ghore that she ground- ed, but floated off easily into the shal- low water. At 7:30 the Wilmington spoke to the Hudson and the Winslow and assigned them to duty, the Wins- low to start to the eastern shores of Cardenas bay and the Hudson to the western shore, while the Wilmington took her station in the middle channel. This work occupied two hours. Noth- ing was discovered on either shore and the boats were approaching each other on their return when a puff of smoke was observed on shore at Car- denas and a shell whistled over them. The Winslow was on the inside, near- est shore. The Hudson and the Wins- low reported to the Wilmington and Orders Came Promptly to go in and open fire, but the Span- jards had not waited for a reply to their first shot. The Cardenas harbor shore had already become one dense cloud of smoke. Shot with flashes of fire and an avalanche of shells was bursting toward the little Winslow. This was five minutes past 2 o'clock, and for twenty minutes the fire con- tinued from the shore without cessa- tion, but none of the shot had at that time found their mark, though they were striking dangerously near. Meanwhile the Hudson's two six- pounders were banging away at a ter- rific rate. How many of the torpedo boat's shots took effect is not known. The first two of the Hudson’s shots fell short, but after these two every one floated straight into the smoke- clouded shore. The Spaniard’s aim in the meantime was improved and it was presently seen that two empty parks had been anchored off shore as ranges. It was twenty-five minuses before three o'clock when a four-inch shell struck the Winslow on the star- board beam, knocking out her forward boiler and starboard engine and crip- pling her steering gear, but no one was injured. Lieut. Bernardou was standing forward watching the battle with calm interest and directing his men as if they were at target practice. By the one-pounder amidships stood Ensign Bagley, the oiler, the two fire- The Oregon Coming, Rio de Janeiro, May 14.—The battle- ship Oregon and the gunboat Mariet- ta, having coaled to their fullest ca- pacity, left Bahia yesterday, bound north. Their destination is not known but it is assumed that they will pro- ceed direct to Key West. Suicide of a Spy. Washington, May 14.—George Down- Ing, the Spanish spy arrested here several days ago, committed suicide by hanging himself at the barracks, where he was confined. .d throbbed and rolled help- rom side to side. Lieut. Ber- madou did not stop for an examination. He knew his boat was uncontrollable. The Hudson was a short distance away, still pounding away with her guns. She was hailed and asked to take the Winslow in tow. It Wax a Vital Monrent. ‘Guns roared from shore and_ sea, Lieut. Scott, in charge of the Hudson’s gun, sat on a box and smoked a cigarette as he directed the fire. Capt. Newton stood near Lieut. Mead at the forward gun and watched its work- ings with unmoved interest. Chief Engineer Cutchin never missed his bell. A group of sailors was making ready to heave a line to the Winslow and Ensign Bagley and his four men stood on the port side of the latter ves- sel, waiting to receive it. A vicious fire was singing about them. The Spaniards seemed to have found the exact range. There was a momentary delay in heaving the tow line, and En- sign Bagley suggested that the Hud- son’s men hurry. “Heave her,” he called. “Let her come; it’s getting pretty warm here.” The line was thrown and grabbed by the Winslow’s men. Grim with sweat and powder, they tugged at it and drew her nearer foot by foot to the Hudson. Almost at the same instant another four-inch shell shrieked through the air and burst directly under them. Five bodies went hurling through the air. Two of the group were dead when they fell, Ensign Bagley and Fireman Daniel. The young ensign was literally disem- boweled, and the lower portion of the fireman’s body was torn away. The other three died within a few minutes. A flying piece of shrapnel struck Lieua, Bernadou in the thigh and cut an ugly gash, but the lieutenant did not know it then. With the explosion of the shell the hawser parted and the Winslow’s helm went hard to star board, and with her stearing gear smashed the torpedo boat floundered about in the water at the Merey of the Enemy’s Fire which never relaxed. The fire of the Americans was of an unusually per- sistent character. The nerve of the men was marvelous. Even after the Winslow’s starboard engine and steer- ing gear was wrecked the little boat continued pouring shot into the Span- jiards on shore until she was totally disabled. Meanwhile the Wilmington, from her outlying station was busy with her bigger guns, and sent shell after shell from her four-inch guns crashing into the works on shore, and their execution must have been deadly. Not a fragment of shot or shell from the enemy reached her. The Hudson quickly threw another line to the Win- slow, and the helpless torpedo boat was made fast and pulled out of the Spaniard’s exact range. The tug then towed her to Pierdos island, twelve miles off, near where the Machias lay. 'There she was anchored for temporary repairs, while the Hudson brought her ghastly cargo into Key West, with Dr. Richards, of the Machias, attending the wounded. The Hudson drew up to the government dock shortly before 8 o'clock in the morning. .The flags at half-mast told the few loiterers on shore that death had come to some one, and the bunting spread on the deck, with here and there a foot pro- truding from beneath confirmed the news. Ambulances were called and the wounded were quickly taken to the army barracks hospital. The dead were taken to the local undertaker's shop where they were laid on slabs, the mutilated forms draped with flags. The Winslow has a six-inch hole in her starboard beneath her starboard engine, forward boiler, forward venti- lator and steering gear are destroyed and her port engines are slightly dam- aged. MAD AT THE BRITISH. Spaniards at Manila Have a Griev- ance Against John Bull. London, May 14. — The Hongkong correspondent of the Daily Mail says: “The Spaniards at Manila are incensed against the British because it is be- lieved that the Esmeralda piloted the Americans into the bay. It is feared that the Spanish soldiers, who are un- paid, will attack the British factories. The Spaniards have made up their minds to hould out to the last. They are in a position to give the Americans a deal of trouble. There are 25,000 Spanish soldiers in the garrison at Manila and 100,000 volunteers enrolled. Scores of coasting steamers are im- prisoned on the River Pasig, which is blocked at the mouth by a sunken schooner. For the following informa- tion 1 am indebted to Mr. Wildman, the American ccnsul here, who tells mne that, according to his dispatches a flag of truce is flying over Manila and the people are allowed to proceed free- ly to and from the ships in the harbor. The Americans are on duty night and day, on the lookout for boats which endeavor to run the blockade with food and supplies. The hospital is supported by the Americans. The Spaniards are boasting that the battle ship Pelayo is coming and will de- molish the Americans in ten minutes.” CHASED BY A SPANIARD. German Steamer Encounters One of the 'Terpedo Boats. Halifax, N. SS. May 14. — Capt. Brunst, of the German steamer So- phie Rickmers, reports that while crossing the Newfoundland banks he was chased by a Spanish warship. The latter was very speedy and fired three shells at the Rickmers, but the latter being an eighteen-knot boat and the weather becoming hazy, she got away. Capt. Brunst says the Spaniard was a torpedo boat with three funnels and very low in the water. The Rick- mars proceeded to New York. For an Insane Asylum. Houghton, “Mich., May 14. — The county board has repurchased the old court house, which will be rebuflt and made into an insane asylum despite the building of a large new asylum at Newberry. He Made Trouble. Fargo, N. D., May 14. —-William Messner of Casselton was adjudged in- sane by the insanity board. He im- agined that he was Jesus Christ, and created a great deal of trouble. ——— a speller age ‘cook. "The Itttle boat, BOMBARDED | BY SAMPSON SAN JUAN FORTS MOWED DOWN BY THE TERRIFIC FIRE. Iwo Americans Killed and Seven Wounded—Sampsen's Vessels Un- injured —Eremy’s Loss Believed ato Be Heavy—San Juan Could Have Been Taken, but There Was No Foree to Hold It— Admiral Sampson Said He Wanted to In- flict Punishment and Was Satis- filed With tne Work—After the Spanish Fleet, Not San Juan. (Copyrighted, 1898, Associated Press.) On board the Flagship Iowa, off San Juan de Puerto Rico, May 12. via St. Thomas, Danish West Indies, May 15. —The forts of San Juan de Puerto Rico were bombarded by part of Rear Admiral Sampson’s fleet this morning. The enemy’s loss is believed to be heavy. The American loss is two men killed and seven men injured. After three hour's firing the Admiral with- drew the fleet, and, heading for Key West, he said: “I am satisfied with the morning’s work. I could have taken San Juan but I have no force to hold it. I only wanted to administer punishment. This has been done. I came for the Spanish fleet and not for San Juan.” The men killed were Seaman Frank Widemark, of the New York and the gunner’s mate of the Amphitorite. The latter died of the extreme heat. Of the injured men three were on board the Iowa and four on board the New York. ‘The American ships were un- injured. The engagement began at 5:15 a. m. and ended at 8:15 a. m, The enemy’s batteries were silenced. The town in the rear of the fortifications probably suffered. The ships taking part in the action were the Iowa, Indiana, New York, Terror, Amphi- trite, Detroit, Montgomery, Wampa- tuck and Porter. The enemy's Firing Was Heavy, but wild, and the Iowa and New York were probably the only ships hit. They went right up under the guns in column, delivering broadsides, and then returned. The line passed thrice in front of the forts, pouring tons of steel on shore. It is impossible to judge the amount of damage done to the buildings and forts. They ap- peared to be riddled with shot, but the Spaniards were plucky. The after turrett of the Amphitrite got out of erder temporarily during the engage- ment, but she banged away with her forward guns. After the first passage before the forts the Detroit and the Montgomery retired, their guns being too small to do much damage. The Yorter and Wampatuck also stayed out of range. ‘the smoke hung over everything, spoiling the aim of the gunners and making it impossible to tell where our shots struck. The ot- ficers and men of all the ships be- haved with coolness and_ bravery. The shots flew thick and fast over all our ships. The men of the lowa who were hurt during the action were in- jured by splinters thrown from an eight-inch shell which came through a boat into the superstructure and scattered fragments in all directions. The shot’s course was finally ended on an iron plate an inch thick. Moro battery, on the eastward arm of the harbor, was the Principel Point of Attack. Rear Admiral Sampson and Capt. Eyans were on the lower bridge of the Iowa and had a narrow escape from flying splinters, which injured three men. but the shells made no impression on her armor. The weather was fine, but the heavy swells made accurate aim difficult. The broadsides from the Iowa and Indiana rumbled in the hills ashore for five minutes after they were delivered. Clouds of durt showed where the shells struck, but the smoke hung over everything. The shells screaching overhead and drop- ping arourd showed that the Span- iards still stuck to their guns. At 8 o'clock in the morning all hands were called on the Iowa and a few final touches in cleaning ship were made and at 5 “general quarters” sounded. The men were eager for the fight. The. tug Wampatuck went ahead and anchored her small boat to the westward showing ten fathoms, but there was not a sign of life from the fort, which stced boldly against the sky on the eastern hills, hiding the town. The Detroit steamed far to the eastward, opposite Valtern. The Iowa headed straight fer the shore. Suddeniy her helm flew over, bringing the starboard battery to the near fortifications. At 5:16 the Iowa’s for- ward twelve-inch guns thundered out at the sleeping hills and for fourteen minutes she poured Starboard Brondsides on the coast. Meanwhile the Indiana, the New York and other ships repeat- ed the dose from the rear. The Iowa turned and came back to the Wampa- tuck’s boat and again led the column, the forts replying after concentrating on the detroit, which was out 700 yards away from the batteries on the eastward arm of the harbor. Thrice the column passed from the entrance of the harbor to the extreme eastward battery. Utter indifference was shown for the enemy’s fire. The wounded were quickly attended to, the blood was washed away and everything pro- Strange Warship Sighted. St. John’s, N. F., May 15.—The tele- graph operators at Cape Race and Thepassey Bay report that a strange steamer, apparently a warship, has been hovering off the south coast of this island all day. She first became visible about 10 o’clock in the morning and remained in sight until 5 in the afternoon, about ten miles off, cruising slowly. The stranger had two masts and two funnels, but showed no flag. Arrangements have been made for a ‘Trepassey fishing boat to ascertain the nationality of the steamer. The Iowa was hit eight times ). ceeded like target practice. At 7:45 a. m. Admiral Sampson signalled “cease firing. ” “Retire” was sounded on the Iowa, and she headed for the shore. The Terror was the last ship in the line, and failing to see the signal, banged away alone for half an hour, the concert of shore guns roaring at her and the water fiying high around her from the exploded shells. But she possessed a charmed life and reluc- tantly retired at 8:15. As at Matanzas the unsatisfactory condition, the smoke and the distance prevented any important conclusions being drawn. The town of San Juan must have sut- fered, although protected by the hills, as the high shots must have reached it. No traces of the bombardment were discoverable on the forts except small fires which were apparently ig- nited before the ileet left. pak el TOOK SAN JUAN. President McKinley Receives a Dis- patch Announcing the Cupitula- tion, St. Paul, May 15.—A special to the Pioneer Press from Washington says: President Mc ley received a dis- patch late this afternoon, which came through Haitian sources, announcing the complete capitulation of the city and forts of San Juan de Puerto Rico. The dispatch was immediately com- municated to Secretary Long, who presented it to the naval strategy board, which was then in session, I saw Secretary Long a few moments after the receipt of the dispatch in question, but he would not say who sent it. He acknowledged its receipt, however, and supplemented the pres- idential declaration of faith in its au- thenticity. sales From Sprnish Sourecs. Madrid, May 15.—A dispatch from Puerto Rico to the Correspondencia Espania says the loss during the bom- bardment was one oflicer and three soldiers killed, thirteen soldiers woun- ded, one civilian killed and thirty wounded.’ According to the same dis- patch the steamer Roaks, with a cargo of coal for Admiral Cervera, succeed- ed in evading Admiral Sampson and entered San Juan. SCHLEY WILL JOIN SAMPSON. Flying Squadron Puts to Sea Under Sented Orders. Newport News, Va., May 15.—Five vessels of the flying squadron, led by the flagship Brooklyn, steamed out ot Hampton Roads yesterday afternoon, and after passing the Virginia cape, took a southerly course, going, it is said te Augment Admiral Sampson’s fleet now. ‘in the vicinity of Puerto Rico. The order directing the squad- ron to put to sea came at midnight. A few minutes later the signal “be ready to put to sea at daybreak” was flashed from the flagship. Back from the men-of-war came the answer. In a jiffy the men were summoned to the decks and the work of making the ship ready to sail commenced. Sup- pressed excitement, mingled with de- light, prevailed. The little steam launches were hoisted aboard and decks cleared. Then the men waited for the signal to “weigh anchor.” Day broke, but the signal was not hoisted. The day wore on toward noon, and until the sailing flag was seen small craft ran to and fro carrying dis- patches. Excitement gave way to im- patience, for the men had been lying off Old Point for the last six weeks waiting for orders to go to sea, and they were afraid they were to be dis- appointed. But not so. At 4 o'clock a signal ordering the Battleships Massa- chusetts, the Texas, the dispatch boat Scorpion and collier Sterling to weigh anchor was run up to the top of the Brooklyn’s military mast. Thirty min- utes later smoke was curling from the ships and they were plowing the sea ata rate of fifteen knots. Will Join Sampson. The fleet will join Admiral Samp- son’s squadron. This statement came from a reliable source. The cruisers Minneapolis and New Orleans were left behind, as was also the auxiliary cruiser St. Paul, which is still anch- ored in the harbor here taking on a supply of ammunition. At 8 o'clock last night the Minneapolis hauled up her anchors and steamed out at full speed to overtake the squadron, It had been reported that the St. Paul, Capt. Sigsbee commanding, and the New Orleans would leave before day- break to-day, but late last night Capt. Sigsbee received orders to proceed at midnight. She joined the New Or- leans at Old Point Comfert, and both vessels then put to sea. They are ex- pected to overtake Commodore Schley some time to-day or early to-morrow. The fact that the Sterling, laden with 4,000 tons of coal, accompanied the fleet indicates that a long sail is con- templated. The arrival of the flying squadron will greatly strengthen Ad- miral Sampson's fleet. There is anoth- er report in circulation here that a flotilla of Spanish torpedo boats has been sighted cruising along the At- lantic coast and that the flying squad- ron has been ordered to intercept the fleet and sink the boats, but an officer from the St. Paul says no credence should be placed in the rumor. Com- modore Schley left under sealed or- ders. THEY SLEW NINE HUNDRED. Insurgents Said to Have Fought 2 Successful Buttle. London, May 15. — According to a special dispatch received here from Havana, via Kingston, Jamaica, there has been an engagement between the Spaniards and the insurgents, during which 900 of the former were killed. HARVARD LAID UP. Auxiliary Cruiser rt St. Pierre Un- dergcing Repairs. St. Pierre, Martinique, May 15.—One Spanish torpedo boat is at Fort De France and six cthers are hovering around the coast. The American aux- iliiary cruiser Harvard will be allowed to remain here for an indefinite period for the purpose of making repairs to her machinery, but must give twenty- four hours’ notice before leaving. Six Spanish cruisers are reported to have been seen off St. Pierre, but the report lacks confirmation. {THE FIRST. LAND FIGHT ATTEMPT TQ LAND INFANTRY AND SUPPLIES AT CABANAB. Roth SiJes May Cluim a Victory— Spaniards Frustrated the Effort to Connect With Insurgents— Americans Get Decidedly the Bet- ter of the Battle, Killing Twelve ; Spaniards and Suffering No Loss Themsclves—Landing Covered by | Two Warships, Which Fired Into the Weeds and Dislodged the Enemy. New York, May 15. — The Evening i Post Prints the following, dated off Cabanas, Cuba: In an effort to land Companies E and G of the First Unit- ed States infantry on the shore of Pinar del Rio yesterday afternoon with 5,000 rifles, 6,000 rounds of am- munition and some food supplies for the insurgents, the first land fight of the war took place. Each side may claim a victory, for if the Spaniards ®) frustrated the effort to connect with the insurgents, the Americans got de- cidedly the better of the battle, kill- ing twelve or more of the enemy, and on their own part suffering not a wound. After dark last evening the old-fashioned side-wheel steamer Gus- sie, of the Morgan line, with the om troops and cargo mentioned, started for the Cuban coast. All night she allowed the tug on which was your correspondent, to pilot her. At sunrice she fell in with the gunboat Vicks- burg, on the blockade, off Havana. Other blockading vessels came up also. The converted revenue cutter Man- ning, Capt. William M. Munger, was detailed to convoy the Gussie, and, three abreast, the steamers moved along the coast. No doubt Moro cas- tle’s defenders observed the strange vessel and sent the alarm ahead. Spanish soldiers were seen grouped on the shore near Mariet, and the Manning’s guns were trained upon them, suspecting a musket battery. No shots were fired, however. The Cuban guides on the Gussie took their machetes to a grindstone on the hur- ricane deck. Our soldiers gathered around to see them sharpen their long knives, but only could be induced to test the edge of these barberous in- struments with their thumbs. Then they withdrew aft to play craps un- = til a body of cavalry on a hill west of Mariet brought them to their rifles. For some minutes the cavalry watched us. then galloping over the hill in the direction we were heading. By the ruined walls of an old stone house y further cn Spanish troops were gath- ered. t Several Shots Were Fired by the gunboat Manning and present- ly no troops were visible. It had been decided to land near here, but the 1 depth of water was not favorable. Just west of Port Cabanas harbor the Gussie anchored, the Manning cover- ing the landing place with her guns and the torpedo boat Wasp came up to ‘s assist. The first American soldier to step on the Cuban shore from this ex- pedition was Lieut. Crofton, Capt. O’Connor, with the first boat, having gone a longer route. A reef near the beach threw the men out and they, f stumbled through the water up to i their breasts. When they reached dry land they immediately went into the bush to form a picket line. Two horses had been lowered to swim to land, when suddenly a rifle shot, fol- lowed by continuous sharp firing, warned the men that the enemy had been in waiting. The captain of the transport signalled to the warships. and the Manning fired into the woods beyond our picket line. Shrapnell hissed through the air like hot iron plunked in water. The Wasp opened with her small guns. The cannonade lasted a quarter of an hour, then our pickets appeared, the ships circled round, and being told by Capt. O’Con- nor, who had come from shore, where the spaniards were, one hundred shots more were fired in that direction, - “Anybody hurt, captain,” asked your correspondent. “None of our men, but we have shot twelve Span- iards,” he shouted back. The soldiers t | on board the Gussie heard the news a without a word, but hearing where « the enemy was situated gathered aft on the upper deck and sent several vollies into the spot. The pickets re- turned to the bush. Several crept along the beach, but the Spaniards had drawn back. It was decided that the soldiers should) embark on the Gussie and that the guides should take the horses and seek the iusur- gents and make a new appointment. They rode off to the westward and disappeared around a point. ~ ie “Say,” shouted a man from Company i G, after them, “You forgot your i grindstone.” } FIVE LIVES LOST. i Collapse of a Building in Course of q Erection in New York. q New York, May 15.—Five lives were f crushed out and several men were ter- 3 ribly injured to-day by the collapse of two five-story flat buildings in course of erection on East 116th street. The rear and side walls fell, carrying some twenty-five or more brick layers and laborers with them. Off to Georgia. St. Paul, May 15.—Camp Ramsey is: about to be deserted. The horde of, blue coated soldiers that composes Min. nesota’s quota of fighters, is on the point of leaving for other fields, and in the end to be transported to the front for action. At 3 o’clock yesterday af- ternoon orders were received disposing of the Twelfth and Fourteenth regi- ments. They will be sent to Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Sunday} evening or Monday morning, and the Thirteenth regiment will leave for Sam Francisco this evening according to the plan formerly announced.