The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 15, 1897, Page 1

— ( VOLUM E LXXXI._NO. 46, PRICE FIVE CENTS. (3 J 1S CAPTUR Cubans Take Possession of | the Strongly Fortified City AFTER A MOST FIERCE BATTLE. Fearful Slaughter Among the Besiegers and the Spanish So'diers. CAVALRY LEADER BANDERA KILLED. By Gaining Such a Commanding Po- sition the Patriots May Now Obtain Recognition. NEW YORK, N. Y., Jan. 14.—News which, if correct, is more important than any since the death of Maceo, was received in Cuban circles to-mght. It was that the town of ta Clara, sometimes called Viila Clara, had fallen to the insurgent army, but that with the charge which resultea in victory the intrepid cavalry | leader, Quentin Bandera, was slain. | | | Gomez, it was said, is now pushing on toward Havana with an army of 18,000 men. This news was not given out at the Cuban Junta. It came from private sources. It has not yet been confirmed from official sources, but that is not sirange considering that the death of Ban- dera is a blow to the Cubans which almost offseis the capture of Santa Clara. The first news of the death of Maceo came in the same wey, and it was a long time before the truth broke through the trocha of denial. The news comes with circumstantial de- tail most convincing. Besides, the dis- patches from Cuba for.some time have forecasted exactly such a stroke. The vic- | tory puts the insurgents in a command- ing position, and the eyes of the world | will be upon Gomez. It can no longer be | said that they hold no important town. B Clara is the fourth largestcity in t and, aiready holding nearly all of Ciba excepling the seacoast. The capture of Santa Clara puts the in- ents on an entirely different basis a ashington. The commanderof the gar- rison at Santa Clara was the Governor: General of tne province, Major-Genera Luque. He had had a garrison of 5000 men, but now had only 2000. Gomez de- cided to inyest the town, which containsa populetion of 30,000, and was well fortified. | The infantry under General Rabi was | sent to the west of The cayalry, of whic ere were l-equipped General Bandera, were sent to | ree sides, the main strength trated immediately to the | east. L sent out expediiions and there were lively skirmishes on the 6th, 7th and 8 one of which Luque was wounded. The wiole garrison had been thrown into a panic by the wounding of their leader and by the fact that they were surround; Gome ded at the time to strike hard. He k that the fortifications were W impregnab He knew | there in every redoubt and | plenty o He knew that his | mien would have ce a citadel at the northwest corner of the city sixty fest h from the top of which the Spanisrds would operate a Gatling gun as well as keep up a terrible rifle fire. Rabi, with his in was to attack the town from the west at aaybreak. Bandera, the dashing negro cavalryman, | was to wait until the attention of the gar- | rison was concentrated on the attack from the west and then hurl his 4000 men on the works in front of him. General Rabi let out his man in the gray of the morning of January 2. It was to be only a feint, but his men did not know that. They opened fire, and keeping un- der fire as much as possible crept closer and closer to the enemy. Behind stockades and earthworks the Epaniards returned the fire, but those who looked to the east just as the sun was ris- ing saw dimly the horses of the officers of the cavalry galloping from battalion to battalion. Bandera sat silent with his staff in front of the main works. There was the clatter of horses’ hoofs deepening into a roar. On they went, two long rows of horsemen, each striving to be first to the outworks. Spanish rifles began to crack here and there along the line of fortifications; then the shots came faster and faster until a line of flame appeared in front of each works. Now the cannon belched up, and in ithe citadel Gatling guns hurled its leaden rain. In the face of the awful fire not a Cuban faltered. ‘Bandera kept in the lead. His horse leaped over the near- est earthworks. He hed at the fleeing garrison with his machete. His men were right behind him. Horses fell all about, wounded and killed, throwing their riders headlong. Suddenly Bandera’s machete fell from his hand. He leaned forward on his horse, He swayed for 8 moment and then top- pled over, Members of his staff stopped and dis. mounted. They grouped their way in the smoke to their chieftain, and found him wounded in the abdomen. His surgeon was among the first at his side. Tearing open the duck suit, he saw in an instant that the wound was mortal, so they propped up his head and made him as comforiable as possible. Eartbworks, fortifications, barricades, gave way under the furious charge of the 4000. Many Cubans dropped on the way, but che ranks were instantly closed and the onslaught continudd. In fifteen min- utes after Bandera fell the victorious Cubans passed the last obstruction. \Th CLARA | i V2 7 ,;l/ 2z R Looking Over the Register at the Golden Eagle Hotel, Sacramento, After the Arrival of the 8:15 P. M. Train. was fleeing to the west, onl under the murderous fire of Ra men. smoking with his 'last’ breath. “The enemy hgs been routed.” deaa. Most of the Spanish garrison and Gene- men. The sun was not far up when the ictorious Cubans were in possession. Gomez took the quarters Luque had oc- cupied and received reports of the battle. The news received last night said that the losses were: Spanish estimated killed and wounded, 90; prisoners, four; rifles in th» Spanish arsenal, 5000, with pleaty ©f ammunition. Cubans killed aad wounded, 1500, which is 600 more than the Spanish loss. Gomez gave his men only a night’s rest and then, leaving a garrison of 1500 men, pushed on to the westward. i A NO OFVERIUKLS FOR PEACRE, Only Accept Independence From Spain WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 14.—Senor Gonzales Quesada, the head of the Cuban Cubans Will morning that a story had been published to the cffect that Secretary Olney and Minister De Lome had drawn up articles to end the Cuban war on the lines - proposed by General Gomez. Senor Quesada em- phatically denied the Cubans. He said the story was abso- there a Cuban in accept anything but absolute independ- | ence. To make his denial stronger, Senor Quesada quoted from the decree issued by now law, and 1n which he said’ that any one in Cuba bringing overtures of peace based on anything but independence was to be considered as a traitor and would be summarily dealt with, and, further, that any treaty of peace with Spain which must necessarily have for its basis the absolute independence of the island of Cuba must be ratified by the Government Council of Cuba and by an assembly of representatives convened expressly for that purpose. Senor Quesada to-day received a letter from President Cisneros of the republic of Cuba, dated Cubitas, December 2, which inclosed some new postage stamps of the Cuban republic. He read extracts from this letter, in which President Cisneros expressed his gratification that the people and Congress of the United States con- tinued {0 SLOW their sympathy for Cuba. He said he was preparing an appeal in which the Government ol the Cuban re- pubiiec would ask for the recognition of the independence of the island. He further siated that they were preparing to rensw an offensive campaign. General Gomez left to enter Santa Clara with re-enforcements and a good supply of munitions of war. Gomez’s route would be further west. President Cisneros also said that their condition was most pros- perous, and if they bad an abundance of munitions of war, not only of rifles but of cannon and dynamite caunon, railroads would be destroyed and all the few re- maining garrisoned towns in the interior would be abandoned by the Spaniards, who would be reduced tothe coast. Presi- dent Cisneros concluded that they ex- pected to receive very soon the desired materials from abroad, which will enable the Cubans to drive the Spanish to the sea, and then the Cubans would bid the enemy a last good-by. Both at the State Departmentand the Spanish legation emphatic denials ‘are made that any provisional draftof terms Every Spaniard who had both lezs left of surrender have been received by Secre- Junta in Washington, was informed this | that any such action | had been taken or could be approved by | Lutely false, as General Gomez had never | proposed any reform whatever, nor wus | the island that would General Gomez some time ago, which is ! o come | tary Olney and discussed by him and Mr. Twenty minutes after Banders fell a | Pablo Soler, mentioned as the messenger | messenger came back. ~The nesro chiei- | who arrived here from Madrid on Monday tein had asked for a .cigazette and was | bringing the important document, is the | ‘‘Santa | second secretrary of the Spanish legation, Clara has fallen,” cried the messenger. | and left Spain three weeks ago to succeed There | Gaytan de Avala, second secretary of lega- was a puff of cigarette smoke; a shiver | tion. ran through Bandera’s body and he was | General Lugue escaped to the south. | has been absolutely no change in the situ- Many fell at the hands of General Rabi’s | ation since the President’s annuul mes- | | | 700; can- | nons captured, eighteen; battle-standards, | de Lome, the Spanish Minister. Senor Senor de Lome has not had an interview with Secretary Oluey except at the formal receptions for more than a week. There sage to Congress. g AR T MISTAKEN FOR A FILIBUSTER. Lighting of a Match Geis the Steamer Delaware in Trouble, JACKSONVILLE, Fra., Jan. 14.—The steamer Delaware of the Clydes’ Boston, Wilmington, Charleston and Jscksonvlhe’ line came into port this morning, baving on board Lieutenant Sutherland of the United States dispatch-boat Doiphin. The presence of the lieutenant on board the steamer is accounted for by the fact | that she was taken for a filibuster when | she appeared off the bar. | All grew out of the lighting of a maten, | and the officers of the Government vessel, on the elert to catch any filibuster along the Fiorida coast, flashed its searchlight over the waters to learn the meaning of the little flame. The light settled on a small rowboat, in which wasseated a pilot SHORTRIDGE AN wekgts Throughout the Campaign He Acted With Great Dignity. Ridiculed by Certain News- papers Because He Fought Solely on Merit. Gav: Lessons in Courtesy, Siys the Los Angeles Express, That Many Ceu'd Profit By. \ MMBLE LOSER 1 | { fight. 1t was confined purely to persua- sion and argument. He was backed ‘nentfier by . ‘the railroad’ ‘mor by the ‘sugar ‘interést’ and while everybody would have been angry. it it had developed that he was being ushed forward ‘by these or any other strang moneyed interests the fact that he ‘was not and ‘that he was making his fight' purely on his own merits seemed to make his candidacy with many of the news- papers of the State a good reason for heap- ‘ing ridicule and opprobriim upon him. ““As a matter of fact Mr. Shortridge is not at all the kind of man that he has been pictured. He is no dude, although he dresses well, and he is no joke. Heis an able lawyer and a gentleman, and while he engaged in a hopeless contest with Senator Perkins he did it at his own expense and without doing anything scandalous or which reflected upon his integrity, and wound up his campaign by sending the Senator-elect the following congratulatory telegram: SAN FrANCISCO, Jan. 12, 1897. To Hon, George C. Perkins, Washington, D. C.: 1 heartily congratulate you upon your. re- election to the Senate and trust you may have & continuance of health and strength to labor for California and all her people. SAMUEL M. SHORTRIDGE. «“There are plenty of people in California who ‘could profitably take lessons ‘in LOS ANGELES, CAL., Jan. 14.—Under | courtesy, at least, from Sam Shortridge. the caption of Loser,” the Evening Express of this city “Shortridge an Amiable | He is a good loser. “TrE CALL also does the proper thing in GormaT. W, DIRECT WIRES. 3 Can 8€ 0UAROED AaaeT OmLY 0¥ BEPEATIXG & e aunoua STATION £38 CourA3 30w w0 1k Coumtmr o FOMN W SIACRAY. Presideut @.C AN HORNE, Vies-Lresident. VR 177 Ra-Ws. 46 Paid. lations. coupane TRANSMITS avo DELIVERS uesssots v on wasat asce 1 o1 ko OUILP ABLE 1R (AKNGE GR7BELATE o4 LaiNSMamDn OB ORMENY OO 6:18 P. o e v Asten oo Tns @ ax UPREPEATED MESSACE, 1o @ camen s 40UCAT Of THE SUNCER VDA X8 €GNGGRS SANGD AsOVE. PROMPT SERVICE. UNREPEATED MESSAGES: acvono e’ souss of Tous saa® wom 14 anv Case e vessace CHAS. R HOSMER, General Maneyss . V. STOKROR, Superisicadeat T ——— Received atSan Fprancisaq, Cala WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 13, 1897. Hon. Samuel M. Shortridge, San Francisco. Please accept my hearty thanks for your kind message of congratu- It shall be my earnest effort by application and zeal in the interests of the people to supply that which your talent and great ability would have given had the choice fallen upon your good self. Geo. C. Perkins. awaiting the arrival of the Delaware to bring her in over the bar. The appearance of a man in a small row- boat at sea at so early an hour excited the suspicions of the Dolphin and the boat and men were kept under close surveil- lance. When the Delaware hove in sight before daylight and the pilot boardea her, the circumstances were regarded with even more suspicion. Lieutenant Suther- land boarded the Delaware and came on into port with her. Afrer arriving bere he visited the office of United States Attorney Clark, but the nature of his business cannot be learned. He returned to the Dolphin about noon. Continued on Second Page. prints the following editorial to-day: *No end of harsh things have been said in the newspapers about Samuel M. Short- ridge during the two or three weeks whish be figured as a candidate for the United States Senate. He has. been ridiculed, lampooned afid cartooned, but through it all it must be said for Mr. Shortridge that he has refrained from replying in kind and has comported himself with a good deal of dignity. While he was clearly outclassed by his distinguished opponent from the start he made precisely the kind of a con- test that wo all profess to consider t he proper one in theory, and which in prac- tice most newspapers and people in this instance hooted at and ridiculed. That is, there was no ‘boodle’ in Mr. Shoruridge’s publishing a handsome editorial about the election of Senator Perkins.” i o g nnl McCLAUGHLIN INDIGNANT. Says He Did Not Show Waymire the Letter Before He Sent It to Major McKinley. SACRAMENTO, CArL., Jan. 14.—Major McLaughlin, chairman of the Republican State Central Committee, is indignant over a statement in to-night’s Bulletin to the effect that the letter sent by Major McLaughlin of the State Committee to the President-elect, asking that California be given a place in the Cabinet, was sub- mitted to Assembiyman Waymire before it was sent to President-elect McKinley. ONE OF THESE CALFORNIANS MAY ENTER THE CABINET. WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 14.—Senator Perkins was to-day asked how he stood since the Senatorial election on the Cabinet appointment, and replied that he had no feeling of animosity, but earnestly hoped California would have a representative in President McKinley’s Cabinet. He said, howevep, that the members of the Cabinet were the personal associates, advisers and friends of the administration, and it would be unbecoming on the part of any one to do more than suggest names from Califor- nia for the consideration of the President. He had been informed, he stated, that there had been presénted to President Mc- Kinley, through friends and advocates, the following name: Judge J. McKenna, Hcrace Davis, James A. Waymire, C. N. Felton, J. J. de Haven, M. H. de Young, Samuel M. Shortridge, Tolone! Ous, Elwood Cooper, ex-Governor Markham and others, and he feels confident that the President will honor California by selecting one of the gentlemen named asa member of his Cabinet. [} ' Major McLaughlin to-night emphatic- ally denied that the letter was submitted to any one. It was mailed in San Fran- cisco on the 12th, before Major McLaugh- lin started for this place. He said that he never submitted letters of that kind to non-members of the committee. e BUREAU OF HIGHWAYS. An Interesting Report on Hauling In the State Submitted to the Legislature. SACRAMENTO, CAL., Jan. 14.—The Bureau of Highways, as an illustration of the work that is in them, placed on the desk of each legisiator to-day a revort by Commissioner Irvine. The report, after a somewhat extended introduction, comes down to facts as follows: The average haul in our State is 23.3 miles and the cost per ton per mile is 22 cents, while the averagein the United States is 25 cents per ton, The total tonnage is given at 31 27, and it costs the enormous sum of 54 to transport it on the high- The value of all farm products for 1890 was $2,480,170,454. In other words it takes nearly 40 cents to market 1 worth of farm produce. The increase in cost of hauling actually done is by no means the only loss by bad roads. The ioss of perishable products for want of access to market, the failure to reach market when prices are good, and the failure to culti- vate products which would be marketable it markets were always accessible, add many millions (0 the actual tax of bad roads. More- over, the enforced idleness of millions of men and draugut animals during large portions of the year is a loss not alweys taken into account in estimating the cost of work actually done. Information already in the office of the De- partment of Road Inquiry indicates that all things being considered nearly, if not quite, two-thirds of this vast expense may be saved by road improvement, and this at a total cost not exceeding the losses of three, or at the most of four years by bad roads. A machine weighing 16,000 pounds was drawn four miles on the Brook turnpike,a macadamized road. It required four mules (4000 pounds to a mule) and one and a half hours of time, at & cost of 15 cents per mule per hour, or a total cost of 90 cents for four miles. After traveling four miles on the mac- adamized turnpike the route was over about 2000 feet of dirt road.. To travel these 2000 feet it was necessary to use ten of the best mules and geven men, and with this force it took nine hours to complete the journey. The cost was $19 80, at which rate to have trav- eled over four miles of such road would have cost $209 08; in other words, $208 18 was absolutely thrown away for want of a mac- adam road. Such a macadam roaa as would have prevented this enormous waste of money could have been butlt for about $100 per mile for every foot of width; that is to say, a 12- foot road would cost $1200 per mile, a 16-foot road would cost $1600 per mile, etc. From this one can realize the enormous sum that is wasted annually on our present system of highways. In California the conditions are so favorable to the construction of permanent roads that, with proper legislation it can reasonably be hoped that the Golden State will set an ex- ample to all otners in the Union. The absence of snow and frost obviates one of the great difficulties that must be contended with in the Eastern States and the presence throughout the State of excellent material for highway construction is & great aid to the advance- ment of the movement for good roads. The vast waste incurred by bad roads being clear, the problem of remedying the evil pre- sentsitseli. The subject hat received the at- tention of able minds and the solution which has proven most satisfactory is the construc- tion, under expert direction by the State, of permanent main highways. Roads must be properly locatea and intelligently constructed, and to comply with these requirements ex- perience has shown that qualified persons re- moved from local influences are betler able to carry out this beneficial plan of internal im- provement. ————— AN ARCH REFUSED. So Colonel Shaw WIill Appeal to Business Men to Get Funds . for the Enterprise. SACRAMENTO, CaL., July 14.—The As- sembly Ways and Means Committee to- day voted to report adversely for an appropriation in aid of the McKinley pro- tection arch at Washington. Colonel H. G. Shaw is confident that he can raise the funds required from the business men of the State. READY T0 ROAR ON THE FLOOR Democrats and Populists Opposed toUnnecessary Extravagance. Some of the Minority, However, Are Inclined to De ay the « Outery. Rather Expensiv: Furniture Pure chased for the Use of the Committe -Rooms. SACRAMENTO, Carn., Jan. 14. — The Democrats and Populists of the Assembly caucused to-night and resolved to roar on the floor of the House to-morrow. They wiil denounce the extravagance of the temporary organization and assert that they were not informed of the em- ployment of so many temporary officers until they read the names and amounts in the journal! of the Assembly the fol- lowing day. Some of the minority believing that the Assembly has the right to spend its con- tingent fund as it pleases recommended that the fight be posiponed until a meas- ure is presented asking for the appropri- ation of more money for the contingent -expense of the Assembly. The Republicans are prepared to show by thé record that Speaker Coombs ad- vised all the members that the roll was large’ and included the names of many persons who were not statutory officers. It is recalled that the Speaker went out of his way to direct the attention of the House to the extravagance. At that timno the Democrats and Populists supposed that men to whom they had promised recognition were on the temporary roll, hence the admonition of the Speaker was unheeded. Should the majority in the House re- fuse to entertain a resolution for an in- vestigation the minority members will speak to questions of personal privilege. All the confusion and expense of investi- gation will not save the money, because it has been drawn from the treasury on warrants issued by the Controlier and de- livered by the Sergeant-at-Arms. Retrenchers who really want fo retrench and call a balt before the money is gone should look around the committee rooms and note the many expenmsive folding desks, costing from $50 to $60 each, which the Legislature is now purchasing for com- mittees. The furniture bills of two years ago were large enough. At that time sufficient commiltee-room furniture was bought to last twenty years, but that fur- niture is out of style now and something modern, costly and up-to-date must be provided. When the furniture bills come in there will be a scream of rage. The buying is going on at present and the goods must be paid for from the contin- gent funds. In the item of purchasing new furniture the Senate is setting the pace. The Populists and Democrats know, as well as Republicans, that expensive furniture has been crdered. Men who have been around the Legislature for many years are saying: ‘“‘Where did all these handsome $55 folding-desks come from?” The hair of taxpayers will stand on end when they read of some of the demands for money made by State institutions. The Assembly Committee on Siate Hospitals and Asylums, Malcolm chairman, held a session to-night in the library. The com- mittee glanced over bills calling for ap- propriations of more tban a half million dollars. The Southern California institu- tion for the insane wants $183,000 for im- provemeats. Everything from a barn to an electric plant is desired. The Mendo- cino Asylum asks for $130,000 for improve- ments. This is only a little starter. When all the institutions line up with demands for maintenance of inmates, naw build- ings, laundries, dining-rooms, heating ap- paratus, etc., the sum will increase to mil- lions. On top of this will come the Normal schools, the university, the National Guard, the Supreme Court, aggregating another million. % And then on top of it all will come the allowance for common schools, $4,000,000 more. Old claims, special counsel fees and the State Printing Office wiil easily take another million. The whole scheme of appropriation by the million will be rushed through on the closing days of the session with less of public remonstrance than was uttered against the payment of $4000 to 100 men on the temporary roll of organization. The temper of the Lagislature seems to be in favor of letting everything go. Men who are noting with keen interest every- thing that occurs predict that the scenes of the Legislature of 1889 will be repeated. The public institutions scattered through- out the State can rally quite a force of members. This force combined with a claim-supporting element could swinga majority in each house. The outlook at present indicates that tife big appropria- tions will be passed. Bills have been introduced to regulate the telephone companies. One bill puts an annual tax of a dollar on each pole erected by light and power companies. Telephone charges are limited to $2 a month, and the companies are required to file with the Controller an annuval state- ment of their receipts and disbursements. The Roads and Highways Committee of the Assembly met to-night and heard the Road Commissioners. The sentiment of the committee was favorable to a continu- ance in office of the Commissioners and the appropriation of more money. The Assembly Committee on Federal Relations met this afternoon and decided to report in favor of tne adoption of the Caminetti Nicaragua canal resolutions. The committee will also report on the Sanford resolution thanking Congress for the defeat of the funding bill. The Assessors now hers will meet Ry- land Wallace and Judge Daly, of the Code Commission, to-morrow morning. The bills which have been prepared are about ready for introdugtion. The Judiciary Committee to-day lis- tened to an argument by Judge Dibble