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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/4210.txt b/4210.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e1f3a3d --- /dev/null +++ b/4210.txt @@ -0,0 +1,22049 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom, by Trumbull White + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom + +Author: Trumbull White + +Posting Date: December 6, 2010 [EBook #4210] +Release Date: July, 2003 +[This file was first posted on December 11, 2001] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR WAR WITH SPAIN FOR CUBA'S FREEDOM *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Rowe, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + + + + + + + + +PICTORIAL HISTORY OF OUR WAR WITH SPAIN + +A THRILLING ACCOUNT OF THE LAND AND NAVAL OPERATIONS OF AMERICAN +SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IN OUR WAR WITH SPAIN, AND THE HEROIC +STRUGGLES OF CUBAN PATRIOTS AGAINST SPANISH TYRANNY. + +INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY OF CUBA, SPAIN, PHILIPPINE +ISLANDS, OUR ARMY AND NAVY, FIGHTING STRENGTH, COAST DEFENSES, AND +OUR RELATIONS WITH OTHER NATIONS, ETC., ETC. + +BY TRUMBULL WHITE, + +THE WELL KNOWN AND POPULAR AUTHOR, HISTORIAN AND WAR +CORRESPONDENT. + +ELABORATELY ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND DRAWINGS OF BATTLES, +ON SEA AND LAND, WAR SHIPS, ETC., FROM LIFE. + +FREEDOM PUBLISHING CO. + +Dedicated To Our American Volunteers + + + + + +PREFACE. + +Information concerning the island of Cuba has been of an +exceedingly unsatisfactory character until the search-light of +American inquiry was thrown upon it from the beginning of the war +for Cuban liberty early in 1895. Although our next-door neighbor +to the south, with a perfect winter climate and a host of +interesting and picturesque attractions for travelers, tourists +had been comparatively few, measured by the numbers that might +have been expected. All of the reasons for this were those which +naturally followed the characteristic Spanish rule of the island. +Publicity was not welcomed, inquiry was not welcomed, travelers +were not welcomed. The cities and the accommodations they offered +were in many ways far behind those of like age and size in the +other countries of the globe. Railway construction and the making +of highways had lagged disgracefully, because the exorbitant taxes +collected were looted by the officers of the government as their +own spoils. No other country so near to the highways of ocean +commerce and so accessible from the United States was so little +known. + +A few travelers had journeyed to Cuba and had written books +descriptive of their experiences, which were read with interest by +those who had access to them. But these books were usually simply +descriptive of the people, the manner of life, the scenery, and +the things of surface interest. It is proverbial that Spanish rule +conceals the resources of a country instead of exploiting them. +The person of inquiring mind had no way in Cuba to obtain prompt +information concerning the material facts of the island's wealth +of resource, because the Spanish authorities themselves knew +nothing about it. Spanish statistics are notoriously unreliable +and incomplete. No census of Cuba worthy the name ever has been +taken, and there are few schools and few sources of accurate +information. With all this handicap it was a foregone conclusion +that the casual traveler should confine himself to the things that +were visible and that were near to the usual paths of travelers. +So until the beginning of the Cuban war for liberty no books could +be obtained which told the things which one really cares to know. +Picturesque descriptions there were, more than one, of +considerable interest, but the information was scattered. + +Demand always creates supply, even if material is scant. When the +war began, the people of the United States wanted to know +something of the people who were striving for their freedom, of +their characteristics, their conditions and their personality. +Moreover, it was an immediate necessity to know the geography of +Cuba, its history, its natural conditions, its material resources, +and a host of things that unite to make a comprehensive knowledge +of any country. There were men who knew Cuba from years of +residence there in industrial and commercial enterprises. They +were drawn upon for their knowledge. Then the newspapers of the +United States gave another demonstration of their unvarying +enterprise and covered the points of interest in the insurrection +most exhaustively. Their correspondents shared the camps of +insurgent chiefs, witnessed the daring machete charges of the +Cubans, saw every detail of armed life in the field. Others kept +close watch of the movements of the Spanish forces in Havana and +the fortified towns, as well as in the field. One was shot in +action. Another was macheted to death after his capture, by a +Spanish officer who waited only to be sure that the prisoner was +an American before ordering him to death. Others were incarcerated +in Morro and Cabanas fortresses and in the other Spanish prisons +in Cuba because they insisted on telling the truth to America and +the world. They were the ones who told of the horrors of +reconcentration under that infamous order of Captain General +Weyler. They have been the real historians of Cuba. + +It is to all of these sources and others that the information +contained in the present volume is owed. The writer takes pleasure +in acknowledging the courteous permission to use salient facts +contained in some volumes of merit published prior to this time. +But more than all the obligation is to the newspaper +correspondents who worked with him in Cuba in the days when the +war was but an insurrection and afterward when the insurrection +became our own war against Spain for the liberty of Cuba. They are +the ones who have gathered the most exhaustive information on the +whole subject of Cuban affairs. They have been able by virtue of +their intimate knowledge of Cuba and the Cubans to be of +invaluable assistance to the commanders of army and navy alike, +not only in advice as to the forming of plans, but in executing +them. One who has seen the things knows that to exaggerate the +horrors of Spanish cruelty and the oppression of Spanish rule in +Cuba is an impossibility. No newspaper could have printed the +plain truth of a score of shocking affairs, simply because the +public prints are no place for the exploiting of such tales of +vicious crime against humanity as have been perpetrated. The most +sensational tales have never reached the limits of the truth. + +It is hoped that the reader will find in this volume not only a +comprehensive current history of our war with Spain for Cuba's +freedom, but also much of the other matter that will be of +interest and value in considering the future of the liberated +island. Its history, its people, its resources and other salient +subjects are included, with certain matter on Spain and her own +affairs, with Puerto Rico and the Philippine islands, which +chapters serve to make the volume a work for general reference and +reading on the whole subject of the war. + + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS. + + I. A War for Liberty and Humanity + II. How Columbus Found the "Pearl of the Antilles" + III. Spain's Black Historical Record + IV. Buccaneering in the Spanish Main + V. Commercial Development of Cuba + VI. Beauties of a Tropical Island + VII. Wealth from Nature's Store in the Forest and Fields of Cuba + VIII. The Cubans and How They Live + IX. Havana, the Island Metropolis + X. The Cities of Cuba + XI. Mutterings of Insurrection + XII. Outbreak of the Ten Years' War + XIII. Massacre of the Virginius Officers and Crew + XIV. Operations of the Ten Years' War + XV. The Peace of Zanjon and Its Violated Pledges + XVI. Preparations for Another Rebellion + XVII. The Cuban Junta and Its Work + XVIII. Key West and the Cubans + XIX. Another Stroke for Freedom + XX. Jose Marti and Other Cuban Heroes + XXI. Desperate Battles with Machete and Rifle + XXII. Filibusters from Florida + XXIII. Weyler the Butcher + XXIV. Cuba Under the Scourge + XXV. Fitzhugh Lee to the Front + XXVI. Americans in Spanish Dungeons + XXVII. Maceo Dead by Treachery + XXVIII. Weyler's Reconcentration Policy and Its Horrors + XXIX. American Indignation Growing + XXX. Outrages on Americans in Cuba + XXXI. McKinley Succeeds Cleveland + XXXII. The Case of Evangelina Cisneros + XXXIII. Work of Clara Barton and the Red Cross + XXXIV. The Catastrophe to the Maine + XXXV. Patience at the Vanishing Point + XXXVI. Events in the American Congress + XXXVII. President McKinley Acts +XXXVIII. Strength of the Opposing Squadron and Armies + XXXIX. Battleships and Troops Begin to Move + XL. Diplomatic Relations Terminate + XLI. First Guns and First Prizes of the War + XLII. Declaration of War + XLIII. Call for the National Guard, Our Citizen Soldiery + XLIV. Blockade of Cuban Ports + XLV. Spanish Dissensions at Home + XLVI. The Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Other Colonies of Spain + XLVII. Progress of Hostilities + XLVIII. Sea Fight off Manila, Americans Victorious + XLIX. Hawaii, and Our Annexation Policy + L. Continued Success for American Soldiers and Sailors + LI. The Invasion of Puerto Rico + LII. The Surrender of Manila + LIII. Victorious Close of the War + LIV. Personal Reminiscences + + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +When, on the 22d day of April, 1898, Michael Mallia, gun-captain +of the United States cruiser Nashville, sent a shell across the +bows of the Spanish ship Buena Ventura, he gave the signal shot +that ushered in a war for liberty for the slaves of Spain. + +The world has never seen a contest like it. Nations have fought +for territory and for gold, but they have not fought for the +happiness of others. Nations have resisted the encroachments of +barbarism, but until the nineteenth century they have not fought +to uproot barbarism and cast it out of its established place. +Nations have fought to preserve the integrity of their own empire, +but they have not fought a foreign foe to set others free. Men +have gone on crusades to fight for holy tombs and symbols, but +armies have not been put in motion to overthrow vicious political +systems and regenerate iniquitous governments for other peoples. + +For more than four centuries Spain has held the island of Cuba as +her chattel, and there she has revelled in corruption, and +wantoned in luxury wrung from slaves with the cruel hand of +unchecked power. She has been the unjust and merciless court of +last resort. From her malignant verdict there has been no possible +appeal, no power to which her victims could turn for help. + +But the end has come at last. The woe, the grief, the humiliation, +the agony, the despair that Spain has heaped upon the helpless, +and multiplied in the world until the world is sickened with it, +will be piled in one avalanche on her own head. + +Liberty has grown slowly. Civilization has been on the defensive. +Now liberty fights for liberty, and civilization takes the +aggressive in the holiest war the world has even known. + +Never was there a war before in which so many stimulating deeds of +bravery were done in such a short time, and this in spite of the +fact that the public has been restless for more action. It is +almost worth a war to have inscribed such a deed of cool, +intelligent heroism as that of Hobson and his men with the +Merrimac, in the entrance to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. That +is an event in world history, one never to be forgotten, and in +the countries of Europe quite as generously recognized as by our +own people. There is a word to say for the Spanish admiral. In his +chivalry after that act of heroism, Cervera proved himself a +worthy adversary, who could realize and admire bravery in a foe, +even when it had been directed against himself with such signal +success. Not every commander would be great enough in that +circumstance to send a flag of truce to the opposing admiral, in +order to inform him that his brave men were safe and that they +were honored as brave men by their captors. + +Of another sort was the bravery of Dewey at Manila, more notable +in its results but in no other way surpassing that of Hobson and +his men. Dewey went forward in spite of unknown dangers of +torpedoes, to engage an enemy in the place it had selected as most +favorable for Spanish arms, an enemy with more ships, more men, +more guns than had the American. A day later the nation was at the +feet of Dewey and the United States had taken a position among the +powers of the world never before admitted by them. In larger +degree than ever before, from that moment the United States became +a factor in the international history of the world. At this +writing one cannot tell what will be the end of the relations of +the United States to the Philippines and the Orient, but the +solution cannot fail to be of profit to this nation. This was a +holy war for the liberty of Cuba, but like many another good deed +it is bringing its additional rewards. Cuba, Puerto Rico, the +Philippines and the Caroline islands are to be liberated, four +colonies of Spain instead of one, and the direct and indirect +profit, looked at from a purely commercial basis, will be far more +than enough to compensate the United States for the cost of the +war. The annexation of the Hawaiian islands as a war measure must +be credited to the same cause, for the success of that effort +under any other circumstances was problematical. + +Yet another sort of bravery was that in the harbor of Cardenas +when the little torpedo boat Winslow lay a helpless hulk under the +rain of fire from the shore batteries, without rudder or engine to +serve, and the Hudson, a mere tugboat with a few little guns on +deck, stood by for forty minutes to pass a hawser and tow the +disabled vessel out of range. Both were riddled, the Winslow had +half her total complement of men killed and wounded by a single +shell, but there was no faltering, and they all worked away as +coolly as if nothing were happening. + +If one started to catalogue the instances of personal bravery that +the war brought out in its first few months, the list would be a +cumbersome one. It is enough here to say that there have been a +hundred times when personal courage was needed to be shown, and +never a moment's hesitancy on the part of any man to whom the call +came. Furthermore, in every case in which a particularly hazardous +undertaking was contemplated, and volunteers were called for, the +number offering has been in every instance far more than was +needed. This was eminently notable on the occasion of Hobson's +sinking of the Merrimac, when more than a thousand in the fleet +volunteered for a service requiring but six, and from which it +seemed impossible that any could come out alive. + +The public must know all about the war, and the only avenue of +information is the press. Never before has any war been covered as +to its news features with the accuracy and energy which have +characterized this. American journalism has outstripped the world. +The expense of a news service for this war is something enormous, +with little return compensation. Yet the work is done, +metropolitan papers have from ten to twenty correspondents in the +field, and the public has the benefit. Dispatch boats follow the +fleets and are present at every battle. They must be near enough +to see, which means that they are in as much danger at times as +are the ships of the fighting squadron, far more if one remembers +that the former are in no way protected. Some of them are heavy +sea-going tugs and others are yachts. The expense of charter, +insurance and running cost amounts to from $200 to $400 a day +each, and yet some metropolitan newspapers have fleets of these +boats to the number of six. + +All the foregoing facts are related in detail in the volume which +these paragraphs introduce. The only object in reiterating them +here is that they are entitled to emphasis for their prominence, +and it is desired to call special attention to them and their +accompanying matter when the book itself shall be read. The number +of those who believe we are engaged in a righteous war is +overwhelming. The records of the brave deeds of our men afloat and +ashore will inspire Americans to be better citizens as long as +time shall last. The country has proven its faith in the cause by +giving to the needs of war hundreds of thousands of young men to +fight for the liberty of others. From every corner of the land +regiments of volunteer soldiers have sprung in an instant at the +call of the President, while as many more are waiting for another +call to include those for whom there was not room the first time. +The country which can show such an inspiring movement has little +to fear in the race of progress among the nations of the world. + + + + + +OUR WAR WITH SPAIN. + +CHAPTER I. + +A WAR FOR LIBERTY AND HUMANITY. + + +Again at War with a Foreign Power--Spain's Significant Flag-- +Three Years Without an American Flag in Cuban Waters--Visit of the +Maine to Havana Harbor--The Maine Blown Up by Submerged Mine-- +Action of President and Congress--Spain Defies America--Martial +Spirit Spreading--First Guns Are Fired--Cuban Ports Blockaded-- +Many Spanish Ships Captured--Excitement in Havana--Spain and the +United States Both Declare War--Internal Dissension Threatens +Spain--President McKinley Calls a Volunteer Army. + +Civilization against barbarism, freedom against oppression, +education against ignorance, progress against retrogression, the +West against the East, the United States against Spain. In this +cause the flag of freedom was again unfurled in the face of a +foreign foe, and our nation entered war against the people of +another land, carrying the star spangled banner through successive +victories in the name of liberty and humanity. + +It is a proud banner, which stands the whole world over for +freedom and right, with few stains of defeat or injustice upon its +folds. The great heart of the nation swelled with pride at the +righteousness of the cause, with an assurance that eternal history +would praise America for the unselfish work. On land and sea the +boys in blue gave new fame to the flag, and their proud record in +the past was more than justified by the honors that they won. + +Two wars with Great Britain and one with Mexico were the more +notable predecessors of this conflict with Spain. If to these +should be added the hostilities between the United States and the +Barbary pirates of Algiers, Morocco and Tripoli, and the scattered +brushes with two or three Oriental and South American countries, +the list might be extended. But those affairs are not remembered +as wars in the true sense of the word. + +Except for protection against Indian outbreaks, the United States +had been at peace for thirty years, when the war cloud began to +loom in the horizon. It was with a full realization of the +blessings of peace that the American people yielded to the +demands, of humanity and righteous justice, to take up arms again +in the cause of liberty. There was no haste, no lack of caution, +no excited plunge into hostilities without proper grounds. The +nation made sure that it was right. An intolerable condition of +affairs resulting from years of agony in a neighbor island, with +half a dozen immediate reasons, any one sufficient, was the +absolute justification for this holy war. + +Spain is the Turk of the West. Spain is an obsolete nation. Living +in the past, and lacking cause for pride to-day, she gloats over +her glorious explorations and her intellectual prowess of the +middle ages when much of Europe was in darkness. Then Spain's flag +led pioneers throughout the world. But her pride was based on +achievements, many of which, to the people of any other nation, +would have been the disgrace of its history. No indictment of +Spain can ever be more severe, more scathing, if its true +significance be considered, than the famous phrase which one of +her proudest poets created to characterize her flag of red and +yellow. + +"Sangre y oro," he said, "blood and gold--a stream of gold between +two rivers of blood." + +It is almost a sufficient characterization to indicate the whole +national spirit of Spain, to recall that this phrase is the proud +expression used by the Spanish people to glorify their own flag. +That sentiment is in no stronger contrast to the American phrase, +"the star-spangled banner," than are the people of Spain to the +people of the United States. + +"REMEMBER THE MAINE." + +From the day of the outbreak of the Cuban revolution, early in +1895, until nearly the end of January, 1898, there had been no +flag of the United States seen in any harbor of Cuba except upon +merchant vessels. Always before, it had been the policy of our +government to have ships of war make friendly calls in the harbors +of all countries of the world at frequent intervals, and Cuban +waters had shared these courtesies. + +So careful were the officers of the Cleveland administration to +avoid the appearance of offense or threat against the authority of +Spain, with which we were living in amity, that immediately upon +the outbreak of hostilities in Cuba this practice was suspended, +so far as it applied to that island. Our ships cruised through the +oceans of the world and called at all ports where they were not +needed, but the waters of Havana harbor for three years were never +disturbed by an American keel. + +Out of deference to the expressed wishes of the local Spanish +authorities in Havana, Dr. Burgess, the splendid surgeon of the +United States Marine Hospital service in Havana, who for thirty +years has guarded our southern ports from the epidemics of yellow +fever and smallpox, which would invade us annually as a result of +Spanish misgovernment in Cuba, except for his watchfulness, ceased +flying the American flag on his steam launch, by means of which he +carried out his official duties in those foul waters. The American +flag was a disturbing influence upon the minds of the Cubans who +might see it flashing in the clear sunlight of the tropic sky, +suggested the Captain General. + +It must have been the language of diplomacy that was in mind, when +the satirist explained that "language was intended as a medium for +concealing thought." President McKinley, in his message to +Congress transmitting the report of the naval board concerning the +catastrophe to the Maine, explained that for some time prior to +the visit of the battle-ship to Havana harbor, it had been +considered a proper change in the policy, in order to accustom the +people to the presence of our flag as a symbol of good will. The +decision to send the vessel to that harbor was reached, it was +explained, after conference with the Spanish minister, and, +through our diplomats, with the Spanish authorities at Madrid and +Havana. It was declared that this intention was received by the +Spanish government with high appreciation of the courtesy +intended, which it was offered to return by sending Spanish ships +to the principal ports of the United States. + +We are bound to accept this expression from the officials on both +sides as frankly indicative of their feelings. But it is just as +necessary to recognize that to the mass of the people in both +countries, the significance of the Maine's courtesy call was very +different. Americans believed that it indicated a changed policy +on the part of the national government at Washington which would +be more strenuous and more prompt in resenting outrages against +the life and property of American citizens in Cuba. The people of +the Cuban republic believed that the change meant an expression of +sympathy and friendship for their cause, with probable +interference in their behalf, and took courage from that sign. +Finally, the people of Spain resented the appearance of the Maine +in the harbor of Havana as an affront, and a direct threat against +them and in favor of the insurgents. If the policy of making +frequent calls in warships had never been interrupted, they would +not have had this sentiment in the matter, but the resumption of +the practice after three years' cessation, carried a threat with +it in their minds. + +TREACHEROUS DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE. + +The Maine entered the harbor of Havana at sunrise on the 25th of +January and was anchored at a place indicated by the harbor-master. +Her arrival was marked with no special incident, except +the exchange of customary salutes and ceremonial visits. Three +weeks from that night, at forty minutes past nine o'clock in the +evening of the 15th of February, the Maine was destroyed by an +explosion, by which the entire forward part of the ship was +wrecked. In this frightful catastrophe 264 of her crew and two +officers perished, those who were not killed outright by the +explosion being penned between decks by the tangle of wreckage and +drowned by the immediate sinking of her hull. + +In spite of the fact that the American public was urged to suspend +judgment as to the causes of this disaster, and that the Spanish +authorities in Havana and in Madrid expressed grief and sympathy, +it, was impossible to subdue a general belief that in some way +Spanish treachery was responsible for the calamity. With the +history of Spanish cruelty in Cuba before them, and the memory of +Spanish barbarities through all their existence as a nation, the +people could mot disabuse their minds of this suspicion. + +One month later this popular judgment was verified by the finding +of the naval court of inquiry which had made an exhaustive +examination of the wreck, and had taken testimony from every +available source. With this confirmation and the aroused sentiment +of the country concerning conditions in Cuba, the logic of events +was irresistibly drawing the country toward war with Spain, and +all efforts of diplomacy and expressions of polite regard +exchanged between the governments of the two nations were unable +to avert it. + +For a few weeks, history was made rapidly. Conservative and +eminent American senators visited Cuba in order to obtain personal +information of conditions there, and upon their return, gave to +Congress and to the country, in eloquent speeches, the story of +the sufferings they had found in that unhappy island. The loss of +the Maine had focused American attention upon the Cuban situation +as it had never been before, and though there were no more reasons +for sympathetic interference than there had been for many months, +people began to realize as they had not before, the horrors that +were being enacted at their thresholds. + +The sailors who died with the Maine, even though they were not +able to fight their country's foes, have not died in vain, for it +is their death that will be remembered as the culminating +influence for American intervention and the salvation of scores of +thousands of lives of starving Cuban women and children. Vessels +were loaded with supplies of provisions and clothing for the +suffering and were sent to the harbors of Cuba, where distribution +was made by Miss Clara Barton and her trusted associates in the +American National Red Cross. Some of these vessels were merchant +steamers, but others were American cruisers, and Cubans were not +permitted to forget that there was a flag which typified liberty, +not far away. The strain upon the national patience increased +every day, and was nearing the breaking point. + +PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS ACT. + +After a period of restlessness in Congress which was shared by the +whole country, the President finally transmitted an important +message. It included a resume of the progress of the Cuban +revolution from its beginning and considered in some detail the +workings of that devastating policy of General Weyler, known as +reconcentration. The message related the progress of diplomatic +negotiations with Spain, and disclosed a surprising succession of +events in which the Spanish government had submitted to various +requests and recommendations of the American government. The +message ended with a request that Congress authorize and empower +the President to take measures to secure a full and final +termination of the intolerable conditions on the island of Cuba. +Having exhausted the powers of the executive in these efforts, it +was left to the legislative authority of the American people to +establish such policies as would be finally efficient. + +Congress rose to the occasion. The facts were at command of both +houses, their sympathies were enlisted at the side of their reason +and there was little time lost in acting. The House and the +Senate, after mutual concessions on minor details, passed as a law +of the land for the President's signature, an act directing him +and empowering him to require Spain to withdraw her troops and +relinquish all authority over the island of Cuba. The President +was authorized to employ the army and navy of the United States +for the purpose of carrying into effect this instruction and the +interference was directed to be made at once. Best of all, from +the point of view of the Cuban patriots, the act declared that the +people of Cuba are and ought to be free and independent. But a few +days more of diplomacy, and war was to begin. + +SPAIN DEFIES AMERICA. + +It was hardly to be expected that the Spanish government and the +Spanish people would yield to the demands of the United States +without a protest. So feeble is the hold of the present dynasty +upon the throne of Spain, that it was readily understood that any +concession upon the part of the Queen Regent would arouse Spanish +indignation beyond the limits of endurance. The Queen-mother had +to think of her baby son's crown. If she were to yield to the +superior power of the United States without a struggle, Spanish +revolutionists would overthrow the dynasty before he could come to +the throne. However well she might know that the logical outcome +of a war would be overwhelming defeat to Spanish arms, political +necessities compelled her to take the position dictated by Spanish +pride. + +The Spanish Cortes met in special session at Madrid, and on the +20th of April the Queen Regent delivered her speech before that +legislative body and declared that her parliament was summoned in +the hour of peril to defend her country's rights and her child's +throne, whatever sacrifice might be entailed. It was on that same +day that President McKinley presented the ultimatum of the United +States to Spain, in language diplomatic in form, but carrying with +it a definite notice to yield Cuba's freedom and relinquish her +pretense of authority in that island without delay. A copy of the +ultimatum was forwarded to the Spanish ambassador at Washington, +Senor Polo y Bernabe, who responded by asking for his passports +and safe conduct out of the country. + +Having reached the point where diplomacy no longer availed, the +Spanish government for the first time made an aggressive move +against the United States. Instead of waiting for the transmission +of the ultimatum by American Minister Stewart L. Woodford, the +ministry forestalled him and dismissed him from Madrid without +affording him an opportunity to present that important document. +It had been transmitted to Madrid by cable from the Spanish +Minister in Washington, and the government felt no need to wait +for formal messages from the enemy's representative in Spain. +Minister Woodford left Madrid without delay, and finally reached +the French frontier, after being subjected to many insults and +attacks upon his train during the journey from the Spanish +capital. + +MARTIAL SPIRIT SPREADING. + +A wave of national patriotic enthusiasm swept over the United +States. North and South, East and West, there was hardly a +discordant note in the great chorus of fervent applause which rose +when it was understood that at last the forces of the nation were +to be united in the cause of liberty and humanity. + +But sentiment could not fight battles, unless backed by material +equipment. The nation was preparing for war. From all parts of the +United States the troops of the regular army were hurried by +special trains southeastward to camps at Chickamauga and Tampa. In +every navy yard work was hurried night and day upon all incomplete +battleships and cruisers. Already the fleets of the American navy +had been concentrated at points of vantage so that little was left +to be done on that score. Congress lost no time in providing the +sinews of war by generous appropriations for the regular channels +of supply, in addition to one passed by unanimous vote of both +houses granting $50,000,000 as a special fund to be at the +disposal of the President. The war appropriation bill and the +naval appropriation bill carried with them emergency clauses. +Preparations were made for the reorganization of the regular army +to more than double its normal size, and the President was +authorized to call for a volunteer army of 125,000 men. Looking to +the future, and the possibility of a long and expensive conflict, +financial measures were prepared which would raise war revenues +through the regular channels of taxation and the issue of bonds. +Americans were ready to put their hands in their pockets and pay +for the privilege of teaching a worthy lesson to the world. + +American sense of humor never fails, and even in this period of +stress the people took time to smile over the story of the Spanish +Minister's journey from Washington to Canada. In Toronto, Senor +Polo sought to discredit the assaults that had been made on +Minister Woodford's train in Spain, and related that he himself +had been the victim of assaults at two or three important cities +on his journey through New York, which threatened great danger to +himself and the train on which he was riding. + +Upon inquiry it was revealed that the assaults which had aroused +his fear were not quite as hostile as he believed. At the division +stations on the line, the railway employees, according to custom, +passed along the cars, tapping the tires of the wheels with steel +hammers to test them for a possible flaw or break in the wheel, +and it was this that made the Spanish Minister believe that he was +the victim of an American outrage. + +FIRST GUNS ARE FIRED. + +The United States cruiser Nashville of the North Atlantic +squadron, with headquarters at Key West, had the honor of firing +the first shot in our war with Spain. + +Early on the morning of Friday, April 22, the American fleet +sailed from Key West, and, steaming southward across the straits +of Florida, came in sight of Havana and the frowning +fortifications of Morro Castle before six o'clock the same +afternoon. + +The sailing of the fleet, as dawn was creeping over the Florida +keys, was a beautiful sight and a significant one, for from the +time the first signals were hoisted until many days after, there +was hardly an hour of inactivity. It was at three o'clock in the +morning that the signal lights began to flash from the New York, +Admiral Sampson's flagship. Answering signals appeared on the +warships all along the line, and in a few moments black smoke +began to belch from the funnels of all the ships and the crews +woke from quietness to activity. + +As soon as day began to break, the cruisers and gunboats inside +the harbor hoisted anchors and moved out to join the big +battleships which were already lined outside the bar. At five +o'clock, when all the fleet were gathered around the battleships, +Captain Sampson signaled from the New York to go ahead. The +formation of the line had been agreed upon some time before and +each vessel was in position for line of battle, the New York in +the center and the Iowa and Indiana on either beam. The ships +presented a most beautiful appearance as they swept out on the +ocean without a vestige of anything not absolutely necessary on +the decks. They were stripped of all useless superstructure, +awnings, gun-covers and everything that goes to adorn a ship. +Officers paced the bridge, marines were drawn up on deck and every +man was at his post. They appeared as they were, grim fighting +machines, not naval vessels out on cruise nor a squadron of +evolution and maneuver, but warships out for business. + +FIRST SPANISH SHIP CAPTURED. + +The fleet had proceeded twelve miles from Sand Key Light, which +lies seven miles southeast of Key West, when the Nashville +signaled the flagship that a vessel flying the Spanish colors had +been sighted. Admiral Sampson signaled from the New York for the +Nashville to go and take it. The Nashville bore down on the +Spanish ship and fired a blank shot from the port guns aft. This +did not stop the Spaniard, and, to give a more definite hint, a +solid shot was fired close over its bows. The Spanish ship +immediately hove to and waited to know its fate. + +The vessel proved to be the Buena Ventura, with a crew of about +thirty men, bound from Pascagonla to Rotterdam with a cargo of +lumber, cattle and miscellaneous freight. As soon as possible a +boat was lowered from the Nashville and an officer was sent aboard +the Buena Ventura. When the Spanish captain was informed that his +ship could not proceed, he took his capture gracefully, shrugged +his shoulders, and said he supposed it was only the fortune of +war. It was suggested to him that the capture of a ship bearing +that name, which, translated, means "good fortune," as the first +prize of the American fleet in the war, seemed to be a striking +coincidence. A prize crew of marines under Ensign T. P. Magruder +was placed aboard, and, with the Nashville in the lead, both ships +set out for Key West. + +Inasmuch as the Buena Ventura was the first capture by the +American navy in the war, it had a more definite interest than a +success of the same sort would have a few months later. The first +shot was fired by Gunner Michael Mallia of the Nashville, who +therefore has the distinction of firing the first shot in the war. +The prize was a rich one, estimated to be worth, including vessel +and cargo, nearly $500,000, and the prize money resulting became a +tempting amount. Captain Washburne Maynard, commander of the +Nashville, who gained the distinction of making the first capture, +is a native of Knoxville, Tenn. He is a son of former United +States Senator Horace Maynard, and at the time of the capture was +about fifty years old. He entered the Annapolis Naval Academy at +the age of seventeen and graduated at the head of his class. He +was for a number of years stationed in Alaska, and at the time of +gaining his present distinction had been in command of the +Nashville for four years. + +BLOCKADE OF HAVANA BEGUN. + +After the Nashville left the fleet to return to Key West with its +prize, the remaining vessels of the squadron steamed onward toward +the Cuban coast. Coming within fifteen miles of Morro Castle, the +fleet scattered in a more open line of battle, some of the vessels +turning to the east and others to the west, and making the +blockade of the port complete. No ship could enter or leave the +harbor, and every day brought new prizes to the vessels of the +blockading squadron. + +The blockade of the Cuban metropolis was well in progress by the +time the formal notification of it was issued. The President +issued warning to the nations of the world that the Cuban ports +were sealed by the authority of the United States, in the +following formal proclamation: + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A PROCLAMATION. + +Whereas, By a joint resolution passed by the Congress and approved +April 20, 1898, and communicated to the government of Spain, it was +demanded that said government at once relinquish its authority and +government in the island of Cuba, and withdraw its land and naval +forces from Cuba and Cuban waters; and the President of the United +States was directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval +forces of the United States and to call into the actual service of +the United States the militia of the several States to such extent +as might be necessary to carry said resolution into effect; and + +Whereas, In carrying into effect this resolution the President of +the United States deems it necessary to set on foot and maintain a +blockade of the north coast of Cuba, including all ports of said +coast between Cardenas and Bahia Honda and the port of Cienfuegos, +on the south coast of Cuba; + +Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United +States, in order to enforce the said resolution, do hereby declare +and proclaim that the United States of America has instituted and +will maintain a blockade of the north coast of Cuba, including +ports on said coast between Cardenas and Bahia Honda, and the port +of Cienfuegos on the south coast of Cuba, aforesaid, in pursuance +of the laws of the United States and the law of nations applicable +to such cases. + +An efficient force will be posted so as to prevent the entrance +and exit of vessels from the ports aforesaid. Any neutral vessel +approaching said ports, or attempting to leave the same, without +notice or knowledge of the establishment of such blockade, will be +duly warned by the commander of the blockading forces, who will +indorse on her register the fact and the date of such warning, +where such indorsement was made; and if the same vessel shall +again attempt to enter any blockaded port she will be captured and +sent to the nearest convenient port for such proceedings against +her and her cargo as prize as may be deemed advisable. Neutral +vessels lying in any of said ports at the time of the +establishment of such blockade will be allowed thirty days to +issue therefrom. + +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal +of the United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of Washington this 22d day of April, A. D. 1898, +and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-second. + +By the President: WILLIAM McKINLEY. + +JOHN SHERMAN, Secretary of State. + +MORE SPANISH PRIZES TAKEN. + +The blockade was not a mere paper blockade, but an exceedingly +effective one. Before two days had passed, the prizes taken began +to multiply in numbers and in value. The second capture was the +Spanish freighter Pedro, of Bilboa, which was taken by the New +York in the afternoon of the first day's cruising. + +When the fleet approached the Cuban coast and spread out for +patrol duty, the New York turned eastward for her own watch, not +knowing what might be found in the neighborhood. Far off against +the dim, vague background of Cuban hills, half seen, half guessed, +could be traced a faint film of gray smoke, the one visible +evidence of a Spanish freighter striving vainly to race out the +day without being discovered by the great gray monsters that +blackened the sky to the west with a solid mass of black cloud +from their roaring furnaces. + +Vainly the Spaniard raced. Charging along at trial test speed, the +New York soon lay across the bows of the Spanish ship, and the +crashing challenge blazed from the deck of the cruiser. A huge +puff of white smoke rolled out from the side of the flagship, and +far off, just in front of the Spaniard, a fountain of white foam +leaped into the air. In a moment the course of the strange +Spaniard was changed, and she hove to. + +Shortly after, the New York led her prize further out from shore +and laid her to. Crew and captain could be seen rushing about the +deck of the ship like a nest of ants, hiding their valuables and +striving to avert some impending fate they could only guess at in +their ignorance. As she came around her name could be clearly read +on her stern, Pedro of Bilboa. + +As soon as she was laid alongside, the Pedro was boarded by Ensign +Frank Marble of the New York. Ensign Marble led a prize crew, +consisting of a file of marines and seamen. With great formality +the ensign swung aboard and assumed command. A burly, bare-footed +American tar shoved the Spanish quartermaster away from the wheel +and began to set the course of the Spaniard. The Spanish crew +gathered in a terrified huddle near the forecastle and awaited +developments. + +Hardly had the prize crew been put on board before another +freighter was seen going down the coast to the eastward. The New +York, leaving the captured Spanish craft in charge of the prize +crew, drew across the bows of the stranger and sent a shot into +the water directly in front of her bows. She paid no attention to +the challenge, but kept steadily on, and a few seconds later +another shot was sent hurtling across the water in front of her. +After this hostile demonstration she hauled up and soon followed +the New York out to sea. It was discovered, however, that she flew +the German flag, and consequently was permitted to proceed. + +The prize crew from the New York took the captured vessel into +port at Key West under its own steam. The ship was bound from +Havana to Santiago with a valuable cargo of rice, iron and beer. +On the same day two other captures were made, one by the torpedo +boat Ericsson, which seized a fishing schooner under the very guns +of Morro Castle and by the torpedo boat, Porter, which took the +Spanish schooner, Mathilde, after a lively chase and a number of +shots. Both of these prizes were taken to Key West to join their +unfortunate friends. + +EXCITEMENT IN HAVANA. + +It was nearly five o'clock in the afternoon of that lucky Friday, +when the semaphore by the lighthouse in Morro Castle signaled to +the people of Havana that a fleet had been sighted. It was said to +be without any colors to show its nationality. At that time La +Punta, the fort on the side of the harbor opposite Morro Castle, +was crowded with curious people, including many ladies. In +addition, crowds of people could be seen at various points of +vantage, many of them gathering on the roofs of houses. At 6 p.m. +the semaphore signaled that it was the United States fleet which +was in sight, and at 6:15 p.m. a red flag was run up at the +signal station, warning guns were fired from Morro Castle, and +afterward from Cabanas fortress, adjoining it. This caused +excitement throughout the city, and was the first real note of +war. When the first signal came from the semaphore station a +British schooner which was in the harbor put to sea. She was +immediately followed by the German steamer Remus. Some time +afterward the American steamer Saratoga put to sea. + +The cannon shots from the fortresses stirred up the regular troops +and volunteers throughout Havana and its vicinity and there was a +rush to quarters. The signal guns from the fortifications echoed +to the palace and through the streets, causing people to rush from +their houses, with the result that all the thoroughfares were soon +crowded with excited inhabitants. Captain General Blanco heard the +shots while at the palace, to which place the generals and +commanders of the volunteers promptly reported, full of excitement +and warlike enthusiasm. Some time afterward the Captain General, +accompanied by his staff, the generals and others, left the palace +and was warmly acclaimed by the soldiers and populace. The General +then made a brief final inspection of the fortifications and went +to a spot from which he could see the approaching fleet. + +There was no sign of alarm anywhere. The Spaniards were confident +that Havana was prepared for any eventuality, and they had great +faith in the strength of their forts, batteries, etc., and in the +effectiveness of their heavy artillery. In fact, there was a +feeling of satisfaction at the warlike tremors which spread +everywhere when it was seen that the hour of battle was apparently +approaching and that the Spaniards were soon to give battle to +their enemies. + +As the time passed, more people crowded to the spot from which the +fleets could be most favorably seen. By 8:30 p.m. there was a +great movement of the masses through all the streets and on all +the squares. The coffee-houses and clubs were crowded with excited +people, discussing the arrival of the American war ships. The +Spaniards expressed themselves as anxious to measure arms with the +"invaders," and there was no expression of doubt as to the result. +The civil and military authorities of Havana were in consultation +at the palace, and every precaution possible to the Spaniards was +taken to guard against a night surprise and to resist an attack if +the bombardment commenced. + +SPAIN'S DAYS OF GRACE EXPIRE. + +When President McKinley sent his ultimatum to Spain, he indicated +that it was to expire at noon on Saturday, April 23, and at that +time the period allowed Spain to give up Cuba peacefully was +ended. Spain, however, had not waited to take advantage of this +time limit, but by her own preparations during the days that had +passed, as well as by her diplomatic actions, had indicated +plainly that war was to come. The action of Minister Polo in +demanding his passport and leaving the United States, and the +action of the Spanish government in ejecting Minister Woodford, +were sufficient notifications of the policy which was to be +pursued. It had been unnecessary, therefore, for the fleet to wait +for a more explicit answer before investing Havana. Not until the +expiration of the time allotted by President McKinley to Spain, +did he take definite action which committed the country to a +distinct war policy in advance of the declaration of war by +Congress. But at noon on Saturday the President issued the +following proclamation calling for 125,000 troops to serve two +years if the war should last so long: + +BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A PROCLAMATION. + +Whereas, by a joint resolution of Congress, approved the 22d of +April, 1898, entitled "Joint resolution for the recognition of the +independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the government +of Spain relinquish its authority and government in the island of +Cuba, to withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban +waters, and directing the President of the United States to use +the land and naval forces of the United States to carry these +resolutions into effect," and, + +Whereas, by an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for +the increasing of the military establishment of the United States +in time of war and for other purposes," approved April 22, 1898, +the President was authorized in order to raise a volunteer army to +issue his proclamation calling for volunteers to serve in the army +of the United States. + +Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United +States, by the power vested in me by the constitution and laws, +and deeming sufficient occasion to exist, have thought fit to call +for and hereby do call for volunteers to the aggregate number of +125,000, in order to carry into effect the purpose of the said +resolution, the same to be apportioned, as far as practicable, +among the several States and Territories and the District of +Columbia, according to population, and to serve for two years +unless sooner discharged. The details for this object will be +immediately communicated to the proper authorities through the war +department. + +In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the +seal of the United States to be affixed. + +Done at Washington this 23d day of April, 1898, and of the +independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-second. + +By the President: WILLIAM McKINLEY. + +JOHN SHERMAN, Secretary of State. + +STATES BEGIN TO COLLECT THEIR TROOPS. + +Although it was decided that formal notification to the Governors +of the states of the call for volunteers should not be made until +the following Monday, the first step was taken immediately after +the signing of the proclamation, by the issuance of orders to the +organized militia of the District of Columbia. Before dinner time +the drums were beating and the roll was being called within sight +and sound of the White House, and before night the drum beats were +heard from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the Gulf of Mexico +to the Great Lakes. + +There was no interruption in the sequence of captures by the +American fleet around Havana, and two prizes of considerable value +were added to the list. On Saturday the gunboat Helena took the +big steamer Miguel Jover, a vessel of more than 2,000 tons, with a +full cargo of cotton and staves on board. The prize was worth not +less than $400,000. Friday night the Helena left Key West to +follow the main fleet, but instead of sailing directly for Havana, +turned westward toward the west end of the island of Cuba. The +dark, cloudy night had barely broken to a brilliant Cuban sunrise, +when the Helena saw smoke on the western horizon and gave chase. + +It was soon evident that the quarry had sighted the hunter and was +making a run for it. The freighter was no match in speed for the +gunboat, however, and the Helena was soon near enough to fire a +shot. Only one blank shot was required. The fugitive steamer shook +out the Spanish flag and hove to. When the Helena came up the +captain tried to talk Captain Swinburne out of his prize. He urged +that he was from an American port, New Orleans, and knew nothing +of a declaration of war. The talk did him no good. He was taken on +board the Helena and a prize crew of a dozen sailors and sixteen +marines, under Ensigns M. C. Davis and H. G. McFarland, was put +aboard the Jover. + +The first the fleet knew of the capture was when the Helena came +steaming up with her prize and signaled the flagship. The other +ships cheered and the Helena, started off for Key West, the Jover +being worked by its own men, superintended by the prize crew. + +VALUABLE PRIZE CAPTURED. + +The most valuable prize yet taken was the transatlantic liner, +Catalina, which was taken by the Detroit. The vessel's tonnage was +6,000, and with its general cargo the prize was considered worth +nearly $600,000. The big ship was bound from New Orleans to +Barcelona, via Havana, with a large general cargo. Twelve miles +before making port the steamer was stopped by two shots, and a +prize crew under Ensign H. H. Christy, consisting of sixteen men +from the Detroit and New York, was put on board to take the vessel +back to Key West. + +In addition to these notable captures the torpedo boat, Porter, +took the Spanish schooner, Antonio, laden with sugar for Havana, +and the revenue cutter, Winona, added the Spanish steamer +Saturnine to the list. + +If it had not been for the excitement of taking occasional prizes, +the blockading of Havana would have been dull business for the +Jack Tars aboard the North Atlantic squadron. Saturday night they +had to listen to the roar of the guns of Morro Castle and see the +flashes of fire from their muzzles, without a reply from the +fleet. Havana officials have declared that the discharge of those +guns was only for signaling purposes and was not an attack on the +fleet, but it would be difficult to make the sailors believe that +Spanish marksmanship was not responsible for the fact that no +balls fell near them. + +SPAIN DECLARES WAR. + +The Spanish government did not wait for further aggression on the +part of the United States, but herself made the next formal move +by issuing a declaration of the fact that war existed, and +defining the conditions under which the Spanish government +expected to carry on the conflict. This decree was gazetted in +Madrid on Sunday, April 24, in the following terms: + +Diplomatic relations are broken off between Spain and the United +States, and the state of war having begun between the two +countries numerous questions of international law arise which must +be precisely defined chiefly because the injustice and provocation +come from our adversaries and it is they who, by their detestable +conduct, have caused this grave conflict. + +We have observed with strictest fidelity the principles of +international law and have shown the most scrupulous respect for +morality and the right of government. There is an opinion that the +fact that we have not adhered to the declaration of Paris does not +exempt us from the duty of respecting the principles therein +enunciated. The principle Spain unquestionably refused to admit +then was the abolition of privateering. The government now +considers it most indispensable to make absolute reserve on this +point in order to maintain our liberty of action and uncontested +right to have recourse to privateering when we consider it +expedient, first by organizing immediately a force of cruisers +auxiliary to the navy, which will be composed of vessels of our +mercantile marine and with equal distinction in the work of our +navy. + +Clause 1--The state of war existing between Spain and the United +States annuls the treaty of peace and amity of Oct. 27, 1795, and +the protocol of Jan. 12, 1877, and all other agreements, treaties, +or conventions in force between the two countries. + +Clause 2--From the publication of these presents thirty days are +granted to all ships of the United States anchored in our harbors +to take their departure free of hindrance. + +Clause 3--Notwithstanding that Spain has not adhered to the +declaration of Paris the government, respecting the principles of +the law of nations, proposes to observe, and hereby orders to be +observed, the following regulations of maritime law: + +1. Neutral flags cover the enemy's merchandise except contraband +of war. + +2. Neutral merchandise, except contraband of war, is not seizable +under the enemy's flag. + +3. A blockade to be obligatory must be effective--viz.: It must be +maintained with sufficient force to prevent access to the enemy's +littoral. + +4. The Spanish government, upholding its right to grant letters of +marque, will at present confine itself to organizing, with the +vessels of the mercantile marine, a force of auxiliary cruisers +which will cooperate with the navy according to the needs of the +campaign and will be under naval control. + +5. In order to capture the enemy's ships and confiscate the +enemy's merchandise and contraband of war under whatever form, the +auxiliary cruisers will exercise the right of search on the high +seas and in the waters under the enemy's jurisdiction, in +accordance with international law and the regulations which will +be published. + +6. Defines what is included in contraband of war, naming weapons, +ammunition, equipments, engines, and, in general, all the +appliances used in war. + +7. To be regarded and judged as pirates with all the rigor of the +law are captains, masters, officers, and two-thirds of the crews +of vessels which, not being American, shall commit acts of war +against Spain, even if provided with letters of marque issued by +the United States. + +Following is a summary of the more important of the five clauses +outlining the rules Spain announced she would observe during the +war: + +THE UNITED STATES MAKES REPLY. + +It took the House of Representatives just one minute and forty-one +seconds on Monday to pass a declaration of war which replied to +that of Spain. The Senate acted almost as promptly, and their +respective presiding officers and the President of the United +States signed the Act of Congress immediately, so that it became +at once a law of the land. The declaration of war was passed by +Congress in response to a message from the President requesting +that action in the following terms: + +TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF +AMERICA: + +I transmit to Congress for its consideration and appropriate +action copies of correspondence recently had with the +representative of Spain in the United States, with the United +States Minister at Madrid, and through the latter with the +government of Spain, showing the action taken under the joint +resolution approved April 20, 1898, "for the recognition of the +independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the government +of Spain relinquish its authority and government in the island of +Cuba and to withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban +waters, and directing the President of the United States to carry +these resolutions into effect." + +Upon communicating with the Spanish Minister in Washington the +demand which it became the duty of the executive to address to the +government of Spain, in obedience to said resolution, the said +Minister asked for his passports and withdrew. The United States +Minister at Madrid was in turn notified by the Spanish Minister +for Foreign Affairs that the withdrawal of the Spanish +representative from the United States had terminated diplomatic +relations between the two countries, and that all official +communications between their respective representatives ceased +therewith. + +I recommend to your special attention the note addressed to the +United States Minister at Madrid by the Spanish Minister for +Foreign Affairs on the 21st inst., whereby the foregoing +notification was conveyed. It will be perceived therefrom that the +government of Spain, having cognizance of the joint resolution of +the United States Congress, and in view of things which the +President is thereby required and authorized to do, responds by +treating the representative demands of this government as measures +of hostility, following with that instant and complete severance +of relations by its action whereby the usage of nations +accompanies an existent state of war between sovereign powers. + +The position of Spain being thus made known, and the demands of +the United States being denied, with a complete rupture of +intercourse by the act of Spain, I have been constrained, in +exercise of the power and authority conferred upon me by the joint +resolution aforesaid, to proclaim, under date of April 22, 1898, a +blockade of certain ports on the north coast of Cuba lying between +Cardenas and Bahia Honda, and of the port of Cienfuegos on the +south coast of Cuba; and further, in exercise of my constitutional +powers, and using the authority conferred upon me by the act of +Congress approved April 22, 1898, to issue my proclamation, dated +April 23, 1898, calling for volunteers in order to carry into +effect the said resolutions of April 20, 1898. Copies of these +proclamations are hereto appended. + +In view of the measures so taken, and with a view to the adoption +of such other measures as may be necessary to enable me to carry +out the expressed will of the Congress of the United States in the +premises, I now recommend to your honorable body the adoption of a +joint resolution declaring that a state of war exists between the +United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain, and I urge +speedy action thereon, to the end that the definition of the +international status of the United States as a belligerent power +may be made known, and the assertion of all its rights and the +maintenance of all its duties in the conduct of a public war may +be assured. + +WILLIAM McKINLEY. Executive Mansion, Washington, April 25, 1898. + +WAR IS DECLARED. + +The formal declaration of war as passed by the houses of Congress +was short and pointed, worthy of recollection as a model for such +unpleasant documents. It read as follows: + +A BILL DECLARING THAT WAR EXISTS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF +AMERICA AND THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN. + +Be it enacted, etc.: + +First--That war be and the same is hereby declared to exist and +that war has existed since the 21st day of April, A. D. 1898, +including said day, between the United States of America and the +Kingdom of Spain. + +Second--That the President of the United States be, and he hereby +is, directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces +of the United States and to call into the actual service of the +United States the militia of the several States to such extent as +may be necessary to carry this act into effect. + +Diplomacy was still taking a hand in the war. Spain was indignant +at the attack on Spanish possessions and endeavored to arouse +sympathy among her European neighbors. The Queen Regent addressed +telegrams to all the sovereigns of Europe protesting against the +vitiation of the rights of Spain by the United States, and +declaring that her government was firmly resolved never to yield +until crushed. This was a personal communication from one +sovereign to her brother sovereigns of the continental kingdom. At +the same time there was made public Spain's memorandum to all the +European powers which was an official utterance of the Spanish +ministry and signed by Senor Gullon, the Spanish Minister of +Foreign Affairs. + +The memorandum began by recording the "moral and material aid the +Cuban rebels have received from the United States" in +filibustering expeditions and the operations of the junta. It +mentioned Spain's repeated and positive denials to the allegations +of cruelty toward the Cubans, and laid great stress upon President +Cleveland's dispatch of Dec. 7, 1896, to the effect that peace +would be possible if Spain gave a sufficient autonomy to Cuba. + +The memorandum contended that, in the face of the new liberal +constitution granted Cuba, which "has already borne fruits," it +was difficult to understand why President McKinley, in his message +of Dec. 6, 1897, and General Woodford, in the note of Dec. 20, +1897, should still doubt Spain's loyalty. + +The document then spoke at some length of the Maine accident, and +asserted that the Americans, under the pretext of the extra +territoriality of the vessel, never allowed the Spanish +authorities to visit the wreck for purposes of investigation; and +it most solemnly asserted the absolute innocence of Spanish +officials and of Spanish subjects generally. + +The fairness and loyalty of Spain were then shown by a reference +to the equitable treatment which American filibusters, more +especially those of the Competitor, received at the hands of +Spain, and in order to show more fully how pacific and correct +have been the attitude of the Spanish government the memorandum +enumerated the four clauses of the Spanish proposals. They were: + +PROPOSALS OF SPAIN. + +1. An offer to submit all questions arising from the Maine affair +to arbitration. + +2. An order to Governor-General Blanco to retire into the western +provinces and to apply 3,000,000 pesetas for the relief of the +agricultural population, with an acceptance by the Spanish +government of relief for Cubans sent by the United States, +provided such relief were sent in merchant vessels. + +3. The co-operation of the Cuban parliament in formulating the +extent of the powers to be reserved for the central government. + +4. In view of the Cuban parliament not meeting before May 4, the +proclamation of an immediate armistice. + +The memorandum proceeded to declare that the United States had not +accepted even these far-reaching concessions, and that the good +offices of the pope had been equally unavailing. It asserted that +the Maine accident was used by political parties in America as a +means of hurling "most gratuitous and intolerable calumnies at the +Spanish government," and yet, the document said, Mr. Olney, in an +official note dated April 4, 1896, to the Spanish minister in +Washington, himself expressed very serious apprehensions lest the +only existing bond of union in Cuba should disappear in the event +of Spain withdrawing from that island. Mr. Olney, as the +memorandum argued, feared at that time that a war of races would +ensue, all the more sanguinary in proportion to the experience and +discipline acquired during the insurrection, and that two +republics would at once be formed--one white, the other black--the +upshot being that one of the two would swallow the other. + +The grave view thus taken by Mr. Olney of the future of Cuba freed +from Spain's rule was then enlarged upon, and inevitable racial +wars were foreshadowed, which were "certain to wreck the existence +of Cuba as a state, should Spain be deprived of sovereignty" over +the island. Thus, being convinced, as Spain was, that right and +equity are on her side "she will not and cannot surrender her +sovereignty in Cuba." + +TROUBLE FOR SPAIN AT HOME. + +Spain's embarrassments at home were multiplying, and threatening +danger only less than that from the hostilities of the United +States. Twenty thousand republicans of all shades of opinion in +Madrid signed and addressed to Senor Castelar, the republican +leader, under the pretext of congratulating him upon his recovery +from recent sickness, but in reality offering him their services +if he would proclaim a republic. + +At the same time Don Carlos, the pretender to the Spanish throne, +was a disturbing element, threatening a revolution against the +present dynasty if an opportunity were to offer. + +During all these complications, which included at one time even a +threat that the Spanish ministry would resign, there was no +discordant note of any sort in the United States. Secretary of +State John Sherman and Postmaster General Gary resigned from +President McKinley's cabinet because of ill health, in order that +the government might be in no way handicapped during the time of +emergency. Secretary Sherman was succeeded by Assistant Secretary +Judge William R. Day of Canton, Ohio, who had displayed remarkable +aptitude for the office during his term of service, while Mr. +Gary's successor was the Honorable Charles Emory Smith, of +Philadelphia, a newspaper editor and formerly ambassador to +Russia. + +ALONG THE CUBAN COAST. + +It was the torpedo boats which kept things exciting during the +early blockade of Cuban ports. They are like hornets, which travel +faster than anything that tries to escape them, sting when they +strike, and vanish in an instant. Two of these brisk fighters +distinguished themselves on Sunday, while the diplomats were busy +in the cabinets of the world. The torpedo boat Porter, which is as +fleet as an express train, has a dare-devil crew and an intrepid +commander with an honored name. He is Lieutenant John C. Fremont, +a son of the famous "Pathfinder," who himself never hesitated to +lead the way, whether in wilderness exploration or any other duty +that came before him. + +Lieutenant Fremont, with the Porter, made a landing on the north +coast of Cuba with a small force of his men, in search of certain +information which was desired by Admiral Sampson for the guidance +of his plans. It was a dangerous undertaking, for the squad might +have been wiped out in spite of their readiness to fight, if they +had stumbled upon Spanish troops. None were met, however, the +journey was made in safety, and the landing party returned to the +fleet in triumph with the distinction of being the first actual +invaders of the Cuban soil in this warfare. + +Earlier in the same day the torpedo boat Foote, in command of +Lieutenant W. L. Rogers, was directed to take soundings of the +approach to the harbor of Matanzas, an important city on the north +coast of Cuba fifty miles east of Havana. The Foote drew the first +fire definitely known to be directed against the blockading +squadron. The little scout was taking soundings within three +hundred yards of shore, when a Spanish masked battery on the east +side of the harbor, commanding the entrance, fired three shots in +quick succession. They all went wide of the mark, striking the +water nearly a quarter of a mile away from the boat. The officers +and men were momentarily startled by the volley, and then +continued their observation. The cruiser Cincinnati, which was not +far away, was hailed by the torpedo boat and Lieutenant Rogers +reported his experience. The orders of Captain Chester, in command +of the Cincinnati, did not permit him to shell Matanzas, so the +fire from the masked battery was not returned. + +THE CALL TO ARMS. + +It was on Monday, the 25th of April, that the national authorities +notified the governors of each state that they would be expected +to furnish volunteers for our war with Spain. The response was +immediate. In every state of the Union the call to arms was heard +with delight and troops gathered at their armories for prompt +enlistment. The speed and facility with which a trained and +efficient army could be mobilized was an amazement to those who +had not been familiar with the details of the organization of the +National Guard of America. Within twenty-four hours after the +receipt of the order, thousands of troops were moving to the state +encampments where they had been directed to gather. Illinois was +an example of this promptness, in sending nearly 5,000 men out of +Chicago without delay, but this was no more notable than the +record made by many other states in every part of the Union. The +cheers and the blessings of hundreds of thousands of loyal +citizens stimulated those who were to go to the front with the +banner of freedom, and they realized that they were representing +the sentiment of a united nation. + +Those days near the end of April were exciting times. The whole +nation was keyed up to a nervous tension of anxiety to know what +would be the next event recorded on land or sea. The armies of the +United States were preparing for the struggle, the coast defenses +were brought to completion, and the government was ready for any +emergency that might arise. Admiral Sampson's splendid North +Atlantic squadron was blockading the ports of Cuba. Admiral +Schley, with the flying squadron at Hampton Roads, was ready for +prompt action in any direction where it might be effective, +whether to protect the Atlantic coast cities from a threatened +assault by Spanish warships, or to descend upon the Spanish fleet +for a naval battle. + +Admiral Dewey with the Asiatic squadron had been driven out of +Hong Kong by application of the neutrality laws, and international +obligations might embarrass him unless he took the aggressive, and +made for himself a base of supplies in the Philippine Islands. It +was expected every day that he would make an assault upon Manila, +the capital of the Philippines, and that the first naval +engagement of consequence in the war would be with the Spanish +fleet in those waters. No one doubted that the Asiatic squadron +would be able to give a good account of itself, although the fleet +which was to oppose it did not lack efficient guns and fighting +strength. + +The capture of that valuable Spanish colony, in which rebellion +against the government was in progress, would be not only a severe +blow to the Spanish arms, but would also strengthen the position +of the United States in the Orient by the capture of large +supplies of coal and naval equipment, as well as a splendid base +of operations. + +But while these preparations were going on for the conflict which +was destined to cost Spain her possessions in the western world, +there were a few individuals who were still making desperate +efforts to induce the administration at Washington to effect a +compromise at any cost. Not even the actual declaration of war, +and the call for volunteers, could bring the members of this +peace-at-any-price party to a realization of the fact that +patience has ceased to be a virtue, that we could no longer turn a +deaf ear to the appeals of an oppressed people, and that the brave +men who went down with the Maine must be avenged. + +Every true American felt that the hour had come when we must +defend the honor of our great nation, and it was evident to all +that the time was near at hand when actual warfare was to begin +both on land and sea. + +The insurgents in Cuba, who have been struggling against almost +overwhelming odds for so many months, received the glad tidings of +American intervention with unbounded joy, and at once sent +representatives to the United States to arrange for co-operation +in the invasion of Cuba, and to assist in planning a systematic +campaign against the Spanish forces. Every arrangement was +completed for final action and with men and money, munitions of +war and ships, all in ample supply, it was evident that the +crucial test was soon to come, and that war was at last an actual +fact. + + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +HOW COLUMBUS FOUND THE "PEARL OF THE ANTILLES." + +In gratitude of Spain to the Great Discoverer Who Gave Her a New +World--How Spain's Evil Colonial Policy Lost the Western +Hemisphere to That Obsolete Nation--Early Settlement of Cuba-- +Character of the Natives at the Time of the Discovery--Founding of +the First Cities--Havana Becomes the Island Capital--Docility of +the Natives and Their Extermination by Spanish Oppressors. + + +Cuba and Columbus are names inseparably connected. This largest +and most fruitful island of the Spanish Main was discovered by the +great navigator himself on the 28th day of October, 1492, only a +short time after his first landing upon the soil of the western +hemisphere on the island of San Salvador. There is a sentimental +association to Americans in the thought that the discovery of our +own continent was due to the pioneer expeditions sent from Spain. +But any regret in one's mind that animosities have risen between +the two nations, may be mollified by the memory that Columbus was +himself an Italian, that it had required years of his efforts to +induce sufficient interest on the part of Spanish monarchs to +father his undertaking, and that his life in the service of Spain +was marred by the basest ingratitude on the part of those whom he +had served. + +Upon the handsome monument erected to the memory of Columbus in +Seville by Ferdinand and Isabella, is the simple inscription, "A +Castile y Leon, nuevo mundo dio Colon"--"to Castile and Leon, +Columbus gave a new world." + +This was the tardy recognition granted to the discoverer by those +to whom he had made the marvelous gift. Recognition had been +denied him in his life, except after years of persistent urging, +second only to those years he wasted in his effort to arouse +Spanish interest and enterprise. Once he was removed from his West +Indian governorship and returned to Spain in chains. The titles +and honors which had been promised him before, were denied after +he had earned them. He was a victim of foul ingratitude, and no +American need permit sentiment to blind him for the sake of +Columbus. + +The splendid new world which Columbus gave to Spain, was the most +marvelous addition of territory that has ever come into the +possession of any nation upon earth. It included the whole of +South America, except Brazil, which was acquired by Portugal, and +the small colonies known as British, Dutch and French Guiana. It +included the whole of Central America and Mexico. It included the +whole of what is now the United States west of the Mississippi +river. It included the whole of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico +and the peninsula of Florida to the southern limit of Alabama and +Georgia, and except for a few scattered islands, it included every +foot of land in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea, all the +coral rocks, as well as the greater islands of the West Indies +and the Antilles. To-day not a foot of all that enormous +possession remains to Spain undisputed, except the islands of Cuba +and Puerto Rico. These hundreds of thousands of square miles are +inhabited by a free and peaceful people, most of them as +republics, and the few exceptions under civilized and liberal +colonial policies. Spain's hold on Cuba has vanished and Puerto +Rico is slipping away. Spain could not preserve the gifts of +Columbus. + +SPAINS COLONIAL POLICIES. + +The logic of events and the progress of civilization have +commanded that Spain should withdraw from her possessions in the +western hemisphere. Never has there been such a record of ferocity +and barbarity in conquest, as that which blackens the pages of +Spanish history in connection with Spain's acquisition and +subjection of her newly discovered territories. Whether it was the +peaceful Indians of the Antilles, the highly civilized Aztecs of +Mexico, or the Incas of Peru, the policy pursued was always the +same. First, treacherous friendship, then robbery and massacre, +then slavery, and finally extermination, was the unvarying +programme. And so, instead of winning favor and loyalty with their +consequent happiness and prosperity from the native tribes, +Spanish conquerors implanted in the possessors of the country an +over-mastering and ineradicable hatred, which grew with +association, until in colony after colony the bonds were burst by +violence. + +When Great Britain lost her American colonies by reason of her +misgovernment and oppression of them, it was a lesson which her +people never forgot. From that day, the colonial policy of the +British government was altered, and the spirit of liberality and +generosity began to dominate. To-day, every colony of Great +Britain that enjoys representative government--Canada, Australia, +Cape Colony and many others, owes to the United States the liberty +which Great Britain grants. + +But Spain could learn no such lessons. Her cruelty and +misgovernment aroused colony after colony to rebellion ending in +freedom, but her policies remained unaltered. One by one +possessions of fabulous wealth dropped away until at last this old +crone of nations has been left to shiver alone by her fireside, +abandoned in her misery by all the children whose memory of her is +nothing but that of vicious cruelty. The only pity to which Spain +is entitled, is the pity that is due for her ignorance and her +mistakes, not pity for the penalties that these have brought upon +her. + +Spain was once the intellectual leader of the world, as well as +the pioneer of discovery. Spanish universities were centers of +learning long before northern Europe had its intellectual birth. +Spanish mariners sailed every sea and Spanish adventurers explored +every land. If learning and advancement bring obligations, as they +are admitted to do, it was Spain's obligation to be a leader in +strife for liberty of mind and body, but the two most notable +things in her history are the Spanish inquisition against freedom +of thought, and the Spanish ferocities which enslaved a new world +for many a year. Now she has reaped the harvest of her own +misdeeds. + +THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF CUBA. + +Every one knows that Columbus was not looking for a western +hemisphere, but for the Orient, and that when he found Cuba he +believed he had reached the East Indies and the islands of gold +and spice which had been reported from that mysterious land. His +first island discoveries he believed to be the outlying portions +of that eastern archipelago and when the natives told him of a +greater land near by, which he reached a few days later, he +believed that at last he had reached Cipango, as Japan then was +called. + +The first name given to the island was Juana, in honor of Prince +Juan, the son of Ferdinand and Isabella of Aragon and Castile. +After Ferdinand's death, in his honor the name was changed to +Fernandina. Still later it received the name of Santiago, as a +mark of reverence for the patron saint of Spain, and another +change was made a few years afterward, when the inhabitants, as a +proof of their piety, called it Ave Maria, in honor of the Holy +Virgin. In spite of all this effort at establishing a Spanish +name, the original Indian name of Cuba, which it bore when the +great navigator first landed on its shores, has asserted itself +triumphantly through all the centuries and is now ineradicable. + +According to the accounts given by Spanish writers who were +contemporary with the discovery, and the century immediately +following, the aboriginal inhabitants of Cuba were a generous, +gentle, hospitable people, by no means energetic, but heartily +cordial and courteous to the strangers who reached their shores. +The mildness of their climate did not stimulate them to much +activity in cultivation of the soil, because tropical fruits and +vegetables came with scarcely an effort on the part of the +natives. Their implements and utensils were crude and their life +simple. + +The system of government was by no means complicated. The island +was divided into nine independent principalities, each under a +Cacique, all living in harmony, and warfare being almost unknown. +Their religion was a peaceful one, without human sacrifices or +cannibalism, but the priests had great power through their +pretense of influence with spirits good and evil. + +Of all the people discovered by the Spanish in their colonization +of the western hemisphere, the Cubans were the most tractable to +the influences of Christianity so far as their willingness to +accept the doctrines was concerned. Christianity, as practiced by +the Spanish conquerors, was scarcely that of the highest type of +the faith, and the inducements to accept it were somewhat violent. +Nevertheless it must be noted that it is from Spanish sources this +testimony as to the docility of the Cuban natives comes. Under +these circumstances it becomes a magnified crime that the Spanish +conquerors absolutely exterminated the hundreds of thousands of +native Cubans whom they found at the time of the discovery, and +that within little more than a century, there was absolutely not a +trace of native stock to be found anywhere in the island. + +When Columbus first rested his eyes on the island of Cuba it +seemed to him an enchanted land. He was charmed with its lofty +mountains, its beautiful rivers, and its blossoming groves, and in +his account of the voyage he said: "Everything is green as April +in Andalusia. The singing of the birds is such that it seems as if +one would never desire to depart. There are flocks of parrots that +obscure the sun. There are trees of a thousand species, each +having its particular fruit, and all of marvelous flavor." + +Columbus was first of the opinion that he had found an island, but +after following the shores for many miles he concluded that it was +a continent. He retained the latter belief until his death, for it +was not until 1508 that the island was circumnavigated, when it +was discovered that it was of about the same area as England. In a +subsequent expedition he reached the coast of South America, but +he had no appreciation of the magnitude of that continent, and to +him Cuba was the grandest of his discoveries in the New World. + +Cuba was twice visited by Columbus after its discovery, in April, +1494, and again in 1502, and these visits but confirmed his first +opinion regarding the salubrity of the climate and the wealth of +the soil. His sailors wrested from the natives large sums of gold +and silver, and this led to the mistaken belief that mines of +great richness were within their grasp. + +SPAIN'S HEARTLESS TREATMENT OF COLUMBUS. + +Biography furnishes no parallel to the life of Columbus. Great men +there have been who have met with injustice and disappointments, +but there is perhaps no other instance of a man whom +disappointments and injustice did not dishearten and disgust; who +had his greatness recognized in his lifetime, and yet was robbed +of the rewards that it entitled him to. + +It is probable that before his death Columbus confided his belief +in the wealth to be found in Cuba to his son Diego Columbus, for +in 1511 the latter fitted out an expedition for the purpose of +colonizing the island. This company consisted of about 300 men, +under Diego Velasquez, who had accompanied the great explorer on +his second voyage. The first settlement was made at Baracoa, in +the extreme eastern section, and this village was regarded as the +capital of the colony for several years. In the meantime extensive +settlements had been made by the Spaniards in the island of +Jamaica, and in 1514 the towns of Santiago and Trinidad were +founded on the southern coast of Cuba, in order that the +inhabitants of the two colonies might be brought into closer +communication. As immigration increased, other towns of importance +sprung up, and the island became the base for the various +operations against Mexico. Baracoa grew largely in population, and +the towns of Puerto Principe and Sancti Espiritus were established +in the central section, and San Juan de los Remedios on the north +coast. In July, 1515, the city of San Cristobal de la Habana was +planted, deriving its name from the great Discoverer, but this +name was transferred in 1519 to the present capital, and the +original town was called Batabano. + +In 1518 the capital was fixed at Baracoa, which had by this time +become a city of considerable importance, and the diocese of the +colony. In 1522 both the seat of government and the bishopric were +removed to Santiago de Cuba. In 1538 Havana was reduced to ashes +by a French privateer; and to prevent a similar disaster in +future, the Castillo de la Fuerza, a fortress which still exists, +was built by Fernando de Soto, governor of Cuba, and afterwards +famous for his explorations in the southern and western portions +of North America, as well as for the discovery of the Mississippi. + +Using a modern expression, this great fortress, added to her +almost perfect harbor, gave Havana a wonderful "boom," and the +city experienced a remarkable growth. The Spanish merchantmen were +actively employed in carrying the wealth of Mexico to the +Peninsula, and Havana was a convenient port for them to secure +supplies of provisions and water. In 1549 Gonzales Perez de Angulo +was appointed governor of the island, and he was so impressed with +the beauties of the city, that he chose it as his residence. +Several of his successors followed his example, and in 1589 it was +legally made the capital of Cuba. + +EARLY GOVERNMENT OF CUBA. + +The early records of the island were kept in so imperfect a manner +that it is not possible to give an accurate account of the early +governors and their lieutenants. It is certain, however, that the +seat of government was at Santiago de Cuba, and that Havana and +other towns of minor importance were ruled by lieutenants. In +1538, Hernando de Soto, adelantado of Florida, and also governor +of Cuba, landed at Santiago, and remained a few days before +proceeding to the mainland. On his departure he left the +government of the island in charge of a lady, Dona Isabel de +Bobadilla, and gave her for a colleague Don Juan de Rojas, who had +at one time been lieutenant governor of Havana. It is from this +date that the gradual transference of the seat of power from +Santiago to Havana may be said to have arisen. + +Don Antonio de Chavez assumed the government in 1547, and he it +was who gave Havana its first regular supply of water, bringing it +a distance of about six miles from the river Chorrera. + +The early settlers devoted themselves principally to the raising +of cattle, paying very little attention to agricultural pursuits, +or in fact to any means of livelihood that called for manual +labor. Much time and money was wasted in explorations for gold and +silver, but these were invariably unsuccessful, for while the +precious metals have occasionally been found in the island, the +quantity has never been sufficient to repay the labor of the +search. + +A LETTER WRITTEN BY COLUMBUS. + +Nothing more interesting for the conclusion of this chapter can be +offered than Columbus' own account of his first view of the island +of Cuba. It is as follows + +"When I reached Juana, I followed its coast to the westward, and +found it so large that I thought it must be mainland, the province +of Cathay; and as I found neither towns nor villages on the sea +coast, but only some hamlets, with the inhabitants of which I +could not hold conversation, because they all immediately fled, I +kept on the same route, thinking that I could not fail to light +upon some large cities or towns. At length, after the proceeding +of many leagues, and finding that nothing new presented itself, +and that the coast was leading me northwards (which I wished to +avoid, because the winter had already set in, and it was my +intention to move southwards; and because moreover the winds were +contrary), I resolved not to wait for a change in the weather, but +to return to a certain harbor which I had remarked, and from which +I sent two men ashore to ascertain whether there was any king or +large cities in that part. They journeyed for three days, and +found countless small hamlets, with numberless inhabitants, but +with nothing like order; they therefore returned. In the meantime +I had learned from some other Indians, whom I had seized, that +this land was certainly an island; accordingly, I followed the +coast eastward for a distance of 107 leagues, where it ended in a +cape. From this cape I saw another island to the eastward, at a +distance of eighteen leagues from the former, to which I gave the +name of La Espanola. Thither I went and followed its northern +coast, (just the same as I had done with the coast of Juana), 118 +full miles due east. This island, like all others, is +extraordinarily large, and this one extremely so. In it are many +seaports, with which none that I know in Christendom can bear +comparison, so good and capacious that it is a wonder to see. The +lands are high, and there are many lofty mountains, with which the +islands of Tenerife cannot be compared. They are all most +beautiful, of a thousand different shapes, accessible, and covered +with trees of a thousand kinds, of such great height that they +seem to reach the skies. I am told that the trees never lose their +foliage, and I can well understand it, for I observed that they +were as green and luxuriant as in Spain in the month of May. Some +were in bloom, others bearing fruit, and others otherwise, +according to their nature. The nightingale was singing, as well as +other little birds of a thousand different kinds, and that in +November, the month in which I was roaming amongst them. There are +palm trees of six or eight kinds, wonderful in their beautiful +variety; but this is the case with all other trees and fruits and +grasses. It contains extraordinary pine groves and very extensive +plains. There is also honey and a great variety of birds, and many +different kinds of fruits. In the interior there are many mines of +metals, and a population innumerable." + + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +SPAIN'S BLACK HISTORICAL RECORD. + +Present Men of Prominence Are Types of Those Who Were Infamous +Years Ago--Roman Rule in Spain--Weakness of Spanish Power of +Resistance--Discoveries in America--Horrors of the Inquisition-- +Spanish Rule in Holland--Expulsion of the Moors--Loss of American +Colonies--Later History of Spain. + + +The signal fact that will present itself to the student of +Spanish history is that from the earliest times the country has +been in a continual state of conflict, internal, with its +colonies, and with other nations; and seldom has it been a war of +defense. In almost every instance Spain has been the aggressor. +The Spaniard has ever been perfidious, avaricious, ferocious. In +his veins still flows the blood of Ferdinand, of Torquemada, and +of Philip II. Weyler is a prototype of Alva, and in Blanco we find +another Antonio de Mendoza. Spain is the China of modern Europe. +Her spirit is still the spirit of the inquisition. Her policy is +not to conciliate, but to coerce; not to treat justly, but to rob +and enslave; and her dependence is the ignorance and superstition +of her people. + +All reforms wrung from rulers must first be baptized in blood, and +it is possible that the end of the present century may see a new +nation, built on the ruins of the old, which will be a credit to +civilization, instead of a disgrace. + +ROMAN RULE IN SPAIN. + +Prior to the first war between Rome and Carthage, which ended 241 +BC, there is little or no authentic information regarding the +history of the country now known to the world as Spain. To the +ancients it was a land of mystery and enchantment, the home of the +setting sun; and Iberia, as they called it, was but a name for an +indefinite extent of territory in the far west, peopled by +barbarous Celts and Iberians, with a few Phoenician settlements, +for the purposes of trade, on its southern coasts. + +At the close of the first Punic war, Hamilcar Barca, at the head +of a Carthaginian host, crossed the strait of Gibraltar and +commenced the conquest which his son Hannibal completed, and which +resulted in the undisputed supremacy of Carthage throughout almost +all of Spain. This brings us to 218 B. C. and marks the beginning +of the second Punic war, when the Roman legions first entered +Spain. After a struggle which lasted for thirteen years the +Carthaginians were completely routed, and the country was +conquered by the arms of Rome. It was many years, however, before +the inhabitants were really subdued, but eventually they became +more completely Romanized than any province beyond the limits of +Italy. When brought under the iron rule of the Empire they were +forced to desist from the intestinal wars in which it had been +their habit to indulge, and adopting the language, laws and +manners of their conquerors, they devoted themselves to industrial +pursuits, and increased remarkably both in wealth and numbers. +Their fertile fields formed for a considerable time the granary of +Rome, and from the metal-veined mountains an immense amount of +gold and silver flowed into Roman coffers. However, these were not +voluntary offerings of the natives. They were compelled to labor +in the mines for the benefit of strangers, and thus Spain, in the +early ages, was the type of Spanish America in the fifteenth and +succeeding centuries, with the difference that in the first case +the Spaniards were the slaves, and in the second they were the +slave-holders. + +For more than 300 years Spain remained under Roman rule, until in +409 AD, hordes of barbarians crossed the Pyrenees and swept over +the Peninsula. Suevi, Alani and Vandals ravaged with equal fury +the cities and the open country, and brought the inhabitants to +the lowest depths of misery. They were finally subjugated by a +Visigothic host, and in 415, Walia, a war-like and ambitious +chief, established the West-Gothic kingdom in Spain, on the ruins +of the old Roman province. Walia concluded a treaty with the +Emperor Honorius, and, putting himself at the head of the brave +Goths, in a three-years' war he destroyed or drove the barbarians +from the land. Spain, thus reconquered, was nominally subject to +Rome, but soon became really independent, and began to be the seat +of a Christian civilization. This West-Gothic kingdom lasted for +about three centuries, from 418 to 711, when it fell before the +Moorish invasion. + +WEAKNESS OF SPANISH POWERS OF RESISTANCE. + +Few things in history are more remarkable than the ease with which +Spain, a country naturally fitted for defense, was subdued by a +mere handful of invaders. The misgovernment of the Visigoths, the +internal factions and jealousies, and the discontent of numerous +classes, notably the Jews, co-operated to facilitate the conquest +and to weaken the power of resistance. These conquerors were of +the Mohammedan faith, but while they were united by religion, they +were of different races. Besides the Moors there were the Arabs, +the Egyptians and the Syrians, and when the task of conquest was +achieved, and the need for unity removed, quarrels arose between +them. So difficult was it to prevent these quarrels, that it was +found necessary to subdivide the conquered territory, and to allot +separate settlements to the different tribes. + +During the period of Moorish domination a number of small +independent kingdoms were formed in opposition to Moslem rule. +These comprised Castile, Leon, Navarre and Aragon, and sometimes +separately, sometimes in combination, they were in constant war +with the common enemy. The age of the great crusades came, and all +Christendom was absorbed in the struggle against the infidel, both +in the East and West. Spain, like Palestine, had its crusading +orders, which vied with the Templars and the Hospitallers both in +wealth and military distinction. The decisive battle was fought in +July, 1212, when the combined forces of Castile, Leon, Navarre, +Aragon and Portugal met the Mohammedan army, and gained the most +celebrated victory ever obtained by the Christians over their +Moslem foes, the latter losing, according to the account +transmitted to the pope, 100,000 killed and 50,000 prisoners. The +king of Grenada was speedily forced to become a vassal of Castile, +and from this period all danger from Moorish rule was over. + +Following this time until the different kingdoms became as one, +there is nothing in their history deserving a detailed account. +The history of Spain as a united state dates from the union of +Castile and Aragon by the marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand, the +respective rulers of those kingdoms, in 1469. Grenada, the last +remaining possession of the Moors, fell before the Spanish forces +in 1492, and Navarre was acquired in 1512. + +DISCOVERIES IN AMERICA. + +The year 1492, during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, +witnessed the discovery of America. Spain had become consolidated +into one empire from the Pyrenees to the strait of Gibraltar, and +civil wars were at an end. Maritime exploration was the task of +the age, and under the patronage of Isabella, Columbus planted the +flag of Spain in the West Indies. This grand achievement led to +the opening of a splendid continent, teeming with riches, for +Spanish adventure and despoliation. In 1498, Columbus landed on +the continent of South America, and in a few years the entire +western coast was explored by subsequent adventurers. In 1512, +Ponce de Leon discovered Florida, and the following year, Balboa +crossed the Isthmus of Darien, and gazed for the first time upon +the Pacific. + +The history of Spain, in connection with its discovery and +settlement of the New World, is one long record of revolting +crime. New England was settled by a people who came to turn the +wilderness into a city, but the Spanish invaders went to the +southern shores to turn the cities of the natives into a +wilderness. In Mexico and Peru they found a civilization the equal +and in many respects the superior of their own. With cross and +sword in hand, in the name of religion, but with the lust for gold +in their hearts, their coming was invariably a signal for every +kind of attack that malignity could devise or avarice invent. +Wherever they went, desolation followed them. They looted the +towns, pillaged the cities, murdered the people; they burned alike +the hovels of the poor, and the palaces of the rich. + +The value of the treasure that Spain secured from Mexico and Peru +never can be known accurately; but it is certain that within sixty +years from the time of the landing of Columbus she had advanced to +the position of the richest and most powerful nation in Europe. +Victorious in Africa and Italy, Philip II, who was then the +reigning monarch, carried war into France, and ruled in Germany, +as well as in those provinces now known as Belgium and Holland. +The money necessary to carry on these vast wars of conquest was +undoubtedly acquired in the New World. When Cortez approached the +palace of Montezuma, the King's messengers met him, bearing +presents from their lord. These gifts included 200 pounds of gold +for the commander, and two pounds of gold for each of his army. +Prescott, in his "Conquest of Peru," says that when the Spanish +soldiers captured the capital of that country they spent days in +melting down the golden vessels which they found in temples and +palaces. On one voyage a single ship carried to Spain $15,500,000 +in gold, besides vast treasures of silver and jewels. + +THE HORRORS OF THE INQUISITION. + +The Inquisition was a tribunal in the Roman Catholic church for +the discovery, repression and punishment of heresy and unbelief. +It originated in Rome when Christianity was established as the +religion of the Empire, but its history in Spain and her +dependencies has absorbed almost entirely the real interest in the +painful subject. + +As an ordinary tribunal, similar to those of other countries, it +had existed there from an early period. Its functions, however, in +those times were little more than nominal; but early in the reign +of Ferdinand and Isabella, on account of the alleged discovery of +a plot among the Jews to overthrow the government, an application +was made to the Pope to permit its re-organization. But in +reviving the tribunal, the Crown assumed to itself the right of +appointing the inquisitors, and of controlling their entire +action. For this reason Catholic writers regard the Spanish +inquisition as a state tribunal, and refer to the bull of the +Pope, Sixtus IV., protesting against it. Notwithstanding this +protest, however, the Spanish Crown maintained its assumption. +Inquisitors were appointed, and in 1483 the tribunal commenced its +terrible career, under Thomas de Torquemada. + +The inquisition arrested on suspicion, tortured for confession, +and then punished with fire. One witness brought the victim to the +rack, two to the flames. The prisoner was not confronted with his +accuser, nor were their names ever made known to him. The court +was held in a gloomy dungeon at midnight, a dim light gleamed from +smoking torches, and the grand inquisitor, enveloped in a black +robe, glared at his victim through holes cut in the hood. Before +the examination, the accused, whether man, maid or matron, was +stripped and stretched upon the rack, where tendons could be +strained without cracking, bones crushed without breaking and the +body tortured without dying. + +When the prisoner was found guilty, his tongue was cut out, so +that he could neither speak nor swallow. On the morning of the +execution a breakfast of rare delicacies was placed before the +sufferer, and with ironical invitation he was urged to enjoy his +last repast. Then the prisoner was led to the funeral pyre, where +an address was given, lauding the inquisition, condemning heresy, +and commanding obedience to the Pope and the Emperor. Then, while +hymns were sung, blazing fagots were piled about the victim, until +his body was reduced to a heap of ashes. + +Some conception of the appalling cruelty of the inquisition under +Torquemada may be formed from the statement that during the +sixteen years of his tenure of office nearly 10,000 persons were +condemned to the flames, and the property of 97,000 others was +confiscated. + +SPANISH RULE IN HOLLAND. + +Horrible as the atrocities of the inquisition were in the mother +country, it is doubtful if they ever reached the acme of savage +cruelty that they attained during the period when Spain was +seeking to strengthen the fetters with which she nominally held +Holland in her grasp. The Spanish government, from the time when +it first acquired a place among nations, has never been satisfied +with a reasonable tribute from its dependencies. Its plan ever has +been to exact all, and leave nothing to supply more than a +miserable existence. So it was in the middle of the sixteenth +century, when Philip II., greedy of the treasures of Holland, +determined to spoil them of their wealth, and planned to establish +the inquisition among them by the sword. + +The duke of Alva, already famous for his harshness and bigotry, +was named commander of the forces, with almost unlimited powers. +He entered the Netherlands with about 20,000 tried troops, ready +for cruelties, and all hopes of peace or mercy fled before them. +There was a great and desperate exodus of the inhabitants; +thousands took refuge in England, Denmark and Germany, and despair +and helplessness alone remained to greet the cold Spaniard and his +train of orthodox executioners. The Council of Troubles--the +"Blood-tribunal"--was immediately established, and the land was +filled with blood. In a short time he totally annihilated every +privilege of the people, and with unrelenting cruelty put +multitudes of them to death. + +The more the peasants rebelled, the crueler were the methods of +Alva. Men were tortured, beheaded, roasted before slow fires, +pinched to death with hot tongs, broken on the wheel, flayed +alive. On one occasion the skins of leaders were stripped from +their living bodies, and stretched upon drums for beating the +funeral march of brethren to the gallows. During the course of six +years Alva brought charges of heresy and treason against 30,000 +inhabitants, and made the infamous boast that, in addition to the +multitudes killed in battle and massacred after victory, he had +consigned 18,000 persons to the executioner. + +This unholy war with the Netherlands lasted with occasional +cessations of hostilities for eighty years, and during its +progress Spain buried 350,000 of her sons and allies in Holland, +spent untold millions in the attempted destruction of freedom, and +sunk from the first power in Europe, an empire whose proud boast +it had been that upon her possessions the sun never set, to the +level of a fourth-rate country, cruel in government, superstitious +in religion, and ever an enemy to progress. + +EXPULSION OF THE MOORS. + +In addition to the terrible drain upon the country from losses in +war, the expulsion of the Jews and the Moors was productive of the +direst results. In 1609 all the Moriscoes were ordered to depart +from the Peninsula within three days. The penalty of death was +declared against all who failed to obey, and against any +Christians who should shelter the recalcitrant. The edict was +obeyed, but it was a blow from which Spain never recovered. The +Moriscoes were the back-bone of the industrial population, not +only in trade and manufactures, but also in agriculture. The +haughty and indolent Spaniards had willingly left what they +considered degrading employment to their inferiors. The Moors had +introduced into Spain the cultivation of sugar, cotton, rice and +silk. In manufactures and commerce they had shown superiority to +the Christian inhabitants, and many of their products were eagerly +sought for by other countries. All these advantages were +sacrificed to an insane desire for religious unity. + +The reigns of Philip III. and Philip IV. witnessed a fearful +acceleration in the decline of Spain by the contests with the +Dutch and with the German Protestants in the Thirty Years' War, +the wars with France, and the rebellion of Portugal in 1640, which +had been united to Spain by Philip II. The reign of Charles II. +was still more unfortunate, and his death was the occasion of the +war of the Spanish succession. + +Under Charles III. (1759-1788), a wise and enlightened prince, the +second great revival of the country commenced, and trade and +commerce began to show signs of returning activity. Previous to +his accession to the throne, Spain appeared to be a corpse, over +which the powers of Europe could contend at will. Suddenly men +were astounded to see that country rise with renewed vigor to play +once more an important part on the international stage. Commerce +and agriculture were developed, native manufactures were +encouraged in every way possible, and an attempt was made to +remove all prejudices against trade, among the nobles. Meritorious +as these reforms were, it would give a false impression to +represent them as wholly successful. The regeneration of Spain was +by no means accomplished, and many of the abuses which had been +growing for centuries, survived the attempt to effect their +annihilation. One of the chief causes of this failure was the +corruption and ignorance of the lower officials; and a large +portion of the population remained, to a great extent, sunk in +sloth and superstition, in spite of all that was done in their +behalf. + +During the inglorious reign of Charles IV. (1788-1808), who left +the management, of affairs in the hands of the incapable Godoy, +(at once the queen's lover and the king's prime minister), a war +broke out with Britain, which was productive of nothing but +disaster to the Spaniards. Charles finally abdicated in favor of +his son, the Prince of Asturias, who ascended the throne as +Ferdinand VII. Forced by Napoleon to resign all claims to the +Spanish crown, Ferdinand became the prisoner of the French in the +year of his accession, and in the same year, Joseph, the brother +of the French emperor, was declared King of Spain, and set out for +Madrid to assume the kingdom thus assigned him. But Spanish +loyalty was too profound to be daunted even by the awe-inspiring +power of the great Napoleon. For the first time he found himself +confronted, not by terrified and selfish rulers, but by an +infuriated people. The rising on Spain commenced the popular +movement which ultimately proved fatal to his power. + +In July, 1808, England, on solicitation, made peace with Spain, +recognized Ferdinand VII. as king, and sent an army to aid the +Spanish insurrection. Joseph invaded the country on July 9, +defeated the Spaniards at Rio Seco, and entered Madrid on the +20th. But the defeat of Dupont at Baylen by the veteran Spanish +general Castanos somewhat altered the position of affairs, and +Joseph, after a residence of ten days in his capital, was +compelled to evacuate it. + +Meanwhile Sir Arthur Wellesley, afterwards Duke of Wellington, at +the head of the British auxiliary force, had landed at Mondego +bay, and began the Peninsular war by defeating the French at +Roliza and Vimiero. In November, 1808, Napoleon, who had been +preceded by Ney with 100,000 men, entered Spain and assumed the +command. For a time his armies were completely successful. In less +than a week the Spanish forces were broken through and scattered, +and Joseph was returned to Madrid. The victory was a short-lived +one, however, for, in April, 1809, General Wellesley arrived in +Portugal and at once commenced operations. By dint of masterly +generalship and bold enterprise he finally succeeded in driving +the French from the country. Napoleon, loth to lose his hold in +the Peninsula, sent Soult, his most trusted general, to stop the +ingress of the British into France, but the battles of the +Pyrenees, (24th July 1st August, 1813), and of the Nivelle, +Orthez, and Toulouse, in the beginning of 1814, brought to a +victorious conclusion this long and obstinate contest. + +LOSS OF AMERICAN COLONIES. + +After the convulsions it had endured, Spain required a period of +firm but conciliatory government, but the ill fate of the country +gave the throne at this crisis one of her worst rulers. Ferdinand +VII. had no conception of the duties of a sovereign; his public +conduct was regulated by pride and superstition, and his private +life was stained by the grossest dissipations. + +For six years Spain groaned under a "Reign of terror," and +isolated revolts only served as the occasion for fresh cruelties. +The finances were squandered in futile expeditions to recover the +South American colonies, which had taken advantage of Napoleon's +conquest of Spain to establish their independence. In his straits +for money, Ferdinand ventured to outrage national sentiment by +selling Florida to the United States in 1819. Louisiana had been +ceded to France in 1803, and when Mexico gained her independence +in 1822, the last of the territory under Spanish rule in North +America was lost to her. + +The reign of Ferdinand's daughter, Isabella II., was disturbed by +the Carlist rebellion in 1834-1839, in which England aided the +Queen with an army commanded by Sir De Lacy Evans. Spain, under +Isabella II., presents a dismal picture of faction and intrigue. +Policies of state had forced her into a distasteful marriage with +her cousin, Francis of Assisi, and she sought compensation in +sensual indulgences, endeavoring to cover the dissoluteness of her +private life by a superstitious devotion to religion. She had to +contend with continual revolts, and was finally compelled, in +1868, to abdicate the throne and fly to France for her life. + +A provisional government was formed with Serrano as President, and +a new constitution was formed, by which an hereditary king was to +rule, in conjunction with a senate and a popular chamber. The +throne was offered to Amadeus of Aosta, the second son of Victor +Emmanuel, in 1870, and he made an honest effort to discharge the +difficult duties of the office. But he found the task too hard, +and too distasteful, and resigned in 1873. A provisional republic +was then formed, of which Castelar was the guiding spirit. But the +Spaniards, trained to regard monarchy with superstitious +reverence, had no sympathy with republican institutions. Don +Carlos seized the opportunity to revive the claim of inalienable +male succession, and raised the standard of revolt. Castelar +finally threw up the office in disgust, and the administration was +undertaken by a committee of officers. Anarchy was suppressed with +a strong hand, but it was obvious that order could only be +restored by reviving the monarchy. Foreign princes were no longer +thought of, and Alfonso XII., the young son of the exiled +Isabella, was restored to the throne in 1874. His first task was +to terminate the Carlist war, which still continued in the North, +and this was successfully accomplished in 1876. He died in 1885, +and the regency was entrusted to his widow, Christina of Austria. +On May 17th, 1886, a posthumous son was born, who is now the +titular King of Spain. + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +BUCCANEERING AND THE WARFARE IN THE SPANISH MAIN. + +Spain's Stolen Treasures from Mexico and Peru Tempt Her European +Rivals--The Spanish Main the Scene of Piratical Plundering for +Many Years--Havana and Other Cities Threatened--Great Britain +Takes Santo Domingo--American Troops from the British Colonies +Capture Havana--Victory on Land and Sea Is Saddened by Many +Deaths of Brave Americans from Fever--Lessons of the First Capture +of Havana. + + +After the acquisition of rich and populous countries in the +western hemisphere had begun, Spain discovered that her new-found +wealth was not to be hers without a struggle. From the harbors of +Mexico and Peru, Spanish galleons sailed with their loads of +treasure, stolen from the Montezumas and the Incas. Year after +year, rich argosies, laden with gold and silver to replenish the +extravagant treasury of the Spanish crown, crossed the seas. The +Atlantic ocean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea were +furrowed with the keels of Spanish fleets, at a time when the +European nations scarcely maintained the pretense of friendship +with one another. + +It was hardly to be expected that these rich prizes should go +unmolested. England and France knew quite well that they were +plundered from the native treasuries of the new world, and no +reason appeared why Spain in turn should not be robbed of her +plunder. So the Spanish Main, the Caribbean sea, the Gulf of +Mexico, and the adjacent waters, became the haunt of buccaneers +and pirates, some under flags of European nations, and others +under the black flag. Desperate fights were the lot of almost +every Spanish galleon that sailed those seas, and fabulous prizes +sometimes were taken under the skull and crossbones. Spanish men +of war sailed back and forth to convoy the merchant fleets, but +their protection was not always sufficient. Pirates could obtain +frigates with guns as good as those of Spain, and with the +temptation of wealth before them they braved conflict whenever it +was necessary. + +The harbors of Key West, the Dry Tortugas and others along the +Florida keys, as well as many of those in the Bahamas, the West +Indies and the Antilles, were the haunts of buccaneers and +privateers who careened their ships on shore for repairs, or held +high revel on the beaches after their triumph over some Spanish +treasure fleet. Those were bloody days, full of dramatic +excitement. From them some of the most notable writers of fiction +have drawn their tales, which entertain readers of to-day. + +What was done with all the gold thus garnered in sea fights before +it reached the ports of Spain, is hard to know. Sometimes +mysterious strangers appeared in the seaport towns of France and +England and even the American colonies in their younger days, to +spend money lavishly for a short time and then disappear as +mysteriously as they came. These men were reputed to be pirate +chiefs seeking relaxation from their customary life. Others of the +buccaneers hoarded their wealth in hiding places known only to +themselves, the secret of which must have died with them, while +the gold remains undiscovered. All through the Florida keys and +the West India islands, as well as along the coasts of Georgia and +the Carolinas, traditions still exist in relation to these +treasure hoards. Sanguine people are still digging in the sands of +these beaches, in the hope that some day they will unearth a sea +chest full of Spanish doubloons, or the golden ornaments stripped +from Aztec idols. Some finds indeed have been made, but those who +make them are not apt to reveal the secret which might guide +another to a successful search. + +PIRATICAL RAIDS TROUBLE HAVANA. + +Having discovered the wealth that could be obtained by attacks +upon the Spanish fleets, the pirates began to think of the cities +which were themselves the source of much of this wealth. The +result of this was that they began to make descents upon the +coasts, not only of Cuba, but of the neighboring islands of +Jamaica and Santo Domingo. The expense occasioned by the attempts +to suppress these incursions became so great toward the end of the +sixteenth century, that it became necessary to impose a special +tax to cover it. + +Fortresses at all the fortified harbors were improved, and the +power of the military officials increased as their importance +increased, and that of the civil governors diminished. It was as a +direct result of these conditions that the office of Captain +General was created, in which the governor shared military and +civil authority alike. Havana fortifications were hastened to +completion and the preparations for defense began, which never +have been materially improved to this day. The three fortresses of +El Morro, La Punta and La Cabana were built before the end of the +sixteenth century and still were standing as the most effective +defenses of Havana when our war with Spain began. + +It was during the same period, that African negroes were first +introduced into Cuba. Slavery had proved so severe upon the +aborigines, that their numbers had almost reached the vanishing +point, and there was a lack of sufficient labor for the cultivation +of tobacco and sugar cane, the chief products of Spanish +agriculture in the island. It was to promote the production of +these new luxuries that the African slave trade was begun. A royal +license from the King of Spain was obtained to guarantee the +privilege of importing negroes. + +Then began that foul commerce which was another black stain on the +history of Spanish colonization of the western hemisphere. Spanish +ships descended upon the African coasts and kidnapped thousands of +negroes for service in the Cuban cane and tobacco fields. The +horrors of the trade cannot be magnified and are too distressing +for repetition. It is sufficient to say that in Havana it is +understood that the harbor was free from sharks which now swarm +there, until they followed the slave ships from the African coasts +in multitudes, for the feast of slaves who were thrown overboard +on the long voyage. Scores and hundreds of Africans died during +the journey, from the hardships they were compelled to undergo, +and Havana harbor itself was the last grave of many of these +hapless ones. + +GREAT BRITAIN THREATENS SPANISH POSSESSIONS. + +It was just after the middle of the seventeenth century and during +the rule of Oliver Cromwell in England, that the Spanish governors +of Cuba began to fear an attack by a British fleet. A squadron +sailed in 1655 with the design of capturing Jamaica, a purpose +which was easily accomplished. That island was taken by Great +Britain, the Spanish forces defending it were utterly defeated, +the governor was killed, and many of the inhabitants removed, in +consequence, to Cuba. From Jamaica the same fleet sailed for +Havana, but the attack was repulsed and the ships abandoned the +attempt. Except for the encroachments of the French upon the +island of Santo Domingo, and the continual piratical incursions of +French and English buccaneers, the Spanish in the West Indies were +not threatened with any more hostilities except by their own +internal dissensions until 1762. At that time Spain and England +were at war, Spain in alliance with the French, and it was decided +by the British government that Cuba was a vulnerable possession +and a valuable one that ought to be taken. + +The capture of Havana by forces under the English flag fills +little space in the history of England and Spain, because of the +magnitude of the interests involved elsewhere. It is almost +forgotten in America, in spite of the bearing of all its +contemporary incidents upon the rapidly approaching revolution, +and yet it was an achievement of the colonial troops and +consequently the first assault upon Cuba by Americans. + +It was an event of the first importance in its own day and +contained lessons of the first moment for the guidance of those +who had to plan the conduct of the war against Spain in 1898. It +proved that American troops under efficient officers could take +the field with success against double their number of Spaniards +fully provisioned and strongly intrenched. It proved that Havana +could be successfully assaulted by a combined military and naval +force, regardless of her picturesque but obsolete fortifications. +Spain's lack of administrative ability in the later war as well as +in the first, destroying any advantage to be derived from balls +and cannon. On the other side it proved that Americans had to look +forward to a considerable loss of life as a result of climatic +conditions, if they attempted to conduct hostile operations in +Cuba during the summer season. + +The utter incapacity for straightforward, pertinacious fighting, +which both Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington found in the +Spanish army during the Peninsular war, was as conspicuous fifty +years before, when the Americans took Havana, and may rightly be +argued as perpetually inherent in the national character; for +though the annals of Spain are filled with instances of individual +courage of the first rank, demoralization sets in as soon as they +come together in numbers in the face of a civilized foe. Their +chief maneuver in the course of a century and a half, has been +just plain running away. The victorious Wellington, seeing his +Spanish allies running for dear life just after he had whipped the +opposing French line in the last battle of the peninsular +campaign, was moved to remark that he had seen many curious things +in his life, but never before 20,000 men engaged in a foot race. + +Yet the fight made by the Spaniards in Havana during the attack of +the British and colonial forces in 1762 is the one notable +instance of a prolonged struggle between men who speak English and +men who speak Spanish. History may be searched in vain, either in +the old or new world, for a defense as able in point of +generalship or as stubborn in resistance as the Spaniards made at +the siege of Havana. In all other cases, from the Elizabethan +campaigns in Holland to the war with Mexico, the men educated in +the Spanish school of arms have been content to spend their +energies upon a single assault and then flee, sometimes even when +the odds were greatly in their favor. + +The English Armada left Portsmouth on March 5th, 1762, under the +command of the gallant Admiral Pococke and Lord Albemarle, the +force moving in seven divisions. It consisted of nineteen ships of +the line, eighteen frigates or smaller men-of-war, and 150 +transports containing about 10,000 soldiers, nearly all infantry. +At the Island of Hayti, then called Hispanola, the British were +joined by the successful expedition from Martinique. Together they +sat down before Havana, July 6th, 1762. + +SPAIN'S INTELLECTUAL DRY ROT. + +Spain, suffering, as it suffers to-day, from intellectual dry rot, +had known for weeks of the intended beleaguerment. Then, as now, +nothing adequate was done to meet it. The Governor of Havana, the +Marquis de Gonzalez, was a gallant soldier, as he was to prove; +but that ounce of prevention which is proverbially worth more than +the pound of cure, was not taken by him, and the British found the +fortifications in a partially ruinous condition, and the fourteen +ships of the line which were lying in the harbor before the city +in such a state that they could hardly be called in commission. +The Spanish army of defense numbered 27,000 men, and was in better +condition; but the Spanish sailors were utterly demoralized by the +granting of too much shore liberty, and the best use the Spaniard +could put his fighting ships to was by sinking them at the +entrance to the anchorage to prevent the entrance of the British +fleet. Once the enemy was before the city, however, all was +activity. The fortifications, which were too newly erected to be +quite incapable of repair, were set in order, the guns of Morro +Castle and of the fort known as the Puntal, across from it, were +trained on the advancing foe, and the Spanish ships were sunk, as +has been said. + +Those familiar with the history of English administrative methods +during this period will find little to choose between them and the +methods of Spain. The season of the year most unwholesome to the +inhabitants of a temperate climate had already set in, with all +its train of pestilences, when the British arrived. Though deluged +by the tremendous rains of the tropics from day to day, the water +supply was wholly insufficient, and the little obtainable was so +tainted as to make its use fraught with danger. There was no pilot +who knew the roadstead in order to lead the ships against the +Morro and the Puntal for many days. In throwing up the parallels +and approaches to the walls of the city on the landward side, the +soldiers found such scarcity of earth, the blanket over the rocks +being of the thinnest sort, that this necessary material for +covering an attack had to be brought from a distance. Then, too, +it was charged with the germs of disease, and all who handled it +suffered extremely. Despite all the precautions of the officers, +the sanitary condition surrounding the camp was horrible, and the +troops died like dogs. + +YANKEES IN CUBA. + +Meanwhile there was a large force of British regulars in North +America, stationed there ever since the fall of the French empire +in the new world in 1760. Four thousand of these soldiers were +gathered in New York City. To them the colonies of East and West +Jersey added a regiment of 500 men, New York another of 800, while +Lyman raised a full thousand in Connecticut. When these, too, had +been assembled in New York, Lyman was made Brigadier General of +the colonial troops, and his Lieutenant Colonel, Israel Putnam, +was made Colonel of the Connecticut soldiers in his stead. This +was the same Putnam who fought the wolf single-handed in its cave, +and who was to take that breakneck ride a few years later to +escape the very troops with whom he was now associated. The entire +force of 2,300 provincials under General Lyman's command was not a +mere bevy of raw militia. Nearly all of them had seen service +against the French in those well trained and active forces which +were given the general name of "Rangers;" the officers especially, +of whom Putnam was hardly more than a type, being men of extended +experience. The fact that so many men were willing to volunteer in +this arduous and, as it turned out, desperate service for the +King, speaks volumes for what could have been done with such men +had Pitt and not Bute been at the head of the English nation at +that time. The advices from Havana showed that the army there was +in great need of reinforcements, so by great efforts the regulars +and provincials were stowed way in fourteen transports, and with +an escort of a few frigates they set sail for the South about the +middle of May. There were the usual shouts of an admiring populace +and the tears of sweethearts and wives; but it is easy to say that +there would have been no rejoicing if the people of Connecticut, +the Jerseys, and New York could have foreseen that hardly one of +every fifty of their volunteers would see his home again. + +AMERICANS WERE WRECKED. + +Just before the arrival of these welcome reinforcements on July +20, some English merchantmen had come along with cargoes of cotton +bags, which were pressed into immediate use for the lines which +were now closing around Havana; and in the ships were also found +several pilots. Then the forces from the North came amidst general +rejoicings, but without Putnam and 500 of his Yankees. These, in a +transport which was skirting the dangerous coast much too closely, +were shipwrecked on one of the treacherous shoals thereabouts. +Putnam, with true New England fertility of resource, extemporized +rafts from the fragments of the vessel and got all his men ashore +without the loss of a life. They landed near the City of +Carthagena, threw up breastworks, and were found ready to repel a +force of thousands of Spaniards when the ships from before Havana +arrived for their rescue, their own companions wisely pressing on +and sending aid back from the headquarters. + +The American troops went bravely to work, engaging themselves +chiefly with the undermining of one of the walls. To reach this it +was necessary for them to pass along a narrow eminence where they +were in plain view and easy range of the Spaniards. A number were +lost in this dangerous enterprise, but their valor was dimmed +neither by this nor by the still heavier losses which came upon +them through the diseases prevalent in every portion of the +British camp. Though men of such hardiness that they must have +been equal in resisting power to the British, their losses were +comparatively much greater, proving that they occupied positions +of greater danger, either from bullets or the fevers of the +region. + +MORRO CASTLE TAKEN. + +Five days after the arrival of the reinforcements, Lord Albemarle +judged himself sufficiently strong to assault Morro Castle, and +the word was accordingly given. The sunken ships were blown up +early on the morning of July 25, and the British ships sailed into +the fury of the Spanish cannon, belching shot from all along the +shore. The big guns of the ships could not be elevated +sufficiently to silence the fire from Morro Castle, and this was +accordingly left to be carried by assault. The Puntal was +silenced, troops landed, and after five days of ferocious +fighting, in which the British and American losses were enormous +by reason of their exposed position, and where every one concerned +exhibited the utmost valor, Morro Castle was carried by the +bayonet. The fighting within its walls after an entry had been +made was exceedingly fierce. The Marquis of Gonzalez was killed by +his own cowardly men for refusing to surrender. The cannon from +the other Spanish batteries were turned upon the Morro as soon as +the Spanish flag had been lowered, and the British ensign run up +in its place; and then the slow and disastrous work of the siege +was taken up again. + +As the lines grew nearer and nearer, and the last hope of the +Spaniard for relief was given up, there was the usual attempt made +to buy the attacking party off. Though it would have been a +hopeless undertaking at any time, the amount offered for the +ransom of the city was so far below the treasure which was known +to be in the town that the offer was made a subject for derisive +laughter. Fifteen days after Morro Castle had fallen, though the +mortality in the trenches was so great that a few weeks more must +have seen the abandonment of the enterprise, the city fell, the +garrison stipulating for a passage out with all the honors of war, +which was freely accorded them, owing to the climatic predicament +in which Lord Albemarle found himself. It was also stipulated that +private property should be respected. This was strictly observed, +though Spain had set repeated examples of giving a captured city +over to plunder in the face of a stipulation to the contrary. + +August 14, 1762, the British entered, the glory of their victory +over such heavy odds even then dimmed by the enormous mortality. +It was reckoned that the few days of August had wrought more +damage to the invading forces than all the weeks of hard labor and +open assault which had gone before. In the city--the Havannah, as +it was then called--treasure was found to the amount of +$7,000,000, much of it in such shape that there had been abundant +time to withdraw it either to Spain or into the interior of the +island, had there been any other than Spaniards at the head of +affairs. + +The occupancy of the British and colonial forces lasted but a few +months. Lord Albemarle, with $120,000 of the prize money as his +personal share, received notice of the conclusion of the treaty of +Paris and withdrew his army to Great Britain. A single ship +sufficed to remove the shattered remnant of the soldiers from +Connecticut, the Jerseys, and New York. Twenty-three hundred +sailed; barely fifty returned. It was a part of the good fortune +of America--all of the good fortune, to be exact--which brought +Colonel Israel Putnam safely home again, though the paralysis +which shortened his labors not many years after the Declaration of +Independence was unquestionably due to his exposure to the +vertical sun of Cuba and to the poisons of its pestilential coast. + +In the hands of George III., then King of England, all this +suffering and deprivation amounted to virtually nothing. He was a +coward at heart, a man who could not even avail himself of such +hardly gained victories. The peace of Paris was signed, and by its +terms George yielded up Cuba and the Philippines again to the +power that has never ceased to misuse the advantages so obtained. + +The belief gained ground in Havana, in 1807, that the English +government again contemplated a descent on the island; and +measures were taken to put it in a more respectable state of +defense, although, from want of funds in the treasury, and the +scarcity of indispensable supplies, the prospect of an invasion +was sufficiently gloomy. The militia and the troops of the +garrison were carefully drilled, and companies of volunteers were +formed wherever materials for them could be found. The French, +also, not content with mere preparations, made an actual descent +on the island, first threatening Santiago, and afterwards landing +at Batabano. + +The invaders consisted chiefly of refugees from St. Domingo; and +their intention seems to have been to take possession with a view +to colonize and cultivate a portion of the unappropriated, or at +least unoccupied, territory, on the south side of the island, as +their countrymen had formerly done in St. Domingo. Without +recurring to actual force, the captain-general prevailed on them +to take their departure by offering transportation either to St. +Domingo or to France. + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF CUBA. + +Efforts of the Early Governors to Encourage Trade--Cultivation of +Sugar One of the First Industries--Decree Defining Powers of the +Captain General--Attempted Annexation to the United States--The +Ostend Manifesto--Its Wonderful Predictions, in the Light of +Later Events--Exports and Imports Between Cuba and Spain--The +Future of Commercial Cuba. + + +The commerce of Cuba has grown in spite of the limitations that +have been placed upon it and not because of any encouragement that +has been given to it. Columbus called Cuba the most beautiful land +that eyes had ever seen. Its resources, granted by a generous +nature, have enabled it to recuperate after destructive warfare +with a rapidity simply amazing to those accustomed only to the +climate and the soil of the temperate zone. The immense industries +of Cuba have been hampered from the beginning by Spanish +oppression and the fact that they have flourished under such +unfavorable conditions is a striking evidence of what may be +expected under a policy of encouragement and freedom. Sugar, +tobacco, and other tropical products have made fortunes for Cuba +every year, only to have them stolen by Spanish officeholders, +sent there to plunder all they could get their hands upon. With +peace assured, the opportunities for the extension of industries +in the "Pearl of the Antilles" will be enormous. + +The commercial development of Cuba has come through centuries of +disturbance, warfare, and oppression. A simple catalogue of all +the evils with which the Cubans have had to contend would fill a +volume. All that can be done here is to indicate briefly some of +the more notable events in the history of the island after the +British conquests and the relinquishment of the prize to the +Spanish authorities upon the return of peace. Near the end of the +last century there came a period which offered more encouragement +to the hope of permanent prosperity in Cuba than had been offered +before. The successive governors appointed varied in character, it +is true, but several of them were liberal minded, public spirited +men who gave to the colony far better administration that it had +been accustomed to. One of these was Luis de Las Casas, who +imparted a new impulse to the agriculture and commerce of the +island. It was under his guidance that trade with the United +States began to assume importance, and to his efforts was due the +transfer of the remains of Columbus from Santo Domingo to their +present resting place in the cathedral at Havana. He encouraged +literature, science, the fine arts and the erection of various +public charitable and educational institutions. He was the founder +of the first public library and the first newspaper which had +existed in the island. He showed his ability as an executive by +restraining the restless population under the excitement which +accompanied the revolution in the neighboring colony of Santo +Domingo, which ended by the loss to Spain of that island. + +One of the earliest causes of ill feeling between the islanders of +Cuba and the people of Spain occurred just at the end of the +administration of Las Casas in 1796. In the seventy years prior to +that time a great navy yard grew up on the Bay of Havana, and 114 +war vessels were built there to convoy the Spanish treasure ships. +All at once this flourishing industry was closed on the demand of +the ship-builders of Spain that the work should be done in the +mother country. As might have been expected, this aroused great +indignation among a large number of people in Havana who had been +dependent upon the industry. + +It was about the same time, or just a hundred years before the +outbreak of our war with Spain, that sugar became an important +article of general commerce. Even then, however, it was not an +article of common consumption, and was held at extravagantly high +prices, measured by the present cheapness of the article. Market +reports of the time show that the price approximated forty cents a +pound, and this at a time when the purchasing power of money was +at least twice as great as it is now. As the price has fallen, the +product and the consumption have increased, until of late years it +has been an enormous source of revenue to the Island of Cuba. When +Napoleon Bonaparte abducted the royal family of Spain and deposed +the Bourbon dynasty in 1808, every member of the provincial +counsel of Cuba took an oath to preserve the island for their +legitimate sovereign. The Colonial government immediately declared +war against Napoleon and proclaimed Ferdinand VII. as king. It was +by this action that the colony earned its title of "The ever-faithful +isle," which has been excellent as a complimentary phrase, but hardly +justified by the actual facts. For some years following this action, +affairs in the island were in an embarrassing condition, owing to the +progress of the Napoleonic wars in Europe, which kept all trade +disturbed and Spain in a constant condition of disorder. If it had not +been for the fortunate election of one or two of the governors things +might have been even worse than they were, and it was considered that +Cuba was enjoying quite as much peace and prosperity as were her +neighbor colonies and the mother governments of Europe. In 1812 a negro +conspiracy broke out and attained considerable success, and as a result +of it the Spanish governors began to be more and more severe in their +administrations. + +Under the influence of the spirit of freedom which was spreading +all around them, Cubans became more and more restless. The +revolutionary movements in Spanish America had begun in 1810, and +after fourteen years of guerrilla warfare, European power had +vanished in the Western hemisphere from the Northern boundary of +the United States to Cape Horn, except for the Colonies of British +Honduras and the Guianas, and a few of the West Indian Islands. In +1821, Santo Domingo became independent, and in the same year +Florida came into the possession of the United States. Secret +societies, with the purpose of revolution as their motive, began +to spring up in Cuba, and the population divided into well-defined +factions. There was indeed an attempt at open revolt made in 1823 +by one of these societies known as the "Soles De Bolivar," but it +was averted before the actual outbreak came, and those leaders of +it who were not able to escape from Cuba were arrested and +punished. It was as a result of these successive events that the +office of Captain General was created and invested with all the +powers of Oriental despotism. The functions of the Captain General +were defined by a royal decree of May 28, 1825, to the following +effect: + +His Majesty, the King Our Lord, desiring to obviate the +inconveniences that might in extraordinary cases result from a +division of command, and from the interferences and prerogatives +of the respective officers; for the important end of preserving in +that precious island his legitimate sovereign authority and the +public tranquillity through proper means, has resolved in +accordance with the opinion of his council of ministers to give to +your Excellency the fullest authority, bestowing upon you all the +powers which by the royal ordinances are granted to the governors +of besieged cities. In consequence of this, his Majesty gives to +your Excellency the most ample and unbounded power, not only to +send away from the island any persons in office, whatever their +occupation, rank, class, or condition, whose continuance therein +your Excellency may deem injurious, or whose conduct, public or +private, may alarm you, replacing them with persons faithful to +his Majesty and deserving of all the confidence of your +Excellency; but also to suspend the execution of any order +whatsoever, or any general provision made concerning any branch of +the administration as your Excellency may think most suitable to +the Royal Service. + +This decree since that time has been substantially the supreme law +of Cuba, and has never been radically modified by any concessions +except those given as a last and lingering effort to preserve the +sovereignty of Spain, when after three years' progress of the +revolution she realized that her colony had slipped away from her +authority. The decree quoted in itself offers sufficient +justification for the Cuban revolution in the name of liberty. + +ATTEMPTED ANNEXATION TO THE UNITED STATES. + +During the present century there have been a number of attempts on +the part of men prominent in public life, both in the United +States and Cuba, to arrange a peaceable annexation by the purchase +by this country of the island from Spain. Statesmen of both +nations have been of the opinion that such a settlement of the +difficulty would be mutually advantageous, and have used every +diplomatic endeavor to that end. + +During Thomas Jefferson's term of office, while Spain bowed +beneath the yoke of France, from which there was then no prospect +of relief, the people of Cuba, feeling themselves imcompetent in +force to maintain their independence, sent a deputation to +Washington, proposing the annexation of the island to the federal +system of North America. + +In 1854 President Pearce instructed Wm. L. Marcy, his Secretary of +State, to arrange a conference of the Ministers of the United +States to England, France and Spain, to be held with a view to the +acquisition of Cuba. + +The conference met at Ostend on the 9th of October, 1854, and +adjourned to Aix-la-Chapelle, where notes were prepared. Mr. +Soule, then our Minister to Spain, said in a letter to Mr. Marcy, +transmitting the joint report: "The question of the acquisition of +Cuba by us is gaining ground as it grows to be more seriously +agitated and considered. Now is the moment for us to be done with +it, and if it is to bring upon us the calamity of war, let it be +now, while the great powers of this continent are engaged in that +stupendous struggle which cannot but engage all their strength and +tax all their energies as long as it lasts, and may, before it +ends, convulse them all. Neither England nor France would be +likely to interfere with us. England could not bear to be suddenly +shut out of our market, and see her manufactures paralyzed, even +by a temporary suspension of her intercourse with us. And France, +with the heavy task now on her hands, and when she so eagerly +aspires to take her seat as the acknowledged chief of the European +family, would have no inducement to assume the burden of another +war." + +The result of this conference is so interesting in its application +to present conditions that its reproduction is required to make +intelligible the whole story of Cuba, and we give it here: + +THE OSTEND MANIFESTO. + +Sir: The undersigned, in compliance with the wish expressed by the +president in the several confidential despatches you have +addressed to us respectively, to that effect, we have met in +conference, first at Ostend, in Belgium, on the 9th, 10th, and +11th instant, and then at Aix-la-Chapelle, in Prussia, on the days +next following, up to the date hereof. + +There has been a full and unreserved interchange of views and +sentiments between us, which we are most happy to inform you has +resulted in a cordial coincidence of opinion on the grave and +important subjects submitted to our consideration. + +We have arrived at the conclusion, and are thoroughly convinced +that an immediate and earnest effort ought to be made by the +government of the United States to purchase Cuba from Spain at any +price for which it can he obtained, not exceeding the sum of $... + +The proposal should, in our opinion, be made in such a manner as +to be presented through the necessary diplomatic forms to the +Supreme Constituent Cortes about to assemble. On this momentous +question, in which the people, both of Spain and the United +States, are so deeply interested, all our proceedings ought to be +open, frank and public. They should be of such a character as to +challenge the approbation of the world. + +We firmly believe that, in the progress of human events, the time +has arrived when the vital interests of Spain are as seriously +involved in the sale, us those of the United States in the +purchase, of the island, and that the transaction will prove +equally honorable to both nations. + +Under these circumstances we cannot anticipate a failure, unless +possibly through the malign influence of foreign powers who +possess no right whatever to interfere in the matter. + +We proceed to state some of the reasons which have brought us to, +this conclusion, and for the sake of clearness, we shall specify +them under two distinct heads: + +1. The United States ought, if practicable, to purchase Cuba with +as little delay as possible. + +2. The probability is great that the government and Cortes of +Spain will prove willing to sell it, because this would +essentially promote the highest and best interests of the Spanish +people. + +Then, 1. It must be clear to every reflecting mind that, from the +peculiarity of its geographical position, and the considerations +attendant on it. Cuba is as necessary to the North American +republic as any of its present members, and that it belongs +naturally to that great family of states of which the Union is the +providential nursery. + +From its locality it commands the mouth of the Mississippi and the +immense and annually increasing trade which must seek this avenue +to the ocean. + +On the numerous navigable streams, measuring an aggregate course +of some thirty thousand miles, which disembogue themselves through +this magnificent river into the Gulf of Mexico, the increase of +the population within the last ten years amounts to more than that +of the entire Union at the time Louisiana was annexed to it. + +The natural and main outlet to the products of this entire +population, the highway of their direct intercourse with the +Atlantic and the Pacific States, can never be secure, but must +ever be endangered whilst Cuba is a dependency of a distant power +in whose possession it has proved to be a source of constant +annoyance and embarrassment to their interests. + +Indeed the Union can never enjoy repose, nor possess reliable +security, as long as Cuba is not embraced within its boundaries. + +Its immediate acquisition by our government is of paramount +importance, and we cannot doubt but that it is a consummation +devoutly wished for by its inhabitants. + +The intercourse which its proximity to our coast begets and +encourages between them and the citizens of the United States, +has, in the progress of time, so united their interests and +blended their fortunes that they now look upon each other as if +they were one people, and had but one destiny. + +Considerations exist which render delay in the acquisition of this +island exceedingly dangerous to the United States. + +The system of immigration and labor lately organized within its +limits, and the tyranny and oppression which characterize its +immediate rulers threaten an insurrection at every moment, which +may result in direful consequences to the American people. + +Cuba has thus become to us an unceasing danger, and a permanent +cause of anxiety and alarm. + +But we need not enlarge on these topics. It can scarcely be +apprehended that foreign powers, in violation of international +law, would interpose their influence with Spain to prevent our +acquisition of the island. Its inhabitants are now suffering under +the worst of all possible governments, that of absolute despotism, +delegated by a distant power to irresponsible agents, who are +changed at short intervals, and who are tempted to improve their +brief opportunity thus afforded to accumulate fortunes by the +basest means. + +As long as this system shall endure, humanity may in vain demand +the suppression of the African slave trade in the island. This is +rendered impossible whilst that infamous traffic remains an +irresistible temptation and a source of immense profit to needy +and avaricious officials, who, to attain their ends, scruple not +to trample the most sacred principles under foot. + +The Spanish government at home may be well disposed, but +experience has proved that it cannot control these remote +depositaries of its power. + +Besides, the commercial nations of the world cannot fail to +perceive and appreciate the great advantages which would result to +their people from a dissolution of the forced and unnatural +connection between Spain and Cuba, and the annexation of the +latter to the United States. The trade of England and France with +Cuba would, in that event, assume at once an important and +profitable character, and rapidly extend with the increasing +population and prosperity of the island. + +2. But if the United States and every commercial nation would be +benefited by this transfer, the interests of Spain would also be +greatly and essentially promoted. + +She cannot but see that such a sum of money as we are willing to +pay for the island would affect it in the development of her vast +natural resources. + +Two-thirds of this sum, if employed in the construction of a +system of railroads, would ultimately prove a source of greater +wealth to the Spanish people than that opened to their vision by +Cortez. Their prosperity would date from the ratification of the +treaty of cession. + +France has already constructed continuous lines of railways from +Havre, Marseilles, Valenciennes, and Strasburg, via Paris, to the +Spanish frontier, and anxiously awaits the day when Spain shall +find herself in a condition to extend these roads through her +northern provinces to Madrid, Seville, Cadiz, Malaga, and the +frontiers of Portugal. + +This object once accomplished, Spain would become a center of +attraction for the traveling world, and secure a permanent and +profitable market for her various productions. Her fields, under +the stimulus given to industry by remunerating prices, would teem +with cereal grain, and her vineyards would bring forth a vastly +increased quantity of choice wines. Spain would speedily become +what a bountiful Providence intended she should be, one of the +first nations of continental Europe--rich, powerful and contented. + +Whilst two-thirds of the price of the island would be ample for +the completion of her most important public improvements, she +might with the remaining forty millions satisfy the demands now +pressing so heavily upon her credit, and create a sinking fund +which would gradually relieve her from the overwhelming debt now +paralyzing her energies. + +Such is her present wretched financial condition, that her best +bonds are sold upon her own bourse at about one-third of their par +value; whilst another class, on which she pays no interest, have +but a nominal value, and are quoted at about one-sixth of the +amount for which they were issued. Besides, these latter are held +principally by British creditors, who may, from day to day, obtain +the effective interposition of their own government for the +purpose of coercing payment. Intimations to that effect have +already been thrown out from high quarters, and unless some new +sources of revenue shall enable Spain to provide for such +exigencies, it is not improbable that they may be realized. + +Should Spain reject the present golden opportunity for developing +her resources and removing her financial embarrassments, it may +never again return. + +Cuba, in her palmiest days, never yielded her exchequer, after +deducting the expense of its government, a clear annual income of +more than a million and a half of dollars. These expenses have +increased to such a degree as to leave a deficit, chargeable on +the treasury of Spain, to the amount of six hundred thousand +dollars. + +In a pecuniary point of view, therefore, the island is an +encumbrance instead of a source of profit to the mother country. + +Under no probable circumstance can Cuba ever yield to Spain one +per cent, on the large amount which the United States are willing +to pay for its acquisition. But Spain is in imminent danger of +losing Cuba without remuneration. + +Extreme oppression, it is now universally admitted, justifies any +people in endeavoring to relieve themselves from the yoke of their +oppressors. The sufferings which corrupt, arbitrary and +unrelenting local administration necessarily entail upon the +inhabitants of Cuba cannot fail to stimulate and keep alive that +spirit of resistance and revolution against Spain which has of +late years been so often manifested. In this condition of affairs +it is vain to expect that the sympathies of the people of the +United States will not be warmly enlisted in favor of their +oppressed neighbors. + +We know that the President is justly inflexible in his +determination to execute the neutrality laws; but should the +Cubans themselves rise in revolt against the oppression which they +suffer, no human power could prevent citizens of the United States +and liberal-minded men of other countries from rushing to their +assistance. Besides, the present is an age of adventure in which +restless and daring spirits abound in every portion of the world. + +It is not improbable, therefore, that Cuba may be wrested from +Spain by a successful revolution; and in that event she will lose +both the island and the price which we are now willing to pay for +it--a price far beyond what was ever paid by one people to another +for any province. + +It may also be remarked that the settlement of this vexed +question, by the cession of Cuba to the United States, would +forever prevent the dangerous complications between nations to +which it may otherwise give birth. + +It is certain that, should the Cubans themselves organize an +insurrection against the Spanish government, and should other +independent nations come to the aid of Spain in the contest, no +human power could, in our opinion, prevent the people and +government of the United States from taking part in such a civil +war in support of their neighbors and friends. + +But if Spain, dead to the voice of her own interest, and actuated +by a stubborn pride and a false sense of honor, should refuse to +sell Cuba to the United States, then the question will arise, What +ought to be the course of the American government under such +circumstances? + +Self-preservation is the first law of nature with States as well +as with individuals. All nations have, at different periods, acted +upon this maxim. Although it has been made the pretext for +committing flagrant injustice, as in the partition of Poland and +other similar cases which history records, yet the principle +itself, though often abused, has always been recognized. + +The United States has never acquired a foot of territory except by +fair purchase, or, as in the case of Texas, upon the free and +voluntary application of the people of that independent State, who +desired to blend their destinies with our own. + +Even our acquisitions from Mexico are no exception to this rule +because, although we might have claimed them by right of conquest +in a just way, yet we purchased them for what was then considered +by both parties a full and ample equivalent. + +Our past history forbids that we should acquire the island of Cuba +without the consent of Spain, unless justified by the great law of +self-preservation. We must, in any event, preserve our own +conscious rectitude and our own self-respect. + +Whilst pursuing this course we can afford to disregard the +censures of the world, to which we have been so often and so +unjustly exposed. + +After we have offered Spain a fair price for Cuba, far beyond its +present value, and this shall have been refused, it will then be +time to consider the question, does Cuba, in the possession of +Spain, seriously endanger our internal peace and the existence of +our cherished Union? + +Should this question be answered in the affirmative, then, by +every law, human and divine, we shall be justified in wresting it +from Spain, if we possess the power; and this upon the very same +principle that would justify an individual in tearing down the +burning house of his neighbor if there were no other means of +preventing the flames from destroying his own home. + +Under such circumstances we ought neither to count the cost, nor +regard the odds which Spain might enlist against us. We forbear to +enter into the question, whether the present condition of the +island would justify such a measure. We should, however, be +recreant to our duty, be unworthy of our gallant forefathers, and +commit base treason against our posterity, should we permit Cuba +to be Africanized and become a second San Domingo, with all its +attendant horrors to the white race, and suffer the flames to +extend to our own neighboring shores, seriously to endanger, or +actually to consume, the fair fabric of our Union. + +We fear that the course and current of events are rapidly tending +toward such a catastrophe. We, however, hope for the best, though +we ought certainly to be prepared for the worst. + +We also forbear to investigate the present condition of the +questions at issue between the United States and Spain. A long +series of injuries to our people have been committed in Cuba by +Spanish officials, and are unredressed. But recently a most +flagrant outrage on the rights of American citizens, and on the +flag of the United States, was perpetrated in the harbor of Havana +under circumstances which, without immediate redress, would have +justified a resort to measures of war in vindication of national +honor. That outrage is not only unatoned, but the Spanish +government has deliberately sanctioned the acts of its +subordinates, and assumed the responsibility attaching to them. + +Nothing could more impressively teach us the danger to which those +peaceful relations it has ever been the policy of the United +States to cherish with foreign nations, are constantly exposed, +than the circumstances of that case. Situated as Spain and the +United States are, the latter has forborne to resort to extreme +measures. + +But this course cannot, with due regard to their own dignity as an +independent nation, continue; and our recommendations, now +submitted, are dictated by the firm belief that the cession of +Cuba to the United States, with stipulations as beneficial to +Spain as those suggested, is the only effective mode of settling +all past differences, and of securing the two countries against +future collisions. + +We have already witnessed the happy results for both countries +which followed a similar arrangement in regard to Florida. + +Yours, very respectfully, + +JAMES BUCHANAN. J. Y. MASON. PIERRE SOULE. + +HON. WM. L. MAECY, Secretary of State. + +Unfortunately for Cuba the suggestions offered by this commission +were not acted upon, although it is not probable that Spain, ever +blind to her own interests, would have admitted the justice or +reason of the argument, had the offer to purchase been made to +her. + + EXPORTS AND IMPORTS. + + A table showing the amount of trade between Cuba and Spain during + the year 1894 (the last authentic report), is instructive: + + + Importations in Cuba from Spain $ 7,492,622 + Exportation from Cuba to Spain $23,412,376 + ----------- + Difference in favor of export $15,919,754 + + +THE FUTURE OF COMMERCIAL CUBA. + +Under happier conditions, there can be no doubt that Cuba will +speedily attain a much higher state of commercial importance and +prosperity than it has yet enjoyed. Great as its productiveness +has been in the past, well-informed writers assert that proper +development of its resources will increase the value five-fold, +and a liberal system of government will enable it to take +advantage of its admirable position to gain greater prominence in +the commercial world. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +BEAUTIES OF A TROPICAL ISLAND. + +A Delightful Climate--Grand Scenic Surprises--The Caves of +Bellamar--The Valley of the Yumuri--Under Nature's Dome--Gorgeous +Sunsets--The Palm Tree Groves--The Home of Fruits and Flowers-- +The Zodiacal Light. + + +When the little island of Cuba, "The Pearl of the Antilles," was +assigned a place upon the terrestrial globe, Nature must have been +in her most generous mood. Certainly no land beneath the skies was +given a more perfect combination of mountains and rivers, forests +and plains. Situated within and near the border of the northern +tropical zone, the temperature of the low coast lands is that of +the torrid zone, but the high interior of the island enjoys a +delightful climate, and the verdure-clad hills, with the graceful +palm and cocoa tree clear against the pure blue sky, may be seen +at all seasons of the year. + +As in other countries on the borders of the tropics, the year is +divided between a hot and wet season, corresponding to the +northern declination of the sun, and a cool and dry period. The +months from the beginning of May to October are called the wet +season, though some rain falls in every month of the year. + +With May, spring begins in the island, rain and thunder are of +almost daily occurrence, and the temperature rises high, with +little daily variation. The period from November to April is +called the dry season by contrast. + +On a mean of seven years the rain-fall at Havana in the wet season +has been observed to be 27.8 inches, of the dry months, 12.7, or +40.5 inches for the year. + +July and August are the warmest months, and during this period the +average temperature at Havana is 82 F, fluctuating between a +maximum of 88 and a minimum of 76. In the cooler months of +December and January the thermometer averages 72, the maximum +being 78, and minimum 58. The average temperature of the year at +Havana on a mean of seven years is 77. + +But in the interior, at elevations of over 300 feet above the +level of the sea, the thermometer occasionally falls to the +freezing point in winter. Frost is not uncommon, and during north +winds, thin ice may form, though snow is unknown in any part of +the island. + +The prevailing wind is the easterly trade breeze, but from +November to February, cool north winds, rarely lasting more than +forty-eight hours, are experienced in the western part of the +island, to which they add a third seasonal change. Hurricanes may +occur from August to October, but they are rare and sometimes five +or six years pass without such a storm. + +GRAND SCENIC SURPRISES. + +Many "globe-trotters" who have never included this little corner +of the world in their itinerary, do not appreciate the fact that +nowhere under the sun can be found a more perfect climate, grander +mountain scenery, more charming valleys, more picturesque ruins, +and fertile fields than Cuba offers to their view. + +In another portion of this work will be found descriptions of the +cities of Cuba, and brief mention here of some of the beauties of +the country may not be amiss. + +One of the grandest bits of scenery in the known world is to be found in +the valley of the Yumuri, rivaling in sublimity the far-famed Lookout +Mountain view and the Yosemite of the Sierra Nevadas. The journey leads +over a winding trail, easily traversed by the native horses, up a steep +hill, until, after a continuous climb of an hour and a half, the road +turns around the edge of a grassy precipice, and the beautiful valley, +with its patches of green and gold, spreads away in the distance. The +little river of Yumuri winds its way through its flower-decked banks +until it reaches the bay beyond, while in the distance rise the mighty +mountains, clod in their coats of evergreen, and over all the fleecy +clouds, and the sky of azure blue. + +In this vicinity an opportunity is given the sight-seer to visit a +sugar house and gain an idea of the sugar-making process, though +on a very small scale, and enjoy a half an hour in the study of +the natives, and their home life. + +A traveler, in writing of this place, says: + +"Our interview with the little black 'ninos' was highly amusing. +On entering the court yard of the negro quarters, a dozen little +black imps, of all ages and sexes and sizes, perfectly naked, +rushed towards us, and crossing their arms upon their breasts, +fell upon their knees before us, and jabbered and muttered, out of +which could be distinguished, 'Master, master, give us thy +blessing,' which we interpreted to mean 'tin;' whereupon we +scattered sundry 'medios' among them! Hey! presto! what a change! +The little black devils fell over one another, fought, tugged, and +scrambled to secure a prize, while anyone who had been lucky +enough to obtain a coin, marched off in a state of dignified +delight, his distended little stomach going before him like a +small beer barrel, while the owner of it kept shouting out, +'Medio, yo tengo medio' (five cents, I have five cents)." + +THE CAVES OF BELLAMAR. + +One of the most interesting trips that can be made is to the +"Caves of Bellamar," which may be found about two and a half miles +southeast of the city of Matanzas. + +The journey takes the traveler up a winding and rugged road to the +top of a hill, where the "Cave house" is reached, a large frame +structure built over the entrance, and containing, among other +objects of interest, a large collection of beautiful crystal +formations found in the cave. + +Here the tourist enters his name in the visitors' register, pays +his dollar, and follows the boy guide down the stairs into the +cave. About one hundred and fifty feet from the entrance a small +bridge is crossed, and the "Gothic Temple" is reached. The only +light comes from a few scattered lanterns, and is consequently +very obscure, but one can see the millions of crystals, the +thousand weird forms, and realize that it is surpassingly +beautiful. The temple is about two hundred feet in length and +seventy feet in width, and while it does not equal in size or +solemn grandeur the temple of the same name in the Mammoth cave of +Kentucky, it greatly excels it in the richness and splendor of its +crystal formations and beautiful effects. + +The spectator possessed of strongly developed imaginative powers +cannot fail to feel himself in fairy land. From the gloomy corners +come gnomes and demons, and in the crystal shadows he sees sprites +and lovely fairies, keeping gay revel to dreamy airs, played on +invisible strings by spirit hands. + +One of the most beautiful objects in the cave is the "Fountain of +Snow," a name given to one of the great pillars, called by the +natives the "Cloak of the Virgin." Others are known as "Columbus +Mantle," "The Altar," and "The Guardian Spirit." + +"Who has not seen the Caves of Bellamar has not seen Cuba." + +UNDER NATURE'S DOME. + +One of the most vivid pieces of descriptive writing, referring to +the beauties of Cuban skies, is from the pen of James M. +Phillippo: + +"The splendor of the early dawn in Cuba, as in the tropical +islands in its vicinity, has been referred to. The whole sky is +often so resplendent that it is difficult to determine where the +orb of day will appear. Small fleecy clouds are often seen +floating on the north wind, and as they hover over the mountains +and meet the rays of the sun, are changed into liquid gold and a +hundred intensely beautiful dyes more splendid than the tints of +the rainbow. During the cooler months, the mornings are delightful +till about ten o'clock, the air soon after dawn becoming agreeably +elastic, and so transparent that distant objects appear as if +delineated upon the bright surface of the air; the scenery +everywhere, especially when viewed from an eminence, is +indescribably rich and glowing; the tops of the rising grounds and +the summits of the mountains are radiant with a flood of light, +while the vapor is seen creeping along the valleys, here +concealing the entrance to some beautiful glen, and there +wreathing itself fantastically around a tall spire or groves of +palm trees that mark the site of a populous village. + +"The finest and most gorgeous sunsets occur in the West Indian +Archipelago during the rainy seasons. The sky is then sublimely +mantled with gigantic masses of cloud, glowing with a thousand +gorgeous dyes, and seeming to collect at the close of day as +though to form a couch for the sun's repose. In these he sinks, +flooding them with glory, touching both heavens and earth with +gold and amber brightness long after he has flung his beams across +the other hemisphere, or perhaps half revealing himself through +gauze-like clouds, a crimson sphere, at once rayless and of +portentous size. + +"The azure arch, which by an optical illusion limits our view on +every side, seems here, and in the tropics generally, higher than +in England, even higher than in Italy. Here is seen, in a +perfection compared to which even Italian skies are vapid and +uninteresting, that pure, serene, boundless sky, that atmosphere +of clear blue, or vivid red, which so much contributes to enrich +the pencil of Claude Lorraine. The atmosphere of Cuba, as +everywhere within the tropics, except when the high winds prevail, +is so unpolluted, so thin, so elastic, so dry, so serene, and so +almost inconceivably transparent and brilliant, that every object +is distinct and clearly defined as if cut out of the clear blue +sky. All travelers agree in praising the calm depths of the +intensely blue and gloriously bright skies of inter-tropical +latitudes. In the temperate zone, it is estimated that about 1,000 +stars are visible to the naked eye at one time; but here, from the +increased elevation and wider extent of the vault, owing to the +clearness of the atmosphere, especially as seen from a high +mountain chain, the number is greatly augmented. If, however, +these luminaries may not be seen here in greater numbers, they +certainly shine with greater brilliancy. The different +constellations are indeed so greatly magnified as to give the +impression that the power of the eye is increased. Venus rises +like a little moon, and in the absence of the greater casts a +distinguishable shadow. + +"The Milky Way, which in the temperate zone has the appearance of +a luminous phosphorescent cloud, and, as is well known, derives +its brightness from the diffused light of myriads of stars +condensed into so small space that fifty thousand of them are +estimated to pass across the disc of the telescope in an hour, is +here seen divided into constellations, and the whole galaxy is of +so dazzling a whiteness as to make it resemble a pure flame of +silvery light thrown across the heavens, turning the atmosphere +into a kind of green transparency. Besides this, there are vast +masses of stellar nebulae of indefinite diversity and form, oval, +oblate, elliptical, as well as of different degrees of density, +diffused over the firmament, and discoverable through a common +telescope, all novel to an inhabitant of temperate climes, and +recalling the exclamation of the psalmist: 'The heavens declare +the glory of God, ... the firmament showeth forth His handiwork.' + + "'The stars + Are elder scripture, writ of God's own hand, + Scripture authentic, uncorrupt by man.' + +"An interesting phenomenon sometimes occurs here, as in other +islands of the West Indies, which was long supposed to be seen +only in the eastern hemisphere. A short time before sunrise or +sunset, a flush of strong, white light, like that of the Aurora +Borealis, extends from the horizon a considerable way up the +zenith, and so resembles the dawn as to prove greatly deceptive to +a stranger. As he watches the luminous track he sees it decrease +instead of becoming more vivid, and at length totally disappear, +leaving the heavens nearly as dark as previous to its appearance. +This is the zodiacal light." + + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +WEALTH FROM NATURE'S STORES IN THE FORESTS AND FIELDS OF CUBA. + +The Palm Tree, the Queen of the Cuban Forests--Sugar Cane and Its +Cultivation--The Tobacco Industry--Tropical Fruits and Flowers-- +Beauties of a Garden in Cuba--Enormous Shipments to Spain--The +Wealth of the Island. + + +The forests of Cuba are of vast extent, and so dense as to be +almost impenetrable. It is estimated that of about 20,000,000 +acres of land still remaining perfectly wild and uncultivated, +nearly 13,000,000 are uncleared forest. Mahogany and other hard +woods, such as the Cuban ebony, cedar, and granadilla, valuable +for manufactures, cabinet work and ship building are indigenous, +and are exported to a considerable extent. + +The palm is the queen of the Cuban forests and is its most +valuable tree. It grows in every part of the island, but +especially in the west, giving at once character and beauty to the +scenery. The royal palm is the most common variety, and frequently +grows to a height of one hundred and twenty feet, the branches +numbering from twenty to twenty-five, in the center of which are +the hearts or buds of the plant, elevating themselves +perpendicularly with needle-like points. + +This heart, enveloped in wrappers of tender white leaves, makes a +most delicious salad, and it is also boiled, like cauliflower, and +served with a delicate white sauce. The trunk of the palm is +composed of fibrous matter, which is stripped off and dried, +forming a narrow, thin board, which the natives use for the walls +of their cottages. The boughs are sometimes made to serve for +roofing, though palm leaves are usually used for this purpose, as +well as for the linings of the walls. "El yarey" is another +variety of the palm tree that is of great utility. From it the +native women make the palm leaf hats that are worn by almost all +the villagers and country people of Cuba. + +TROPICAL FRUITS IN ABUNDANCE. + +The fruits of Cuba are those common to the tropics. Bananas, +pineapples, oranges, lemons and bread-fruit all grow in abundance, +delicious to the taste and delightful to the eye. + +Richard Henry Dana, Jr., after returning from a vacation trip to +Cuba, wrote a charming description of a fruit garden that it was +his good fortune to visit there: + +"The garden contained a remarkable variety of trees, including +some thrifty exotics. Here the mango, with its peach-like foliage, +was bending on the ground with the weight of its ripening fruit; +the alligator pear was marvelously beautiful in its full blossom, +suggesting, in form and color, the passion flower; the soft, +delicate foliage of the tamarind was like our sensitive plant; the +banana trees were in full bearing, the deep green fruit (it is +ripened and turns yellow off the tree), being in clusters of a +hundred, more or less, tipped at the same time by a single, +pendent, glutinous bud, nearly as large as a pineapple. The date +palm, so suggestive of the far east, and the only one we had seen +in Cuba, was represented by a choice specimen, imported in its +youth. There was also the star-apple tree, remarkable for its +uniform and graceful shape, full of green fruit, with here and +there a ripening specimen; so, also, was the favorite zapota, its +rusty coated fruit hanging in tempting abundance. From low, broad +spreading trees depended the grape fruit, as large as an infant's +head and yellow as gold, while the orange, lime and lemon trees, +bearing blossoms, green and ripe fruit all together, met the eye +at every turn, and filled the garden with fragrance. The cocoanut +palm, with its tall, straight stem, and clustering fruit, +dominated all the rest. Guava, fig, custard apple, and bread-fruit +trees, all were in bearing. + +"Our hospitable host plucked freely of the choicest for the benefit of +his chance visitors. Was there ever such a fruit garden before, or +elsewhere? It told of fertility of soil and deliciousness of climate, of +care, judgment, and liberal expenditure, all of which combined had +turned these half a dozen acres of land into a Gan Eden. Through his +orchard of Hesperides, we were accompanied also by the proprietor's two +lovely children, under nine years of age, with such wealth of promise in +their large black eyes and sweet faces as to fix them on our memory with +photographic fidelity. Before leaving the garden we returned with our +intelligent host once more to examine his beautiful specimens of +bananas, which, with its sister fruit, the plantain, forms so important +a staple of fruit in Cuba and throughout all tropical regions. It seems +that the female banana tree bears more fruit than the male, but not so +large. The average clusters of the former comprise here about one +hundred, but the latter rarely bears over sixty or seventy distinct +specimens of the cucumber-shaped product. From the center of its large, +broad leaves, which gather at the top, when it has reached the height of +twelve or fifteen feet, there springs forth a large purple bud ten +inches long, shaped like a huge acorn, though more pointed. This cone +hangs suspended from a strong stem, upon which a leaf unfolds, +displaying a cluster of young fruit. As soon as these are large enough +to support the heat of the sun and the chill of the rain, this +sheltering leaf drops off, and another unfolds, exposing its little +brood of fruit; and so the process goes on, until six or eight rings of +young bananas are started, forming, as we have said, bunches numbering +from seventy to a hundred. The banana is a herbaceous plant, and after +fruiting, its top dies; but it annually sprouts up again fresh from the +roots. From the unripe fruit, dried in the sun, a palatable and +nutritious flour is made." + +THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY. + +Cuban tobacco is famous throughout the world, and is one of the +most profitable of all its products. Prior to 1791 the crop was +sent to the national factories in Spain, by the "Commercial +Company of Havana," under government contract, but during that +year the "Factoria de Tobacco" was established in Havana by the +government. The tobacco was classified as superior, medium and +inferior, and was received from the growers at fixed prices. In +1804 these were six, five and two and a half dollars per arrobe (a +Spanish unit of weight, subject to local variations, but averaging +about twenty-seven pounds avoirdupois). + +By comparing the different prices with the quantity of each class of +tobacco produced, we find that the "Factoria" paid an average price of +$16 per hundred pounds for the leaf tobacco. With the expense of +manufacture, the cigars cost the government seventy-five cents per +pound; snuff, fine grain and good color, forty-three cents, and common +soft, or Seville, nineteen cents a pound in Havana. In good years, when +the crop amounted to 350,000 arrobes of leaf, 128,000 arrobes were +manufactured for Spain, 80,000 for Havana, 9,200 for Peru, 6,000 for +Buenos Ayres, 2,240 for Mexico, and 1,100 for Caracas and Campeachy. + +In order to make up the amount of 315,000 arrobes, (for the crop +loses ten per cent. of its weight, in loss and damage in the +transportation and manufacture) we must suppose that 80,000 +arrobes were consumed in the interior of the island; that is, in +the country, where the royal monopoly did not extend. The +maintenance of 120 slaves and the expenses of manufacture did not +exceed $12,000 yearly; but the salaries of the officers of the +"Factoria" amounted to $541,000. The value of the 128,000 arrobes +of tobacco sent to Spain, in the abundant years, either in cigars, +leaf or snuff, at the customary prices there, exceeded the sum of +five million dollars. + +It is surprising to see in the returns of the exports from Havana +(documents published by the Consulado), that the exports for 1816 +were only 3,400 arrobes; for the year 1823, only 13,900 arrobes of +leaf tobacco; and in 1825 only 70,302 pounds of cigars and 167,100 +pounds of leaf tobacco and strips; but we must remember that no +branch of the contraband trade is more active than that in cigars. +The tobacco of the Vuelta de Abajo is the most celebrated, but +large quantities are exported which are produced in other parts of +the island. The cultivation of tobacco has been one of the most +uncertain branches of industry in Cuba. Trammeled by restrictions +and exactions, it was confined almost entirely to the poorer +classes of the population, who were enabled to raise a scanty and +uncertain crop through the advances of capital made them by the +"Factoria." Since the suppression of this monopoly, it has had to +contend with the more popular and profitable pursuit of sugar +planting, which has successfully competed with it for the +employment of the capital, skill and labor of the island. + +SUGAR CANE AND ITS CULTIVATION. + +Maturin Ballou, in his "Cuba Past and Present," published in 1885, +when the sugar industry was in its best days, writes an +interesting account of cane cultivation: + +"Sugar cane is cultivated like Indian corn, which it also +resembles in appearance. It is first planted in rows, not in +hills, and must be hoed and weeded until it gets high enough to +shade its roots. Then it may be left to itself until it reaches +maturity. This refers to the first laying out of a plantation, +which will afterwards continue fruitful for years, by very simple +processes of renewal. When thoroughly ripe the cane is of a light +golden yellow, streaked here and there with red. The top is dark +green, with long, narrow leaves depending, very much like those of +the corn stalk, from the center of which shoots upward a silvery +stem, a couple of feet in height, and from its tip grows a white +fringed plume of a delicate lilac hue. The effect of a large field +at its maturity, lying under a torrid sun, and gently yielding to +the breeze, is very fine, a picture to live in the memory ever +after. + +"In the competition between the products of beet-root sugar and +that from sugar cane, the former controls the market, because it +can be produced at a cheaper rate, besides which its production is +stimulated by nearly all of the European states, through the means +of liberal subsidies both to the farmer and to the manufacturer. +Beet sugar, however, does not possess so high a percentage of true +saccharine matter as the product of the cane, the latter seeming +to be nature's most direct mode of supplying us with the article. +The Cuban planters have one advantage over all other sugar-cane +producing countries, in the great and inexhaustible fertility of +the soil of the island. For instance, one or two hogsheads of +sugar to the acre is considered a good yield in Jamaica, but in +Cuba three hogsheads are the average. Fertilizing of any sort is +rarely employed in the cane fields, while in beet farming it is +the principal agent of success. Though the modern machinery, as +lately adopted on the plantations, is very expensive, still the +result achieved by it is so much superior to that of the old +methods of manufacture, that the small planters are being driven +from the market. Slave labor cannot compete with machinery. The +low price of sugar renders economy imperative in all branches of +the business, in order to leave a margin for profit. + +"A planter informed the author that he should spread all of his +molasses upon the cane fields this year as a fertilizer, rather +than send it to a distant market and receive only what it cost. He +further said that thousands of acres of sugar cane would be +allowed to rot in the fields this season, as it would cost more to +cut, grind, pack and send it to market than could be realized for +the manufactured article. Had the price of sugar remained this +year at a figure which would afford the planters a fair profit, it +might have been the means of tiding over the chasm of bankruptcy +which has long stared them in the face, and upon the brink of +which they now stand. But with a more than average crop, both as +to quantity and quality, whether to gather it or not is a problem. +Under these circumstances it is difficult to say what is to +become, financially, of the people of Cuba. Sugar is their great +staple, but all business has been equally suppressed upon the +island, under the bane of civil laws, extortionate taxation, and +oppressive rule. + +"The sugar cane yields but one crop a year. There are several +varieties, but the Otaheitan seems to be the most generally +cultivated. Between the time when enough of the cane is ripe to +warrant the getting up of steam at the grinding mill, and the time +when the heat and the rain spoils its qualities, all the sugar for +the season must be made, hence the necessity for great industry on +large estates. In Louisiana the grinding lasts but about eight +weeks. In Cuba it continues four months. In analyzing the sugar +produced on the island, and comparing it with that of the main +land, the growth of Louisiana, chemists could find no difference +as to the quality of the true saccharine principle contained in +each. + +"The great sugar estates lie in the Vueltra Arriba, the region of +the famous red earth. The face of this region smiles with +prosperity. In every direction the traveler rides astonished +through a garden of plenty, equally impressed by the magnificent +extent, and the profuse fertility of the estates, whose palm +avenues, plantain orchards, and cane fields succeed each other in +almost unbroken succession. So productive are the estates, and so +steady is the demand for the planter's crop, that the great sugar +planters are, in truth, princes of agriculture. + +"The imposing scale of operations on a great plantation, imparts a +character of barbaric regal state to the life one leads there. +Looking at them simply as an entertainment, the mills of these +great sugar estates are not incongruous with the easy delight of +the place. Everything is open and airy, and the processes of the +beautiful steam machinery go on without the odors as without the +noises that make most manufactories odious. In the centrifugal +process of sugar making, the molasses passes into a large vat, by +the side of which is a row of double cylinders, the outer one of +solid metal, the inner of wire gauze. These cylinders revolve each +on an axis attached by a horizontal wheel and band to a shaft +which communicates with the central engine. The molasses is ladled +out into the spaces between the external and internal cylinders, +and the axes are set in motion at the rate of nineteen hundred +revolutions a minute. For three minutes you see only a white +indistinct whirling, then the motion is arrested, slowly and more +slowly the cylinders revolve, then stop, and behold! the whole +inner surface of the inner cylinder is covered with beautiful +crystallizations of a light yellow sugar. Watching this ingenious +process, I used to fancy that somewhat in this wise might the +nebulae of space be slowly fashioning into worlds." + +HOW CUBA HAS BEEN ROBBED BY SPAIN. + +Some knowledge of the enormous wealth that has accrued to Spain +from her Cuban possessions may be gained from the following +quotation from "Cuba and the Cubans," published in New York in +1850 by Raimundo Cabrera: + +"Oh, we are truly rich! + +"From 1812 to 1826, Cuba, with her own resources, covered the +expenditures of the treasury. Our opulence dates from that period. +We had already sufficient negro slaves to cut down our virgin +forests, and ample authority to force them to work ... + +"By means of our vices and our luxury, and in spite of the hatred +of everything Spanish, which Moreno attributed to us, we sent, in +1827, the first little million of hard cash to the treasury of the +nation. From that time until 1864 we continued to send yearly to +the mother country two millions and a half of the same stuff. +According to several Spanish statisticians, these sums amounted, +in 1864, to $89,107,287. We were very rich, don't you see? +tremendously rich. We contributed more than five million dollars +towards the requirements of the Peninsular--$5,372,205. We paid, +in great part, the cost of the war in Africa. The individual +donations alone amounting to fabulous sums. + +"But of course we have never voted for our own imposts; they have +been forced upon us because we are so rich. In 1862, we had in a +state of production the following estates: 2,712 stock farms, +1,521 sugar plantations, 782 coffee plantations, 6,175 cattle +ranches, 18 cocoa plantations, 35 cotton plantations, 22,748, +produce farms, 11,737 truck farms, 11,541 tobacco plantations, +1,731 apiaries, 153 country resorts, 243 distilleries, 468 tile +works, 504 lime kilns, 63 charcoal furnaces, 54 cassava-bread +factories, and 61 tanneries. To-day I do not know what we possess, +because there are no statistics, and because the recently +organized assessment is a hodge podge and a new burden; but we +have more than at that time; surely we must have a great deal +more. + +"For a very long time we have borne the expenses of the convict +settlement of Fernando Po. We paid for the ill-starred Mexican +expedition, the costs of the war in San Domingo, and with the +republics of the Pacific. How can we possibly be poor? While +England, France and Holland appropriate large sums for the +requirements of their colonies, Spain does not contribute a single +cent for hers. We do not need it, we are wading deep in rivers of +gold. If the fertility of our soil did not come to our rescue, we +must, perforce, have become enriched by the system of protection +to the commerce of the mother country. ... The four columns of the +tariff are indeed a sublime invention.. Our agricultural +industries require foreign machinery, tools and utensils, which +Spain does not supply, but, as she knows that we have gold to +spare, she may make us pay for them very high. And since our sugar +is to be sold to the United States .. never mind what they cost. +When there are earthquakes in Andalusia and inundations in Murcia, +hatred does not prevent us from sending to our afflicted brethren +large sums ... (which sometimes fail to reach their destination.) + +"We are opulent? Let us see if we are. From the earliest times +down to the present, the officials who come to Cuba, amass, in the +briefest space of time, fortunes, to be dissipated in Madrid, and +which appear never to disturb their consciences. This country is +very rich, incalculably rich. In 1830 we contributed $6,120,934; +in 1840, $9,605,877; in 1850, $10,074,677; in 1860, $29,610,779. +During the war we did not merely contribute, we bled. We had to +carry the budget of $82,000,000. + +"We count 1,500,000 inhabitants, that is to say, one million and a +half of vicious, voluptuous, pompous spendthrifts, full of hatred +and low passions, who contribute to the public charges, and never +receive a cent in exchange, who have given as much as $92 per +capita, and who at the present moment pay to the state what no +other taxpayers the world over have ever contributed. Does anyone +say that we are not prodigiously, enviably rich?" + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE CUBANS, AND HOW THEY LIVE. + +Life in the Rural Districts--A Cuban Bill of Fare--The Amusements +of the Country People--Sports of the Carnival--Native Dances--An +Island Farm--Fruit Used for Bread--Cattle Ranches and Stock Farms +--Population of the Island--Education and Religion--Railways and +Steamship Lines. + + +The traveler from the north, landing for the first time on Cuban +shores, will discover his greatest delight in the radical changes +he finds from everything he has been accustomed to in his own +land. If he has read Prescott and Irving, he knows something of +Castilian manners and customs in theory, but as the peculiarities +of the people, their home life, their amusements, their religious +observances, and their business methods are brought before him in +reality, he is impressed with the constant charm of novelty. + +In times of peace, the native of Cuban soil in the rural districts knows +nothing of the struggle for existence which faces the majority of +mankind in colder climes. He "toils not, neither does he spin," for the +reason that nature provides so freely that very little exertion is +necessary to secure her gifts. Occasionally he may plow, or sow a little +grain, or even pick fruit, but, as a rule, he leaves the labor to the +negroes. If he lives on a main-traveled road, he may possibly provide +entertainment for man and beast, where he delights in gossiping with all +who come his way, and is ready to drink whenever invited. Neither does +his raiment possess the glory of Solomon's, for it generally consists of +a pair of loose trousers, belted with a leather band, a linen shirt of +brilliant hue, frequently worn outside his pantaloons, a silk +handkerchief fastened about his head, a palm-leaf hat, and bare feet +encased in leather slippers. + +He is astute, though frank, boastful, though brave, and +superstitious, if not religious. Gambling is his chief delight, +and his fighting cocks receive more attention than his wife and +family. + +His better half is more reserved than her lord, especially with +strangers. She is an adept horse-woman, though she sometimes +shares the animal's back with her husband, riding in front of him, +almost on the neck of the horse. Her dress is the acme of +simplicity (sometimes rather too simple to suit conventional +ideas), and consists of a loose frock, and a handkerchief tied +around her neck. Like her husband she dispenses with stockings, +except on occasions of ceremony. Her pride is her hair, on which +she bestows a great deal of attention, and she delights in +displaying it at every possible opportunity. + +A CUBAN BILL OF FARE. + +The mode of life among the people of these rural districts is +entirely unlike that of the residents of the cities. This +difference extends even to their food and the manner of preparing +it. In the populous centers, especially among the better classes, +the table service is of the French mode, but among the country +people will be found the real Cuban cuisine. + +The morning meal usually consists of fried pork, of which they are +very fond, boiled rice, and roasted plantain, which serves them +for bread. Beef, birds or roast pork are served for dinner, +together with plantains and a stew composed of fresh meat, dried +meat, green plantains, and all kinds of vegetables. These are +cooked in a broth, thickened with a farinaceous root called +malanga, and flavored with lemon juice. Rice is a staple article +of diet, and no meal is complete without it. + +RURAL AMUSEMENTS. + +It is not in gastronomy alone that the Cubans of the country +districts differ from their city cousins. They have their special +amusements, some of which seem cruel to people of refinement, but +it may be said in their defense that football is not a popular +game on the island. + +Cock fighting is the national sport, and men, women and children +will wager their last possession on the result of an encounter +between chickens of fighting blood. The goose fight is another +cruel sport. Two poles are placed in the ground, with a rope +stretched between them, on which a live goose is hung with its +feet securely tied, and its head thoroughly greased. The +contestants are on horseback, and ride at full speed past the +goose, endeavoring to seize its head and separate it from the body +as they pass. The fowl usually dies before the efforts are +successful, but the rider who finally succeeds in the noble +endeavor gains the glory and the prize. + +There is a patron saint for every village, for whom there is a +feast day, which is celebrated by masses at the church, and +afterwards by games and dances. A procession is always arranged on +this day, in which a little girl, dressed as an image, rides in a +wagon, decorated with banners and flowers. Men in costumes of +Indians lead the way, followed by others clad as Moors. A band is +a necessary adjunct, and bringing up the rear are the inhabitants, +marching and singing to the music of the band. When the church is +reached, the people gather about the child, and she recites a +composition written for the occasion. + +During carnival time, processions of mountebanks, cavaliers, +dressed as knights of old, on horses splendidly adorned, races, +masques, balls and all manner of revelries are indulged in. + +Dancing is a universal accomplishment, in which the young and old +find enjoyment in all places and at all seasons. The Zapato, a +dance peculiar to Cuba, is performed to the music of the guitar, +accompanied by the voices of the dancers. It consists of fantastic +posings, fancy marches, and graceful figures, and resembles in +some details the "cake walks" of the negroes of our own country. + +AN ISLAND FARM. + +In the neighborhood of the larger cities are hundreds of +"Estancias," which correspond to what are known as market gardens +in the United States. These farms usually consist of less than a +hundred acres each, and on them are raised vegetables, chickens, +small fruits and other table delicacies, for the city trade. +Properly looked after, this business might be one of great profit, +but the land is, as a rule, cultivated by tenants, who pay a +rental of about five dollars per acre a year, and who are too +indolent to give it the care necessary to gain lucrative returns. + +The principal vegetable raised on these farms is the sweet potato, +of which there are two varieties, the yellow and the white. The +soil and the climate are not favorable to the cultivation of the +Irish potato, and it is necessary to import this luxury, which +accounts for the fact that they are seldom seen outside the +cities. + +Plantains are raised in large quantities. This product is to the +Cuban what bread is to us, and may be characterized as the +standard article of food. Though less nutritious than wheat or +potatoes, it is produced in vastly larger quantities from the same +area, and with far less effort. It closely resembles the banana, +and is in fact often regarded as a variety of that fruit. A +fanciful name for it among the natives is "Adam's apple," and the +story is that it was the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden. + +On a number of these places the business of farming has been +entirely abandoned, and kilns built, where the burning of lime is +carried on extensively. + +CATTLE RANCHES AND STOCK FARMS. + +The raising of cattle is one of the important industries of Cuba, +and as it costs comparatively nothing to fit the stock for the +market, handsome profits are realized. Herds of vast numbers roam +over the prairies, receiving no attention from their owners, and +are sold without any preliminary fattening. Fabulous prices are +received for the fierce bulls which are used for the bull fights +in the cities, and the breeding of these animals brings large +returns. + +Hides are one of the principal exports of the island, and bone +black, prepared from the bones, is sold in immense quantities to +the sugar-makers, for use in the manufacture of that article. + +The finest horses raised in Cuba come from Puerto Principe, and +magnificent specimens of the noble animal they are. They are noted +for their powers of endurance, and can journey day after day, +covering sixty to seventy miles, at an easy gait, without showing +signs of fatigue. As horses were unknown to the original +inhabitants of the island, it is supposed that the Cuban horse of +to-day comes from Spanish stock, and the fact that it differs so +greatly from those animals, both in appearance and quality, is +explained by the changed climatic conditions in its breeding. +Whatever its origin may be, it is certain that there are no finer +specimens of horse flesh than are to be found in Cuba, and the +natives take great care of them, almost regarding them as +belonging to the family. Like the Irishman who "kept his pig in +the parlor," the Cuban often stables his horse in a room of his +house. + +PECULIAR FUNERAL CEREMONIES. + +One of the strangest customs that is likely to be observed by the +tourist in the interior sections, is the ceremony attendant on the +burial of the dead. First come small boys, with white linen gowns +over their clothes, short enough to display their ragged trousers +and dirty shoes. A boy in the center bears a tall pole, upon the +top of which is a silver cross, partially draped, while each of +the other boys carries a tall candlestick. + +Behind them comes the priest, in shabby attire, in one hand his +prayer book, from which he is chanting from time to time, while in +the other hand, the sun being hot, he carries an umbrella. +Following him, a venerable old man comes tottering along, +personating the acolyth, the bell-ringer, the sacristan, or other +church dignitary, as may be necessary, croning out in his dreary +voice, as he swings the burning censor, the second to the chants +of the priest. The coffin then makes its appearance, made of rough +boards, but covered with black paper muslin, and borne upon the +shoulders of four villagers, a crowd of whom, all uncovered, bring +up the rear. + +Here, as in all other Catholic countries, the spectators uncover +their heads at the passing of a funeral cortege. At the church are +ceremonies of reading prayers, burning candles, and sprinkling the +coffin with holy water, after which the priest goes his way, and +the procession takes up its line of march for the newly-made +grave, in the dilapidated and neglected cemetery, where the coffin +is deposited without further ceremony. No females are present +during the whole affair. + +A family in mourning in Cuba, not only dress in dark clothes, upon +which there is no luster, but they keep the windows of the house +shut for six months. In fact, by an ordinance of the government, +it is now prohibited to display the corpse to the public through +the open windows, as was formerly done, both windows and doors +being now required to be shut. + +AN HOSPITABLE PEOPLE. + +The Cuban of the better class is noted for his hospitality. His +door is always open to receive whomsoever calls, be he +acquaintance, friend or stranger. There is a place at his table +for the visitor at all times, without money and without price, and +no one having the slightest claim to courtesy of this kind need +hesitate to accept the invitation. There is little travel or +communication on the island, so even if the guest be an entire +stranger, his host will feel amply repaid for his hospitality by +the news the traveler brings from the outside world. There is a +good old custom among the Danes, that when the first toast is +drunk, it is to the roof of the house which covers everyone in it, +meaning thereby it is all one family. This same custom might +appropriately be kept up amongst the Cuban planters, for when one +takes his seat at the table, he is immediately installed as one of +the family circle. + +EDUCATION AND RELIGION. + +Education is woefully backward on the island. In the absence of +recent statistics it is estimated that not one-tenth of the +children receive lettered education of any kind, and even among +the higher classes of society, liberal education is very far from +being universally diffused. A few literary and scientific men are +to be found both in the higher and middle ranks, and previous to +the revolution, the question of public instruction excited some +interest among the creole population. + +At Havana is the royal university with a rector and thirty +professors, and medical and law schools, as well as an institution +called the Royal College of Havana. There is a similar +establishment at Puerto Principe, in the eastern interior, and +both at Havana and Santiago de Cuba there is a college in which +the branches of ecclesiastical education are taught, together with +the humanities and philosophy. Besides this there are several +private schools, but these are not accessible to the masses. The +inhabitants can scarcely be said to have any literature, a few +daily and weekly journals, under a rigid censorship, supply almost +all the taste for letters in the island. + +To show how little liberty of opinion the newspapers of Cuba +enjoy, we quote a decree issued by General Weyler, formerly +Captain-General of the island: + +Don Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau, Marquis of Tenerife, governor-general, +captain-general of the Island of Cuba, and general-in-chief of this +army. + +Under the authority of the law of public order, dated the 23rd of +April, 1870. + +I Order and Command, + +1st. No newspaper shall publish any news concerning the war which +is not authorized by the staff officers. + +2nd. Neither shall be published any telegraphic communications of +a political character without the authority given by the secretary +of the governor general in Havana, or by the civil officers in the +other provinces. + +3rd. It is hereby forbidden to publish any editorials, or other +articles or illustrations, which may directly or indirectly tend +to lessen the prestige of the mother-country, the army, or the +authorities, or to exaggerate the forces and the importance of the +insurrection, or in any way to favor the latter, or to cause +unfounded alarm, or excite the feelings of the people. + +4th. The infractions of this decree, not included in Articles +first and sixth of the decree of February 16th last, will make the +offenders liable to the penalties named in Article 36, of the law +of the 23rd of April, 1870. + +5th. All persons referred to in Article 14 of the Penal Code of +the Peninsula, which is in force in this Island, will be held +responsible for said infractions in the same order as established +by the said Article. + +6th. Whenever a newspaper has twice incurred the penalty of said +offense, and shall give cause for a third penalty, it may be then +suppressed. + +7th. The civil governors are in charge of the fulfillment of this +decree, and against their resolutions, which must be always well +founded, the interested parties may appeal within twenty-four +hours following their notification. + +VALERIANO WEYLER. + +Havana, April 27, 1896. + +POPULATION OF THE ISLAND. + +Conflicting accounts render it impossible to arrive at anything +like a certainty as to the number of inhabitants in Cuba at the +time of its conquest, but it may be estimated at from 300,000 to +400,000. There is but little doubt, however, that before 1560 the +whole of this population had disappeared from the island. The +first census was taken in 1774, when the population was 171,620. +In 1791 it was 272,300. + +Owing to the disturbed condition of the island, no census of the +inhabitants has been taken since that of 1887, when the total +population was 1,631,687. Of this number, 1,111,303 were whites, +and 520,684 were of negro blood. These figures make questionable +the claim that the war for liberty is simply an insurrection of +the colored against the Caucasian race. + + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +HAVANA, THE METROPOLIS OF THE ISLAND. + +Havana and Its Attractions for Tourists--How to Reach Cuba-- +Description of the Harbor of Havana--How the Proverbial +Unhealthfulness of the City May Be Remedied--Characteristics of +the Business Quarter--Residences and How the People Live--Parks +and Boulevards--Other Features of Life in the City. + + +In spite of the little encouragement which American tourists have +had for visiting the city of Havana, for many years it has been a +popular place of resort for the few who have tried it or have been +recommended to it by their friends. With the attractions it has +had during Spanish administration, when an air of constraint and +suspicion marked the intercourse with every American, it will not +be surprising if under changed auspices and in an atmosphere of +genuine freedom, Americans will find it one of the most delightful +and easily accessible places possible for them to visit. It is not +all pleasant, but the unpleasant things are sometimes quite as +interesting as the pleasant ones. If the traveler forms his +judgments according to the actual comforts he may obtain, he will +be pleased from beginning to end of his stay. If the measure of +his good opinion is whether or not things are like those to which +he is accustomed, he will be disappointed, because novelty reigns. +But novelty does not necessarily mean discomfort. + +Havana may be reached by a sea voyage of three or four days from +New York, on any one of several excellent steamers under the +American flag, and even in winter the latter portion of the voyage +will be a pleasant feature of the journey. Or the path of the +American invading squadron may be followed, and the traveler, +after passing through Florida by rail, may journey from Tampa by +the mail steamers, and touching at Key West for a few hours, reach +Havana after a voyage of two nights and a day. + +The Florida straits, between Cuba and the Florida keys, which were +the scene of the first hostilities of the war, are but ninety +miles wide, and the voyage is made from Key West in a few hours. +The current of the gulf stream makes the channel a trifle +reminiscent of the English channel, but once under the lee of the +Cuban coast the water is still and the harbor of the old city +offers shelter. + +In the days before the war, Morro Castle had an added interest to +the traveler from the fact that behind its frowning guns and under +the rocks on which it was built, were the cells of scores of sad +prisoners, some of them for years in the dungeons, whose walls +could tell secrets like those of the inquisition in Spain if they +could but speak. Between Morro Castle and its neighbor across the +way, La Punta, the vessels steam into that bay, foul with four +hundred years of Spanish misrule and filth, where three hundred +years of the slave trade centered, and into which the sewers of a +great city poured their filth. Once inside the harbor, Cabana +Castle frowns from the hills behind Morro, and on the opposite +shore rise the buildings of the city itself. + +The harbor always has been a busy one, for the commerce of the +island and of the city has been large. In times of peace, scores +of vessels lie at anchor in the murky waters. The American +anchorage for mail steamers for years has been in the extremest +part of the bay from the city of Havana itself, in order to avoid +the contagion which was threatened by a nearer anchorage. Until +the Maine was guided to her ill-fated station by the harbor +master, it had been long since any American vessel had stopped in +that part of the harbor. + +PERFECT SANITARY CONDITION EASILY CREATED. + +The shallow harbor of Havana has its entrance from the ocean +through a channel hardly more than three hundred yards wide, and +nearly half a mile long, after which it broadens and ramifies +until its area becomes several square miles. No fresh water +stream, large or small, flows into it to purify the waters. The +harbor entrance is so narrow, and the tides along that coast have +so little rise and fall, that the level of water in the harbor +hardly shows perceptible change day after day. + +The result of this is that the constant inflow of sewage from the +great city pouring into the harbor is never diluted, and through +the summer is simply a festering mass of corruption, fronting the +whole sea wall and throwing a stench into the air which must be +breathed by everyone on shipboard. There is one part of the harbor +known as "dead man's hole," from which it is said no ship has ever +sailed after an anchorage of more than one day, without bearing +the infection of yellow fever among its crew. + +Along the shores of this very harbor are great warehouses for the +sugar and tobacco shipped into the United States by the thousands +of tons every year. To preserve our national health, our +government has maintained an expensive marine hospital service and +quarantine system along our southern ports which trade with +Havana, in addition to supporting a marine hospital service under +the eminent Dr. Burgess in Havana itself. To the rigid enforcement +of this system, and the untiring vigilance of Dr. Burgess, must be +credited the immunity which the United States has had from annual +epidemics of yellow fever and smallpox. + +The guilt of Spain in permitting this shocking condition to +continue, cannot in any way be palliated. For four hundred years +she has had sway in the island, free to work her own will, and +drawing millions of dollars of surplus revenue out of the grinding +taxes she has imposed. The installation of a sanitary system of +sewage, which should discharge into the open sea instead of into +this cesspool which lies at the city's feet, would have been the +first solution of the difficulty. The threat of danger would have +been finally averted by the expenditure of a few hundred thousand +dollars, which would open a channel from the further extremity of +the harbor to the ocean eastward. The distance is but a few miles +and the engineering problem a simple one. This and the +construction of a jetty northwestward from the point on which +Morro Castle stands, would divert a portion of the current of the +noble gulf stream into the harbor entrance, and the foul pond of +to-day would be scoured of its filth by a perennial flood which +could never fail. + +Vera Cruz, on the Mexican coast, has proven that it is possible to +exterminate yellow fever, and it is a duty owed to civilization +that Havana shall follow along the same path. If all other excuses +were to be ignored, the United States for years has had ample +cause for intervention in Cuban affairs, as a measure of safety to +the health of her own citizens, as truly as one man may complain +to the authorities if his neighbor maintains a nuisance in the +adjoining yard. + +THE BUSINESS QUARTERS OF HAVANA. + +Once anchored in the safest place in the harbor, the mail steamers +are surrounded without delay by a fleet of peculiar boats of a +sort seen only in the bay of Havana. For a bit of silver, the +traveler is taken ashore, the journey to the landing stage being a +matter of but a few moments. The journey through the custom house +is not a formidable one, for unless there is suspicion of some +contraband goods, the customs officers are not exacting upon +travelers. At the door of the custom house, or aduana, wait the +cabs, which are cheaper in Havana than in any other city of the +new world, and they serve as a conveyance to the hotels, which are +all grouped in the same neighborhood. + +The streets through which the traveler passes are picturesque, but +hardly practical, from the American point of view. Some of them +are so narrow that carriages cannot pass, and all traffic must go +in one direction. Nearly all of the business streets have awnings +extending from one side to the other, between the roofs, as a +protection from the tropic sun. The sidewalks on some of the most +pretentious streets are not wide enough for three persons to walk +abreast, and on others two cannot pass. On every hand one gets the +impression of antiquity, and antiquity even greater than the four +hundred years of Spanish occupancy actually measures. Spanish +architecture, however modern it may be, sometimes adds to that +impression and one might believe himself, with little stretch of +the imagination, to be in one of the ancient cities of the old +world. + +The streets are paved with blocks of granite and other stone, +roughly cut and consequently exceedingly noisy, but upon these +narrow streets front some shops as fine as one might expect to +discover in New York or Paris. It is true that they are not large, +but they do not need to be, for nearly all are devoted to +specialties, instead of carrying stocks of goods of the American +diversity. The one who wants to shop will not lack for +temptations. The selection is ample in any line that may be named, +the styles are modern and in exquisite taste, and altogether the +shops are a considerable surprise to one who judges them first +from the exterior. Stores devoted exclusively to fans, parasols, +gloves, laces, jewels, bronzes, silks and the beautiful cloth of +pineapple fiber known as nipe cloth, are an indication of the +variety that may be found. The shoes and other articles of men's +and women's clothing are nearly all direct importations from +Paris, and where Parisian styles dominate one may be assured that +the selection is not a scanty one. Clerks are courteous even to +the traditional point of Castilian obsequiousness, and altogether +a shopping expedition along this Obispo street is an experience to +be remembered with pleasure. + +HAVANA HOMES. + +You notice that everything is made to serve comfort and coolness. +Instead of having panes of glass, the windows are open and guarded +by light iron railings, and the heavy wooden doors are left ajar. +You see into many houses as you pass along, and very cool and +clean they look. There are marble floors, cane-seated chairs and +lounges, thin lace curtains, and glimpses of courts in the center +of each building, often with green plants or gaudy flowers growing +in them between the parlor and the kitchen. + +You find much the same plan at your hotel. You may walk in at the +doors or the dining room windows just as you please, for the sides +of the house seem capable of being all thrown open; while in the +center of the building you see the blue sky overhead. Equally cool +do all the inhabitants appear to be, and the wise man who consults +his own comfort will do well to follow the general example. Even +the soldiers wear straw hats. The gentlemen are clad in underwear +of silk or lisle thread and suits of linen, drill or silk, and the +ladies are equally coolly apparelled. + +Havana is a dressy place, and you will be astonished at the +neatness and style to which the tissue-like goods worn there are +made to conform. + +But come and see the apartment you are to rest in every night. Ten +to one the ceiling is higher than you ever saw one in a private +house, and the huge windows open upon a balcony overlooking a +verdant plaza. The floor is of marble or tiling, and the bed is an +ornate iron or brass affair, with a tightly stretched sheet of +canvas or fine wire netting in place of the mattress you are used +to. You could not sleep on a mattress with any proper degree of +comfort in the tropics. There is a canopy with curtains overhead, +and everything about the room is pretty certain to be scrupulously +clean. Conspicuous there and everywhere else that you go is a +rocking chair. Rocking chairs are to be found in the houses, and +in regiments in the clubs. + +Havana is the metropolis of the West Indies. It has more life and +bustle than all the rest of the archipelago put together. If you +are German, English, Scotch, Dutch, American, French or whatever +you are, you will find fellow countrymen among its 250,000 souls. +There is a public spirit there which is rare in these climes. The +theaters astonish you by their size and elegance. The aristocratic +club is the Union, but the popular one is the Casino Espanol, +whose club house is a marvel of tropical elegance and beauty. +Nearly all these attractions are on or near the broad, shady and +imposing thoroughfare, the Prado--a succession of parks leading +from the water opposite Morro Castle almost across the city. + +In one or another of these parks a military band plays on three +evenings of the week, and the scene on such occasions is wholly +new to English eyes. It is at such times that one may see the +beautiful Spanish and Cuban women. They do not leave their houses +in the heat of the day unless something requires them to do so, +and when they do they remain in their carriages, and are +accompanied by a servant or an elderly companion. So strict is the +privacy with which they are surrounded that you shall see them +shopping without quitting their carriages, waited on by the +clerks, who bring the goods out to the vehicles. + +But when there is music under the laurels or palms the senoritas, +in their light draperies, and wearing nothing on their heads save +the picturesque mantilla of Old Spain, assemble on the paths, the +seats, the sidewalks and in their carriages, and there the +masculine element repairs and is very gallant, indeed. + +Here you will listen to the dreamy melody of these latitudes, +Spanish love songs and Cuban waltzes so softly pretty that you +wonder all the world does not sing and play them. On other nights +the walk or drive along the Prado is very interesting. You pass +some of the most elegant of the houses, and notice that they are +two stories high, and that the family apartments are on the upper +stories, so that you miss the furtive views of the families at +meals and of the ladies reclining in the broad-tiled window sills +that you have in the older one-story sections of the city. + + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE CITIES OF CUBA. + +The Harbor of Matanzas--Sports of the Carnival--Santiago de Cuba +and Its Beautiful Bay--Cardinas, the Commercial Center--Enormous +Exports of Sugar--The Beauties of Trinidad--Other Cities of +Importance. + + +The city of Havana may be said to stand in the same relation to +Cuba that Paris does to France, for in it are centered the +culture, the refinement, and the wealth of the island, but there +are several other towns of considerable importance, and many of +them have become places of interest since the struggle for liberty +has attracted the attention of the civilized world. + +Chief among these is Matanzas. This city, with a normal population +of about 60,000, is situated fifty miles east of Havana, with +which it is connected by rail and water. Its shipping interests +are second only to those of the capital, as it is the outlet of +many of the richest agricultural districts of the island. + +The city is situated on the flats on both sides of the San Juan +river, which brings down large quantities of mud and greatly +impedes inland navigation. As an offset the bay is spacious, easy +of access and sheltered from the violent gulf storms which prevail +at some seasons. This makes the port a favorite with marine men. A +large amount of money has been spent by the government to fortify +and protect the city, and it has been connected by rail with all +the principal towns and producing centers of the provinces. Thus +it is a particularly favorite port of entry for all the supplies +required in the plantations--food staples and machinery. Its +exports consist principally of sugar, coffee, molasses, tobacco, +honey, wax and fruits. + +The city is built principally of masonry and in a most substantial +manner, though little effort has been made to secure architectural +beauty. The pride of the city is the new theater, which is pointed +out as the handsomest building in Cuba. The Empresa Academy also +takes rank equal with any for the excellence of its educational +facilities. + +There is no more charming spot in Cuba than Matanzas. The bay is +like a crescent in shape, and receives the waters of the Yumuri +and Matanzas rivers, two small unnavigable streams. A high bridge +separates them. On this ridge back of the town stands a cathedral +dedicated to the black virgin. It is a reproduction of a cathedral +in the Balearic Islands. The view from its steeple is magnificent. +Looking backward the valley of the Yumuri stretches to the right. +It is about ten miles wide and sixty miles long, dotted with +palms, and as level as a barn floor. The Yumuri breaks through the +mountains near Matanzas bay something like the Arkansas river at +Canon City. Carpeted with living green and surrounded with +mountains this valley is one of the gems of Cuba. + +About ten miles from Matanzas, on the left of the road, stand what +are known as the Breadloaf Mountains. They rise from the plain +like the Spanish peaks in Colorado. These mountains are the +headquarters of General Betancourt, who commands the insurgents in +the province. The Spaniards have offered $1,000 reward for his +head. Several efforts have been made to secure it, but in all +cases the would-be captor has lost his own head. + +In accordance with the Weyler edict 11,000 reconcentrados were +herded together at Matanzas, and within a year over 9,000 of them +died in the city. In the Plaza, under the shadow of the Governor's +residence, twenty-three people died from starvation in one day. +The province of Matanzas is not larger in area than the state of +Delaware, yet 55,000 people have perished from starvation and +incident diseases since the order went into effect. + +But all the people of Matanzas are not reconcentrados, and even in +the midst of war's alarms they find time for amusement, as the +following description of a carnival ball will prove: + +"It was our good fortune to be in Matanzas during the last three +days of the Carnival; and while the whole time was occupied by +noisy processions and grotesque street masqueraders, the crowning +ceremonies were on the last Sunday night. Then the whole town used +every effort to wind up the season in a 'feu de joie' of pleasure +and amusement. In almost every town of any importance there is an +association of young men, generally known as 'El Liceo,' organized +for artistic and literary purposes, and for social recreation. A +fine large building is generally occupied by the association, with +ample space for theatrical representations, balls, etc.; in +addition to which there are billiard rooms, and reading rooms, +adorned, probably with fine paintings. In Matanzas this +association is known as 'El Liceo Artistico y Literario de +Matanzas,' and is a particularly fine one, being composed of the +elite of the city, with a fine large house, to which they made an +addition by purchasing the 'Club,' beautifully situated upon the +Plaza. + +"Thanks to our letter of introduction, we were, through the kind +offices of the members, permitted to enjoy the pleasures of their +grand ball, called the 'Pinata,' which was indeed a very grand +affair, attended by the beauty and fashion of Matanzas. The ball +commenced at the seasonable hour of 8 o'clock in the evening; and +at entering, each one was required to give up his ticket to a +committee of managers, who thus had a kind of general inspection +of all those admitted. + +"The ball room was a long, large hall, at the other end of which +was a pretty stage for theatrical representations; on each side of +the room was an arched colonnade, over which were the galleries, +where the band was posted. Hanged in double rows of chairs the +full length of the room in front of the colonnade, sat hundreds of +dark-eyed angels, calm, dignified, and appearing, most of them, to +be mere lookers on; not a black coat among them. All of these, +with the exception of a few courageous ones that were facing all +this beauty, were huddled together at the other end of the room, +wanting the courage (it could not be the inclination) to pay their +respects to 'las Senoritas.' + +"What is exactly the trouble in Cuba between the gentlemen and the +ladies I never have been able to quite understand. The men are +polished and gentlemanly, as a general thing--sufficiently +intelligent, apparently; while the ladies are dignified and +pretty. And yet I have never seen that appearance of easy and +pleasant intercourse between the sexes which makes our society so +charming. + +"I am inclined to believe that it is the fault of custom, in a +great degree, which surrounds women in Cuba with etiquette, iron +bars and formality. This would seem to apply to the natives only, +for nothing can be kinder, more friendly and courteous than the +manners of the Cuban ladies to strangers, at least, judging from +what is seen. It may be as a lady with whom I was arguing the +point said: 'It is very different with strangers, Senor, and +particularly with the Americans, who are celebrated for their +chivalric gallantry to ladies.' Now I call that a very pretty +national compliment. + +"Taking the arm of my friend, we walk up and down to see, as he +expresses it, 'who there is to be presented to,' and faith, if +beauty is to be the test, it would seem to be a hard matter to +make up one's mind, there is so much of it, but after a turn or +two around the room, this form is gone through with, and one +begins to feel at home and ready to enjoy one's self. + +"When one finds ladies (and there are numbers) who have been +educated abroad, either in the United States or Europe, he finds +them highly accomplished and entertaining. Several that I had the +pleasure of meeting on this and other occasions spoke French +perfectly, some English, and one or two both of these in addition +to their native tongue. + +"But let us return to the ball, which is all the time going on +with great eclat. It opens with the advent upon the stage of a +dozen or more young men, under the direction of a leader, in some +fancy costume very handsomely made, who, after making their bow to +the audience, go through some novel kind of a dance. The +performers take this means of filling up the intervals of the +general dance, and amusing the audience. + +"It is now getting late, and the rooms are terribly warm. The fans +of the long rows of lovely sitters, who have not moved out of +their places the whole evening, keep up a constant flutter, and +one begins to sigh for a breath of fresh air, and relief from the +discomforts of a full dress suit. But the grand affair of the +evening is yet to come off, we are told, so we linger on, and are +finally rewarded by the grand ceremony of the 'Pinata,' from which +the ball takes its name. This word I can hardly give the meaning +of as applied to this ceremony, which consists in having pendent +from the ceiling a form of ribbands and flowers, the ribbands +numbered and hanging from the flowery the rights to pull which are +drawn like prizes in a lottery. Of these ribbands, one is fastened +to a beautiful crown of flowers, which, when the ribband to which +it is attached is pulled, falls into the hands of the lucky +person, who has the privilege of crowning any lady he may deem +worthy of the honor 'Queen of the Ball,' to whom every one is +obliged to yield obedience, homage, and admiration. There is, +also, the same opportunity afforded to the ladies to crown a king. +The whole ceremony is pretty, and creates much merriment and +amusement. + +"This ceremony over, at midnight we sally out into the open air. +But what a sight greets us there! Lights blaze in such profusion +that it seems more than day. Music and dancing are everywhere. +Songs and mirth have taken complete possession of the place, while +people of all ages, sexes and colors are mixed together, in what +seems inextricable confusion, intent upon having a good time in +the open air while their masters and betters are doing the same +thing under cover. This is a carnival sight indeed, and only to be +seen in a tropical clime." + +GUANTANAMO, THE HOME OF THE PIRATES. + +Approaching Cuba as Columbus did--across the narrow stretch of sea +from San Domingo--you first sight the long, low promontory of the +eastern tip, which the discoverer named Point Maysi. So different +is the prospect from that seen at the other end of the island, as +you come down in the usual route from New York or Florida, that +you can hardly believe it is the same small country. From Maysi +Point the land rises in sharp terraces, backed by high hills and +higher mountains, all so vague in mist and cloud that you do not +know where land ends and sky begins. Coming nearer, gray ridges +are evolved, which look like cowled monks peering over each +other's shoulders, with here and there a majestic peak towering +far above his fellows--like the Pico Turquino, 11,000 feet above +the sea. Sailing westward along this south shore, the "Queen of +the Antilles" looks desolate and forbidding, as compared to other +portions of the West Indies; a panorama, of wild heights and +sterile shores, and surge-beaten cliffs covered with screaming sea +birds. At rare intervals an opening in the rock-bound coast +betrays a tiny harbor, bordered by cocoa palms, so guarded and +concealed by hills, and its sudden revelation, when close upon it, +astonishes you as it did the first explorer. + +According to tradition, everyone of these was once a pirate's lair, in +the good old days we read about, when "long, low, suspicious-looking +craft, with raking masts," used to steal out from sheltered coves to +plunder the unwary. Each little bay, whose existence was unknown to +honest mariners, has a high wooded point near its entrance, where the +sea robbers kept perpetual watch for passing merchantmen and +treasure-laden galleons, their own swift-sailing vessels safe out of +sight within the cove; and then, at a given signal out they would dart +upon the unsuspecting prey like a spider from his web. Among the most +notorious piratical rendezvous was Gauntanamo, which our warships are +said to have shelled two or three times of late. In recent years its +narrow bay, branching far inland like a river, has become of +considerable consequence, by reason of a railway which connects it with +Santiago, and also because the patriot army, hidden in the nearby +mountains, have entertained hopes of overcoming the Spanish garrison and +making it a base for receiving outside assistance. Before the war there +were extensive sugar plantations in this city, now all devastated. The +Cobre mountains, looming darkly against the horizon, are the great +copper and iron range of Cuba, said to contain untold mineral wealth, +waiting to be developed by Yankee enterprise. In earlier days $4,000,000 +a year was the average value of Cuba's copper and iron exports; but in +1867 6,000,000 tons were taken out in less than ten months. Then Spain +put her foot in it, as usual. Not content with the lion's share, which +she had always realized in exorbitant taxes on the product, she +increased the excise charges to such an extent as to kill the industry +outright. For a long time afterward the ore lay undisturbed in the Cobre +"pockets," until the attention of Americans was turned this way. Their +first iron and copper claims in these mountains were recognized by the +Cuban government about seventeen years ago. Three Yankee corporations +have developed rich tracts of mining territory hereabouts, built +railways from the coast to their works on the hills and exported, ore to +the United States. The oldest of these companies employed 2,000 men, and +had 1,600 cars and a fleet of twenty steamers for the transportation of +its output. The Carnegie Company, whose product was shipped to +Philadelphia, also employed upwards of a thousand men. + +SANTIAGO DE CUBA. + +At last an abrupt termination of the stern, gray cliffs which mark +this shore line indicates the proximity of Santiago harbor, and a +nearer approach reveals the most picturesque fort or castle, as +well as one of the oldest, to be found on the western hemisphere. +An enormous rounding rock, whose base has been hollowed into great +caverns by the restless Caribbean, standing just at the entrance +of the narrow channel leading into the harbor, is carried up from +the water's edge in a succession of walls, ramparts, towers and +turrets, forming a perfect picture of a rock-ribbed fortress of +the middle ages. This is the famous castle of San Jago, the Moro, +which antedates the more familiar fortress of the same name in +Havana harbor by at least a hundred years. Words are of little use +in describing this antique, Moorish-looking stronghold, with its +crumbling, honey-combed battlements, queer little flanking turrets +and shadowy towers, perched upon the face of a dun-colored cliff +150 feet high--so old, so odd, so different from anything in +America with which to compare it. A photograph, or pencil sketch +is not much better, and even a paint brush could not reproduce the +exact shadings of its time-worn, weather-mellowed walls--the +Oriental pinks and old blues and predominating yellows that give +it half its charm. Upon the lowermost wall, directly overhanging +the sea, is a dome-shaped sentry box of stone, flanked by +antiquated cannon. Above it the lines of masonry are sharply +drawn, each guarded terrace receding upon the one next higher, all +set with cannon and dominated by a massive tower of obsolete +construction. + +It takes a good while to see it all, for new stories and +stairways, wings and terraces, are constantly cropping out in +unexpected places, but as it occupies three sides of the rounding +cliff and the pilot who comes aboard at the entrance to the +channel guides your steamer close up under the frowning +battlements, you have ample time to study it. Window holes cut +into rock in all directions show how extensive are the +excavations. A large garrison is always quartered here, even in +time of peace, when their sole business is searching for shady +places along the walls against which to lean. There are ranges +above ranges of walks, connected by stairways cut into the solid +rock, each range covered with lolling soldiers. You pass so near +that you can hear them chattering together. Those on the topmost +parapet, dangling their blue woolen legs over, are so high and so +directly overhead that they remind you of flies on the ceiling. + +In various places small niches have been excavated in the cliff, +some with crucifixes, or figures of saints, and in other places +the bare, unbroken wall of rock runs up, sheer straight 100 feet. +Below, on the ocean side, are caves, deep, dark and uncanny, worn +deep into the rock. Some of them are so extensive that they have +not been explored in generations. + +The broad and lofty entrances to one of them, hollowed by the +encroaching sea, is as perfect an arch as could be drawn by a skillful +architect, and with it a tradition is connected which dates back a +couple of centuries. A story or two above these wave-eaten caverns are +many small windows, each heavily barred with iron. They are dungeons dug +into the solid rock, and over them might well be written, "Leave hope +behind, ye who enter here!" A crowd of haggard, pallid faces are pressed +against the bars; and as you steam slowly by, so close that you might +speak to the wretched prisoners, it seems as if a shadow had suddenly +fallen upon the bright sunshine, and a chill, like that of coming death, +oppresses the heart. Since time out of mind, the Moro of Santiago has +furnished dungeons for those who have incurred the displeasure of the +government infinitely more to be dreaded than its namesake in Havana. +Had these slimy walls a tongue, what stories they might reveal of crime +and suffering, of tortures nobly undergone, of death prolonged through +dragging years and murders that will not "out" until the judgment day. + +Against that old tower, a quarter of a century ago our countrymen +of the Virginius were butchered like sheep. Scores of later +patriots have been led out upon the ramparts and shot, their +bodies, perhaps, with life yet in them, falling into the sea, +where they were snapped up by sharks as soon as they touched the +water. + +The narrow, winding channel which leads from the open sea into the +harbor, pursues its sinuous course past several other +fortifications of quaint construction, but of little use against +modern guns--between low hills and broad meadows, fishing hamlets +and cocoanut groves. Presently you turn a sharp angle in the hills +and enter a broad, land-locked bay, inclosed on every side by +ranges of hills with numerous points and promontories jutting into +the tranquil water, leaving deep little coves behind them, all +fringed with cocoa-palms. Between this blue bay and a towering +background of purple mountains lies the city which Diego +Velazquez, its founder, christened in honor of the patron saint of +Spain, as far back as the year 1514. It is the oldest standing +city in the new world, excepting Santo Domingo, which Columbus +himself established only eighteen years earlier. By the way, San +Jago, San Diego and Santiago, are really the same name, rendered +Saint James in our language; and wherever the Spaniards have been +are numbers of them. This particular city of Saint James occupies +a sloping hillside, 600 miles southeast from Havana, itself the +capital of a department, and ranks the third city of Cuba in +commercial importance--Matanzas being second. As usual in all +these southern ports, the water is too shallow for large vessels +to approach the dock and steamers have to anchor a mile from +shore. While waiting the coming of health or customs officials, +these lordly gentlemen who are never given to undignified haste, +you have ample time to admire the prospect, and if the truth must +be told, you will do well to turn about without going ashore, if +you wish to retain the first delightful impressions--for this old +city of Spain's patron saint is one of the many to which distance +lends enchantment. + +Red-roofed buildings of stone and adobe entirely cover the +hillside, with here and there a dome, a tower, a church steeple +shooting upward, or a tell palm poking its head above a garden +wall--the glittering green contrasting well with the ruddy tiles +and the pink, gray, blue and yellow of the painted walls. In the +golden light of a tropical morning it looks like an oriental town, +between sapphire sea and turquoise mountains. Its low massive +buildings, whose walls surround open courts, with pillared +balconies and corridors, the great open windows protected by iron +bars instead of glass, and roofs covered with earthen tiles--are a +direct importation from Southern Spain, if not from further east. +Tangiers, in Africa, is built upon a similar sloping hillside, and +that capital of Morocco does not look a bit more Moorish than +Santiago de Cuba. On the narrow strip of laud bordering the +eastern edge of the harbor, the Moro at one end and the city at +the other, are some villas, embowered in groves and gardens, +which, we are told, belong mostly to Americans who are interested +in the Cobre mines. The great iron piers on the right belong to +the American mining companies, built for loading ore upon their +ships. + +CARDINAS. + +Fifty miles east of Matanzas is the city of Cardinas, the last +port of any consequence on the north coast of the island. It has a +population of 25,000, and is the capital of a fertile district. It +is one of the main outlets of Cuba's richest province, Matanzas, +and is the great railroad center of the island, or, more properly +speaking, it ought to be, as the railroads of the country form a +junction fifteen miles inland, at an insignificant station called +Jouvellenes. + +In time of peace Cardinas enjoys a thriving business, particularly +in sugar and molasses, its exports of the former sometimes +amounting to 100,000 tons a year. To the west and south stretch +the great sugar estates which have made this section of Spain's +domain a prize to be fought for. The water side of the town is +faced with long wharves and lined with warehouses, and its +extensive railway depot would do credit to any metropolis. + +There are a few pretentious public buildings, including the +customs house, hospital and college. Its cobble paved streets are +considerably wider than those of Havana, and have two lines of +horse cars. There is gas and electric light, and more two-story +houses than one is accustomed to see on the island. + +But, notwithstanding the broad, blue bay in front, and the Paseo, +whose tall trees seem to be touching finger tips across the road, +congratulating each other on the presence of eternal summer, +Cardinas is not an attractive town. One misses the glamor of +antiquity and historic interest which pervades Havana, Matanzas +and Santiago, and feels somehow that the town is new without being +modern, young but not youthful. + +OTHER CITIES OF IMPORTANCE. + +Puerto Principe, or to give it its full name in the Spanish +tongue, Santa Maria de Puerto Principe, is the capital of the +Central department, and is situated about midway between the north +and south coasts, 305 miles southeast of Havana, and forty-five +miles southwest of Nuevitas, its port, with which it is connected +by railroad. Its population is about 30,000 and it is surrounded +by a rich agricultural district, the chief products of which are +sugar and tobacco. The climate is hot, moist and unhealthy. It was +at one time the seat of the supreme court of all the Spanish +colonies in America. + +One of the most attractive cities of Cuba is Trinidad, which lies +near the south coast, three miles by rail from the port of +Casildas. It is beautifully situated on high land overlooking the +sea, and on account of its mild and very equable climate it is a +favorite resort for tourists and invalids. + +Nuevitas, Sancti Espiritu, Baracoa and Cienfuegos are all centers +of population with many natural advantages, and with a just form +of government, and the advent of American enterprise and capital, +they might become prosperous, attractive, and of great commercial +importance. + + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +MUTTERINGS OF INSURRECTION. + +Slavery in Cuba--Horrible Tortures Inflicted--The Conspiracy of +Lopez--The United States Interferes--Lopez Captured and Executed +--Seizure of American Ships--Our Government Demands and Secures +Indemnity From Spain--Enormous Salaries of Cuban Officials-- +Oppressive Taxation. + + +Slavery was a demoralizing influence to Cuba as it has been, to +every other country in which the system has existed, and to its +presence was traced one of the most sensational episodes in all +the sensational history of the unhappy island. It is impossible to +know to what extent the suspected insurrection of slaves on the +sugar plantations about Matanzas was an actual threat. So horrible +were the charges made by the accusers that it is almost impossible +to believe them. At any rate, such an insurrection was +anticipated, and the authorities took measures to crush it out, +more severe than any such governmental movement has been since the +days of the Spanish Inquisition itself. It was impossible to +obtain witnesses by ordinary methods, so the most shocking forms +of torture were employed. Those who refused to confess whatever +charges happened to be brought against them were tortured till +they did confess, and then probably executed for the crimes which +they admitted under such circumstances. By such "judicial" +processes, 1,346 persons were convicted, of whom seventy-eight +were shot and the others punished less severely in various ways. +Hundreds of others died from the tortures to which they were +subjected, or in the foul prisons in which they were confined, and +of these we have no record. Of those convicted and punished under +the alleged forms of law, fourteen were white, 1,242 were free +negroes, and fifty-nine were slaves. The negroes of Cuba have +never forgotten the barbarities to which their parents were +subjected in that trying year. + +The most notable outbreak of Cuban insurrectionary forces prior to +that of the Ten Years' war, which began in 1868, was that known as +the conspiracy of Lopez. + +As early as May, 1847, Narcisso Lopez and a number of his +associates who had planned an insurrection in the central part of +the island, were pursued to the United States by Spanish agents, +who had kept track of their conspiracy. The Lone Star Society was +in close sympathy with these refugees, and to a certain extent the +two were co-existent. Lopez, in 1849, organized a military +expedition to invade Cuba. By the exertions of the officers of the +United States government the sailing of the expedition was +prevented. Notwithstanding the activity of the government, +however, Lopez, in the following year, got together a force of 600 +men outside of the United States, shipped arms and ammunition to +them from this country, and on May 19, 1850, made a landing at +Cardenas. + +The United States authorities had put the Spanish government in +Cuba on the alert for this expedition. President Taylor had issued +a proclamation warning all citizens of the United States not to +take part in such an expedition or to assist it in any way. The +expedition was driven out to sea from Cardenas a few days after it +landed, sailed for Key West, and there disbanded. Meantime there +were a number of uprisings in the island between groups of unhappy +natives who had not the wisdom to co-operate in the effort to +resist the oppressive hand of the Spaniards. + +In August of 1851, Lopez eluded the United States authorities at +the port of New Orleans, and sailed out into the Gulf of Mexico +with an expedition 450 strong. His lieutenant on this expedition +was a Colonel Crittenden, a native of the State of Kentucky. They +landed near Bahia Honda, about thirty miles west of Havana, and +found the government forces waiting for them. Colonel Crittenden, +with a subdivision of 150 men, was compelled to surrender, and the +rest were scattered. Lopez, with fifty others, was captured, taken +to Havana, and there executed. + +The circumstances attending the Lopez failure, and several Spanish +outrages against American citizens and vessels, aroused deep +feeling in the United States, and the sentiment was growing +rapidly that it was a national duty to our own peace, to do +something that would make the troublesome neighbor a pleasant one. +It was fifty years before action was taken, but, once begun, it +was well done. + +It was in 1848, prior to the Lopez invasion, that President Polk +made the first approaches to the Spanish government with a +suggestion to purchase the island for $100,000,000, but was +refused with scant consideration. A few years later came the +succession of attacks on American merchant vessels by Spanish +ships of war, on the pretext that the intercepted craft were in +filibuster service. Some of these were fired on, and the American +mail bags opened, the steamships Falcon and Crescent City being in +this list. The most flagrant case was that of the Black Warrior, a +large steamer in coasting trade between New York and Mobile. In +February, 1850, while in the harbor of Havana, she was stopped, +her cargo confiscated, and a fine of twice its value declared. Her +captain hauled down the colors, and taking them with him, left the +vessel as a Spanish capture. After five years of "diplomacy," +Spain paid an indemnity of $300,000 for the outrage. + +It was in 1852 that the governments of Great Britain and France +tried to draw the United States into an agreement on the question +of Cuba, which was happily refused on genuinely American grounds. +It was suggested that all the parties should be bound not to +acquire Cuba themselves, nor to permit any other power to do so. +Our government gave the proposal respectful consideration, but +declined to enter into any such arrangement, on the ground that we +prefer to avoid entangling foreign alliances, that it would be +unwise, if not unconstitutional, to tie our hands for the future +regardless of what might happen, and that on geographical grounds, +while England and France were making very slight concessions, we +were asked to make a very important one. + +The United States came as near to the purchase of Cuba in 1854 as +it ever was, but Spain gave the plan little encouragement. Three +American ministers to European countries, Messrs. Buchanan, Mason +and Soule, met at Ostend and formulated a plan for the purchase, +signing and issuing what came to be known as the Ostend manifesto. +They recommended the purchase of the island for $120,000,000, and +that in no event should it be allowed to come under the power of +any other European government than the one by which it was held. +At this time, and afterward, while filibustering expeditions were +frequent and disorder constantly threatening in Cuba, the subject +of the acquisition of Cuba was discussed in Congress, but no +headway was made in the matter. At last, conditions in the island +became intolerable to the patriots there, and the Ten Years' war +began. + +It is necessary at this point to relate some of the causes of the +frequent disorders and uprisings in the island of Cuba. Some of +the features of Spanish misgovernment in the colony have been +named, but the catalogue is far from complete. + +The most judicial writers, however bitterly they condemn Spain, +admit that that peninsular kingdom has itself suffered and that +the people have suffered almost beyond endurance themselves. Cuba +is not the only land with which we may share a little of our +sympathy. But sympathy for Spain must come from other things than +oppression from without. Her oppression is within her own borders, +and her authorities have tried to shift the burden of it to the +colonists across the sea. The debt of Spain has reached enormous +proportions, and having fallen from her high estate as a +commercial nation, it has become impossible for the great interest +charges on her floating debt to be paid by ordinary and correct +methods. Says one writer: "To pay the interest necessitates the +most grinding oppression. The moving impulse is not malice, but +the greed of the famishing; and oppressor and oppressed alike are +the objects for sympathy." + +The annual revenue raised in the island of Cuba had reached nearly +$26,000,000 by the time of the outbreak of the Ten Years' war, and +preparations were in progress for largely increasing the +exactions. The large revenue raised was expended in ways to +irritate the Cubans or any one else who had to help pay it. The +annual salary of the captain general was $50,000, when the +president of the United States was getting only $25,000 a year. +Each provincial governor in Cuba got a salary of $12,000, while +the prime minister of Spain received only half that. + +The bishop of Havana and the archbishop of Santiago de Cuba each +received a salary of $18,000. All offices, civil, military and +ecclesiastical, were productive of rich perquisites, except in +those cases where stealing was simpler. Wholesale corruption in +the custom houses was generally known and admitted by all. The +thefts in the custom houses in Havana was estimated at forty per +cent, and in Santiago at seventy per cent of the entire revenue. +All offices except the very lowest, in church and state alike, +were filled by men sent from Spain, with the frank understanding +that as soon as he could, each new appointee could garner a +fortune by fair means and foul combined, he should retire and let +another be sent over to have a turn at the plunder. The result of +this was that strangers were always in authority, men with no +sympathy for local need, and no local reputation to sustain. It is +perfectly obvious what sort of a public service such conditions +would create. + +As might have been expected, the result was the growth of two +parties, one the native-born Cubans, and called the insulares, the +other of those from Spain, and their adherents, known as the +peninsulares. The line between them has been sharply drawn for +many years, and they are on opposite sides of everything. It is +from the ranks of the continentals that the volunteer corps of +Cuba has been drawn, one of the most aggravating and threatening +of all influences against peace in Cuba. + +Spain imposed differential duties in such a way as to virtually +monopolize the trade of the island. At the same time the prices of +all imports to Cuba were forced, to an unnatural figure, to the +great distress of the people. Petty oppression in postage and in +baptismal fees multiplied, so that instead of petty it became +great. The increase in taxation of Cuba for use in Spain in two +years prior to the outbreak of the Ten Years' war was more than +$14,000,000, and the next year it was proposed to increase it +still more. The cities were hopelessly in debt and unable to make +the most ordinary and most necessary public improvements. What few +schools there had been were nearly all closed. Lacking insane +asylums, the unfortunate of that class were kept in the jails. The +people saw a country separated from them but by a narrow stretch +of water, where freedom reigned. They saw that they were being +heavily oppressed with taxation for the benefit of the people of +Spain, and that, in addition, they were being robbed mercilessly +for the benefit of the authorities who were placed over them +temporarily. If the money collected from them had been expended +for their benefit in the island, or had been expended honestly, +the case might have been different. As it was, however, an +intolerable condition had been endured too long, and they rose +against it for the struggle known to history as the Ten Years' +war. + + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +OUTBREAK OF THE TEN YEARS' WAR + +Cuba Again Stirred to Turmoil--The Taxes of the Island Increased +--A Declaration of Independence--Civil Government Organized-- +Meeting of the Legislature, and Election of Officers--The Edict of +a Tyrant. + + +Before the outbreak of the Ten Years' War, the reform party in +Cuba, which included all the most enlightened, wealthy and +influential citizens of the island, had exhausted all the +resources at their command to induce Spain to establish a more +just and equitable administration of affairs, but all to no avail. + +It was proposed that Cuba receive an autonomist constitution. The +abolition of the supreme power of the Captain General, the freedom +of the press, the right of petition, the regulation of the chief +frauds by which elections were so arranged that no Cuban could +hold government office, the right of assembly, representation in +the Cortes, and complete local self-government were among the +reforms asked for. The plans were considered in Spain and were +reconsidered, and considered again, and that was about all that +ever came of them, except that in June, 1868, Captain General +Lersundi was permitted to raise the direct taxes on the island ten +per cent. + +Finally, driven to a point where they could endure it no longer, +they made the start for freedom, and began to fight for it, as +brave men should do and have done through the history of the +world. + +Several months before the revolution in Spain and the abdication +of Isabella, measures had been taken to prepare for the effort to +achieve independence. At last matters progressed so rapidly in the +mother country that the Cubans dared not wait for the completion +of their plans, but on October 10, 1868, began the hostilities. On +that day, Carlos M. de Cespedes, a lawyer of Bayamo, took the +initiative with 128 poorly armed men, and issued a declaration of +independence at Yara. This declaration justified itself by +referring in the following terms to the grievances that have been +outlined: + +"In arming ourselves against the tyrannical government of Spain, +we must, according to precedent in all civilized countries, +proclaim before the world the cause that impels us to take this +step, which, though likely to entail considerable disturbances +upon the present, will ensure the happiness of the future. ... And +as Spain has many a time promised us Cubans to respect our rights, +without having fulfilled her promises; and she continues to tax us +heavily, and by so doing is likely to destroy our wealth; as we +are in danger of losing our property, our lives and our honor +under Spanish dominion," etc. + +Within a few weeks Cespedes was at the head of 15,000 men, ill-prepared +for war, so far as arms and equipment were concerned, but well provided +with resolution, bravery and a just cause. A civil government was +organized, and a constitution drawn up, providing for an elective +president and vice-president, a cabinet, and a single legislative +chamber. It also declared the immediate abolition of slavery. This +constitution was promulgated at Guaimaro in Central Cuba, on the 10th of +April, 1869. The legislature met soon after, and elected Cespedes +president, and Francisco M. Aguilero vice-president. + +This insurrection soon assumed formidable dimensions, and the +following edict was issued by General Balmaceda: + +Inhabitants of the country! The reinforcement of troops that I +have been waiting for have arrived. With them I shall give +protection to the good, and punish promptly those that still +remain in rebellion against the government of the metropolis. + +You know that I have pardoned those who have fought us with arms; +that your wives, mothers and sisters have found in me the +unexpected protection that you have refused them. You know, also, +that many of those we have pardoned have turned against us again. +Before such ingratitude, such villainy, it is not possible for me +to be the man I have been; there is no longer a place for a +falsified neutrality; he that is not for me is against me; and +that my soldiers may know how to distinguish, you hear the order +they carry. + +1st. Every man, from the age of fifteen years upward, found away +from his habitation (finca), and who does not prove a justified +motive therefor, will be shot. + +2nd. Every habitation unoccupied will be burned by the troops. + +3rd. Every habitation from which does not float a white flag, as a +signal that its occupants desire peace, will be reduced to ashes. + +Women that are not living in their own homes, or at the houses of +their relatives, will collect in the town of Jiguani, or Bayamo, +where maintenance will be provided. Those who do not present +themselves will be conducted forcibly. + +The foregoing determinations will commence to take effect on the +14th of the present month. + +EL CONDE DE BALMACEDA. + +Bayamo, April 4, 1869. + +Even Weyler, the "Butcher," has never succeeded in concocting a +manifesto that surpassed this in malicious excuses for the ancient +Spanish amusements of pillage, incendiarism and murder. + +THE CAUSE A JUST ONE. + +It is now conceded by high Spanish authorities that the insurgents +had just grounds for this revolt, and Senor Dupuy de Lome, +formerly the Spanish minister to the United States, admits in a +letter to the New York Herald that a very large majority of the +leading citizens of the island were in sympathy with the struggle +for liberty. + +The new government received the moral support of nearly all of the +South American republics, but as many of them were troubled with +internal dissensions, and uncertain of their own security, they +were not in a condition to furnish assistance of a more practical +nature, and the revolutionists were left to work out their own +salvation. + +In an exhaustive review of the trouble between Spain and her Cuban +possessions, published in 1873, the Edinburg Review said: + +"It is well known that Spain governs the island of Cuba with an iron and +bloodstained hand. The former holds the latter deprived of civil, +political and religious liberty. Hence the unfortunate Cubans being +illegally prosecuted and sent into exile, or executed by military +commissions in time of peace; hence their being kept from public +meeting, and forbidden to speak or write on affairs of state; hence +their remonstrances against the evils that afflict them being looked +upon as the proceedings of rebels, from the fact that they are bound to +keep silence and obey; hence the never-ending plague of hungry officials +from Spain to devour the product of their industry and labor; hence +their exclusion from public stations, and want of opportunity to fit +themselves for the art of government; hence the restrictions to which +public instruction with them is subjected, in order to keep them so +ignorant as not to be able to know and enforce their rights in any shape +or form whatever; hence the navy and the standing army, which are kept +in their country at an enormous expenditure from their own wealth, to +make them bend their knees and submit their necks to the iron yoke that +disgraces them; hence the grinding taxation under which they labor, and +which would make them all perish in misery but for the marvelous +fertility of their soil." + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE MASSACRE OF THE VIRGINIUS OFFICERS AND CREW. + +Excitement in the United States over a Spanish Outrage of Twenty-five +Years Ago--The Virginius a Blockade Runner--Severity of the Spanish +Court Martial--Insolence to the American Consul--Indignation in the +United States--Negotiations Between Washington and Madrid--Settlement an +Unsatisfactory One to Most People--No Just Retribution Ever Made. + + +It was less than twenty-five years before the destruction of the +Maine, that another vessel whose crew met its fate in a Spanish +port in Cuba was the subject of as intense public interest in the +United States as that created by the catastrophe of 1898. The +hopeful progress of the Cuban revolution of 1868-78 had stimulated +their friends in the United States to aid the insurgents in every +way possible, by money, men and the munitions of war. +Filibustering was constant and scarcely discouraged by the people +of the United States, in spite of the protest of Spain. It was as +a result of this condition that the terrible affair of the +Virginius occurred. + +The case of the Virginius had in it elements of tragedy that made +it more spectacular and dramatic than that of the Maine, and +American spirit was worked to an even higher tension than it is +now, before diplomacy and caution averted a war between the United +States and Spain. In the case of the Virginius the facts of +Spanish aggression were in no way denied, but, on the contrary, +avowed for a time with pride, until the authorities at Madrid +subdued their people, who were making a settlement more difficult +by their talk. The only controversy was as to whether or not +Spain's action in the matter was within its rights. But the +settlement, however it might have left the rights of the vessel +still unsolved, was a rebuke to Spain, and for its execution of +American citizens with scarcely a formality of law Spain has never +been forgiven by those who remember it, whatever diplomacy decided +as to being satisfied. + +The Virginius was originally an English-built sidewheel steamer +called the Virgin, and during the war between the States was one +of the most famous of blockade runners until captured by a vessel +of the United States. In 1870 she was sold in Washington to an +agent of the Cuban Junta at New York, her name was changed to +Virginius, and she cleared for Curacoa in the West Indies. From +that time till her unhappy fate she was never in United States +waters. At Aspinwall and in the ports of Venezuela and the West +Indies she was known for three years as the most daring and the +most successful of filibusters, making repeated landings on the +Cuban coast with supplies of arms, ammunition, food and clothes +for the insurgents who were then fighting the Ten-Years' war. In +all her filibustering it was claimed, however, that the Virginius +never lost her character as an American ship, though the Cuban +flag was kept at the masthead whenever that practice served any +good purpose. + +The vessel sailed on the fatal voyage from Kingston, Jamaica, +October 23, 1873, having cleared at the United States consulate as +a United States vessel bound for Port Simon, Costa Rica. The +commander was Captain Joseph Fry, a citizen of the United States. +The cargo was made up of munitions of war for the Cuban +insurgents, and the crew was part of Cuban and part of American +citizens. There were also on board a number of enlisted men on +their way to join the insurgent army. + +It was not until October 31 that the Virginius approached the +coast of Cuba to make her landing, and was intercepted by the +Spanish gunboat Tornado. The Tornado had been built by the same +English firm that constructed the Virginius, also for blockade +running, but in the race that followed the Virginius was unable to +equal the speed of her Spanish pursuer. The chase lasted eight +hours. Finally, at 10 o'clock at night, the Virginius was stopped +and surrendered in response to the cannon shots of the Tornado, +which had come in range. The captain protested that his papers +were regular and that the Virginius was "an American ship, +carrying American colors and papers, with an American captain and +an American crew." In response he was told that he was a pirate, +his flag was lowered and trampled upon, and the Spanish flag was +hoisted in its place. + +During the chase after the Virginius, the passengers and crew of +the fated vessel were in a state of panic. The cargo, which was +made up of war material, was thrown overboard, and all persons on +the vessel emptied their trunks of whatever might be considered +suspicious. Almost from the instant of the capture the fate of the +unfortunate men was assured, and they soon realized the extent of +the danger that threatened them. + +VERDICT OF THE SPANISH COURT-MARTIAL. + +When the Tornado and the Virginius reached Santiago de Cuba the +next day the 155 men captured were placed in close confinement and +a court-martial was convened at once. The various courts-martial +condemned most if not all of the prisoners to death, this summary +proceeding being, as was alleged, in accordance with Spanish laws, +so far at least as the character of the court and the nature of +the judicial forms were concerned. The first executions were on +the morning of November 4, when four men were shot, one of them +being Brigadier Washington Ryan, who claimed British citizenship, +as a Canadian, although he had served in the Union army during the +late war. The victims were shot in the back, and their bodies were +afterward beheaded, the heads displayed on spikes and the trunks +trampled by horses. George W. Sherman, the correspondent of the +New York Herald, tried to sketch the scene and was imprisoned for +four days for his attempt. A guard kept the American consul in his +house, so he could not appear to protest. + +As the Virginius had displayed the American colors and was +chartered and cleared as an American vessel, she had a prima facie +claim to protection as such, until her right should be disproved. +Hence Mr. E. G. Schmitt, the American vice-consul at Santiago, was +prompt and urgent in demanding access to the prisoners, with a +view to protecting the rights of the vessel and any on board who +might be American citizens. He was treated with great discourtesy +by the provincial governor, who told him in effect that it was +none of his business, and persisted in declaring that they were +all pirates and would be dealt with as such. Mr. Schmitt was even +refused the use of the submarine cable to consult with the consul +at Kingston, Jamaica. He would thus have been left entirely +helpless but for the friendly aid of the British and French +consuls. + +On the 8th of November twelve more men were executed, and on the +13th thirty-seven were executed, this last batch including the +officers and crew of the Virginius and most of the American +citizens. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon the condemned men were +marched to the place of execution, passing and saluting the +American consulate, where the flag was not flying from its staff. + +Captain Fry was shot first, and was the only man, though the +soldiers stood but ten feet away, who fell dead at the first +volley. The majority of the poor fellows, as the firing continued, +were wounded, and killed as they lay on the ground by the usual +Spanish fashion of firing rifles in the mouths of those who were +disabled. The second engineer of the Virginius was among those +executed. He had made a declaration to the Spanish that he had +tampered with the engines and cut down the speed of the vessel so +that she could be captured, and was marched with the rest to +prevent his comrades from knowing that he was to be spared. He was +shot by mistake while making frantic protests and explanations, +but, as he was a traitor in one way or the other, his death was +the only one of all that was never regretted. + +PROTESTS WERE UNHEEDED. + +During all this time the consuls at Santiago were not idle, but +they were helpless. E. G. Schmitt, the American vice-consul, and +Theodore Brooks, the British vice-consul, made all sorts of +protests that were unavailing. Schmitt was not permitted to see +the prisoners before or after the court-martial, until the very +end, when he reached Captain Fry and signed his protest with him. +He was not permitted the use of the telegraph in order to +communicate with the government at Washington by way of Kingston, +Jamaica. + +He wrote repeated notes to Gen. Burriel, the Spanish commander at +Santiago, getting no answer to them, until at last an answer came +that was more irritating than silence. Burriel told him that he +should have known that the previous day was a day of religious +festival, during which he and all his officers were engaged in +"meditation of the divine mysteries," and could not consider +temporal affairs. He also informed the consul that he might be +expelled from the island for trying to embroil the United States +and Spain in difficulties if he were not careful. + +Then came the only bright spot in the whole affair. News of what +was going on reached Jamaica, and the British gunboat Niobe, +Captain Sir Lambton Lorraine, left for the scene of massacre, +sailing in such a hurry that he left some of the crew ashore. The +Captain landed at Santiago before his ship was anchored, and +demanded that the slaughter be stopped instantly. He declared that +he represented the United States as well as England, and that he +would bombard the city if there was another American citizen +executed. Ninety-three men were under sentence of death, many of +whom were Americans, but the sentences were immediately suspended +and the lives were saved. The Spanish afterward asserted that the +executions were stopped because of orders received from Madrid. + +The next time Sir Lambton Lorraine was in New York he was offered +a reception, which he declined. He was presented, however, with a +silver brick, on which were engraved the words: "Blood is thicker +than water." A resolution of thanks to him was laid on the table +in the House of Representatives and never passed. + +AMERICAN DEMANDS FOR VENGEANCE. + +When the news of all this reached the United States, public +indignation rose rapidly. Mass-meetings were held demanding +vengeance on Spain. President Grant sent special messages to +Congress, and the state department began diplomatic negotiations. +Hamilton Fish, secretary of state, declared that the Virginius, +having been registered as an American vessel carrying official +documents regular upon their face and bearing the United States +flag, was entirely beyond the jurisdiction of any other power on +the high seas in the time of peace; that if she had secured +fraudulent entry or committed any other fraud against the laws of +the United States it was for her to be turned over to the United +States courts for punishment, and not for her to be captured and +punished by some other power. + +The Spanish minister of foreign affairs at that time was Admiral +Polo de Bernabe, father of the new Spanish minister who succeeded +Dupuy de Lome. He wanted to submit the matter to arbitration, and +Secretary Fish replied to him that the "United States was ready to +refer to arbitration all questions properly subjects for +reference, but that the question of an indignity to the flag of +the nation and the capture in time of peace on the high seas of a +vessel bearing that flag and having also the register and papers +of an American ship, is not deemed to be one referable to other +powers to determine. A nation must be the judge and custodian of +its own honor." + +Most of the men were executed after protests to Madrid began to be +made. Madrid mobs made a demonstration against the American +minister, General Sickles. November 4, Secretary Fish cabled +Sickles: "In case of refusal of satisfactory reparation within +twelve days from this date close your legation and leave Madrid." +Ten days later, when the executions were over, he telegraphed: "If +Spain cannot redress these outrages, the United States will." Ten +days after that he wired: "If no settlement is reached by the +close of to-morrow, leave." Next day Spain became tractable and +war was averted. + +By his conduct in Madrid at that time General Sickles made many +friends of those Americans who wanted to see energetic action, and +many enemies among those who wanted peace at any price. It was +alleged afterward that the latter influence became dominant, and +that his recall from that post was the result of their work to +punish him for his energy that was not always diplomatic in its +forms. + +SETTLEMENT OF THE TROUBLE. + +The terms of settlement of the trouble were that the Virginius should be +surrendered to an American warship, with the survivors of those who had +been captured with her, and that on December 25 the United States flag +should be saluted by the Tornado. The surrender was made in the obscure +harbor of Bahia Honda, December 16, the Spanish having taken the +Virginius there to avoid the humiliation of a surrender in Santiago or +Havana, where it should have been made. Captain W. D. Whiting, the chief +of staff of the North Atlantic Squadron, was appointed to receive the +surrender of the Virginius, and the gunboat Dispatch was sent to Bahia +Honda with him for that purpose. Lieut. Adolph Marix was the flag +lieutenant of the Dispatch, the same who was afterwards the +judge-advocate of the court of inquiry on the Maine disaster. The +Virginius was delivered with the flag flying, but she was unseaworthy, +and, struck by a storm off Cape Hatteras, was sunk on her way to New +York. The salute to the flag that had been arranged was waived by the +United States because the attorney-general gave an opinion that the +Virginius had no right to fly the American flag when she was captured. + +Major Moses P. Handy, afterwards famous as a journalist, was +present at the surrender of the Virginius to the American men of +war in the harbor of Bahia Honda, and gives a graphic account of +the circumstances attending that ceremony. In concluding the tale +he says: "The surrender of the surviving prisoners of the massacre +took place in the course of time at Santiago, owing more to +British insistence than to our feeble representation. As to the +fifty-three who were killed, Spain never gave us any real +satisfaction. For a long time the Madrid government unblushingly +denied that there had been any killing, and when forced to +acknowledge the fact they put us off with preposterous excuses. +'Butcher Borriel,' by whose orders the outrage was perpetrated, +was considered at Madrid to have been justified by circumstances. +It was pretended that orders to suspend the execution of Ryan and +his associates were 'unfortunately' received too late, owing to +interruption of telegraph lines by the insurgents, to whose broad +and bleeding shoulders an attempt was thus made to shift the +responsibility. + +"There was a nominal repudiation of Borriel's act and a promise +was made to inflict punishment upon 'those who have offended,' but +no punishment was inflicted upon anybody. The Spanish government, +with characteristic double dealing, resorted to procrastination, +prevarication and trickery, and thus gained time, until new issues +effaced in the American mind the memory of old wrongs unavenged. +Instead of being degraded, Borriel was promoted. Never to this day +has there been any adequate atonement by Spain, much less an +apology or expression of regret for the Virginius massacre." + +The amount of money paid to the United States government for +distribution among the families of American sufferers by this +affair was $80,000. And that is the extent of the reparation made +for the shocking crime. + +The Virginius, although the most conspicuous, was not the only +American victim of Spanish misgovernment in Cuba during the Ten +Years' war. In 1877 the three whaling vessels, Rising Sun, Ellen +Rizpah, and Edward Lee, while pursuing their legitimate business +under the American flag, outside of Cuban waters, were fired upon +and detained for days, with circumstances of peculiar hardship and +brutality. The United States government investigated the outrage +with care, and demanded of Spain an indemnity of $19,500. The +demand, however, was not enforced, and the sum of $10,000 was +accepted as a compromise settlement. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +OPERATIONS OF THE TEN YEARS' WAR. + +The Two Wars Compared--The Havana Volunteers--The Slaughter at +the Villaneuva Theater--The Court Martial of the Students--A +Holiday in Havana--The Close of the War--The Treaty of Zanjon. + + +The reader who has watched closely the struggle in Cuba for the +past three years need not be told that Spain has had every +advantage in men, money, arms and ammunition. The same state of +affairs existed during the Ten Years' War. In fact, the inequality +was even greater, for the Spanish army was then composed of +experienced soldiers who were well fed, well clothed and paid +regularly. In the present conflict many of them are boys who have +been sent from home to make targets for insurgent bullets. They +know comparatively nothing of military tactics, they have not been +paid for months, and they lack food and clothing. The equipment of +the insurgent forces in the former rebellion was even more limited +than it has been in this one. While they did not experience +serious difficulty in obtaining food, the implements of war in any +quantities were beyond their reach. But the same spirit that gave +courage to our American heroes in revolutionary times was in them, +and for ten years they struggled bravely against overwhelming +odds. + +It is not possible to tell in detail of the monstrous cruelties +practiced by the Spanish army during those years of carnage. Here +is the testimony of one officer: + +"We captured seventeen, thirteen of whom were shot outright; on +dying they shouted, 'Hurrah for Free Cuba, hurrah for +independence.' A mulatto said, 'Hurrah for Cespedes.' On the +following day we killed a Cuban officer and another man. Among the +thirteen that we shot the first day we found three sons and their +father. The father witnessed the execution of his sons without +even changing color, and when his turn came he said he died for +the independence of his country. On coming back we brought along +with us three carts filled with women and children, the families +of those we had shot, and they asked us to shoot them, because +they would rather die than live among Spaniards." + +Another wrote: + +"Not a single Cuban will remain in this island, because we shoot +all that we find in the fields, on the farms and in every hovel. +We do not leave a creature alive where we pass, be it man or +animal. If we find cows we kill them, if horses, ditto, if hogs, +ditto, men, women or children, ditto. As to the houses, we burn +them. So every one receives his due, the men in balls, the animals +in bayonet thrusts. The island will remain a desert." + +In the cities, outrages equally barbarous were committed. + +THE HAVANA VOLUNTEERS. + +The Havana volunteers, made up of the Spanish-born residents, in +whose favor the government of the island has always been arranged, +took possession of Havana, and put it under mob rule. In May, +1870, they marched out in front of the Villaneuva theater and +fired volleys into the crowds that were entering. They had reason +to believe, some of them said, that the performance to be given +there was to raise funds for the insurgent cause. + +So powerful was this organization that shortly after this outrage +they placed the Captain-General of the island under arrest, and +finally shipped him to Spain, sending word to the home government +that he was not severe enough in his rule to suit their views, and +suggesting that in case there were no Peninsulars who had the +necessary stamina to govern Cuba according to their ideas, they +might feel it advisable to assume command themselves. + +On another occasion the dead body of one of these volunteers was +placed in a public tomb in Havana, and the repository was found to +have been defaced by scurrilous writing on the glass of the door. +For no known reason, except a blood-thirsty desire for vengeance +on someone, no matter whether guilty or innocent, it was claimed +that the outrage was committed by some of the students of the +university, and on complaint of the volunteer corps, forty-three +of these young men were arrested. + +They were arraigned before the military tribunal, and so +manifestly unjust was the accusation that an officer of the +regular army of Spain volunteered to defend them. There was +absolutely no proof against them, and they were acquitted. But the +volunteers were determined that their victims should not escape, +and taking advantage of the fear in which they were held, even by +the Havana officials, they forced the Governor-General to issue an +order for a second courtmartial. At this examination they +manipulated matters so that two thirds of the members of the trial +board were connected with their organization, and a verdict of +guilty was quickly rendered against all of the prisoners. Eight of +them were sentenced to be shot, and the others to long terms of +imprisonment at hard labor. + +The day of the execution was a holiday in Havana. Bands of music +paraded the streets, followed by the volunteers, 15,000 strong, +while behind them, bound in chains, and under military guard, came +the eight boys who had been condemned to die. Conscious of their +innocence of any crime, they did not falter, but marched bravely +to the place of execution, where they faced their murderers and +fell, riddled by bullets from the rifles of the volunteers. The +report of this affair sent a thrill of horror throughout the whole +of the civilized world, and the perpetrators of the outrage were +severely censured by the Spanish Cortes, but there was no attempt +at punishment, nor were the ones who had been imprisoned released. + +Meantime the war was being carried on in the provinces with +varying success, but dissensions finally arose between the civil +and military authorities of the republic of Cuba, and as "a house +divided against itself cannot stand," the effectiveness of the +campaign was destroyed, and, in 1878, concessions were offered by +the Spanish government, which were accepted by the revolutionists, +and the struggle was abandoned. + +What the outcome of the contest might have been, could it have been +continued with the leaders united for its success, is an open question. +As the years went by the rank and file of the Cuban army seemed to be +more determined than ever to throw off the yoke, and the government in +Spain became less prompt in sending supplies of men and money to carry +on the war. They eagerly seized the opportunity to bring it to a close, +and the treaty of Zanjon, which was signed by General Martinez Campos, +the Spanish Governor-General of the island, and General Maximo Gomez, +Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban army, promised many reforms, and gave +amnesty to all who had taken part in the rebellion. + + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE PEACE OF ZANJON AND ITS VIOLATED PLEDGES + +Spanish Hypocrisy and Deceit--Cubans Denied Representation-- +Increase of Taxation--The Royal Edicts--A Plausible Argument, +Which Is Not Borne Out by Facts--Spain's Promises Always Broken. + + +If Spain had been sincere in the promises of reform she made her +Cuban colony when the treaty of Zanjon was signed, it is probable +that the present war would have never occurred. For while a few of +the leaders--notably General Maceo--refused to become pacified, +the great majority of the better classes were glad to accept a +peaceful settlement on terms that gave them, in fact, if not in +name, nearly every concession for which they had fought. + +But it did not take them long to learn that they had been duped. +Spain granted to Cuba the liberties of Puerto Rico, which had +none. On this deceitful ground was laid the new situation, through +which ran a current of falsehood and hypocrisy. Spain, whose mind +did not change, hastened to change the name of things. The +captain-general was called the governor-general. The royal decrees +took the name of authorizations. The commercial monopoly of Spain +was named coasting trade. The right of banishment was transformed +into the law of vagrancy. The brutal attacks of defenseless +citizens were called "componte." The law of constitutional +guarantees became the law of public order. Taxation without the +consent or knowledge of the Cuban people was changed into the law +of estimates (budget) voted by the representatives of Spain. + +The painful lesson of the Ten Years' War was entirely lost on +Spain. Instead of inaugurating a redeeming policy that would heal +the recent wounds, allay public anxiety, and quench the thirst for +justice felt by the people, who were desirous to enjoy their +natural rights, the Peninsula, while lavish in promises of reform, +persisted in carrying on, unchanged, its old and crafty system, +namely: to exclude every native Cuban from every office that could +give him any effective influence and intervention in public +affairs; the ungovernable exploitation of the colonists' labor for +the benefit of Spanish commerce and Spanish bureaucracy, both +civil and military. To carry out the latter purpose it was +necessary to maintain the former at any cost. + +Mr. Clarence King, a recognized authority on political subjects +connected with Cuban affairs, says: + +"The main concession for which the insurgents accepted peace was the +promise of constitutional reform. As a matter of fact, there promptly +followed four royal edicts as follows: June 9, entitling Cuba to elect +deputies to the Cortes, one for each 40,000 people; June 9, dividing the +island into the present six provinces; June 21, instituting a system of +provincial and municipal government, followed on August 16 by the +necessary electoral regulations. But the system was immediately seen to +be the shadow without the substance of self-government. The Provincial +Assembly could nominate only three candidates for presiding officer. It +was the inevitable governor-general who had the power to appoint, not +necessarily one of the three nominees, but any member of the Assembly he +chose. But all this provincial machinery is in reality an empty form, +since expressly by law the governor-general was given the power to +prorogue the assemblies at will. The deputies have never been able to +accomplish anything in the Cortes. Moreover the crux of the whole +financial oppression--tariff, taxes, and absolute control and +expenditure of the revenue--remained with Spain." + +The loyal Spaniard insists that every agreement entered into by +his government was faithfully carried out; that the Cubans were +given from time to time even greater liberties than the treaty +promised them; and that in several matters of importance, +immunities have been granted them that the people of the mother +country did not share. + +The Assistant Colonial Secretary of Spain concludes a voluminous +defense of the policy of his government in Cuba as follows: + +There is thus no reason in Cuba to complain of the illiberality of +the laws. If there has been any shortcoming in respect to morals, +the nation is not to blame; none but the colonial provinces are to +blame for this; if we proposed to seek comfort in comparisons, it +would not be necessary to look for them in South America, in the +countries that have emancipated themselves from the Spanish +mother-country, because examples (some of them very recent) of +acts of violence, anarchy and scandalous outbreaks could be found +in the States of the Union itself. + +In respect to another matter, a great deal of foolish talk is +indulged in. From the statements of some people it would appear +that Cuba does nothing but contribute, by the taxes which it pays, +to alleviate the burdens of the peninsular treasury, whereas, in +reality, just the contrary is the truth. The nation has, of late, +guaranteed the conversion of Spanish debts in Cuba, which took +place in 1886 and 1890. Owing to these operations, and to the fact +that all taxes which did not have to be met directly by its +government have been rigorously eliminated from the budget of +Cuba, it was possible to reduce the Cuban budget from forty-six +and one-half million dollars, which was its amount at the close of +the former war (for the fiscal year of 1878-79) to a little more +than twenty-three millions of dollars, as appears from the budget +of 1893. + +The financial laws have been assimilated, and if the system of +taxation has not been entirely assimilated, this is because of the +fact that direct taxes are very repugnant to the popular feeling +in Cuba, especially the tax on land, which is the basis of the +Peninsular budget. It appears, however, that our Cuban brethren +have no reason to complain in this respect. The direct tax on +rural property is two per cent, in Cuba, whereas in Spain it is +seventeen, and even twenty per cent. It is evident that every +budget must be based on something; in Cuba, as in all other +countries in which the natural conditions are similar, that +something must necessarily be the income from customs duties. +Notwithstanding this, it may be remarked that in the years when +the greatest financial distress prevailed, the Spanish Government +never hesitated to sacrifice that income when it was necessary to +do so in order to meet the especial need of the principal +agricultural product of Cuba. Consequently the Spanish commercial +treaty with the United States was concluded, which certainly had +not been concluded before, owing to any fault of the Spanish +Government. Under that treaty, the principal object of which was +to encourage the exportation of Cuban sugar, which found its chief +market in the States of the Union, many Spanish industries were +sacrificed which have formerly supplied the wants of the people of +Cuba. That sacrifice was unhesitatingly made, and now that the +treaty is no longer in force, is due to the fact that the new +American tariff has stricken sugar from the free list. + +Attention may also be called to the fact that the colonial +provinces alone enjoy exemption from the blood tax, Cuba never +having been obliged to furnish military recruits. + +The disqualifications of the Cubans to hold public office is +purely a myth. Such disqualifications is found on the text of no +law or regulation, and in point of fact there is no such +exclusion. In order to verify this assertion it would be +sufficient to examine the lists of Cuban officers, especially of +those employed in the administration of justice and in all +branches of instruction. Even if it were desired to make a +comparison of political offices, even of those connected with the +functions which are discharged in the Peninsula, the proportion +would still be shown in which Spaniards in Cuba aspire to both. +The fact is that a common fallacy is appealed to in the language +habitually used by the enemies of Spain, who call persons +"Peninsulars" who were not born in Cuba, but have resided there +many years and have all their ties and interests there, and do not +call those "Cubans" who were born there and have left the island +in order to meet necessities connected, perhaps, with their +occupation. This was done in the Senate, when the advocates of the +separation of Cuba only were called "Cubans," while those only who +refused allegiance to the Spanish mother-country were called +patriots. + +In conclusion, I will relate a fact which may appear to be a joke, +but which, in a certain way, furnished proof of what I have just +said. When Rafael Gasset returned from Habana, he came and asked +me for some data showing the proportion of Cubans holding office +under our Government. I asked him, as a preliminary question, for +a definition of what we were to understand by "Cuban" and what by +"Peninsular." He immediately admitted that the decision of the +whole question was based upon that definition, and I called his +attention to the fact that here, in the Ministry of the Colonies, +at the present time, there are three high governmental +functionaries. One is a representative from Habana, being at the +same time a professor in its University, and another, viz., your +humble servant, is a Spaniard because he was born in Habana +itself. Is the other man a Peninsular, and am I not a Cuban? + +GUILLERMO. Assistant Colonial Secretary of Spain. + +This is the argument from the Peninsular standpoint, and it is +probably made in good faith. But while the Spanish rule in Cuba +may seem to be just and equitable in theory, it is oppressive and +tyrannical in fact. While the government may have partly carried +out the letter of its promises, there has been no effort to +fulfill the spirit of the compact in the slighest degree, and the +violated pledges of the treaty of Zanjon only add new chapters to +the long record of Spanish treachery and deceit. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +PREPARATIONS FOR ANOTHER REBELLION. + +Spain's Policy of Distrust--The Cost of the Ten Years' War--Work +of the Cuban Exiles--Revolutionary Clubs in the Western +Hemisphere--An Expedition Checked--Heroism of Cuban Women--The +Struggle Begun. + + +Ever since Spain lost her colonies on the American continent the +Cubans have striven to gain their independence. The Ten Years War +cost the mother country 300,000,000 pesetas and 100,000 men, most +of them victims of yellow fever. When slavery was abolished in +1880 fresh disturbances ensued. The majority of slave holders, who +received no compensation, joined the party of independence. + +Spain, adhering to her old policy of distrust, retained a large +army in Cuba and a navy round about her shores, the expenses of +which caused the budget to amount to $46,594,000 at a time when +two-thirds of the island was nothing but a mass of ruins, and when +Cuba was beginning to feel the effects of the competition with +other sugar-producing countries. + +While the European manufacturers received important bounties those +of Cuba had to pay export duties on their sugar, and the +importation of all agricultural and industrial implements was +subjected to a tariff almost prohibitive. + +Two laws were enacted in 1882 to regulate commerce between Cuba +and Spain. By the provisions of these laws the import duties on +all Spanish products were to be gradually diminished until their +importation in Cuba became entirely free, while the Cubans had to +pay on their imports to Spain duties which practically closed the +Spanish market to all their products. + +Spanish goods, as a rule, are much inferior to those of English, +French or American manufacture, but the Cuban consumer was forced +to buy Spanish goods or pay an exorbitant price for those which he +would have preferred to buy at a fair price. An instance will +suffice to illustrate this: When the present war began in 1895 the +duty on a hundred kilogrammes of woolen cashmere was fifteen +dollars and forty-seven cents if Spanish, three hundred dollars +if foreign. These differential duties opened a reign of prosperity +for industry in Spain, where foreign goods were imported or +smuggled, to be later sent to Cuba as Spanish. + +The injustice of these commercial laws was so evident and so +detrimental to the interests of Cuba that in 1894 the Planters' +Association, the president of which, the Count de Diana, was a +Spaniard, referred to them as "destructive of our public wealth, a +source of inextinguishable discontent and the germ of serious +dissensions." + +The insular budgets could never be covered, and the result was +that the public debt was kept on the increase. The expenditures +were classed as follows: For army and navy, 36.59 per cent of the +budget's total; for the debt, 40.89; for justice and government, +19.77, and for public works, 2.75. No public work of any kind was +begun in the seventeen years which intervened between the two +wars. + +The Cuban Treasury, between 1823 and 1864, sent to Spain +$82,165,436 in gold. This money entered the Spanish Treasury as +"Colonial surplus," but as a Spanish writer (Zaragoza) says in his +book, "Las Insurrecciones de Cuba," it was absurd to speak of a +surplus when not even the opening of a bad road was undertaken. + +Politically, the condition of the Cubans after the restoration of +peace in 1878, was as bad as it had been before. Laws existed +which might lead unobserving persons to believe that the Cubans +enjoyed every liberty, but as a matter of fact the Cubans were +kept under the most unbearable vassalage. The Spaniards in Cuba +before this war numbered only 9.30 per cent of the island's +population, but, availing themselves of a law which gave to them a +majority in the electoral census, they were to return twenty-four +of the thirty deputies which the island then sent to the Spanish +Cortes. + +So restrictive was the electoral law that only 53,000 men were +qualified to vote in the entire island, although its population +was 1,762,000. In the municipal district of Guines, with a +population of 12,500 Cubans and 500 Spaniards, the electoral +census included 400 Spaniards and thirty-two Cubans. This is one +among many similar instances. The Board of Aldermen in Havana, the +capital city of the island, has for years been made up entirely of +Spaniards, and the same may be said of Cienfuegos and other +important cities. + +Despite all constitutional provisions the governor-general of the +island had the power to deport from the island, without a trial, +any person whose presence there he considered dangerous to the +security of the State. The island was at peace when Cepeda, Lopez +de Brinas and Marquez Sterling, all journalists, were deported. +The liberty of the press was and still is a myth. El Pais, the +Autonomist organ, was criminally prosecuted in 1889 because it +denounced the appointment of one of the sons of the president of +the Havana Court of Appeals to a place which he could not lawfully +hold. + +What liberty of association the Cubans enjoyed may be judged from +the fact that a delegate of the government had to be present at +their meetings, with power to dissolve them whenever he saw fit to +do so. + +No Cuban was able to obtain a place in the administration unless +he was rich enough to go to Madrid and there become acquainted +with some influential politician. Even so, Cubans seldom succeeded +in being appointed to places of importance. + +The Cuban exiles in Key West, New York and other cities in the +United States, and in Costa Rica, Honduras, Santo Domingo and +other parts of Spanish America, had been planning a new uprising +for several years. The desire of the Cubans for national +independence was quickened by what they suffered from Spain's +misgovernment. For two or three years the exiles in the United +States and Spanish American countries, veterans of the war of +1868-78, and younger champions of free Cuba, organized clubs, +collected a war fund, purchased munitions of war and laid plans +with their compatriots in Cuba for a new struggle for +independence. There were 140 revolutionary clubs in North and +South America, Cuba and other West India islands, affiliated under +the name of the revolutionary party, ready to support an uprising +with financial and moral aid. Cuban workingmen in the United +States promised to contribute a tenth of their earnings, or more +if necessary. There were firearms on the island that had remained +concealed since the former war, some had been bought from corrupt +custodians of the government arsenals, who, finding it impossible +to get pay due them from Spain, took this method of securing what +was rightfully theirs. + +AN EXPEDITION CHECKED. + +An expedition that planned to sail in the yacht Lagonda from +Fernandina, Fla., on January 14, 1895, was broken up by the United +States authorities. General Antonio Maceo, its leader, with Jose +Marti, the political organizer of the new government, went to +Santo Domingo, where they could confer with the revolutionist +leaders living in Cuba. There Marti found Maximo Gomez, the +veteran of a dozen struggles and a brave and able soldier, and +offered him the command and organization of the army. Gomez +accepted and began at once to arrange his programme. + +The plan of the revolutionists was to rise simultaneously in the +six provinces on February 24. The leaders on the island and the +organizers abroad had a thorough understanding. + +HEROISM OF CUBAN WOMEN. + +The men of Cuba were not alone in their plans for independence, +for their wives and sisters, mothers and sweethearts, were +enthusiastic and faithful allies. The island was full of devoted +women reared in indolence and luxury who were tireless in their +successful efforts to get word from, one scattered rebel band to +another, and to send them food, medicines and clothing. These +women were far better conspirators than their fathers and +brothers, for Cuban men must talk, but the women seem to know the +value of silence. + +Beautiful and delicate senoritas would disguise themselves in +men's attire and steal out at night to the near-by haunts of lover +or brother in the "Long Grass," as the insurgents' camps are +called, with food secreted in false pockets, or letters, whose +envelopes had been dipped in ink, hidden in their black hair. +Medicines were carried in canes, and cloth for clothes or wounds +was concealed in the lining of coats. One girl, disguised as a +vender, frequently carried to the woods dynamite in egg shells +deftly put together. + +She had many thrilling experiences, but her narrowest escape was +when a Spanish soldier by the roadside insisted on taking from the +basket an egg, to let its contents drop in a hot and ready pan. He +was with difficulty persuaded to forego the meal. The dynamite was +made by another woman, who carefully obtained the ingredients at +various times and at widely scattered drug stores. + +And so, with almost every Cuban man, woman and child united in a +fixed determination to make the island one of the free and +independent nations of the earth, the final struggle was begun. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE CUBAN JUNTA AND ITS WORK. + +Organization Which Has Represented the Insurgents in the United +States--Splendid Work Done by Senor Tomas Estrada Palma and His +Staff--Sources of the War Funds--Generosity of Cuban Cigar Makers +Who Have Supported the Revolution--Liberal Gifts from Americans-- +Some Inside Facts about Filibustering--American Sailors Do Not +Like to Capture Insurgent Supplies--Palma's Address to the +American People. + + +From the moment of the first outbreak of insurrection in Cuba, in +February, 1895, the name of the Cuban Junta has been a familiar +phrase to everyone in the United States, and yet its functions and +its organization have been by no means well understood. There have +been those in Congress and elsewhere who have spoken of it +slightingly as an organization banded together for its own profit +in some way, not realizing that its members were the trusted +representatives abroad of the whole Cuban people. + +The parallels between the Cuban insurrection and that of the +American colonies against Great Britain in 1776, are far more +numerous than has been recognized. The Cuban army has been poorly +clothed and scantily fed at times, and equipped with all sorts of +obsolete weapons of offence. But these things are m> disgrace, and +indeed are the basis of much of the pride that Americans take in +the splendid work which their ancestors did in that other +insurrection, which, having resulted successfully, is now known as +the American Revolution. There have been sneers at the government +of the Cuban republic because its officers have had to move from +place to place at various times, in order to avoid threatened +capture by the Spanish forces. But was there ever a more +peripatetic national government than that of the American colonies +during the Revolution, when the legislature and its officers sat +successively in Philadelphia, Germantown, Princeton, New York and +several other places, driven out of each in turn by the same fear +of capture by British troops? + +Finally, it ought to be remembered, though it may not be, that the +colonies maintained an organization exactly similar to that of the +Cuban Junta in New York, for the purpose of securing money and +support from the people and the governments of Europe, to whom +they were accredited. The only country which gave them welcome +encouragement was France. But Benjamin Franklin's position in +Paris as the head of what was virtually the American Junta, was +then and is now an honor to his name and his countrymen. It +enlisted the same aid from France and French citizens that the +Cuban Junta in New York has enlisted from the United States and +American citizens, and there is no reason to form any less +creditable judgment of the latter enterprise than the former. + +CHARACTER OF THE WORK OF THE JUNTA. + +The Junta is the organization through which Cuba's friends reach +the Cubans in the field. In many places these friends are banded +together and work for the Cuban cause as organizations. In the +United States and Europe there are 300 Cuban revolutionary clubs, +with a membership of more than 50,000. These clubs were the +outcome of a suggestion originating with Jose Marti, and their +organization has been accomplished by the delegation, with whom +they are all in closest touch, to whom they all account, and +through whom they all make contributions in money, clothing, +provisions, arms, and munitions for those who are enduring the +hardships of the war. Before the revolution began these clubs had +$100,000 in bank as a war fund. + +These most vital contributions must reach the army in the field, +and it is the business of the delegation to see that they get +there. And they have been getting there under most adverse and +trying circumstances, and amid perils of land and sea where +enemies are watching and where a friendly government has had to +guard against the violation of neutrality laws. + +For accomplishing its work the Junta has in no way been restricted +in authority, the Cuban government having even granted special +authority allowing Mr. Palma to issue a limited amount of bonds, +coin money, and grant letters of marque. + +It has further been the business of the Junta--attended by risk of +life to its agents--to keep in communication with the insurgents. +This has been done by secret agents who come and go from New York +to Key West, from Key West to Havana, from Havana into Spanish +cities of Cuba and through the provinces of the island. + +The headquarters of the Junta bears no outward sign except that +the stars and stripes and the single starred flag of Cuba wave +from the third-story window, where is Mr. Palma's office. A narrow +hall and tortuous stairs lead to the office of the delegate, where +on every side are signs of active business, with shelves, tables, +and desks holding heaps of letters, books of accounts, and +documents of various sorts. Here the delegate works, receives his +friends, coworkers, and agents. + +Off the main room is a private office, where secret agents report +and are instructed, and where councils of moment are held and +decisions of vital import to the Cuban cause reached, to be +followed by orders that are of immense importance to the army of +liberation. + +The Cuban Junta, with its headquarters, represents the legation of +the Cuban republic abroad, and the head of the Junta, as it is +called, is T. Estrada Palma. Properly speaking he is the delegate, +and with the members of his ministerial and diplomatic household +constitutes the delegation of the Cuban republic. + +The term "Junta" has been applied because such a body or council +was attached to the diplomatic department of Cuba during the Ten +Years' war. As the authority of the Junta frequently restricted +the action of the delegate, the promoters of the present +revolution decided to eliminate it; yet the name remains, and is +used and accepted to designate Mr. Palma and his associates. + +AUTHORITY OF THE JUNTA. + +This Junta, as the representative of the Cuban republic, acts on +high authority, for the delegation was appointed on September 19, +1895, by the Constituent Assembly that formed the government and +commissioned Maximo Gomez chief commander of the Cuban army. At +the same time it made Mr. Palma delegate and Cuban representative +abroad, with authority to appoint ministers to all governments and +to have control of all of Cuba's diplomatic relations and +representatives throughout the world. Besides this, Mr. Palma is +the duly accredited minister from Cuba to the United States, and +in the event of the Cuban republic being recognized would be +received as such. + +Under his authority Mr. Palma has appointed sub-delegates, or +diplomatic agents, in France, Italy, Mexico, and the Central and +South American republics. Cuba's independence not being +acknowledged by these nations, her ministers are not officially +recognized, but are often unofficially received at the "back +door," and exert an influence for the benefit of Cuba in the +countries to which they are appointed. + +Mr. Palma is in reality the head of the Cuban revolutionary party +abroad, which is one of the three departments of the Cuban +revolutionary government, the two others being the civil +government and the army of liberation. + +This Cuban revolutionary branch was founded by Jose Marti, who is +regarded by the Cubans as the apostle and master mind of the Cuban +revolution. + +Mr. Palma is not only the head and front of the Junta, but he is +the one person in whom its authority is centered. He was born in +Cuba about sixty years ago, and in his tender youth imbibed the +spirit of liberty for the island, a spirit which grew with him +until it influenced his every word and act, and finally received +his entire devotion. So direct, gentle, yet determined are his +methods, and so unassuming and plain is he in speech and manner +that he soon became known as the "Cuban Franklin," and more firmly +has the name become attached to him since the potent influence of +his policy has been felt throughout the world. + +During the Ten Years' war Mr. Palma was President of the Cuban +republic; was made prisoner by Spanish troops, and sent to Spain, +where he was imprisoned until the close of the conflict. While in +Spain, absolutely suffering under the hardships of imprisonment, +he was offered freedom if he would swear allegiance to the Spanish +crown. + +"No!" was his answer. "You may shoot me if you will, but if I am +shot it will be as the President of the Cuban republic." + +Besides Mr. Palma, the only members of the delegation appointed by the +Cuban government are: Dr. Joaquin D. Castillo, the sub-delegate; +Benjamin J. Guerra, treasurer of the republic abroad, and Gonzalo de +Quesada, charge d'affaires at Washington. + +Dr. Castillo is vice-delegate and would take Mr. Palma's place in +case of his death or inability to act. + +SOURCES OF THE WAR FUNDS. + +The Junta, whose duty it has been to provide the funds for the +carrying on of the war, has had various sources of income, all of +them distinctly creditable, both to the integrity of the Cuban +authorities and to the sentiments of those who have contributed +the money. The larger portion of the cash has come in small +contributions from Cubans living in the United States. The +cigarmakers of Key West, Tampa, Jacksonville, New York and other +cities where large Cuban colonies have congregated, have proven +their patriotism and their adherence to the cause by giving more +generously of their earnings than has ever been done before by the +people of any country struggling for freedom. There is scarcely an +exception to the assertion that every Cuban in America has shared +in contributions to the war fund. + +The minimum contribution has been ten per cent of the weekly +earnings, and this has brought an enormous sum into the coffers of +the Junta for war purposes. It is true that a war chest of $50,000 +or $100,000 a week would be hardly a drop in the bucket for the +conduct of the war after the established methods of organized +armies. But this has been a war for liberty, and the conditions +have been unique. No soldier in all the armies of Cuba Libre has +ever drawn one dollar of pay for his service. Thousands of them +have been fighting from the first outbreak of insurrection, +without receiving a cent of money for it. If the pay of an army be +deducted from the expenses of a war, the largest item is saved. + +Nor has it been necessary to purchase many clothes, owing to the +mildness of the Cuban climate, which fights in favor of those who +are accustomed to it. The commissary department, too, has been +almost non-existent, and the soldiers in the field have lived by +foraging and by collecting the vegetables and fruits saved for +them by the women and children, whose hearts are as deep in the +conflict as are their own. The principal demand for money has been +to procure arms, ammunition and medical and surgical supplies. + +In addition to the contributions which have come from patriotic +Cubans, another large source of income to the Junta has been the +silent liberality of many American citizens, who have proved their +practical sympathy to the cause of freedom by giving of their +wealth to aid it. Outside of these sources, the only income has +been from the sale of bonds of the Cuban republic, a means of +obtaining money which has been used conservatively, so that the +infant republic should not be saddled with a heavy debt at the +outset of its career as an independent nation. + +Aside from the contributions of money to the Cuban powers, +enormous quantities of medical and surgical supplies and hospital +delicacies have been offered by the generous people of the United +States, organized into Cuban Auxiliary Aid Societies in the +various cities of the country. American women have taken a +prominent part in this movement and have won thereby the undying +gratitude of the Cubans. + +SOME FACTS ABOUT FILIBUSTERING. + +The sailing of vessels from New York and other ports with cargoes +of supplies for the Cuban revolutionists has been a frequent +occurrence, far more so than has been known to the public. +Filibustering is a phrase that has gained honor during these three +years, such as it never had before. Carried on in the cause of +humanity and liberty, its motives justified its irregularities, +and there have been few to condemn the practice. In the fogs of an +early morning, some fast steamer would slip away from an Atlantic +port, loaded with arms, ammunition, quinine, and all sorts of +hospital, medical and surgical supplies, accompanied usually by a +band of Cuban patriots, seeking the first opportunity to return to +their beautiful island and take up arms for its liberation. There +have been a few such expeditions captured, but for everyone +captured a score have reached their destination on the Cuban coast +without interruption, and have landed their cargo in safety in +insurgent camps. + +The United States government, in recognition of its diplomatic +obligations, spent millions of dollars prior to the outbreak of +our war with Spain, in carrying on a patrol service of the +Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico, to prevent the sailing of +filibustering expeditions. Now that the day of such patrol service +in the aid of Spain is ended forever, there can be no harm in +telling some of the details that might have been compromising +before. + +American cruisers and gunboats were stationed in the harbors +around the coast, from New York to New Orleans, and particularly +on both sides of the Florida peninsula. To one of these vessels +would come the news that a suspected filibustering craft was +likely to sail from a certain place at a certain time, and orders +would be given to intercept the rover if possible. To one who did +not know the temper and the spirit of American sailors from +highest to lowest in the service of the navy, the actions that +followed might have been puzzling. In spite of the proverbial +alacrity and readiness with which an American vessel can make +sail, there was always a delay at such times. It was almost +certain that something would be wrong that would require some time +to correct before the anchor could be weighed. It might be +necessary to buy provisions or to take on coal before sailing, and +then, more than once after the anchor was weighed and the actual +start begun, it would be discovered that some minor accident had +occurred to the machinery, which would require another halt to +repair it. Finally at sea, the cruiser would steam away at full +speed in the direction of the reported filibuster, until her hull +and even her smoke disappeared far down in the horizon. + +CAPTURING OF FILIBUSTERING VESSELS. + +What happened after that no one ashore could know. But more than +once there were grave suspicions that other delays occurred as +goon as the vessel was well out of sight, or that the course was +changed in pursuit of some other passing vessel, until after a few +hours' chase it would be discovered to be an unoffending craft, +and the course would be resumed towards the goal, as first +ordered. + +However these things may be, it is certain that the capture of a +filibustering vessel before her cargo was discharged was an almost +unknown event, and that the capture of such a craft after her +cargo was discharged could in no way be disastrous to the Cuban +cause when nothing could be proved against the boat or her men. +Certain it is that no officer or sailor in the American navy ever +wanted to capture a filibuster. To an American it was a blot on +the honor of the ship that it should be used to intercept arms and +ammunition on their way to an oppressed people struggling for +their freedom. It is safe to say that the two or three captures +which were made of filibusters at such a time that their +confiscation and the conviction of their officers could not be +avoided, was a distinct grief to every man who participated in the +chase and the punishments that followed. + +No one can deny the integrity or the ability of the men who are +enlisted in the cause of Cuba as the New York Junta, who knows the +facts as to their personality and the work they have done. Some of +the diplomatic and state papers which have been issued by Senor +Palma are worthy to take rank with the utterances of any American +who has gained fame in national history for similar work. A +notable instance of the dignity and the eloquence with which he +speaks, is found in the proclamation to the people of the United +States which he issued but a few weeks before the outbreak of our +war with Spain. He said: + +SENOR PALMA ON THE SPANISH CONCESSIONS. + +"The persistency with which the American press has during the last +few days been treating of supposed administrative reforms to be +introduced in Cuba by the government of Spain, compels me to +request the publication of the following declarations, which I +make in behalf of my government, of the army of liberation of +Cuba, and of the Cuban revolutionary party. + +"The question of the proposed reforms is not a matter which at all +concerns those who have already established an independent +government in Cuba and have resolved to shrink from no sacrifice +of property or life in order to emancipate the whole island from +the Spanish yoke. If the Spanish residents of the island who are +favored by the Spanish government with all sorts of privileges and +monopolies, and if the handful of Cubans, too pusillanimous or too +proud to acknowledge their error, or a few foreigners guided only +by selfish interests, are satisfied that Cuba should remain under +Spanish domination, we who fight under the flag of the solitary +star, we who already constitute the Republic of Cuba, and belong +to a free people with its own government and its own laws, are +firmly resolved to listen to no compromise and to treat with Spain +on the basis of absolute independence for Cuba. + +"If Spain has power to exterminate us, then let her convert the +island into a vast cemetery; if she has not and wishes to +terminate the war before the whole country is reduced to ashes, +then let her adopt the only measure that will put an end to it and +recognize our independence. Spain must know by this time that +while there is a single living Cuban with dignity--and there are +many thousands of them--there will not be peace in Cuba, nor even +hope of it. + +"All good causes must finally triumph, and ours is a good cause. +It is the cause of justice treated with contempt, of right +suppressed by force, and of the dignity of a people offended to +the last degree. + +"We Cubans have a thousandfold more reason in our endeavors to +free ourselves from the Spanish yoke than the people of the +thirteen colonies had when in 1776 they rose in arms against the +British government. + +COMPARISONS WITH THE AMERICAN COLONIES. + +"The people of these colonies were in full enjoyment of all the rights +of man; they had liberty of conscience, freedom of speech, liberty of +the press, the right of public meeting and the right of free locomotion; +they elected those who governed them, they made their own laws and, in +fact, enjoyed the blessings of self-government. They were not under the +sway of a captain-general with arbitrary powers, who at his will could +imprison them, deport them to penal colonies, or order their execution +even without the semblance of a court-martial. They did not have to pay +a permanent army and navy that they might be kept in subjection, nor to +feed a swarm of hungry employes yearly sent over from the metropolis to +prey upon the country. + +"They were never subjected to a stupid and crushing customs tariff +which compelled them to go to the home markets for millions of +merchandise annually, which they could buy much cheaper elsewhere; +they were never compelled to cover a budget of $26,000,000 or +$30,000,000 a year, without the consent of the tax-payers, and for +the purposes of defraying the expenses of the army and navy of the +oppressor, to pay the salaries of thousands of worthless European +employes, the whole interest on a debt not incurred by the colony, +and other expenditures from which the island received no benefit +whatever; for out of all those millions only the paltry sum of +$700,000 was apparently applied for works of internal improvement +and one-half of this invariably went into the pockets of the +Spanish employes. + +"We have thrown ourselves into the struggle advisedly and +deliberately; we knew what we would have to face, and we decided +unflinchingly to persevere until we should emancipate ourselves +from the Spanish government. And we know that we are able to do +it, as we know that we are competent to govern ourselves. + +"Among other proofs which could be adduced of the ability of the +Cuban white and colored to rule themselves, is the strong +organization of the Cuban revolutionary party in America. It is +composed of more than 20,000 Cubans, living in different countries +of the new world and formed into clubs, the members of which +yearly elect their leader. This organization has been in existence +over five years, during which every member has strictly discharged +his duties, has respected without any interruption the regulations +and obeyed the elected delegate loyally and faithfully. Among the +members of the clubs there are several Spaniards, who enjoy the +same rights as the Cubans, and who live with them in fraternal +harmony. This fact and that of the many Spaniards incorporated +into our army, fully demonstrate that our revolution is not the +result of personal hatred, but an uprising inspired only by the +natural love of liberty and free institutions. The war in Cuba has +for its only object the overthrow of Spanish power, and to +establish an independent republic, under whose beneficent laws the +Spaniards may continue to live side by side with the Cubans as +members of the same community and citizens of the same nation. +This is our programme and we strictly adhere to it. + +"The revolution is powerful and deeply rooted in the hearts of the +Cuban people, and there is no Spanish power, no power in the +world, that can stop its march. The war, since General Weyler took +command of the Spanish army, has assumed a cruel character. His +troops shoot the Cuban prisoners, pursue and kill the sick and +wounded, assassinate the unarmed, and burn their houses. The Cuban +troops, on their part, destroy, as a war measure, the machinery +and buildings of the sugar plantations and are firmly resolved not +to leave one stone upon another during their campaign. + +"Let those who can put an end to this war reflect that our liberty +is being gained with the blood of thousands of Cuban victims, +among whom is numbered Jose Marti, the apostle and martyr of our +revolution. Let them consider that before the sacred memory of +this new redeemer there is not a single Cuban who will withdraw +from the work of emancipation without feeling ashamed of +abandoning the flag which on the 24th of February, 1895, was +raised by the beloved master. + +"It is time for the Cuban people to satisfy their just desire for +a place among the free nations of the world and let them not be +accused if to accomplish their noble purpose they are obliged to +reduce to ashes the Cuban land. + +Tomas Estrada Palma." + + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +KEY WEST AND THE CUBANS. + +Cuban Refugees in Key West--Their Devotion to the Cause-- +Peculiarities of the Town--Odd Sights and Sounds--Filibusters and +Their Work--The First Authorized Expedition--It Is a Failure--The +Second More Successful--Landing Supplies for the Insurgents-- +Captain Jose Lacret, and Some of His Adventures. + + +The island of Key West lies sixty miles south of Cape Sable, the +most southerly point of the mainland of Florida, and is seven +miles long and from one to two miles broad. The city covers nearly +one-half of the island and has a population of about 25,000. Key +West has been described as being "to Cuba what Gibraltar is to +Ceuta, to the Gulf of Mexico what Gibraltar is to the +Mediterranean." It is one of the chief naval stations of the +United States and is strongly fortified. + +The most important industry is the making of cigars, which gives +employment to thousands of Cubans, who make up a large majority of +the population, and many of whom are refugees, charged with +political crimes, with a price set upon their heads. One of the +most important divisions of the Cuban Junta of the United States +has its headquarters here. Almost every Cuban in Key West gives +regularly a portion of his earnings to the cause, and many cargoes +of arms, ammunition and supplies have been sent to the insurgents +by their brethren on this little island. The city is unique in +many respects. It is made up of innumerable little wooden houses, +without chimneys, but crowded in irregular groups. Many of the +houses have wooden shutters in place of glass windows. + +On most of the streets there are no sidewalks, but people stumble +over the jagged edges of coral rock. There are a great number of +public vehicles, and one can be hailed at any corner and engaged +for 10 cents. Some of these carriages are quite respectable in +appearance. They are generally double-seated affairs, which have +been discarded in the north. The horses are wrecks, and they show +by their appearance that fodder is dear and that they are not half +fed. + +One of the sounds of Key West is the whacking of the horses which +draw the carriages and the mules which move the street cars from +place to place. + +The street cars look as if they had been dug up from the +neighborhood of the pyramids. Ropes are used for reins, and the +only substantial thing about the whole outfit is the great rawhide +whip, with which the street-car driver labors incessantly. The +people, as a rule, are opposed to excessive exertion, but they +make an exception in the case of labor with a whip. + +JOURNALISM, CLIMATE AND DOGS. + +The town has one struggling newspaper, which is worthy of a better +support. It is told of the editor that he came to Key West a +barefooted boy from Georgia, and worked his way up to his present +eminent position of instructor in etiquette and ethics to the four +hundred. + +Hundreds of dogs, cats, roosters, goats, and "razorbacks" run at +large through the streets, and the three former combine to make +night hideous. In the early evening the sound of negro meetings +and jubilations predominates. Then the cats begin where the +shouters leave off. Later, the dogs, sneaking and sore-eyed, and +more numerous than any other species, take up the refrain. They +howl and bark and keep on howling and barking, until sleep seems +impossible. At last, when the wakeful man thinks the row is over, +the roosters, the meanest, skinniest, loudest-mouthed roosters in +the world, continue the serenade until death seems a welcome, +especially the death of the roosters. + +NEGROES ALONE ARE PATRIOTIC. + +There is a strange mixture of races at Key West, but the negroes +are the most patriotic class. They alone celebrate the Fourth of +July and other national holidays. While the town has its +enlightened and respectable people, it also has a shoddy class, +whose ignorance of the rest of the world carries them to grotesque +extremes in their efforts to proclaim their greatness. + +Even in its schools Key West is peculiar. The schoolhouses are +built like cigar factories, and each has mounted upon the roof the +bell of an old locomotive. When the school bells are ringing it is +easy to close your eyes and imagine yourself in one of the great +railway depots of the north. + +THE FIRST AUTHORIZED EXPEDITION. + +Prior to the commencement of our war with Spain the United States +authorities kept a close watch on the Cubans in Key West, and made +every effort to prevent the shipment of supplies to the +insurgents. But as soon as the conflict was begun there was a +change in the policy and the government assisted the work in every +possible way. The first expedition was a failure. Under command of +Captain Dorst of the United States army the transport steamer +Gussie sailed from Key West with two companies of infantry on +board, in charge of 7,000 rifles and 200,000 rounds of ammunition, +intended for the insurgents of Pinar del Rio. The supplies were to +be conveyed to General Gomez by a force of insurgents encamped +three miles back from the coast. + +But the cargo was not landed, for the reason that the insurgents +were unable to meet the landing party at the rendezvous, and +Captain Dorst was compelled to return to Key West with his cargo. +The second attempt was more successful. Nearly 400 men, with a +pack train and a large quantity of arms and ammunition, sailed on +the Plant line steamer Florida from Key West, on the night of May +21. These men and the equipment constituted an expedition able to +operate independently and to defend itself against any body of +Spanish troops which might oppose it. + +The expedition was under the command of Captain Jose Lacret, +formerly insurgent commander in Matanzas province. He assumed the +direction of affairs immediately on the landing of the expedition. +Until then General Joaquin Castillo was in control. + +In the landing of the expedition the United States army was +represented by Captain J. A. Dorst, and Tomas Estrada Palma was +represented by J. E. Cartaya, who has been the landing agent of +nearly every filibustering expedition for more than a year. +Messrs. Castillo, Cartaya and Dorst returned to Key West. General +Julio Sanguilly, on his way to report to General Maximo Gomez, was +also on the boat. + +MOST POWERFUL OF THEM ALL. + +This was the most powerful anti-Spanish expedition sent to Cuba up +to that date. About 300 of the men were Cubans, the others +Americans. The engineer corps of the expedition was composed +entirely of Americans under Aurelian Ladd. + +The men were dressed in canvas uniforms furnished by the United +States government, and the commissary department had rations +enough to last fifteen days after the landing. The pack train +consisted of seventy-five mules and twenty-five horses. The +expedition carried 7,000 rifles and 3,000,000 rounds of ammunition +for General Calixto Garcia. + +GENERAL SANGUILLY'S RETURN. + +General Sanguilly's return to Cuba is a remarkable incident in his +extraordinary career. His gallant services in the Ten Years' War, +his arrest in Havana at the beginning of the present insurrection, +his sentence to death and his release at the intercession of +Secretary Sherman on a promise to remain outside of Cuba have made +him a conspicuous man. + +The expedition was convoyed by the cruiser Marblehead, the +torpedo-boat destroyer Eagle and other warships. Two younger +brothers of the late General Nestor Aranguren are with the +expedition. + +SOME OF LACRET'S ADVENTURES. + +When the present revolution in Cuba began General Jose Lacret +Morlot, by which title he is popularly known, secured passage on +the steamer Mascotte for Jamaica on his way to Cuba. The English +government had information regarding Lacret's movements and +prevented his sailing for Cuba from Jamaica. He then went to +Mexico and later to New York. At the latter place he consulted +with the junta and returned to Tampa. Here he embarked on the +steamer Olivette for Havana in the garb of a priest. + +Still in this disguise he boarded a train for Sagua la Grande. +Accompanying him were a large number of Spanish soldiers. His +being highly educated, a man of good presence and a "padre" were +sufficient to give him entrance into the best Spanish society of +Sagua la Grande. Lacret stopped at the finest hotel, and when in +the cafe sat at the alcalde's right hand. + +After communicating with the insurgents the "padre" suddenly +disappeared from the hotel. He joined the insurgents, and, +throwing off his priestly disguise, has since performed valorous +service for the cause of Cuban freedom. He was transferred to the +province of Matanzas soon after his arrival, and his career there +will form an interesting chapter in the history of Cuba. From +Matanzas province he was sent to the eastward as a delegate to the +assembly held in Puerto Principe last February, at which the new +government was formed. From this assembly he was directed to come +to this country as a bearer of dispatches to the junta. + +When the Florida, escorted by the Osceola, drew up close to the +shore at the place selected for the landing, she sent scouts to +see if all was clear. These scouts were greeted by Generals Feria +and Rojas, with about 1,500 armed insurgents. Therefore, far from +there being any hostile demonstration upon the part of the +Spaniards, the landing of the expedition was in the nature of a +triumphal invasion. The Cubans, who were in waiting for the party, +had a brass band and welcomed the newcomers with national airs. + +The work of unloading the cargo of the Florida was promptly begun +and carried on by the 432 men composing the expedition. There was +nothing in the nature of interruption and the work was soon +finished. + +HAD IT ALL THEIR OWN WAY. + +While the cargo was being unloaded the Osceola, an auxiliary +gunboat, with her guns ready for action, scouted about the +vicinity looking for an enemy. But the Spaniards apparently had no +suspicion of what was taking place. So easily was the dangerous +mission accomplished that while some members of the party were +getting the supplies ashore others were providing themselves with +fruit, sugar and other products of the landing place, a large +stock of which was brought back for Key West friends. + +The moment the work was concluded the Florida and the Osceola slipped +away, leaving the insurgents to convey their re-enforcements into the +interior, which was done without any casualty. + +The returning members of the Florida party brought with them +several hundred private letters, which give a complete insight +into the conditions prevailing in the blockaded island. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +ANOTHER STROKE FOR FREEDOM. + +The Beginning of the Revolt--Martial Law Declared in Santiago and +Matanzas--Arrival of Campos--The Blacks as Soldiers--No Caste +Prejudices--General Santocildes Killed--A Story of Maceo--Campos' +Campaign Fails--He Returns to Spain. + + +It was the intention of the insurgents to begin operations in the +six provinces on the same date, but at the appointed time three of +them failed to carry out the plan, and in only one was the aspect +at all threatening. In Havana and Matanzas the Spanish officials +had no difficulty in suppressing the insurrectionists, and the +leader in the former province, the editor of a newspaper, accepted +a pardon and returned to his work. + +In Santiago, however, which is thinly settled, the movement gained +ground steadily. The landing of a party of revolutionists from San +Domingo aroused the patriots, and were welcomed warmly, being +supplied with re-enforcements wherever they appeared. The +government professed to be merely annoyed, nothing more, and +pretended to look upon the patriots as mere brigands. Calleja +became alarmed at last when the determination of the insurgents +became known, and proclaimed martial law in Santiago and Matanzas, +and sent forces to both provinces. He could put only nine thousand +men in the field, however, and had only seven gunboats for coast +duty at his command. The commissary arrangements were miserable, +and frequently caused the interruption of important movements. The +insurgents were most ubiquitous, and would appear here and there +without the slightest warning, making raids on plantations, which +they plundered, and from which they enticed away the laborers, +disappearing in the swamps, where pursuit was impossible, and +appearing again in a day or so in some unexpected spot, and +repeating the same maneuvers. In this manner they terrorized the +loyalists, and ruined their prospects of raising a crop, and as +many depended solely upon the soil for their living this method of +warfare struck them a vital blow. + +At the end of March, 1895, Antonio Maceo, with sixteen comrades, +sailed from Costa Rica and landed at Baracoa, on the eastern end +of the island. They were surprised by a Spanish cavalry, but kept +up an intermittent fight for several hours, when Maceo managed to +elude his enemies and escape. After living in the woods for ten +days, making his way westward, he met a party of rebels, was +recognized and welcomed with great enthusiasm. He took command of +the insurgents in the neighborhood and began to get recruits +rapidly. He engaged in several sharp encounters with the Spanish +and did such effective service that the moral effect was noticed +immediately. He and his brother Jose were made generals. + +About the middle of April Maximo Gomez and Jose Marti landed from +San Domingo at about the same point where the Maceos had landed. +For days they were obliged to secrete themselves in a cave on +account of the presence of the enemy's pickets, but they finally +reached an insurgent camp, and Gomez entered upon his duties as +commander-in-chief. The insurgents now had an experienced leader +at their head, re-enforcements poured in, and they soon had a +force of six thousand men. + +ARRIVAL OF CAMPOS. + +The government had issued new calls for troops, and in April no +less than twenty-five thousand men were raised. Martinez Campos +came over from Spain, arriving at Santiago on April 16, and went +at once to Havana, where he relieved Calleja as captain-general. +Campos was a veteran, and expected to crush the insurrection at +once, but day by day his task grew more difficult. + +Gomez and Maceo, instead of being driven hither and thither, led +Campos a dance, and he was prevented from solidifying the two +trochas he had formed. Gomez never attempted pitched battles or +sieges, but harassed the enemy in every way possible, cutting off +their convoys, picking them off in detail, getting up night +alarms, and in every way annoying them. His hardened soldiers, +especially the negroes, could stand hardships and still keep in +good fighting condition, but with the Europeans, what between +yellow fever and the constant alarms of war, it was a different +story. No European soldier could live under the hardships and +exposures which seemed to put life into the negro soldiers. + +NO CASTE PREJUDICES. + +It must be understood that there is no caste feeling between the +negro and the pure-blooded Cuban. They march, eat and sleep side +by side. Moreover, the negroes make excellent soldiers, with finer +physique than the Cubans themselves, and equal powers of +endurance. + +The Cuban is small in stature compared to the American soldier, +but he is well set up, wiry, and apparently has unlimited staying +powers. He frequently lives on one meal a day, and that a poor +one, but he shows no signs whatever of being ill-fed; in fact, he +seems to thrive on it, and he has an uncomfortable habit of +marching six hours in the morning on an empty stomach, which would +be fatal to the ordinary Anglo-Saxon. + +About the first of July, Maceo, still in the province of Santiago, +concentrated the forces in the Holguin district and moved against +Bayamo, capturing one provision train after another that were en +route to that place. Campos took fifteen hundred men, with General +Santocildes second in command, and went to the relief of Bayamo. +About the middle of July he was attacked several miles from Bayamo +by Maceo with twenty-seven hundred rebels. He and his entire staff +narrowly escaped capture, and only the bravery of General +Santocildes averted this catastrophe. The brave general lost his +life and the Spaniards were forced to fly, after having fought for +five hours, surrounded on all sides by the rebels. They finally +made their escape to Bayamo, the rear guard covering their retreat +with great difficulty. + +Flor Crombet had fallen in battle several weeks before this fight +and Marti had been killed in an insignificant fight at Dos Rios. +Gomez had passed into Camaguay to add fire to the insurrection and +Maceo had been left in command in the province of Santiago. To him +was Campos indebted for his defeat. He escaped capture as if by +intuition. A new snare had been spread for him by Maceo after the +death of Santocildes, and he was already within its meshes, when, +intuitively divining the situation, he came to an about face and +fled to Bayamo by an unused road, covered by impassable thickets +in the rear of Maceo's victorious troops. + +The Spaniards were rapidly re-enforced after the escape to Bayamo, +and Maceo, with Quintin Bandero, began to fall back to his +impregnable mountain retreat at Jarahuica. This was in the heart +of Santiago de Cuba, over a hundred miles east of Bayamo and +twenty-five miles northeast of the port of Santiago. His war-worn +army needed rest, recruits, and supplies. Once in his mountain +fastness, he was perfectly secure, as no Spanish army would trust +itself in the rocky range. News of his movements had reached +Santiago and a strenuous effort was being made to head him off at +San Luis, a railroad town fifteen miles north-west of that city. +Nothing, however, escaped the observation of the Cuban general. +With wonderful prescience he anticipated the movements of the +Spaniards. His troopers were armed with machetes and the infantry +with rifles and ammunition captured at Paralejo. Bandera commanded +this band of blacks. The march had been terrific, and horses and +men were nearly fagged. With sparse supplies the pace had been +kept up for hours. The sun had gone down and the moon was flooding +the fronds of the palms with pale, silvery light. Maceo held a +short conference with Quintin Bandera, and not long afterward the +blacks wheeled in column and disappeared. + +Meantime the Cuban cavalry continued its course. By midnight it +had reached Cemetery Hill, overlooking the town of San Luis. The +moon was half way down the sky. Maceo sat upon his horse surveying +the scene below him long and silently. The little town was aglow +with electric lights and the whistle of locomotives resounded in +the valley. Over three thousand Spanish troops were quartered in +the town and their movements were plainly discernible. Trains were +arriving hourly from Santiago, bearing strong re-enforcements. +Through a field-glass Maceo watched the stirring scene. He turned +the glass beyond the town and gazed through it patiently, +betraying a trace of anxiety. Finally he alighted and conferred +with Colonel Miro, his chief of staff. A moment afterward came the +order to dismount. Three hundred troopers obeyed and were about to +tether their horses when they were called to attention. A second +order reached their ears. They were told to stand motionless, with +both feet on the ground, and to await further orders with their +right hands' on their saddles. In the moonlight beneath the +scattered palms they stood as silent as if petrified. + +A STORY OF MACEO. + +Among them there was a newspaper correspondent who had known Maceo +many years, and who had parted with him at Port Limon, in Central +America, a few months before. He had joined the column just after +the battle of Paralejo. In obedience to orders he stood with his +arm over the back of his horse, blinking at the enlivening scene +below him. Exhausted by the day's march, his eyes closed and he +found it impossible to keep awake. A moment later he fastened the +bridle to his foot, wrapped himself in his rubber coat, placed a +satchel under his head, and fell asleep in the wet grass. The +adjutant soon awoke him, telling him that he had better get up, as +they were going to have a fight. He thanked the adjutant, who told +him there were over three thousand Spanish soldiers in San Luis +and that it was surrounded with fourteen blockhouses. The +correspondent soon curled himself on the grass a second time and +was in a sound slumber, when he was again aroused by the adjutant, +who told him he was in positive danger if he persisted in +disobeying the order of General Maceo. A third time his heavy +eyelids closed and he was in a dead sleep, when startled by a +peremptory shake. Jesus Mascons, Maceo's secretary, stood over +him. "Get up this instant," said he. "The general wants to see you +immediately." + +In a few seconds the correspondent was on his feet. The whistles +were still blowing and the electric lights still glowing in the +valley, and the moon was on the horizon. He went forward in some +trepidation, fancying that the general was going to upbraid him +for disobeying his orders. He was surprised to find him very +pleasant. Maceo always spoke in a low tone, as he had been shot +twice through the lungs. + +"Are you not hungry?" he asked. + +"No," the correspondent replied, wondering what was in the wind. + +"I thought possibly you might want something to eat," General +Maceo said, with a smile. "I have a boiled egg here and I want to +divide it with you." As he uttered these words he drew out his +machete and cut the egg straight through the center. Passing half +of it to the correspondent, he said: "Share it; it will do you +good." The newspaper man thanked the general and they ate the egg +in silence. He said afterward that the incident reminded him of +General Marion's breakfast with a British officer. He had read the +incident in Peter Parley's history of the revolution, when a +schoolboy. Marion raked a baked sweet potato out of the ashes of a +camp fire and divided it with his British guest. The officer +regretted the absence of salt, and the correspondent said he +experienced the same regret when he ate his portion of General +Maceo's egg. + +After munching the egg both men sat for some time observing the +stirring scene in the valley below them. The moon had gone down, +but in the glow of the electric lights they could see that the +activity among the Spaniards was as great as ever. Suddenly Maceo +turned to the correspondent and said abruptly: "Were you asleep +when Jesus called you?" + +"Oh, no," the correspondent replied, "I was not asleep; I was only +just tired--that was all." + +The general looked at him searchingly and then said: "Don't worry; +it is all right. We are going through that town in a few minutes. +There may be a fierce fight, and you will need a clear head. The +egg will give you strength." + +Within twenty minutes the little columns of three hundred men were +on the move. They led their horses down the hill about an hour +before daybreak, with the general in the lead. Silently and +stealthily they entered the outskirts of the town. The columns +passed two blockhouses without being observed and at the break of +day were beyond the town on the main road to Banabacoa. Meantime +the Spaniards had discovered them. The town was aroused and a +hundred and fifty Spanish cavalry headed the pursuit. The road +wound through fields of cane. A strong column of Spanish infantry +followed the cavalry. Maceo held his men in reserve and continued +his march, the Spanish troopers trailing after them like so many +wildcats. + +Suddenly, to their astonishment, Quintin Bandera's infantry arose +on either side of the road and almost annihilated the pursuing +column. Those who escaped alarmed the columns of infantry, who +returned to San Luis to fortify themselves. Maceo and Bandera +camped on the estate of Mejorana, about six miles away. It was +here that Marti, Gomez, the two Maceos, Crombet, Guerra, and Rabi +met not long before this to inaugurate the new revolution. Bandera +and Maceo found plenty of provisions at the estate, but no bread. +A small Cuban boy was sent to the Spanish commander at San Luis +with a note requesting him to be so kind as to send some bread to +visitors at the Mejorana plantation. The boy delivered the note +and the Spanish commander asked who sent him. Without a moment's +hesitation he replied: "General Maceo." The Spanish official +laughed and replied: "Very well, a supply of bread will be sent. +It will not be necessary for Maceo to come after it." What is more +remarkable is the fact that Maceo told the correspondent +beforehand that the bread would be sent, as the Spaniards had been +so frightened by Bandera on the previous day that they did not +want to invite another attack. That very evening the boy returned, +conveying many bags of bread. The Spaniards remained within the +town until Maceo had rested his army and departed for Jarahuica. + +CAMPOS' CAMPAIGN FAILS. + +Before the end of the year Campos' campaign was admitted to be a +failure. He could not depart from his humane policy, however, and +at the beginning of the year 1896 he returned to Spain. The rabid +Spaniards of Havana, having compelled Campos to tender his +resignation, demanded from Canovas a captain-general framed in the +old iron cast of the Spanish conquerors, not to fight battles and +risk his life in the field, but to exterminate the native +population. In their belief, women, children, everyone born in +Cuba, should be held responsible for the situation. They did not +like a soldier with a gallant career and personal courage. They +wanted an executioner. Canovas satisfied them and appointed Don +Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau to succeed Martinez Campos. + +The question may be asked why the insurgents after so many +victories did not invest the city of Havana, and end therewith the +Spanish dominion. The answer is very clear. After the battle of +Coliseo General Gomez reviewed his troops and found that each +soldier had only three cartridges. The Cubans in the United States +were making vain efforts to send a big expedition to the +insurgents, but the policy of our government was non-interference, +and they were checked in their plans. At Guira de Helena, on +January 4, 1896, the Cubans had to fight with their machetes to +enter the Province of Havana. + +If history does not afford a parallel of the stern resolution +displayed by the Cubans to die or to win in a struggle with all +the odds against them, neither does it present a case of stubborn +resistance to justice and human rights, and of barbarous cruelty, +which equals the record of Spain in Cuba. + + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +JOSE MARTI AND OTHER CUBAN HEROES. + +A Cuban Patriot--A Life Devoted to the Cause--First Work for +Cuba--Banished From His Native Land--He Returns to Fight for +Freedom--His Death--Maximo Gomez, General-in-Chief of the Cuban +Forces--His Methods of Warfare--Antonio Maceo, the Colored +Commander--Other Military Men of Note in the Cuban Army. + + +When the day comes that Cuba shall take her place among the free +and independent nations of the earth, Jose Marti, who probably did +more than any other one man to arouse the insurgents to make the +final struggle for liberty, will not be among them to share their +triumphs. Struck down, by a Spanish bullet, almost at the +commencement of the last revolution, he sleeps beneath the, +southern skies, and neither the clash of swords nor the thunder of +the cannon over his grave can disturb his rest. + +Born in Havana, the son of a Spanish army officer, he was taught +from his childhood days that the friends of Cuba's cause were +rebels, deserving of death. But as he grew older he commenced to +think for himself, and the more he learned of Spanish robbery, +injustice and cruelty, the more determined he became to devote his +life to the cause of his native land. + +While yet a mere boy, he began the work. He published clandestine +circulars, he wrote a play in which he depicted the wrongs +inflicted upon the island people; "Free Cuba" was his thought by +day, his dream at night. Through imprisonment and exile, in Spain, +Mexico and the United States, every action of his life was guided +by the one ambition. + +On April 14th, 1895, in company with Maximo Gomez, Marti landed on +the coast of Cuba, at Cobonico. His coming gave the insurgents new +courage, and their numbers increased rapidly. He was made a Major +General of the army, and in company with Gomez, who had seen +service in the previous campaign, he led a number of successful +attacks against detachments of the Spanish forces. + +After organizing an expedition that was to march to Puerto +Principe under Gomez's command, Marti intended to go to the +seacoast in order to return abroad and continue his work there in +favor of the secessionist revolution. + +About this time a man named Chacon was captured by Colonel +Sandoval, of the Spanish forces, and letters from the rebels were +found in his possession, and some money with which he was going to +make purchases for the insurgent chiefs. This man gave information +regarding the enemy's location, and acting upon this knowledge, +Colonel Sandoval, on the 19th of May, brought his army to La +Brija. The Hernan Cortez squadron, under Captain Capa, was in +vanguard, and attacked a band commanded by Bellito, which had come +to meet the column. + +When Colonel Sandoval heard of it, he advanced up to the plain of +Dos Rios, and ordered his infantry to open fire. A spirited combat +ensued, with fatal results to the insurgents, as the Spanish +guide, Antonio Oliva, running up to help a soldier who was +surrounded by a large group of the enemy, fired his rifle at a +horseman, who fell to the ground, and was found to be Jose Marti. +Captain Enrique Satue was the first to recognize him. A fight took +place upon the spot, the rebels trying hard to carry the corpse +away, but they were repulsed. Maximo Gomez was wounded in the +encounter, which for some days led to the belief that he too was +dead. According to one narrative, Gomez was in the midst of the +battle from the beginning, and while hurrying to recover the +corpse of Marti, he was slightly wounded. Others say that the +famous chief, had already taken leave of Marti to go to Camaguey, +when, passing at some distance from Dos Rios, he heard the report +of musketry. He imagined what was happening, and ran to rescue the +civil chief of the revolution, but when he arrived, Marti had been +killed. Gomez being wounded, Borrero took him on his own horse, +and in this manner carried him to a place of safety. The +Spaniards, after their victory, moved to Remanganagaus, where the +corpse of Marti was embalmed. From the latter town it was taken to +Santiago de Cuba, and while on the way there, the troops had to +repel an attack from the rebels, who intended to carry off the +coffin. On arriving at the city, the remains of Marti were +exhibited at the cemetery. Colonel Sandoval presided over the +funeral ceremonies, and the dead leader was given a decent resting +place. Here are Sandoval's words on the occasion: + +Gentlemen:--In presence of the corpse of him who in life was Jose +Marti, and in the absence of any relative or friend who might +speak over his remains such words as are customary, I request you +not to consider these remains to be those of an enemy any more, +but simply those of a man, carried by political discords to face +Spanish soldiers. From the moment the spirits have freed +themselves of matter they are sheltered and magnanimously pardoned +by the Almighty, and the abandoned matter is left in our care, for +us to dispel all rancorous feelings, and give the corpse such +Christian burial as is due to the dead. + +MAXIMO GOMEZ, THE GENERAL-IN-CHIEF. + +The General-in-Chief of the Cuban forces is Maximo Gomez, a man of +scholarly attainments, great intellect, and long experience in +military affairs. Formerly an officer of Spain, he explains his +present position in the following words: + +"When I gave up, in 1868, my uniform and rank as a Major of the +Spanish Army, it was because I knew that if I kept them. I would +have some day to meet my own children in the field, and combat +against their just desire for liberty. Now, with my many years, I +have come to lead and counsel the new generation to ultimate +victory." + +Of his methods in war, Thomas Alvord says: + +"General Gomez never has more than 300 or 400 men with him. His +favorite camp is near Arroyo Blanco, on a high plateau, difficult +to approach, and covered with dense thicket. He posts his outer +pickets at least three miles away, in directions from which the +enemy may come. The Spaniards, whenever possible, march by road, +and, with these highways well guarded, Gomez sleeps secure. He +knows that his pickets will be informed by some Cuban long before +the Spanish column leaves or passes the nearest village to attack +him. A shot from the farthest sentry causes little or no +excitement in Gomez's camp. The report throws the Spanish column +into fears of attack or ambush, and it moves forward very slowly +and carefully. Two pickets at such a time have been known to hold +2,000 men at bay for a whole day. If the column presses on, and +General Gomez hears a shot from a sentinel near by, he will rise +leisurely from his hammock and give orders to prepare to move +camp. He has had so many experiences of this kind that not until +he hears the volley-shooting of the oncoming Spaniards will he +call for his horse, give the word to march, and disappear, +followed by his entire force, into the tropical underbrush, which +closes like curtain behind him, leaving the Spaniards to discover +a deserted camp, without the slightest trace of the path taken by +its recent occupants. + +"Sometimes Gomez will move only a mile or two. The Spaniards do +not usually give chase. If they do, Gomez takes a keen delight in +leading them in a circle. If he can throw them off by nightfall, +he goes to sleep in his camp of the morning, happier than if he +had won a battle. The Spaniards learn nothing through such +experiences. Gomez varies the game occasionally by marching +directly towards the rear of the foe, and there, reinforced by +other insurgent bands of the neighborhood, falling upon the column +and punishing it severely. While his immediate force is but a +handful, the General can call to his aid, in a short time, nearly +6,000 men." + +A COLORED COMMANDER. + +As soon as the rebellion had assumed such proportions as to make +it possible to arrange a regular military organization among the +insurgents, Antonio Maceo was made the second in command, under +General Gomez, with the title of Lieutenant General. He had risen +from the ranks to the position of Major General in the Ten Years' +war, where, notwithstanding his colored blood, he had shown +unusual ability as a leader of men. Sons of the first families of +Cuba were proud to enlist under his banner, and to recognize him +as their superior officer. Space is devoted in another part of +this volume to an account of the treacherous manner of his death. + +The following letter, written by him to General Weyler, soon after +the arrival of the latter named in Cuba, shows that he could fight +with his pen as well as with his sword: + +Republic of Cuba, Invading Army. Second Corps, Cayajabos, Feb. 27, +1896. + +General Valeriano Weyler, Havana: + +In spite of all that the press has published in regard to you, I +have never been willing to give it belief and to base my judgment +of your conduct on its statements; such an accumulation of +atrocities, so many crimes repugnant and dishonoring to any man of +honor, I thought it impossible for a soldier holding your high +rank to commit. + +These accusations seemed to me rather to be made in bad faith, or +to be the utterances of personal enmity, and I expected that you +would take care to give the lie in due form to your detractors, +rising to the height required of a gentleman, and saving yourself +from any imputation of that kind, by merely adopting in the +treatment of the wounded and prisoners of war, the generous course +that has been pursued from the beginning by the revolutionists +towards the Spanish wounded and prisoners. + +But, unfortunately, Spanish dominion must always be accompanied by +infamy, and although the errors and wrongful acts of the last war +seemed to be corrected at the beginning of this one, to-day it has +become manifest that it was only by closing our eyes to invariable +personal antecedents and incorrigible traditional arbitrariness +that we could have imagined Spain would forget forever her fatal +characteristic of ferocity towards the defenseless. But we cannot +help believing evidence. In my march during the period of this +campaign I see with alarm, with horror, how the wretched +reputation you enjoy is confirmed, and how the deeds that disclose +your barbarous irritation are repeated. What! must even the +peaceful inhabitants (I say noticing of the wounded and prisoners +of war), must they be sacrificed to the rags that gave the Duke of +Alva his name and fame? + +Is it thus that Spain, through you, returns the clemency and +kindness with which we, the redeemers of this suffering people, +have acted in like circumstances? What a reproach for yourself and +for Spain! The license to burn the huts, assassinations like those +at Nueva Paz and the villa El Gato, committed by Spanish columns, +in particular those of Colonels Molina and Vicuna, proclaim you +guilty before all mankind. Your name will be forever infamous, +here and far from here, remembered with disgust and horror. + +Out of humanity, yielding to the honorable and generous impulses +which are identified with both the spirit and the tendency of the +revolution, I shall never use reprisals that would be unworthy of +the reputation and the power of the liberating army of Cuba. But I +nevertheless foresee that such abominable conduct on your part and +on that of your men, will arouse at no distant time private +vengeances to which they will fall victims, without my being able +to prevent it, even though I should punish hundreds of innocent +persons. + +For this last reason, since war should only touch combatants, and +it is inhuman to make others suffer from its consequences, I +invite you to retrace your steps, if you admit your guilt, or to +repress these crimes with a heavy hand, if they were committed +without your consent. At all events, take care that no drop of +blood be shed outside the battle field. Be merciful to the many +unfortunate citizens. In so doing you will imitate in honorable +emulation our conduct and our proceedings. Yours, A. MACEO. + +This letter could have been written by none but a brave and +honorable soldier, resolved to present the cause of the oppressed +non-combatants, even when he probably knew that his appeal was +powerless to lessen their sufferings in the slightest degree. + +LOVE AND WAR. + +Among the many brave leaders of the insurgents there is perhaps +none who has shown more heroism than young De Robau. After the +breaking out of the revolution he was one of the first to join the +standard of independence. At that time he was engaged to be +married, yet with him the call of duty was paramount over every +selfish consideration. After having served for some months with +conspicuous credit, he was sent with his command into the +neighborhood of his fiance. + +The men hitherto, it may be imagined, had not paid much attention +to their appearance, but now there was a regular conventional +dress parade. A barber was requisitioned, accoutrements were +furbished up, and weather-beaten sombreros were ornamented with +brilliant ribbons. When the metamorphosis was complete, De Robau +placed himself at the head of his dashing troop, and went in +state to call upon the lady of his affections. + +His march was a triumph, as everywhere he was attended by crowds +of enthusiastic people, who had long known him, and who now hailed +him as a distinguished champion. How he sped in his wooing may be +gathered from the fact that an orderly was soon dispatched for the +villa cura, and that there was a wedding which fairly rivaled that +of Camacho, so often and so fondly recalled by the renowned +Sancho. Since then the Senora de Robau has accompanied her husband +throughout the campaign, sharing the hard fare and the dangers of +the men, and adding another to the noble band of patriotic Cuban +women, who vie with their husbands and brothers in fidelity to +their native land. + +OTHER COMMANDERS OF NOTE. + +The cause has many other brave leaders, among whom may be +mentioned General Calixto Garcia, General Serafin Sanchez, +Francisco Corrillo, and Jose Maria Rodriguez. They are all +veterans of the war of 1868-1878, and are ready to sacrifice their +lives in the struggle for liberty. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +DESPERATE BATTLES WITH MACHETE AND RIFLE. + +The Sword of Cuba--Battle Cry of the Revolutionists--Cavalry +Charges--The Strategies of War--Hand-to-Hand Encounters--Maceo at +the Front--Barbarities of the Spanish Soldiers--Americans in the +Cuban Army--A Fight for Life--A Yankee Gunner--How a Brave Man +Died. + + +There is a story told of a great Roman General who, after having +conquered in many battles, beat his sword into a plowshare, and +turned from war's alarms to the peaceful pursuit of agriculture. +The Cuban has reversed the story. When he left his labors in the +forests and fields to fight his oppressors, he carried with him +the implement with which he had cut the sugar cane on his +plantation, and made paths through dense tropic vegetation. The +machete is the sword of the Cuban soldier, and it will be famous +forever. Its blade is of tempered steel, curved slightly at the +end, with one edge sharp as a razor. It has a handle of horn, and +is carried in a leather scabbard, attached to a narrow belt. + +The weapon in the hands of one who understands its use is terribly +effective. Instances have been known where rifle barrels have been +cut in two by it, and heads have been severed from their bodies at +a single stroke. Its name, shrieked in a wild ferocious way, is +the battle cry of the insurgents, and when shouted from an hundred +throats, it carries with it so awe-inspiring a sound, that it is +little wonder that the enemy is stricken with fear, for it means +in reality "war to the knife." + +CAVALRY CHARGES. + +The Cubans are among the most skillful and daring rough riders of +the world, the equals of the cowboys of our western States, and +the far-famed Cossacks of Russia. The horses' backs have been +their cradles, and here they possess a decided advantage over +their Spanish foes, who know as little of the equestrian art as +they seem to understand of other's rights, or the amenities of +war. A mounted band of insurgents, rushing down on a detachment of +the enemy, waving aloft the terrible machete, will carry with them +terror and death, and conquer twice their number. + +The heroic mulatto brothers, Antonio and Jose Maceo, adopted this +manner of fighting on every possible occasion, and it is a +coincidence worthy of note that they both met their death while +leading machete charges against their hated foes. + +LACK OF AMMUNITION IN THE CUBAN RANKS. + +The lack of ammunition is one of the weaknesses of the insurgents. +Courage, ability and men they possess in abundance, but the lack +of cartridges has interfered with many of their best laid plans, +and has often prevented them from availing themselves of favorable +opportunities. Three or four rounds a man is nothing in action, +especially when the Spaniards are always so abundantly supplied. +However they are determined, and as Spanish incapacity becomes +daily more apparent, they feel that it is only a question of a few +months until the cause for which they have so long and bravely +fought will be gloriously won. + +MACEO AT THE FRONT. + +Within three months of the time that Gomez and Maceo landed at +Baracoa they had all Santiago and Puerto Principe in a state of +insurrection. They started out with comparatively a handful of +men. The most reliable sources agree that there were not more than +300, but they were quickly joined by thousands of Cubans, who +brought out from hiding places arms and ammunition which they had +been collecting and concealing for years. + +General Campos, the Spanish commander, had declared that Puerto +Principe would never rise against Spain, and he proposed at once a +plan to make it doubly sure. He procured special concessions from +Madrid for the foreign railroads, permitting them to import iron +bridges to replace their wooden structures, and pledging them +$20,000 a month until they had extended their lines and made +connections to complete a continuous road through the country, +using the money to employ the natives. This was to insure the +peace of Puerto Principe and Santa Clara, both considered +conservative, and to prevent the people joining the revolutionary +party. + +After the plan was announced, the revolutionists burned out the +wooden bridges, tore up the tracks in many places, and the roads +have been, for all practical purposes, in their hands ever since. +Campos, meantime, to prevent Gomez moving eastward, placed 10,000 +troops on the border between the provinces of Puerto Principe and +Santiago, but Gomez crossed the line on May 19th, after a battle +at Boca del Dos Bios, where a loss was suffered in the death of +General Marti, which was so great a blow to Cuba that Campos +announced that the "death blow to the bandits had been struck." + +In Puerto Principe Gomez captured every town he attempted to take, +among them Alta Gracia, San Jeronimo and Coscorro. He took Fort El +Mulato, and in all the places secured large quantities of +ammunition. So enthusiastic was his reception in the provinces of +Puerto Principe and Santa Clara that in the latter 400 Spanish +volunteers joined him with their arms. + +The most important battle of the summer occurred at Bayamo in +July, just as Gomez was near the Spanish line between Santa Clara +and Puerto Principe, where, in an engagement between the two +armies, with about 3,000 men on either side, the Spanish forces +were completely routed. + +From that time on through the summer and far into the autumn, +every day was marked by skirmishes, the taking of important +places, and the threatening of the larger towns. It kept the +Spanish columns moving constantly, and the exposure in the rainy +season killed thousands. + +Maceo now separated his forces from Gomez's command, and marched +westward, fighting as he went, and everywhere meeting with +success. He established the new government in the cities and towns +of Mantua, San Cristobal, Remates, Palacios, Paso Real de San +Diego, Guane, Consolacion del Sur, Pilotos, Alonso de Rojas, San +Luis, San Juan y Martinez, and others of less importance. + +Pinar del Rio City, the capital of the province, was the only city +of importance that held out, but it was cut off with communication +with its port, Colon, and was short of provisions. One supply sent +by the Spanish for its relief, 100,000 rations, fell into Maceo's +hands. + +In San Cristobal the Spanish flag on the government building was +replaced by the emblem of the new republic, a mayor and city +officials were appointed, resolutions were adopted by the new +authorities, and, after all the arms in the town had been +collected, Maco remained a day to rest his men and horses, and +moved on the following morning at daybreak. + +Generals Navarre and Luque were ordered to crush the insurgent army at +all hazards. Their combined forces consisted of 5,000 infantry, 200 +cavalry, and 11 pieces of artillery. After a two-days' march they were +joined by General Arizon's command, which had encountered Maceo's rear +guard the previous day, with disastrous results. + +Near Quivera Hacha, Navarre's skirmishers encountered a small band +of insurgents, and fearing that all of Maceo's army was near, +lines of battle were quickly formed. The engagement lasted for +less than half an hour, when the insurgent forces withdrew, +without serious losses on either side. General Navarro finally +discovered that the principal part of Maceo's forces was at the +Armendores estate, and the seat of operations was changed. General +Luque succeeded Navarro in command, and several days now passed +without any conflict of note. Finally Luque led a charge upon +Maceo's vanguard, in the vicinity of Pinar del Rio, but the moment +the attack was made he found himself under fire from the top of +low hills on both sides of the road, where the insurgents were +well protected, and he sustained severe losses without inflicting +much injury upon the enemy. So hot was the encounter that Luque +withdrew and prepared to charge upon two points where the enemy +were making a stand. He held the road with one battalion, sending +a detachment to the right, and another to the left. The attack was +successful. The Spanish made a magnificent effort under withering +fire, and swept Maceo's forces before them, not, however, until +they had left the field scattered with their own dead and wounded. + +For some reason the cavalry had not been used. The artillery was +just coming up when the action had reached this point. The Spanish +found that the enemy had, instead of being routed, simply fallen +back and taken a position on another hill, and scattered firing +went on for a considerable time, while Luque prepared to attack +again. Then, against 2,000 of Maceo's men, was directed all of +Luque's command, over 4,000 infantry, 200 cavalry, and eleven +pieces of artillery. + +At least half of Maceo's army, certainly not less than 2,000 +cavalry, had been moving up to Luque's rear and came upon him, +surprising him just as this second attack was being made. + +For a time it was a question whether Luque's command would not be +wiped out. They were practically surrounded by Maceo's men, and +for fully an hour and a half the fighting was desperate. It is +impossible to unravel the stories of both sides so as to arrive at +a clear idea of the encounter. + +When the cannonading ceased, four companies of infantry charged up +the hill and occupied it before the insurgents, who had been +driven out by the artillery, could regain it. Shortly the hill on +the left of the road was taken in the same way, and Luque, +although at a great loss, had repelled Maceo's attack from the +rear. + +The battle had lasted for a little over two hours. Maceo had about +forty of his men wounded and left four dead on the field, taking +away ten others. Twenty or more of his horses were killed. The +Spanish reported that he had 1,000 killed, the next day reduced +the number to 300, and finally to the statement that "the enemy's +losses must have been enormous," the usual phrase when the true +number is humiliating. Luque's losses have never been officially +reported, but it is variously estimated at from seventy-five to a +hundred men. + +THE WORK OF FIENDS. + +The Cubans give horrible details of a battle at Paso Heal, between +General Luque's army and a division of Maceo's forces under +Bermudez. Witnesses of the encounter claim that the Spaniards +invaded the hospital and killed wounded insurgents in their beds, +and that, Bermudez, in retaliation, formed a line, and shot +thirty-seven Spanish prisoners. + +Luque says in his report of this engagement: "The rebels made a +strong defense, firing from the tops of houses and along the +fences around the city. The Spanish vanguard, under Colonel +Hernandez, attacked the vanguard, center and rear guard of the +rebels in the central streets of the town, driving them with +continuous volleys and fierce cavalry charges into the outskirts +of the town. Up to this point we had killed ten insurgents." + +The people of Paso Real say this report is true, as far as it +goes, but that Luque neglects to add that he then attacked the +hospital, and murdered twenty-eight wounded men, firing at them as +they lay on their cots, through the windows, and finally breaking +down the door, and killing the rest with the bayonet. + +Under date of February 8th we have an account of the operations of +the Spanish General Sabas Marin, who left Havana a short time +before. His campaign in search of General Gomez was disastrous, +and the official reports of Spanish victories were misleading. +There were losses on both sides, but Marin accomplished absolutely +nothing of what he intended to achieve. + +The first misfortune which overtook the Spaniards was the rout of +Carnellas, on the very day on which Marin left Havana, Gomez sent +a detachment under Pedro Diaz to intercept him, and this force +reached Saladrigas in the early morning. In this section the +country is cut into small fields, divided by stone fences, and +facing the road there is a high fence, with a ditch in front of +it. Diaz placed 400 infantry behind this fence, and waited himself +with 1,000 cavalry back of a hill close by. When the Spanish +forces appeared, the advance guard was allowed to pass, and as +soon as the main body was fairly in the trap, volleys were poured +into them, literally mowing them down. At the sound of the first +gun, Diaz led his thousand horsemen upon the enemy's flank and +rear. The charge was irresistible. Half of Diaz's men did not even +fire a shot, but yelling "machete," they rode furiously upon the +Spanish lines, cutting their way through, and fighting with +terrible effect. + +The Spanish issued no official report of this battle. So far as +the records show, it never occurred. One of the Spanish officers, +who fought in it, conceded a loss of 200 men, but it is probable +that twice that number would be nearer the correct figure. + +AMERICANS IN THE CUBAN ARMY. + +Colonel Frederick Funston, who returned to New York in January, +1898, told an interesting story of brave Yankee boys serving under +General Gomez and General Garcia in Eastern Cuba, and also gave an +account of the sad death of W. Dana Osgood, the famous football +player, formerly of the University of Pennsylvania. + +Colonel Funston was with Gomez's army when they attacked Guimaro. +They had with them a twelve-pound Hotchkiss rifle and four +American artillerymen, Osgood of Pennsylvania, Latrobe and Janney +of Baltimore, and Devine of Texas. + +They attacked Guimaro in the morning, at ranges of from 400 to 600 +yards, the infantry being protected by a breastwork of earth, in +which openings were left for the guns. + +The Spanish garrison consisted of 200 men in eleven forts, and +they maintained a hot fire all day. Gradually, however, the +Hotchkiss rifle, the fire of which was directed by Osgood, made +the largest and nearest fort untenable, and it was abandoned by +the garrison. No sooner had the Spanish forces left it than a band +of the insurgents took possession, and from this point of vantage +the fighting was continued with renewed vigor. As soon as darkness +came on one of the Cuban guns was moved forward and stationed in +this fort, and on the following day a storm of shot and shell was +directed at the other forts. + +Naturally the rifles of the garrison were trained most of the time +upon the man sighting the Hotchkiss in the captured fort, and +there, leaning over his gun in the early morning, the intrepid +Osgood was shot through the head. He was carried off by his +comrades under fire, and died four hours later. The death of this +gallant young soldier was universally lamented, and the Cubans +honor his memory as one of the first Americans to give his life +while fighting for their cause. + +With Gomez, with Garcia, and with Maceo, in every insurgent camp, +there were brave men, American born, who fought for the flag of +Free Cuba, side by side with the native soldier, and who gave +their lives in the war against Spanish tyranny and misrule. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +FILIBUSTERS FROM FLORIDA. + +First Expeditions--Expense to the United States--President Pierce's +Action--The Uprising in 1868-The Patrol of the Coasts--An Expedition on +the "Three Friends"--Arms and Ammunition for the Insurgents--Desperate +Chances--A Successful Landing. + + +The record of the last fifty years is the clearest and most +convincing evidence that can be offered against the Spanish +contention that the United States is not concerned with the +question of government in Cuba, and has not been tremendously +injured by the inability of Spanish administration to furnish the +Cubans with a peaceful and satisfactory government. The first bit +of evidence to be submitted comes from away back in 1848, when +President Polk, on behalf of the United States, announced that +while the United States was willing that Cuba should be continued +under Spanish ownership and government, it would never consent to +the occupation of the island by any other European nation. + +It was pointed out at that time by the American government that +were the United States to admit that Cuba was open to seizure by +any government that was able to throw Spain out the fact that it +was nearly surrounded, in Central and South America and in other +West Indian islands, by territory belonging to twelve other +nations would make it the ground of interminable squabbles. And +these squabbles were not matters which would be without interest +and damage to the commerce and peace of the United States. This +was followed by an offer of $100,000,000 to Spain for the island +of Cuba. The offer was promptly declined, and the United States +was informed that Cuba was not on the market. + +FIRST FILIBUSTERING EXPEDITION. + +Nevertheless, there was formed in the United States the Lone Star +Society, which had as its object "the acquisition of the island of +Cuba as part of the territory of the United States." + +The "Conspiracy of Lopez," which is fully treated of in previous +pages of this work, was the first filibustering expedition that +attracted particular attention from the authorities, and it was +hoped that its disastrous end would deter others from like +attempts. But the hope was a vain one, for within two years a +similar expedition, led by General Quitman of Mississippi, was +organized in the United States. Many men were enlisted and vessels +chartered, but the expedition was suppressed by the government of +the United States. + +EXPENSE TO UNITED STATES. + +It will thus be seen that the fact that Spain had not been able to +govern Cuba peaceably has caused the United States great expense +and irritation for a much longer period than is usually taken into +consideration in these days. It is not the fault of the United +States that its citizens have been stirred to sympathy with the +victims of the Spanish policy of government by robbery and murder. +It is not the fault of the United States that this country has +been the refuge of men who have been outlawed from the country of +their birth because their presence there meant the irrepressible +working in them of a desire for freedom, a desire intolerable to +Spanish institutions. + +It is not the fault of the United States that these refugees, +living in the land of civil liberty, should desire to return to +their native country and drive out those who made it miserable. +But it would have been the fault of the United States, under +international law, if these exiled Cubans were permitted to carry +out their very natural and laudable desire in concert with the +Americans whose sympathy had been stirred by the story of Spanish +wrongs. To ferret out the plans for expeditions conceived with +such determination and perseverance was not only a task requiring +tremendous expenditure of money and energy, but it was a miserably +disagreeable and unpopular work for the government to engage in. + +On the 31st of May, 1854, President Pierce issued a proclamation +instructing citizens of the United States as to their duties in +refraining from encouragement, aid, or participation in connection +with the Cuban insurrections. + +THE UPRISING IN 1868. + +In the fall of 1868, after scattering uprisings and several +battles during the preceding year, plans for a concerted +insurrection were arranged. The plan was discovered and the +insurrection was started prematurely. There followed a campaign in +which Spanish forces, amounting to 110,000 men, were unable to +hold in check the Cuban force of about 26,000. In May the +filibustering expeditions, that were to prove such an immense +expense and annoyance to the United States, began again. The +Spanish navy co-operated with the United States government in the +efforts to suppress these expeditions, but many of them eluded the +authorities, and aided the insurgents with arms and provisions. + +This was irritating to Spain and the United States alike, because +it cost just as much to keep up an unsuccessful anti-filibustering +patrol as it did actually to catch filibusters, and, moreover, +every successful expedition weakened the authority of the Federal +government. That authority in the Southern States just after the +war was none too strong, and it was not a good thing that the +spectacle of defiance to the United States should be flaunted +along the Southern coast. + +From 1878 until 1895, when the present insurrection gained +strength to become openly active, the island is supposed to have +been at peace, but in the latter year the open war and +filibustering expeditions began again. The name of President +Cleveland was added to the list of Presidents whose duty it was to +interfere with efforts to aid Cuban liberty. He issued appropriate +proclamations on June 12, 1895, and July 30, 1896. Revenue cutters +and warships constantly patrolled the Florida coast and, indeed, +all the waters of the gulf, and sometimes New York harbor, to head +off filibustering expeditions. It is said to have cost more to +suppress the natural desire of citizens of the United States to +relieve the political distress in Cuba than it has cost to enforce +customs regulations from the same territory. + +THE VOYAGE OF THE "THREE FRIENDS." + +As evidence of the fact that Cuban sympathizers have been +successful in escaping the patrol on American coasts and the +enemy's battleships in Cuban waters, we give the report of one of +many expeditions that have been made during the past three years. + +The steamer "Three Friends," of Jacksonville, Florida, in command of +Captain Napoleon B. Broward, returned to Jacksonville on March 18th, +having succeeded in landing in Cuba, General Enrique Collazo, Major +Charles Hernandez, and Duke Estrada, besides fifty-four men taken off +the schooner "Ardell" from Tampa, and the entire cargo of arms and +ammunition of the schooner "Mallory" from Cedar Key. It was by long odds +the most important expedition that has set out from this country, and +the Cubans at Jacksonville, when they learned that the "Three Friends" +had safely fulfilled her mission, shouted "Viva Cuba!" until they were +hoarse. + +They declared that it would change the character of the whole war, +as the unarmed men would now be armed, and that Maceo, who had +before been wary and cautious, would be more aggressive than he +had ever been before. The cargo of arms landed by the "Three +Friends" and the "Mallory" was as follows: 750,000 rounds of +cartridges, 1,200 rifles, 2,100 machetes, 400 revolvers, besides +stores, reloading tools, etc. + +The "Three Friends" met the "Mallory" at Alligator Key. The +"Ardell" had just finished transferring the men to her. While they +were rendezvoused there behind the pines in a deep coral-walled +creek, three big Spanish men-of-war steamed slowly by, but they +did not discover that there was anything suspicious looking in +shore, although with a glass men could be seen in their look-outs +scanning the horizon, as well as searching the shore. Sunday, +about noon, no vessels being in sight, the "Three Friends" took in +tow the "Mallory" and steamed southward under a good head of +steam. + +The "Three Friends" is a powerful tug, and by Monday night was +close enough to the Cuban shore to hear the breakers. Several +shiplights to the west were seen, one of which was evidently a +Spanish man-of-war, for she had a search-light at her bow, and was +sweeping the waves with it, but the "Three Friends" was a long way +off, and had no light, and so was out of the neighborhood of the +Spaniard. + +A SUCCESSFUL LANDING. + +At ten o'clock that night, by the aid of a naphtha launch and two +big surf boats, which had been taken out of Jacksonville, the +"Three Friends" landed the men and ammunition from her hold, and +from that of the "Mallory." It took four and a half hours to +complete the job. There were hundreds of men on shore to assist, +and they did it silently, appreciating the peril of the position. + +The Cubans on shore recognized General Collazo immediately, and no +words can describe their joy on seeing him. He is a veteran of +Cuban wars, and one whom Spain fears. In fact, it is known that +during his sojourn in Florida he was shadowed by detectives, who +had been instructed to spare no expense to keep Collazo from +reaching Cuba. When it was whispered that Collazo was really among +them, they seemed not to believe their ears, but came forward and +looked, and, seeing that there was really no mistake, threw up +their arms and wept for joy. Major Charles Hernandez and Duke +Estrada were also enthusiastically welcomed. + +It was reported that night that Maceo had received the arms of the +first expedition that set forth three days before the "Three +Friends" landed. They were not from the "Commodore," for they +reported that they were now on the lookout for that vessel. They +said, too, that at the end of the week four expeditions were +afloat. Two, including the "Three Friends," had landed, and two +more were on the way. Tuesday morning, as the "Three Friends" was +returning, she sighted a steamer that answered to the description +of the "Commodore." She was headed southward, and pushing along +apparently at the rate of fifteen knots an hour. + +Here is the story of the capture of an expedition, by Commander +Butron, of the Spanish gunboat "Mensagera": + +"The 'Mensagera' was directed to watch the coast between Cayo +Julia and Morrillo, about one hundred miles. It was heard on the +afternoon of April 25 that a suspicious schooner had been seen +near Quebrados de Uvas. The gunboat followed, and found the +'Competitor.' The usual signals were made, but the schooner tried +to get closer in shore, so as to land a rapid-fire gun. + +"The 'Mensagera' was then moved forward and fired a shot, which +struck the schooner and exploded a box of cartridges which the men +were trying to take ashore. Several occupants of the schooner +became alarmed, and threw themselves into the water, fearing an +explosion of dynamite. The gunboat's crew seized rifles and began +shooting, killing three men. Several others reached shore. + +"Three men were aboard the schooner when it was overhauled, and +they surrendered without resistance. Among them was Owen Milton, +editor of the Key West Mosquito. Sailors were sent ashore to +capture the arms landed. In the skirmish, two men, supposed to be +filibusters, and a horse were killed. They secured several +abandoned cases of cartridges. A body of insurgents had come to +watch the landing of the boat's crew. The 'Mensagera' came to +Havana with the arms and prisoners, who were very seasick. The +schooner was towed to Havana by the gunboat 'Vicente Yanez.' It is +regarded as an object of great curiosity by the crowds. It had the +Spanish flag floating when captured. It is a neat, strong boat, +and looks fast. One of the prisoners captured steadily refuses to +give his name." + +An account of the trial, as sent from Havana, May 8th, reads as +follows: + +"The court opened at the Arsenal. The prisoners were Alfredo +Liaborde, born in New Orleans; Owen Milton, of Kansas; William +Kinlea, an Englishman, and Elias Vedia and Teodore Dela Maza, both +Cubans. Captain Ruiz acted as president of the court, which +consisted of nine other military and naval officers. The trial of +the five filibusters captured aboard the 'Competitor' was +proceeded with against the formal protest presented by Consul +General Williams, who declared that the trial was illegal and in +violation of the treaty between Spain and the United States. + +"The prisoners were not served with a copy of the charges against +them and were not allowed to select their own counsel, but were +represented by a naval officer appointed by the government. They +were not permitted to call witnesses for their defense, the +prosecution calling all the witnesses. Owen Milton, of Kansas, +testified through an interpreter that he came on the expedition +only to correspond for a newspaper. William Kinlea, when called, +was in his shirt sleeves. He arose and said in English, 'I do not +recognize your authority, and appeal for protection to the +American and English consuls.'" + +Fortunately for these prisoners, the United States government +interfered, and they were eventually released. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +WEYLER THE BUTCHER. + +His Ancestry--A Soldier From His Youth--He Succeeds General +Campos--A Master of Diplomacy--A Slave of Spain--His Personal +Appearance--His Interview With a Woman--His Definition of War-- +His Resignation. + + +Early in 1896, when the Spanish government began to realize that +the insurrection was assuming serious proportions, arrangements +were made for the recall of General Campos, then Governor-General +of the island, and General Weyler was sent to assume the duties of +the office. It was the opinion in Spain that Campos was too mild +in his treatment of the rebels, and as Weyler was known to have no +lamb-like qualities, he was regarded as the ideal man for the +position. That he did not succeed in putting down the rebellion +was certainly not due to any lack of extreme measures on his part. +He is known as the "Butcher," and his management of affairs in +Cuba certainly gives him every right to the title. + +Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau, to give him his full name, is only half a +Spaniard. His father was a Prussian, though Weyler himself was born in +Cadiz in 1839. His parents were in very moderate circumstances and not +of noble birth. What Weyler has won he has acquired through his own +efforts. He has made his way single-handed. He graduated from the +infantry school at Toledo in 1857 and was at once sent to Cuba as a +subaltern. He was quickly made a captain and his first work was to +subdue a small revolt in San Domingo. + +He rose rapidly in rank, and during the first Cuban revolt he was +in command in the province of Santiago, where he earned the title +that has since made him famous in the eyes of his supporters, but +infamous from a civilized point of view. But he put down the +revolt. He was rewarded with the appointment of captain general of +the Canary islands. His administration was so successful that he +was created Marquis of Tenerife. He was then barely thirty-nine +years old. He distinguished himself in the Carlist war and at its +conclusion he was made captain general of the Philippines, where +he quelled an insurrection and admittedly gave the islands the +best administration they had ever known. He returned to Spain in +1889 and was in command at Barcelona until the present Cuban +revolution began. + +Here is a mental photograph of him by a newspaper correspondent: + +"Most men resemble their reputations, and if a life famously spent +is in the mind of one who visits a character of world-wide repute, +he quite naturally discovers peculiarities, of facial expression +and physique which appear to account for the individuality of the +man, fighter, philosopher, criminal, reformer or whatever he may +be. + +"All this is true of General Weyler. He is one of those men who +create a first impression, the first sight of whom can never be +effaced from the mind, by whose presence the most careless +observer is impressed instantly, and yet, taken, altogether, he is +a man in whom the elements of greatness are concealed under a +cloak of impenetrable obscurity. Inferior physically, unsoldierly +in bearing, exhibiting no trace of refined sensibilities nor +pleasure in the gentle associations that others live for, or at +least seek as diversions, he is nevertheless the embodiment of +mental acuteness, crafty, unscrupulous, fearless and of +indomitable perseverance. + +"I have talked with Campos, Marin and Weyler, the three Captain-Generals +to whom Spain has intrusted (thus far unsuccessfully) the reconquest of +Cuba. Reconquest seems an ill-chosen word, but one of General Weyler's +staff has so denominated this war, and Cuban revolutions can be settled +only by conquests, Campos was an exceptional man. Marin was commonplace. +Weyler is unique. Campos and Marin affected gold lace, dignity and +self-consciousness. Weyler ignores them all as useless, unnecessary +impediments, if anything, to the one object of his existence. Campos was +fat, good natured, wise, philosophical, slow in his mental processes, +clear in his judgment, emphatic in his opinions, outspoken, and, withal, +lovable, humane, conservative, constructive, progressive, with but one +project ever before him, the glorification of Spain as a mother-land and +a figure among peaceful, enlightened nations. + +"Weyler is lean, diminutive, shriveled, ambitious for immortality, +irrespective of its odor, a master of diplomacy, the slave of Spain, for +the glory of sitting at the right of her throne, unlovable, unloving, +exalted, and doubtless justly, in self-esteem, because he is unmistaken +in his estimation of his value to his Queen. His passion is success, per +se, foul or fair consequences or the conventional ideas of humanity +notwithstanding. + +"He is a little man. An apparition of blacks--black eyes, black +hair, black beard, dark, exceedingly dark, complexion, a plain +black attire, black shoes, black tie, a very dirty shirt and +soiled standing collar, with no jewelry and not a relief from the +aspect of darkness anywhere on his person. + +"It is not remarkable that I momentarily hesitated to make certain +that this was actually Weyler. Doubt was dispelled with a look at +his face. His eyes, far apart, bright, alert and striking, took me +in at a glance. His face seemed to run to his chin, his lower jaw +protruding far beyond any ordinary sign of firmness, persistence +or willpower. His forehead is neither high nor receding, neither +is it that of a thoughtful or philosophic man. His ears are set +far back, and what is called the region of intellect, in which are +those mental attributes that might be defined as powers of +observation, calculation, judgment, and execution, is strongly +developed. The conformation of his head, however, is not one that +is generally accepted as an indication of any marked possession of +philoprogenitiveness or its kindred emotions and inclinations. His +nose is aquiline, bloodless and obtrusive; When he speaks it is +with a high nasal enunciation that is not disagreeable, because it +is not prolonged, and his sentences justify every impression that +has already been formed of the man. They are short, crisp, +emphatic and expressive. + +"'I have an aversion to speech,' he said. 'I am an enemy of +publications. I prefer to act, not to talk. I am here to restore +peace. When peace is in the land I am going away. I am a soldier. +When I am gone, politicians will reconstruct Cuba, and probably +they will upset things again until they are as bad as they are +now. I care not for America, England, anyone, but only for the +treaties we have with them. They are the law. I observe the law, +and every letter of the law. I have my ideas of Cuba's relation to +Spain. I have never expressed them. Some politicians would agree +with them, others would not. No one would agree with all of them. +I know I am merciless, but mercy has no place in war. I know the +reputation which has been built up for me. Things that are charged +to me were done by officers under me, and I was held responsible +for all things in the Ten-Years' war, including its victorious +end. I do not conceal the fact that I am here solely because it is +believed I can crush this insurrection. I care not what is said +about me, unless it is a lie so great as to occasion alarm. I am +not a politician. I am Weyler.'" + +A WOMAN'S INTERVIEW WITH WEYLER. + +The following interview with the "Butcher" is by Mrs. Kate +Masterson, who bearded the lion in his den for an American +newspaper: + +"His Excellency, Captain-General Weyler, graciously gave me an +audience to-day. He received me with most charming courtesy, +escorted me through his apartments and presented me with a bunch +of roses from his own table. Before I left he had honored me with +an invitation to dine with him at the Palace. + +"'Your Excellency,' I said to him through my interpreter, 'the +American women have a very bad opinion of you. I am very much +afraid of you myself, but I have come to ask the honor of an +interview with you, in order that I may write something which will +reassure the women of America that you are not treating women and +children unmercifully.' + +"'I do not give interviews,' he said. 'I am willing, however, to +answer any question you wish to ask.' + +"'In the United States,' I said, 'an impression prevails that your +edict shutting out newspaper correspondents from the field is only +to conceal cruelties perpetrated upon the insurgent prisoners. +Will your Excellency tell me the real cause?' + +"'I have,' replied the General, 'shut out the Spanish and Cuban +papers from the field, as well as the American. In the last war +the correspondents created much jealousy by what they wrote. They +praised one and rebuked the other. They wrote what the prisoners +dictated, instead of facts. They even created ill-feeling between +the Spanish officers. They are a nuisance.' + +"'Then I can deny the stories as to your being cruel?' + +"The General shrugged his heavy shoulders as he said carelessly: +'I have no time to pay attention to stories. Some of them are true +and some are not. If you will particularize I will give direct +answers, but these things are not important.' + +"'Does not your Excellency think that prisoners of war should be +treated with consideration and mercy?' + +"The General's eyes glinted dangerously. 'The Spanish columns +attend to their prisoners just as well as any other country in +time of war,' he replied. 'War is war. You cannot make it +otherwise, try as you will.' + +"'Will not your Excellency allow me to go to the scene of battle +under an escort of soldiers, if necessary, that I may write of the +situation as it really is, and correct the impression that +prevails in America that inhuman treatment is being accorded to +the insurgent prisoners?' + +"'Impossible,' answered the General. 'It would not be safe.' + +"'I am willing to take all the danger, if your Excellency will +allow me to go,' I exclaimed. + +"General Weyler laughed. 'There would be no danger from the +rebels,' he said, 'but from the Spanish soldiers. They are of a +very affectionate disposition and would all fall in love with +you.' + +"'I will keep a great distance from the fighting, if you will +allow me to go.' + +"The General's lips closed tightly, and he said: 'Impossible! +Impossible!' + +"'What would happen,' I asked, 'if I should be discovered crossing +the lines without permission?' + +"'You would be treated just the same as a man.' + +"'Would I be sent to Castle Morro?' + +"'Yes,' he replied, nodding his head vigorously. That settled it. +I decided not to go. + +"'Why,' I asked him, 'is the rule incommunicado placed upon +prisoners? Is it not cruel to prevent a man from seeing his wife +and children?' + +"'The rule incommunicado,' said the General, 'is a military law. +Prisoners are allowed to see their relatives as a favor, but we +exercise discretion in these cases.' + +"'There are stories that prisoners are shot in Castle Morro at +daybreak each morning, and that the shots can be plainly heard +across the bay. Is this true?' + +"The General's eyes looked unpleasant again. 'It is false!' he +said shortly. 'The prisoners go through a regular court-martial, +and no one could be shot at Morro without my orders, and I have +not given orders to shoot anyone since I have been here.' + +"'Do you not think it very cruel that innocent women and children +should be made to suffer in time of war?' + +"'No innocent women and children do suffer. It is only those who +leave their homes and take part in battle who are injured. It is +only the rebels who destroy peaceful homes.' + +"'It is reported,' I said, 'that thirty women are fighting under +Maceo. Is this true?' + +"'Yes,' replied the General. 'We took one woman yesterday. She was +dressed in man's clothes and was wielding a machete. She is now in +Morro Castle. These women are fiercer than men. Many of them are +mulattoes. This particular woman was white.' + +"'What will be her fate?' + +"'She will go through the regular form of trial.' + +"'Will no mercy be shown her?' + +"'Mercy is always shown to a woman. While the law is the same for +both sexes, there is a clause which admits of mercy to a woman.' + +"'There are several Cuban women insurgents in Morro and the +Cabanas. Would your Excellency,' I asked, 'allow me to visit +them?' + +"'No,' he said. 'There is a law that no foreigner shall enter our +fortresses. It is a military law. We can make no exceptions. You +understand that I do not wish to be discourteous, senorita.' + +"'Some of these women,' I continued, 'are said to be imprisoned +for merely having Cuban flags in their homes. Is this possible?' + +"'Treason,' exclaimed the General, 'is always a crime, punishable +by imprisonment.' + +"'There is a newspaper correspondent at present in Morro. What was +his crime?' + +"The General shrugged his shoulders again. 'I know nothing about +him,' he said. 'I think he has been freed.' + +"'Do you not think the life of a newspaper correspondent in Havana +is at present a most unhappy one?' + +"'I think it must be, for they make me unhappy. If they were all +like you it would be a pleasure.' + +"'Is it true that thumbscrews are used to extort confessions from +prisoners?' + +"'Not by the Spaniards. Rebels use all these things, similar to +those that were used in the Inquisition tortures.' + +"'What does your Excellency think of the Cubans as a race? Do you +not think them progressive and brave?' + +"'With the progress of all nations the Cubans have progressed,' he +replied. 'There are many Cubans in sympathy with Spain, but this +insurrection is a blot upon the Cuban race which nothing can ever +erase. It is a stain made with the blood of the slain and the +tears of the women. It injures the Cubans themselves more than any +other.'" + +In spite of Weyler's boasts when he assumed command of the Spanish +forces in Cuba that he would quickly put down the insurrection, +his failure was as complete as that of General Campos had been, +and his recall was finally demanded. In his letter of protest to +the home government he said: + +"If the functions with which the government had entrusted me had +been merely those of Governor General of Cuba, I should have +hastened to resign. But the twofold character of my mission and my +duty as commander-in-chief in the face of the enemy prevent my +tendering a resignation. + +"Nevertheless, although I can rely upon the absolute, +unconditional support of the autonomist and constitutional +parties, as well as upon public opinion, this would be +insufficient without the confidence of the government, now more +than ever necessary to me after the censure of which I have been +made the object by the members and journals of the Liberal party +and by public opinion in the United States, which latter is +largely influenced by the former. This confidence would be +necessary to enable me to put an end to the war, which has already +been virtually concluded from our lines at Jucaro to Cape +Antonio." + +Senor Sagasta replied: "I thank you for your explanation and value +your frankness, I wish to assure you that the government +recognizes your services and values them as they deserve, but it +thinks a change of policy. In order to succeed, requires that the +authorities should be at one with the ministry." + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +CUBA UNDER THE SCOURGE. + +The Civil Guards and Their Crimes--Horrible Murder of Eight +Innocent Men--A Man After Weyler's Own Heart--How the Spanish Gain +"Victories"--Life, Liberty and Property Sacrificed--The War Not a +Race War--Resistance to the Bitter End. + + +Cuba has been under martial law for over fifty years, and its +enforcement by the Civil guards (as the officers appointed by the +Spanish government are called) has been responsible for +innumerable outrages against the lives and property of the +inhabitants. These officials have been guilty of every crime in +the calendar, but protected by their positions they have escaped +legal punishment, and it has only been on occasions when, driven +to desperation, the people have acted as judges and executioners +by taking the law into their own hands that any redress has been +possible. + +If for any reason these guards wish to persecute a man, the fact +that he is a non-combatant is no protection to him, nor to his +family. They have been the means of adding to the ranks of the +insurrectionists, for frequently the man who has seen his +relatives and friends shot before his eyes, to satisfy some +personal spite, or in order that some officer may get credit for a +battle, has left his fields and gone to strike a manly blow for +his country and his home. + +The story of eight peaceable white men, who were shot without +trial, at Campo Florida, near Havana, will serve as an example of +the work of these fiends. + +These poor fellows were arrested, their arms were tied, and they +were taken to the police station. One of them had just completed a +coffin for a woman, and he was dragged to the station with a rope +about his neck. The next day, without even the pretense of a +trial, they were taken two at a time into a ravine near the fort, +where a trench had been lately dug, and in spite of the most +pitiful pleas for mercy, they were shot down in cold blood by the +cruel guards, who seemed to take fiendish delight in their work of +blood. + +The following statement was seat by Cuban, patriots, with the +request that it be given the widest publicity possible, among the +people of the United States: + +"If the government that unhappily rules the destinies of this +unfortunate country should be true to the most rudimentary +principles of justice and morality, Colonel Jull, who has been +recently appointed Military Governor of Matanzas province, should +be in the galleys among criminals. It is but a short time since he +was relieved by General Martinez Campos of the military command at +Cienfuegos, as he had not once engaged any of the insurgent +forces, but vented all his ferocious instincts against innocent +and inoffensive peasants. + +"In Yaguaramas, a small town near Cienfuegos, he arrested as +suspects and spies Mr. Antonio Morejon, an honest and hard-working +man, and Mr. Ygnacio Chapi, who is well advanced in years, and +almost blind. Not being able to prove the charge against them, as +they were innocent, he ordered Major Moreno, of the Barcelona +battalion, doing garrison duty at Yaguaramas, to kill them with +the machete and have them buried immediately. Major Moreno +answered that he was a gentleman, who had come to fight for the +integrity of his country, and not to commit murder. This +displeased the colonel sorely, but, unfortunately, a volunteer +sergeant, with six others, was willing to execute the order of the +colonel, and Morejon and Chapi were murdered without pity. + +"The order of Jull was executed in the most cruel manner. It +horrifies to even think of it. Mr. Chapi, who knew the ways of +Colonel Jull, on being awakened at three o'clock in the morning, +and notified by the guard that he and Morejon had to go out, +suspected what was to come, and told his companion to cry out for +help as soon as they were taken out of the fort. They did so, but +those who were to execute the order of Jull were neither moved nor +weakened in their purpose. + +A HORRIBLE SIGHT. + +"On the contrary, at the first screams of Chapi and Morejon they +threw a lasso over their heads, and pulled at it by the ends. In a +few moments they fell to the ground choked to death. They were +dragged on the earth, without pity, to the place where they were +buried. All this bloody scene was witnessed by Jull from a short +distance. Providence had not willed that so much iniquity should +remain hidden forever. In the hurry the grave where these two +innocent men were buried was not dug deep enough, and part of the +rope with which they were choked remained outside. A neighbor, +looking for a lost cow, saw the rope, took hold of it, and, on +pulling, disinterred the head of one of the victims. He was terror +stricken, and immediately gave notice to the judge, who, on +ascertaining that the men had been killed by order of Colonel +Jull, suspended proceedings. + +"The neighbors and all the civil and military authorities know +everything that has been related here, but such is the state of +affairs on the island that General Weyler has no objection to +appointing this monster, Colonel Jull, Military Governor of +Matanzas. Such deeds as those enumerated are common. The people of +the town of Matanzas, with Jull as Governor, and Arolas at the +head of a column, will suffer in consequence of their pernicious +and bloody instincts. + +"That the readers may know in part who General Arolas is, it may +be well to relate what has happened in the Mercedes estate, near +Colon. It having come to his knowledge that a small body of rebels +was encamped on the sugar estate Mercedes, of Mr. Carrillo, +General Arolas went to engage them, but the rebels, who were few +in numbers, retreated. Much vexed at not being able to discharge +one shot at them, he made prisoners of three workmen who were out +in the field herding the animals of the estate and without any +formality of trial shot them. When the bodies were taken to the +Central they were recognized, and to cover his responsibility +somewhat, General Arolas said that when he challenged them they +ran off, and at the first discharge of musketry they fell dead." + +LIFE, LIBERTY AND PROPERTY SACRIFICED. + +Life, liberty and property have all been sacrificed by these +determined patriots for the sake of the cause they love. Their +towns have been burned, their homes pillaged, their wives and +children starved, and in many sections of the island nothing but +ruin and waste meets the eye. Even their sick and wounded are not +safe from the oppressor's sword, and wherever the insurgents have +a hospital, they have a garrison to protect it. Each of the six +provinces has an insurgent hospital, with a staff of physicians and +nurses, and a detachment of the army. + +The largest of these lies in that part of Santa Clara called the +Isthmus of Zapata. It is a wild, swampy region, through which the +natives alone can distinguish those precarious tracks, where the +slightest deviation means being engulfed in the treacherous +morass. + +A DETERMINED RESISTANCE. + +A prominent Cuban, who may be said to speak for his entire race, +makes this declaration: + +"The population of the island is, in round numbers, 1,600,000, of +which less than 200,000 are Spaniards, some 500,000 are colored +Cubans, and over 800,000 white Cubans. Of the Spaniards, a small +but not inconsiderable fraction, although not taking an active +part in the defense of our cause, sympathize with, and are +supporting it in various ways. Of the Cubans, whether colored or +white, all are in sympathy with the revolution, with the exception +of a few scattered individuals who hold positions under the +Spanish government or are engaged in enterprises which cannot +thrive without it. All of the Cubans who have had the means and +the opportunity to join the revolutionary army have done so, while +those who have been compelled for one reason or another to remain +in the cities are co-operating to the best of their abilities. If +the people of the small section of the western part of the island, +which yet remains quiet, were supplied with arms and ammunition +they would rise, to a man, within twenty-four hours. + +"This revolution of the whole Cuban people against the government +of Spain is what the Spanish officials are pleased to describe as +a disturbance caused by a few adventurers, robbers, bandits, and +assassins! But they have a purpose in so characterizing it, and it +is no other than to justify, in some way, the war of extermination +which the Prime Minister of Spain himself has declared will be +waged by his government against the Cuban people. They are not yet +satisfied with the rivers of human blood with which in times past +they inundated the fields of Italy, of the Low Countries, of our +continent of America, and only a few years ago, of Cuba itself. +The Spanish newspaper of Havana, 'El Pueblo,' urges the Spanish +soldiers to give no quarter, to spare no one, to kill all, all +without exception, until they shall have torrents of Cuban blood +in which to bathe themselves. It is well. The Cubans accept the +challenge, but they will not imitate their tyrants and cover +themselves with infamy by waging a savage war. The Cubans respect +the lives of their Spanish prisoners, they do not attack +hospitals, and they cure and assist with the same care and +solicitude with which they cure and assist their own, the wounded +Spaniards who may fall into their hands. They have done so from +the beginning of the war, and they will not change their humane +policy. + +"The Spanish officials have also attempted to convince you that +the Cuban war is a war of races. Of what races? Of the black +against the white? It is not true, and the facts plainly show that +there is nothing of the kind. Nor is the war waged by Cubans +against the Spaniards as such. No. The war is waged against the +government of Spain, and only against the government of Spain and +the officials and a few monopolists, who, under it, live and +thrive upon the substance of the Cubans. We have no ill feeling +against the thousands of Spaniards who industriously and honestly +make their living in Cuba. + +"But with the Spanish government we will make no peace, and we +will make no compromise. Under its rule there will be nothing for +our people but oppression and misery. For years and years the +Cuban people have patiently suffered, and in the interests of the +colony, as well as in the interests of the metropolis, have +earnestly prayed for reforms. Spain has not only turned a deaf ear +to the prayers, but instead of reforming the most glaring abuses, +has allowed them to increase and flourish, until such a point has +been reached that the continuation of Spanish rule means for the +Cuban people utter destruction." + + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +FITZHUGH LEE TO THE FRONT. + +Importance of the American Consulate at Havana in a Critical +Time--General Fitzhugh Lee the Man for the Place--Sketch of the +Life of Lee--A Nation's Confidence in Its Popular Hero--How He +Left Havana and How He Promised to Return Wife and Family of +General Lee--His Place During the Early Period of the War. + + +Never was there a more genuine and typical American gentleman in a +difficult position where a genuine and typical American gentleman was +needed, than Fitzhugh Lee, the American consul-general at Havana during +the most critical time prior to the outbreak of our war with Spain. The +Cuban consul generalship is an office of much greater importance than +others of the same name in other countries where diplomatic +representatives are maintained. It includes the obligations of diplomacy +as well as those of commerce, and Lee was the man for both. + +His predecessor in the office, Ramon Williams, had held the +position for many years and it was recognized by him as well as by +the authorities at Washington that a change should be made because +of the unusual demands upon the office. His long and faithful +service in the tropical country had undermined his health so that +his energies were lessened thereby, at a time when they were most +needed for the safety of American interests. + +It was in the spring of 1896 that President Cleveland, believing +that a man of unusual ability should represent the United States +at Havana, chose Fitzhugh Lee for the post. The selection was +approved from the first by everyone who knew him, and not many +months had passed until General Lee became an idol and a hero of +the whole American people. + +His Havana record has been no surprise to those who knew of his +exploits during the war, or of his family. Blood will tell, and it +has told in the case of General Lee. His family has always been +famous in American history. How could the grandson of "Lighthorse +Harry, the Revolutionary hero," or the nephew of Robert E. Lee, be +anything else but courageous and possessed of tact and common +sense? + +The son of a naval officer, he preferred the army as a career. +Graduating from West Point, he fought on the frontier for six +years before the opening of the Rebellion, and was engaged in +several desperate encounters with the Comanche Indians in Texas. +On one of these occasions he was pierced through the lungs by an +arrow, but he lived to tell the story. On another occasion he +grappled with a big Indian in a hand-to-hand encounter, threw his +antagonist on the ground and killed him. + +Though only twenty-seven years of age, Lee was an instructor in +cavalry tactics at West Point when the war broke out. He "followed +his State" into the secession movement. His war record is a matter +of pride to every Virginian. The dashing young officer was an +ideal trooper, fearing nothing and loved by his men. He was +modest, too. After some brilliant movement of personal valor his +brigade formed in a body and determined to serenade him at his +headquarters, expecting, of course, a speech. But Lee got an +inkling of the matter, and when he saw them coming he slipped out +of his tent and hid in the bushes. After the disappointed troopers +had called for him in vain and dispersed he peeped furtively from +his hiding place, and in a subdued tone asked, "Have they gone?" + +COMPOSURE IN BATTLE. + +General Lee possessed remarkable composure in battle. He never got +the least rattled under the most trying conditions, except at +Saylor's Creek, on the retreat from Petersburg; he never betrayed +anxiety, and, though often under a rattling fire, no one ever saw +him dodge. This cannot be said of many of the bravest men. +Sometimes a bullet will unexpectedly whizz close to one's head, +and the impulse to dodge is almost irresistible, though it never +did anybody any good. + +One of the officers with him said once that the only time he had +been moved by the enemy's fire was at the battle of Winchester. He +and General Early met under an apple tree near the summit of a +hill and in a very exposed place. There was no firing at the time, +but while the two generals, still on their horses, were intently +examining a map, one shot was fired. It fell short and they paid +no attention to it. But lo! another came, struck the apple tree +just above their heads, and as the apples rained down on them they +concluded the map could be better examined in a less exposed +position--a conclusion in which all others agreed with remarkable +unanimity. And nobody stopped to get any apples. + +General Lee is a superb horseman. He rode a splendid mare named +Nellie. She had the form, the strength, the nimbleness of limb, +the tapering neck, the alert poise of the head, the bright and +intelligent eyes that made her a model worthy to bear any master. +She was all grace and beauty. When the confederate columns were +broken in the same battle and the rout began, for it was little +less, General Lee was at a very exposed point. The fire of thirty +pieces of artillery was directed against it. The air was full of +exploding shells; horses were plunging about on three legs, +neighing piteously for a place of refuge; others were disemboweled +by the furious shot; others were loose, running to and fro, +bewildered by the terrible havoc, while the mutilated bodies of +men could be seen on every hand; numbers who were crippled were +hobbling away, and all seemed doomed to death. It was here that +the beautiful Nellie was gored by one fragment of shell and her +master's leg torn by another. + +He was noted for his geniality and jollity. He loved humor and +fun, and got all there was to be had in those trying times. But +his cheerfulness failed at Appomattox. There he cried. + +After the war had ended, General Lee settled in Stafford County as +a farmer and miller. His life was the quiet and uneventful one of +a country gentleman, caring for nothing but his wife, whom he +married in 1871, and his children. About 1875 he began to take an +active part in politics, and he attended the national convention +of 1876 as a delegate. In 1885 he was elected governor of +Virginia. It was then that he again became conspicuous. General +Lee headed the southern division of the inauguration parade, and +his handsome presence and splendid horsemanship forced the men on +the sidewalks to cheer him with more vim than they did anyone +else. A similar demonstration occurred when, four years later, +General Lee led the Virginia troops in the Washington centennial +parade in New York to the stirring tune of "Dixie." On both of +these occasions he sat in the identical saddle which his uncle, +General Robert E. Lee, had used on his familiar gray war horse, +Traveler. Who could occupy it more worthily? Any one who has seen +"Fitz" Lee mounted like a centaur on a Virginia thoroughbred is +certain to have in memory ever afterward an ideal figure of a +knightly "man on horseback." Afoot he is not so imposing, being +only of medium stature, and, of late years, quite portly. He has a +fine head and face, with frank steel blue eyes and a ruddy +complexion, set off by his now almost white hair, mustache and +imperial. His bearing is alert and military. Altogether, he does +not look, and probably does not feel, his sixty-two years. + +During Mr. Cleveland's second term he was made collector of +internal revenue at Lynchburg, Va. + +THE MAN FOR THE PLACE AT HAVANA. + +Once settled in his position in Havana, General Lee's fame began +to multiply. The American opinion of him was voiced immediately +after the destruction of the Maine, by L. P. Sigsbee, the brother +of the commander of that ill-fated ship, when he said: "There's a +man down there looking after the interests of this country who +cannot be blinded. He has more sand than anybody I know of, and if +there's anything treacherous in this explosion we'll know of it +without delay. The man I mean is General Fitzhugh Lee." + +The same thought occurred to every American who had watched his +career. From first to last everybody had confidence in his +Americanism, his bravery and his cool-headedness. He held his +office through merit alone, no politician gaining any success in +the effort to win from him that position of distinction and +profit, after the change of administration when President McKinley +assumed the executive chair. The nation recognized that he was +first an American and an interference with him on partisan grounds +would not have been tolerated. + +Jealous of American honor, and firm in insisting upon the rights +of his countrymen, he has always kept cool. Courteous and polite +as well as courageous, he has never blustered and he has won the +respect and admiration of the Spaniards as well as their fear. + +Throughout his service in Cuba, General Lee's figure was a +familiar one in Havana, and even by those most antagonistic to him +because of their official position, he was heartily admired. No +matter what the threat of violence from hot-headed Spaniards, when +the relations were most strained between the two countries, +General Lee never admitted the slightest danger to himself and +refused to accept any guard except that which he himself was able +to maintain for himself. Upon the streets and in the hotels and +cafes he was exempt from disrespect by the sheer force of his +splendid personality. And never until the last day of his stay in +Havana when all diplomatic relations were severed, did the Spanish +authorities in that city omit any of the forms of courtesy. + +GENERAL LEE PROMISES TO RETURN. + +On that day, when in company with the British Consul General he +went to bid farewell to Captain General Blanco, the latter refused +to see him upon the excuse that he was too busy. When the homeward +voyage was actually begun, in the little boat that carried to the +steamer the Consul General and the last newspaper correspondents +who remained in Havana till the end, the malice of the Spanish +onlookers at the docks could restrain itself no longer. With +imprecations and scornful and insulting epithets they raised their +voices against him. With proper dignity General Lee ignored it +all, except to say in one definite last message, that he would be +back again before long with troops to stand by him. + +In his office in the consulate at Havana, General Lee gained the +admiration and the confidence of every American who had occasion +to meet him. Brave as an American should be, and equally gentle +and tender-hearted, he was the man for the place. The Spanish +outrages upon American citizens roused in him but two sentiments. +One was sympathy and grief for those who suffered. The other was +indignation and enmity against those who were guilty. To the +extent of all his power he guarded and aided those for whom that +first sentiment was roused. He left Cuba with an accumulation of +detestation for Spanish outrages in that unhappy island against +Americans and Cubans, that would stimulate to deeds of valor +through whatever warfare might follow in which he should be a +leader. With a great heart, a brilliant mind and a magnificent +physique, General Lee combined all the qualities which made him +worthy of the American pride which was centered upon him. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVL + +AMERICANS IN SPANISH DUNGEONS. + +Spanish Hatred of the American Nation--Instances of Injustice-- +The Case of Dr. Ruiz--His Death in a Dungeon--Julio Sanguilly-- +Action of the United States Senate in His Behalf--A Correspondent +in Morro Castle--Walter Dygert's Experiences--General Lee Shows +His Mettle in the Case of Charles Scott. + + +Not content with their cruel and inhuman treatment of Cuban +patriots, the Spanish officials have seemed to take special +satisfaction in imprisoning and even murdering American citizens +on the slightest pretext. The object of their most bitter hatred +is the insurgent, but if they are to be judged by their deeds, it +would appear that the American occupies a close second place in +their black-list. + +Time and again our government has been compelled to interfere to +save the lives of its citizens, and unfortunately this +interference has on several occasions been too late. It is not +possible to present a list of all the men and women of American +birth who have lost life, liberty and property by Spanish +authority, from the massacre of the crew of the Virginius to the +wrecking of the Maine, but a few instances may be mentioned, which +will prove conclusively that the retribution, of which the +glorious victory in Manila bay was but the commencement, came none +too soon. + +THE CASE OF DR. RUIZ. + +One of the most flagrant of these outrages was the imprisonment of +Dr. Ricardo Ruiz, a Cuban by birth, but a naturalized citizen of +the United States. He was a dentist by profession, having studied +in a Pennsylvania dental college, and after receiving his diploma, +he returned to his native country to practice his profession. + +He was accused of being in sympathy with the revolutionists, +arrested and kept in prison for two years, when he died, probably +from violence. In the following letter, written from Havana, +regarding the case, will be seen the reasons for this supposition: + +"Ruiz died, according to the surgeons, from congestion of the +brain, caused by a blow or blows. When General Lee and Mr. Calhoun +visited the jail in Guanabacoa, they were shown the cell in which +the Spanish say that Ruiz died. The guard explained to General Lee +and Mr. Calhoun that he heard thumping on the inside of the door, +and when he opened it and went in, Ruiz was running at the heavy +door and butting it with his head. Ruiz had only one wound on the +top of his head. Had he butted this door, as the jailer says, his +scalp must necessarily have been lacerated in several places." + +Julio Sanguilly is another American citizen who was tried for +treason, and sentenced to life imprisonment. This case attracted a +great deal of attention in the United States, and a resolution was +passed by the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, making +a demand on the Spanish government for his release. During the +debate on this resolution, Senator Daniel, of Virginia, said: + +"Two years ago yesterday, Julio Sanguilly, an American citizen, +was thrown into prison. Two years have gone by and this government +has done practically nothing for this citizen. Great Britain would +have released him as soon as one of her battleships could reach +Havana. He has been brutally treated and condemned on unsworn +testimony before military tribunals. This country and all +civilization have been disgraced by the treatment meted out to +this unfortunate man. Every citizen of this country would have +patriotically applauded the President if he had sent a fleet of +American battleships and compelled the release, of this American +citizen, whose country has been insulted by the treatment accorded +to him and to our representative in Cuba." + +The Prime Minister at Madrid, realizing that trouble of a serious +nature was likely to come from this affair, cabled Weyler to +discharge the prisoner from custody, and banish him from the +island. + +Sanguilly immediately came to the United States, where he was +warmly received by his friends, and he has since been actively +engaged in work for Cuba's freedom. + +Charles Scott, an employe of the American Gas Company, was +arrested at Regla, charged with having Cuban postage stamps in his +possession. He was in solitary confinement, in a damp, empty cell, +five feet by eleven, for fourteen days. Once during his +imprisonment he was left for two days without even a drop of +water. General Lee, then United States Consul at Havana, cabled to +Washington, asking that arrangements be made to send war vessels +to Havana, in case of necessity, and declaring that unless his +requests were complied with, he would leave the island. In this +affair, as in many others, General Lee proved that he was the +right man in the right place, for it was due to his efforts in +Scott's behalf that he was finally given his liberty. + +Mr. Charles Michaelson, a newspaper correspondent, and his +interpreter, were imprisoned, in Morro Castle as suspects. It +required fine detective work to discover this fact, for they were +missing for some time before it was definitely known that they +were in the clutches of Weyler, but the "Butcher" finally admitted +it, and after a short delay was persuaded by the United States +Consul to release them. Mr. Michaelson's treatment was almost +brutal in its nature. + +The interior of the castle is like a dungeon, and he was compelled +to sleep on the floor, as a hammock sent to him by friends outside +was not given to him till the day of his release. His food was +thrown to him through the bars of the door, and meals sent in to +him were eaten by the guards. Rats were his constant companions, +and when, occasionally, he would sink into a light slumber, he +would be suddenly awakened to find one of the animals in his hair, +another burrowing under his coat, and still another making a meal +on his shoes. On one occasion he threw a shoe at a rat, which +struck the door of his cell, whereupon the guard threatened to +punish him for a breach of prison discipline, the noise being +against the rules. + +Walter Dygart relates his experience while the enforced guest of +the Spanish government. It is evident that the keeper of a prison +in Cuba has a profitable occupation. + + "A child may weep at brambles' smart, + And maidens when their lovers part; + But woe worth a country when + She sees the tears of bearded men." + +"These lines by the poet, Scott, recurred to me when I saw aged +men weeping and heart-broken at being separated from their +families and shut up in this hell. But why does the Spanish +government shut up helpless cripples and non-combatants? This is a +question that puzzled me for some time, but I finally solved it, +and will answer it after I have described the food and water. + +"A little after six in the morning we were, each of us, given a +very small cup of coffee. The first meal of the day, if it could +be called a meal, came after nine o'clock. It consisted of a +little rice, which was generally dirty, a few small potatoes, +boiled with their skins on, and often partly rotten, a little +piece of boiled salt beef, or beef cut up in small bits, with +soup, just about half enough, and of the poorest quality. The meat +was often spoiled and unfit for anything but a vulture to eat. The +second and last meal of the day came about four in the afternoon, +and was the same as the first. + +"I had no opportunity to count the prisoners, but I learned that +there were about 180 on the average confined there. I learned as +definitely as I could, without seeing the contract, that a certain +party had the contract to feed these prisoners at twenty-five +cents each per day. Thus he gets $45 a day, and I learned that the +food costs him only $7 to $8 a day, and, as some of the prisoners +did the cooking, his profit can be readily seen. On such a +contract he could afford to divide with the judge and army +officers to keep the prison full." + +A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL IN MORRO CASTLE. + +The Southern Baptist Missionary Society has a mission in the city +of Havana, and it was formerly in charge of Rev. Alberto J. Diaz, +whose home is in the United States. Ever loyal to his flag, and +believing in the institutions of his country, he lost no +opportunity to preach civil as well as religious liberty, and +though often warned to desist, by the Spanish authorities, he +continued the course which he regarded as his solemn duty. He +gives particulars of his arrest as follows: + +"About three o'clock one morning I was aroused by a knock at the +door of my house, and when I opened it I saw some fifty or sixty +Spanish soldiers, with their guns leveled at me. I quickly shut +the door and talked through it. The captain said he must search +the house, and I consented to let three men come in. They spent +seven hours looking through two trunks full of sermons, and other +papers, and when the search was completed they had found no +incriminating documents." + +Nevertheless, both Dr. Diaz and his brother were imprisoned in +Morro Castle. They were tried for treasonable utterances and +sentenced to death. Fortunately one of the sentries of the prison +was a member of Dr. Diaz's church, and through his kind offices, a +message was sent to the president of the Southern Baptist +Missionary Society in Atlanta. He communicated with the +authorities at Washington. This resulted in the execution being +postponed, and the brothers were accorded more humane treatment +than they had received heretofore. + +Dr. Diaz now addressed a telegram to our Secretary of State, +giving the particulars of the arrest, trial and conviction, and +appealing to him to demand their immediate release. The message +was smuggled on board a boat bound for Key West, and Weyler, +hearing of it, at once cabled to Washington that Diaz had been +released. He, with his brother and his family, was compelled to +leave the island by the first steamer, and they returned to the +United States. + +In our treaty with Spain, which was in force up to the time of the +declaration of war, was the following clause: + +"No citizen of the United States, residing in Spain, her adjacent +islands, or her ultramarine possessions, charged with acts of +sedition, treason, or conspiracy against the institutions, the +public security, the integrity of the territory, or against the +supreme government, or any other crime whatsoever, shall be +subject to trial by any exceptionable tribunal, but exclusively by +the ordinary jurisdiction, except in the case of being captured +with arms in hand." + +This treaty was supposed to protect American citizens from trial +by martial law, but it was disregarded by Spanish officials in +Cuba time and again, and, in fact, up to the time of General Lee's +arrival in Havana, an American citizen had very little advantage +over a Cuban insurgent, when the safety of his property or his +person was concerned. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +MACEO DEAD BY TREACHERY. + +A Great Leader in a Great Cause--A Modern Judas--The Worthy Son +of a Noble Sire--The Farewell Letter--An Estimate of Maceo's +Character--Rejoicing Among Spanish Supporters--Their Mistaken +Belief--Patriotic Ardor of the Insurgents. + + +In the death of Antonio Maceo the Cuban cause lost one of its +strongest defenders. Besides being a man of acute intellect, and a +general of great military skill, he had the rare gift of personal +magnetism, and no one ever followed his leadership who did not +feel for him the devotion which often gives courage to cowards and +makes heroes in the time of need. + +That his death was due to treachery there is little doubt. Doctor +Zertucha, his physician and trusted friend, is accused of having +betrayed him to the Spaniards. An Insurgent officer, who was with +the general when he received his death wound, says that they heard +gun shots in the vicinity of Punta Brava. Zertucha galloped into +the brush a short distance and returned, calling to them to follow +him. Maceo at once put spurs to his horse, and, followed by his +aides, rode swiftly after the physician, who plunged into the +thick growth on the side of the road. They had ridden only a short +distance, when Zertucha suddenly bent low in his saddle and +swerved sharply to one side, galloping away like mad. Almost at +the same moment a volley was fired by a party of Spanish soldiers +hidden in the dense underbrush, and Maceo and four of his aides +dropped out of their saddles mortally wounded. + +The single survivor, the one who tells this story, managed to make +his way back to his own men, and brought them up to the scene of +the tragedy, but the bodies had been removed, and when they were +finally discovered, they had been mutilated in a most shocking +manner. It was then learned that one of the victims was Francisco +Gomez, a son of the Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban army, who was +one of Maceo's aides. It seems that his wound was not necessarily +a fatal one, but he refused to leave his dying commander, and +rather than to fall alive in the hands of his foes, he committed +suicide. This letter was found in his hand: + +Dear Mamma, Papa, Dear Brothers: I die at my post. I did not want +to abandon the body of General Maceo, and I stayed with him. I was +wounded in two places, and as I did not fall into the hands of the +enemy I have killed myself. I am dying. I die pleased at being in +the defense of the Cuban cause. I wait for you in the other world. +Your son, + +FRANCISCO GOMEZ. + +Torro in San Domingo. + +(Friends or foes, please transmit to its destination, as requested +by one dead.) + +Dr. Zertucha surrendered to a Spanish officer shortly after Maceo +was killed. He said that the dead leader was discouraged by the +continual failures of the insurgents to make any headway against +their foes; that, on account of his color, the subordinate +officers in the Cuban ranks did not show proper respect for him, +or obedience to his commands, and that he had purposely placed +himself in range of the enemy's rifles, deliberately seeking +death. + +These statements are manifestly false, and go far to confirm the +belief that the coward who made them had a guilty knowledge +concerning the manner of the death of the brave soldier he +maligned. + +AN ESTIMATE OF MACEO'S CHARACTER. + +A gentleman who made Maceo's acquaintance in Havana, prior to the +present insurrection, gives this estimate of his character: + +"Maceo was a natural politician in that he had the genius of +divining popular opinion, and taking the leadership of popular +movements. He was in Havana at that time sounding men and scheming +for the present revolution. He was always of the sunniest +disposition, closely attaching all people to him, and a man of the +strictest moral integrity. He never drank wine, he never smoked, +and that in a land where tobacco is as common as potatoes in +Ireland, and he never played cards. He had a great abhorrence of +men who drank to excess, and would not tolerate them about him. + +"He always dressed, when in Havana, in the most finished style. +His massive frame--he was about five feet ten inches in height and +unusually broad shouldered--was displayed to advantage always in +frock coat, closely buttoned, and he usually wore a silk hat. He +was neat, even to fastidiousness, in his dress. He usually carried +a cane. + +"When Maceo took the field, however, he roughed it with his men, +and dressed accordingly. When in battle he carried a long-barreled +38-caliber revolver with a mother-of-pearl handle, and a Toledo +blade made in the form of a machete. The handle of this machete +was finely wrought silver and turquoise shell, and had four +notches in it, into which the fingers could easily fit. Maceo +always had three horses with him on his marches, the favorite +being a big white one." + +Probably no event in the war up to that time caused such general +satisfaction among the supporters of the existing government, both +in Cuba and in Spain, as the death of Maceo. When Jose Marti was +killed, they were certain that the loss of that leader would +compel the insurrectionists to abandon hopes of success. On the +contrary, it inspired them with greater determination than before. +But the Spanish sympathizers learned nothing from that experience, +and when it was definitely known that Maceo was no longer to be +feared, they were unanimous in the belief that the end of the +struggle was at hand. Subsequent events have shown how little they +knew of the kind of men with whom they were at war. + +"The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church," and every +Cuban patriot who has fallen in this conquest of extermination has +but added fuel to the fires of liberty, which are sweeping Spanish +rule from the island, leaving the tyrants nothing but the ashes of +their hopes. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +WEYLER'S RECONCENTRATION POLICY AND ITS HORRORS. + +The Object of the Plan--Slaves of Spain--The Massacre of the +Innocents--Deserted Fields and Farms--A Fearful Mortality--The +Cubans the Oldest Americans of Caucasian Blood--Women and Children +Doomed to Die--An Appeal for Help--Our Manifest Duty. + + +When General Weyler promulgated his policy of reconcentration he +hypocritically claimed that it was intended to protect the +non-combatant peasantry of the island, but his sole object was to +compel them to put themselves wholly in the power of the Spanish +officials. No one knew better than the "Butcher" that the Cuban +peasant, no matter what he might publicly profess, was bound with +all his heart to the cause of free Cuba, and that he never lost an +opportunity to aid the insurgents by every means in his power. And +when he formulated the plan compelling them to abandon their homes +in the rural districts, and to herd like sheep in the cities and +towns which were still under his rule, it was to prevent them from +giving aid and information to the rebels. He must have known that +the enforcement of this edict meant certain starvation to +thousands of the inoffensive inhabitants, but no thought of the +misery and injustice which he thus wrought upon them deterred him +in his determination to crush the unhappy people, and keep them +still the slaves of Spain. + +The order found a very large proportion of the working classes +absolutely destitute of money, and the men, knowing there was no +work for them in the towns, hesitated about going with their +families, while they did not dare to remain in their poor homes, +where, at least, they could be sure of food. The consequence was +that thousands of homes were deserted. The women and children were +sent to the towns to look out for themselves as best they could, +while the men joined the insurgent army. In a number of cases +wives refused to be separated from their husbands, and followed +them into the ranks of the revolutionists, where they fought like +the Amazons of old. Some of them found a melancholy pleasure in +nursing the sick and wounded, others fought side by side with the +men, and the fear of death was not half as strong as the thoughts +of the horrors which awaited them at their homes, or among the +reconcentrados in the towns. Marriages have been solemnized, and +children have been born upon the fields of battle. Spain is +nursing a forlorn hope when she counts on subduing patriots like +these. + +WOMEN AND CHILDREN DOOMED TO DIE. + +Hon. C. W. Russell, an attache of the Department of Justice of the +United States, went to Cuba shortly after the order for +reconcentration went into effect. It was his purpose to learn by +personal observation how much or how little truth there was in the +reports that had come to this country regarding the terrible +suffering among the reconcentrados. He states the result of his +investigations as follows: + +"I spent just two weeks in Cuba, visited Havana, went south to +Jaruco, southwest to Guines, northeast to Matanzas, eastwardly +about two hundred miles through the middle of the country to San +Domingo, Santa Clara and Sagua la Grande. I visited Marianao, a +short distance west of Havana, and saw along the railroad thirty +or forty towns or stations. In Havana I visited the Fossos, the +hospital prison at Aldecoa, where I talked with the father of +Evangelina Cisneros, and a place called the Jacoba. I found +reconcentrados at all three places, and begging everywhere about +the streets of Havana. + +"The spectacle at the Fossos and Jacoba houses, of women and +children emaciated to skeletons and suffering from diseases +produced by starvation, was sickening. In Sagua I saw some sick +and emaciated little girls in a children's hospital, started three +days before by charitable Cubans, and saw a crowd of miserable +looking reconcentrados with tin buckets and other receptacles +getting small allowances of food doled out to them in a yard. In +the same city, in an old sugar warehouse, I saw stationed around +the inside walls the remnants of twenty or thirty Cuban families. + +"In one case the remnant consisted of two children, seven or eight +years old. In another case, where I talked to the people in broken +Spanish, there were four individuals, a mother, a girl of +fourteen, and two quite small girls. The smallest was then +suffering from malarial fever. The next had the signs on her +hands, with which I had become familiar, of having had that +dreadful disease, the beri-beri. These four were all that order of +concentration had left alive of eleven. At San Domingo, where two +railroads join, the depot was crowded with women and children, one +of the latter, as I remember, being swollen up with the beri-beri, +begging in the most earnest way of the few passengers. + +"San Domingo is little more than a railroad station in times of +peace, but at present it has a considerable population, living in +cabins thatched with the tops of royal palm trees, composed of the +survivors of the reconcentrados. The huts are arranged close +together in a little clump, and the concentration order required +and apparently still requires these people to live within a circle +of small block houses, commonly dignified in the dispatches by the +name of forts. They had no work to do, no soil to till, no seed to +plant, and only begging to live on. I do not know the exact +measure of the dead-line circle drawn around them, but there was +certainly nothing within it upon which a human being could +subsist. Practically they were prisoners. At every one of the +numerous stopping places along the road a similar collection of +huts could be seen, and at most of them beggars, often nice +looking women and beautiful children, invaded the cars. Between +the stations, although I traveled always by daylight, as the +trains do not run at night, and I was observing as carefully as +possible, I saw no signs of the reconcentrados going away from the +forts. If they had gone, it takes seed, instruments, land, and +three or four months to raise the vegetable which could be soonest +produced, and nowhere away from the block houses was there any +sign of vegetables growing. Near the larger towns the circle of +concentration seemed to be somewhat larger, and some planting of +vegetables, tobacco, etc., seemed to be going on. At this a very +few persons, possibly some of the reconcentrados, found +employment. + +DESERTED FIELDS AND FARMS. + +"All along the railroad, as far as could be seen, were stretches +of the most fertile and beautiful country, with very few trees, +even on the low mountains, and most of these royal palms. I saw +many dozens of burned canefields, and one evening, going from +Guines to Havana, saw the sky all lighted up along the road with +fires, principally of the tall grass of the country, but partly of +cane. The whole land was lying perfectly idle, except that I saw +two or three or four sugar mills where cane was growing, but in +all such instances the mill and cane were surrounded by forts, +manned by soldiers, who are paid, I was told, by the owners. +Except in the cities, I saw no indication that any relief whatever +was being afforded to the starving people. Neither in Havana nor +elsewhere did any priest, religious woman or other person seem to +be paying any attention to the wants of the starving, except that +at the Fossos, and some other places, charitable Cubans were +nursing the sick. The Church, being a state institution, was, so +far as I could see, leaving the victims without either bodily or +spiritual relief. In fact, the general air of indifference to +suffering which seemed to prevail everywhere was astonishing. + +A FEARFUL MORTALITY. + +"As the country was stripped of its population by the order of +concentration, it is easy to believe that 400,000 persons were +gathered behind the forts without being given food, medicine, or +means of any kind to earn a living, except where in the larger +cities some few could find employment in menial offices. Judging +by the orphans I was shown at Jacoba, Aidecoa and elsewhere, and +from all I saw and heard, I believe that half of the 400,000 have +died as the result of starvation. I know from the official +register of the city of Santa Clara, which ordinarily has a +population of about 14,000, that the deaths for November were over +1,000, and the number of deaths for December was over 900, and +showed an increase, considering the loss of the former 1,000, from +its total population. The exact figures for December are 971. At +that city the government was distributing 500 single rations per +day out of a total appropriation for the purpose of $15,000. This +was not relief, but a mere prolongation of the sufferings of a +small part of the reconcentrados of the city. + +"So far as any evidence of relief was visible to my eyes or was +even heard of by me in all my talks on the island, the surviving +200,000 people are in the same condition and have the same +prospect of starvation before them as had their kindred who have +died. There is as much need of medicine now as food, and they are +getting neither. The reason given by the Spanish sympathizers in +Cuba is that the troops must be first fed, and it is certain that +many of the soldiers are sick and suffering for want of proper +food. I saw many myself that looked so. I was informed on all +sides that they had not been paid for eight months, and that most +of the civil officials had not been paid for a similar period. It +is, therefore, most probable that Spain is practically unable to +supply the millions which are immediately necessary to prevent the +death of most of the surviving reconcentrados, but this leads to +political questions, which I desire to avoid. + +OUR MANIFEST DUTY. + +"I wish merely to state in such a way as to be convincing that in +consequence of the concentration of the people, some 200,000 +Cubans are daily suffering and dying from diseases produced by a +lack of nourishment, in the midst of what I think must be the most +fertile country in the world, and that something must be done for +them on a large scale, and at once, or a few months will see their +extermination. So far as I could see, they are a patient, amiable, +intelligent set of people, some of them whom I saw begging having +faces like Madonnas. They are Americans, probably the oldest +Americans of European descent. Constant intercourse with the +United States has made them sympathize with and appreciate us, who +are but six hours by boat from them, if we do not sympathize with +or care for them. No order or permission from General Blanco can +save the lives of many of them. Indeed, many are too far gone to +be saved by the best care and treatment. + +"There was no indication of a cessation of hostilities by the +insurgents. If they do not voluntarily cease, their tactics are +such that Spain cannot conquer them, if at all, before the +reconcentrados will have had the finishing stroke. But even the +speedy termination of the war would not save many of them. What +they need is instant pecuniary assistance to the extent of $20,000 +a day, distributed by our consuls. Private charity, it seems, will +hardly produce the amount. Twenty thousand dollars would be but +ten cents apiece for medicine, clothes and food. When I left +Havana I was informed that Consul General Lee had received $5,000 +and some hundreds of cans of condensed milk. As there are about +30,000 sufferers in Havana alone, the inadequacy of such +contributions is manifest. Whether Congress should make an +appropriation, as in the case of the San Domingo refugees and +other cases, it is not for me to say, but I beg the charitable to +believe the statement of facts which I have made, and try to +realize what they mean." + +A correspondent in Cuba gives an interesting account of a case +that came under his notice among the reconcentrados in the town of +Guadaloupe. It is substantially as follows: + +In all misery-ridden Cuba there is no town in which the reign of +misery is so absolute as in Guadaloupe. Even the situation of this +place might be said to be in "the valley of the shadow of death." +It is not upon the earth's surface, but far below, in a broad, +deep hole. The all-surrounding hills are not green, but black. For +these up-sloping fields, upon which many a rich tobacco crop has +been raised, lie now under blackening ashes--the work of insurgent +torches. In this low-lying town 3,000 reconcentrados are naked, +shelterless and starving. That aid has not come to them till now +is because of the ingratitude and treachery of two of their own +number. + +As the two guilty ones have just paid the penalty of their crime, +the Red Cross Society will probably have a relief corps in +Guadaloupe by the time this letter is printed. + +The tragedy of Guadaloupe, to the denouement of which I was an +eyewitness, shows that the insurgents have learned the art of +butchery as taught by the Spanish, and that a reconcentrado will +sometimes betray the Samaritan who helps him. A faithful mule +carried me into Guadaloupe at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the +siesta hour. I had come from the coast many miles away, over the +hills. As I rode into the town, I said to the mule: "The next +artist who is given an order to illustrate Dante's 'Inferno' ought +to come here. He could draw from life, pictures more infernal than +a mere human mind could conceive." + +Reconcentrados lay everywhere under the broiling sun. The mule +picked his way between human heaps that looked like so many little +mounds of rags. Skeleton legs and arms protruded from out the +heaps. Soft moans of mothers and the wailing of little children +gave evidence of so many living deaths. + +ONE KIND-HEARTED SPANIARD. + +I presented my credentials to the commandante. He was the most +genial Spanish official I had met between Havana and Guadaloupe. +When he smiled, his face was all kindness. When he spoke of the +reconcentrados, tears welled from his eyes. Yet around his mouth +and chin were the cruel lines of a nature as stern as it was +commiserative. He told me that the hospital was full, always full; +there was room in its wards for only 200 patients, and only one +doctor for all. All who entered that place of sickness came out of +it, not cured, but dead. Three thousand human beings, mostly women +and children, had passed away in that town in three months. Nearly +all had died of starvation and exposure. When the cemetery was +full, they began burying in the still burning tobacco fields on +the hillsides. + +But it was the siesta hour. The commandante excused himself, +saying he would rest awhile and advised me to do the same. + +The commandante's house was in the center of the town. Round about +was a circle of the houses of those who had owned the tobacco +fields. Beyond these homes of the well-to-do were hundreds of +huts. In these lived the reconcentrados, several families in each, +or as many as could huddle within and not pull the roughly +constructed frame of palm stalks down about their heads. Outside +the circle of huts were the blackened fields and hills. On the +tops of the hills, at intervals of 200 yards, was a circle of +small houses that looked like sentry boxes. They were really +little forts, with four soldiers in each. Beyond the forts were, +heaven only knows how many, insurgent guerillas, lynx-eyed human +watch dogs, always lurking and waiting for a chance to swoop upon +one of the little forts, slay the garrison of four and dash back +into the bushes. + +A SOLDIER'S GHASTLY BURDEN. + +At this moment not a soldier was in sight. Perhaps all were +sleeping, like the commandante. Or perhaps the soldiers always +remained inside the barricades surrounding their forts, fearing +that to step outside would be to attract the bullets of the +lurking insurgents. For such is warfare in Cuba's hills to-day; +much the same sort of warfare our American forefathers knew when +each man who stepped from his doorway was likely to become a +target for the arrows of the lurking and invisible redskins. + +I was making a mental note of this picture of war and misery, when +suddenly I saw a human form on the hilltop over which I had just +come. The peculiar shape of the white hat worn by this apparition +told me it was a soldier. In the middle of the white road he +stopped, lowered a burden from his shoulders to the ground. What +was that soldier doing there and what was the nature of his +apparently heavy burden? From my perch on the balcony I beckoned +to the sentry, who was pacing up and down in front of the +commandante's house. The sentry came up to the balcony, took one +look in the direction of my pointing finger, and then rushed into +the house. The next moment the commandante appeared. With a field +glass he surveyed the figure on the hilltop. + +"He is carrying something," I said, as I watched the man in the +distance reshoulder his burden and begin descending the hill. + +"A dead man," said the commandante. And he closed the glasses, +thoughtfully. Then he gave me a long black cigar. + +We waited. At the end of half an hour the soldier approached the +house. Yes, on his back he was carrying a corpse. + +TELL-TALE SCRAP OF PAPER. + +He laid his burden down in the road and saluted the commandante. A +group of officers and soldiers had gathered round. The body was +that of a noted insurgent captain. A scrap of paper was produced. +It had been found in the dead man's pocket by the soldier who had +carried the body into town. + +The commandante read the paper. His brow contracted. Now he was +all sternness. + +"Bring the man, Jose Manual, here," he said to a sergeant. + +Five minutes later an old man, all bones and skin, stood before +us. The miserable man trembled as with the palsy. + +"Si, senor, I did it. I ran over the hill. I informed. I alone am +to blame." + +Evidently the wretch knew of what he was accused. It was also +apparent that he was not the only guilty one. + +"Who wrote this for you?" the commandante asked. + +"I did, senor; I wrote it." + +"The man lies," murmured one of the officers. + +"Bring hither the son of Jose Manual," was the next order. + +With that, another skeleton, a young one, stepped forward. + +"I am here, senor, and I wrote the note. That is all. We two, +senor. I wrote and my father ran. He was stronger, that day, than +even my younger bones." + +The commandante compressed his lips. He turned to the sergeant and +said: "At sunset have these two men shot." + +The two men merely spat upon the ground. For them death evidently +had no terrors. As they were led away they made the sign of the +cross again and again upon their naked breasts. A hundred starving +wretches followed them in silence. + +When we were again alone on the balcony--a broad, square balcony +it was--the commandante noticed my look of inquiry. + +"The story can be briefly told," he said. "You are simply the +witness of a tragedy that had its beginning on this very balcony +one month ago. I sent word by the priest to a lady in Havana--an +English lady--that we had 4,000 starving people in this town. +Could she help us? Always generous, beneficent, self-sacrificing, +the lady responded in person. She came by the coast steamer, +landed at broad noon, traversed the two miles over which you came +a few hours ago from the coast, bringing with her seven ox-cart +loads of provisions, clothing and medicine. With her came her +daughter, a young girl just over from England. Their charity was +distributed from this very balcony to the starving people. The +distribution occupied two entire days. Out of 4,000 people, 2,000 +were given food and clothing and medicine. She promised the other +half equal relief as soon as she could go to Havana and return +again with the stores. On the night before she was to leave us the +ladies and gentlemen of the leading families here, together with +the officers of my staff, proposed to give the good Samaritans a +banquet. The proposal was accepted. All gathered for the banquet +on this balcony. I draped the front of the house in the Spanish +colors, and hung out all the available lamps. That illumination +was our ruin. Thirty-four sat down to dine. Only thirty lived +through the first course. Of a sudden a hailstorm of bullets was +poured into our midst. A bottle of wine in front of me flew into +bits. Not a whole plate or a whole glass was left. We sprang up +and fled into the house. Not all of us, though. No. Three men-- +three of my best officers--had fallen from their chairs, dead. The +other--oh, God!" + +ENGLISH SAMARITAN MURDERED. + +The commandante could not continue. He made a gesture indicating +that I was to step into the house. + +In his room he opened a huge wardrobe and took out a jacket, a +tiny coat, such as might be worn by a soldier boy. The sleeves +were loaded with the gold lace and golden stars of a colonel in +the Spanish army. On the left side of this jacket or coat was a +ragged hole. + +"The bullet entered here," the commandante said, sorrowfully. "It +pierced her heart. The poor mother carried her dead back to +Havana. That is all." + +I understood. A fatal volley had been poured into that dinner +party by insurgents on the hilltops. The house was in the center +of the town, and the lamps illuminating the Spanish colors had +rendered the balcony the best of targets. These Spanish officers +and an innocent young English girl, a Samaritan, were murdered. + +And by whom? By the insurgents, who were guided to the hilltops by +two of the very reconcentrados whom the victims had saved that day +from starvation. One had written a note informing the insurgents +of the circumstance, time, and place of the banquet. The other had +delivered the note to one of the murderers. Father and son were +equally guilty of ingratitude and treachery. The incriminating +note had been found on the dead body of the insurgent captain, +carried into town by the soldier of Spain. + +THE SAD FINAL SCENE. + +At sunset a squad of twenty men, armed and in charge of a first +lieutenant, filed out of the barracks. In front of the squad +marched the two prisoners, their arms tied together above the +elbows, behind their backs. Behind the soldiers came perhaps a +thousand of the wretched and starving. + +No murmuring, no uplifting of arms, nothing but solemn silence. In +front of a wall, lining one of the blackened fields, the prisoners +were made to kneel down. A priest stood over them speaking the +last consoling words. + +Out of the squad of twenty soldiers, eight stepped forth and +leveled their rifles at the kneeling father and son. + +The eight shots sounded as one, and one of the blackest crimes of +this atrocious war was expiated. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +AMERICAN INDIGNATION GROWING. + +The American People Favor Cuba--Influence of the Press--Hatred of +Weyler--General Lee's Reports of the Horrors of the War--The +Question of Annexation--Spanish Soldiers Oppose American Aid for +the Suffering--Consular Reports From the Island. + + +The people of the United States, from the commencement of the +war, have been deeply interested in the success of the Cuban +cause. The leading journals, with hardly an exception, have upheld +the revolutionists, and have been largely instrumental in arousing +our government to action. The following editorial is one of many +on the subject which voiced the popular feeling, and gave hope to +the struggling band of patriots, both in the United States and +Cuba: + +"Cuba bleeds at every pore, and Liberty goes weeping through a +land desolated by cruel war and throttled by the iron hand of a +foreign despotism. We hold that this government would be justified +not only in recognizing Cuban belligerency, but also in +recognizing Cuban independence, on the sole ground of the rights +and claims of outraged humanity. ... In consequence of Weyler's +barbarous decrees the most harrowing scenes of savagery and +brutality are of almost daily occurrence in this beautiful island, +which is situated a hundred miles from our Florida coast line. In +the midst of these horrifying and terrorizing spectacles Cuba +extends her hand in supplication to this land of boasted freedom, +asking only for a kindly glance of friendly recognition. + +"Shall we refuse this small crumb of comfort from our bounteous +board? Spain may have the right to expect American neutrality, but +she has no right to demand indifference on our part to the fate of +a brave people, whose territory almost touches our own, and is +nearer to our national capital than are a number of the States of +the Union, and whose heroic struggle for liberty was largely +inspired by our glorious example of beneficent free institutions +and successful self-government. + +"Spanish rule in Cuba has been characterized by injustice, +oppression, extortion, and demoralization. She has fettered the +energies of the people, while she has fattened upon their +industry. She smiled but to smite, and embraced but to crush. She +has disheartened exertion, disqualified merit, and destroyed +patience and forbearance, by supporting in riotous luxury a horde +of foreign officials at the expense of native industry and +frugality. + +"Irritated into resistance, the Cubans are now the intended +victims of increased injustice. But the inhuman design will fail +of accomplishment. Cuban patriotism develops with the growth of +oppression. The aspiration for freedom increases in proportion to +the weight of its multiplied chains. The dawn of Cuban liberty is +rapidly approaching." + +CONSULAR REPORTS OF SUFFERING IN THE ISLAND. + +General Lee's reports cover the period from November 17, 1897, to +April 1, 1898. Much of the correspondence is marked confidential. +Only excerpts are given in many instances. General Lee's first +dispatch related to the modifying of General Weyler's +concentration order by General Blanco. In his communication he +says: + +"First. The insurgents will not accept autonomy. + +"Second. A large majority of the Spanish subjects who have +commercial and business interests and own property here will not +accept autonomy, but prefer annexation to the United States rather +than an independent republic or genuine autonomy under the Spanish +flag." + +The remainder of the letter is devoted to plans for the relief of +the reconcentrados. + +"In this city," he writes, "matters are assuming better shape +under charitable committees. Large numbers are now cared for and +fed by private subscriptions. I witnessed many terrible scenes and +saw some die while I was present. I am told General Blanco will +give $100,000 to the relief fund." + +ANNEXATION DESIRED. + +General Lee writes on December 13: + +"The contest for and against autonomy is most unequal. For it +there are five or six of the head officers at the Palace and +twenty or thirty other persons here in the city. Against it, +first, are the insurgents, with or without arms, and the Cuban +non-combatants; second, the great mass of the Spaniards bearing or +not bearing arms--the latter desiring, if there must be a change, +annexation to the United States. Indeed, there is the greatest +apathy concerning autonomy in any form. No one asks what it will +be, or when or how it will come. + +"I do not see how it could even be put into operation by force, +because as long as the insurgents decline to accept it, so long, +the Spanish authorities say, the war must continue." + +General Lee then describes the efforts to form an autonomistic +cabinet in Cuba and the public disapprobation of the people. + +On January 8 General Lee makes the following report: + +"Sir--I have the honor to state, as a matter of public interest, that +the reconcentrado order of General Weyler, formerly governor-general of +this island, transformed about four hundred thousand self-supporting +people, principally women and children, into a multitude to be sustained +by the contributions of others, or die of starvation or of fevers +resulting from a low physical condition and being massed in large +bodies, without change of clothing and without food. + +"Their homes were burned, their fields and plant beds destroyed, +and their live stock driven away or killed. + +"I estimate that probably two hundred thousand of the rural +population in the provinces of Pinar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas, +and Santa Clara have died of starvation or from resultant causes, +and the deaths of whole families almost simultaneously, or within +a few days of each other, and of mothers praying for their +children to be relieved of their horrible sufferings by death are +not the least of the many pitiable scenes which were ever present. +In the provinces of Puerto Principe and Santiago de Cuba, where +the 'reconcentrado order' could not be enforced, the great mass of +the people are self-sustaining. ... + +"A daily average of ten cents' worth of food to two hundred +thousand people would be an expenditure of $20,000 per day, and, +of course, the most humane efforts upon the part of our citizens +cannot hope to accomplish such a gigantic relief, and a great +portion of these people will have to be abandoned to their fate." ... + +On January 12, 13, 14 and 15 General Lee sent brief cablegrams to +the department in regard to those rioting and the demonstrations +against autonomy and Blanco and the three newspaper offices. + +January 13 he said some of the rioters threatened to go to the +United States consulate. "Ships," he said, "are not needed, but +may be later. If Americans are in danger ships should move +promptly for Havana. Uncertainty and excitement widespread." The +rioting ceased the next day and General Lee reported all quiet. + +On March 1 General Lee reports that the distribution of food, +medicines, and clothing to the destitute is proceeding +satisfactorily. The work, he says, has been well organized and +systematized under the supervision and direction of Miss Clara +Barton, president of the Red Cross of the United States, and her +active, able, and experienced assistant. He inclosed a letter on +March 14 from Consul Barker, of Sagua, who requests him to +transmit the following letter, which is addressed to him (General +Lee): + +"Dear Sir--I will thank you to communicate to the department as +quickly as possible the fact that military commander and other +military officers positively refuse to allow the reconcentrados, +to whom I am issuing food in its raw state, to procure fuel with +which to cook the food. + +"In addition, they prohibited this class of people (I am only +giving food to about one-fifth of the destitute--the authorities +have quit altogether) from gathering vegetables cultivated within +the protection of the forts, telling them 'the Americans propose +to feed you, and to the Americans you must look.'" + +General Lee reports on March 28 that "instructions have been +given, by the civil government of Havana that the alcaldes and +other authorities shall not give out any facts about the +reconcentrados, and if any of the American relief committees +should make inquiries concerning them, all such inquiries must be +referred to him." + +General Lee's dispatches end with a dispatch under date of April +1, transmitting the decree of the governor-general terminating the +concentration order. + +CONSUL BARKER'S REPORT. + +Consul Barker covers the conditions existing in Santa Clara +province in several communications, beginning on November 20, +1897, and closing on March 24 last. His letters constitute one +long story of distress, of sickness, destitution and death, until, +indeed, the picture, even as drawn in the plain language of +official communications, is revolting. + +Mr. Barker devoted comparatively little space to political +questions. Only one or two of his letters are along these lines. +Probably the most notable of these is his communication of January +10 last: + +"When Spain will admit defeat," he writes, "no mortal, in my +humble judgment, dare predict. That her plan of settlement-- +autonomy--is a failure, and that with this failure passes from +under her dominion the island, is not to be questioned. Pending +this admission on her part thousands of human beings, guiltless of +bringing on or having any part in the insurrection, are dying for +want of sustenance." + +Mr. Barker then suggests that residents in Cuba be allowed to take +out first papers under the naturalization laws before a consul in +Cuba, and that by this scheme, he thinks, Spain will be rebuked +and change her laws. + +He adds that the relief from the United States must be continued +or the people must starve, so long as there is an armed Spanish +soldier in the country, "since these people, for fear of being +murdered, do not go to their country homes." + +On January 15 Mr. Barker writes: "In this consular district a +reign of terror and anarchy prevails, which the authorities, if so +disposed, are utterly powerless to control or in any measure to +subdue. Aside from the suffering and desperation caused by the +unparalleled destitution, I regard the situation as rapidly +assuming a critical stage. As stated heretofore, in no way have +the authorities departed from the policy pursued by the late, but +not lamented, General Weyler. Spanish troops, as well as the +guerrillas under the cruel chiefs Carreraz, Clavarrietta, and +Lazo, continue to despoil the country and drench it with the blood +of non-combatants. Although the 'bando' of the captain-general +provides that laborers may return to estates, it restricts their +operations to those having a garrison. Last week a number +belonging to the 'Sta. Ana' estate, located within a league of +Sagua, and owned by George Thorndike of Newport, were driven off +after returning, and refused a permit as a protection by the +military commander, Mayor Lemo, one of the trusted officers under +the Weyler regime." + +Mr. Barker says that from February 15 to March 12 he cared for +twelve hundred persons, increasing the number on the relief list +after that date to two thousand. + +On March 24 Mr. Barker increased his estimate as to the amount of food +necessary to keep life in the people of that province. He said that one +hundred and fifty tons a month were needful for that time, and that the +distress was far greater than his former reports had shown. In the +letter of this date he recounts the particulars of a visit to Santa +Clara, where, he says, he learned from his own agents and also from the +governor of the province that the number of persons in actual want +exceeded any estimate which he had previously sent to the government He +had said only three days before that he thought twenty tons a month +should be added to the eighty tons previously suggested. In a +communication of March 20 Mr. Barker says: "The distress is simply +heart-rending. Whole families without clothing to hide nakedness are +sleeping on the bare ground, without bedding of any kind, without food, +save such as we have been able to reach with provisions sent by our own +noble people; and the most distressing feature is that fully 50 per cent +are ill, without medical attendance or medicine." + +SOLDIERS OPPOSE AID. + +Mr. Barker adds that if $5,000 could be sent to Consul General +Lee, blankets, cots, and medicines could be purchased in Santa +Clara, and thus save thousands who must die if compelled to await +the sending of these supplies from the United States. + +"I have," he says, "found the civil governor willing to lend every +aid in his power, but he admits that he can do nothing but assist +with his civil officers in expediting relief sent by the United +States. The military obstruct in every way possible." + +CONSUL HYATT'S REPORT. + +Writing on December 5, Mr. Hyatt said: "The reconcentration order is +relaxed, but not removed; but many people have reached a point where it +is a matter of entire indifference to them whether it is removed or not, +for they have lost all interest in the problem of existence. A census of +the island taken to-day, as compared with one taken three years ago, I +feel confident would show that two-thirds of the residents are missing, +and the Spanish army would make no better showing." + +On December 14 Mr. Hyatt wrote: "The order of reconcentration +practically has been wiped out, and, so far as the Spanish +government is concerned, men go about nearly as they please. The +insurgents and their sympathizers will unquestionably take +advantage of the revocation to get from the towns and cities what +they need and otherwise strengthen their cause. The effects on +agricultural pursuits will be disappointing, because the great +majority of those who would or should take up the work joined the +insurgent forces when compelled to leave their homes, and the +portion which came within the lines of reconcentration are women, +children, old and sickly people, most of whom seem to have little +interest in the problem of life. There is no one to take these +people back to the fields and utilize their remaining strength. +Their houses are destroyed, the fields are overgrown with weeds, +they have no seeds to plant, and, if they had, they could not live +sixty or eighty days until the crop matured; which, when grown, +would more than likely be taken by one or the other of the +contending parties." + +DYING AT HIS DOOR. + +"As I write," Mr. Hyatt closes this communication, "a man is dying +in the street in front of my door, the third in a comparatively +small time." + +Mr. Hyatt's letter of December 21 deals largely with the sickness +and the death rate on the island, which he characterizes as +appalling. "Statistics," he says, "make a grievous showing, but +come far short of the truth. The disease is generally brought on +by insufficient food. It is sometimes called paludal fever, and at +others la grippe, and it is epidemic rather than contagious. From +30 to 40 per cent of the people were afflicted with it." + +He also reported smallpox and yellow fever as prevailing, and said +that out of a total of sixteen thousand soldiers recently sent to +Manzanillo, nearly five thousand were in hospitals or quartered on +the people. He says that Dr. Gaminero, United States sanitary +inspector, reported at that time that there were more than twelve +thousand people sick in bed, not counting those in military +hospitals. This is at least 35 per cent of the present population. +Mr. Hyatt adds that quinine, the only remedy of avail, is sold ten +times higher than in the United States. He says that steamers +coming into port give out soup once a day to the waiting throngs, +and that fresh meat sells at from 50 cents to $1 a pound. + +CONDEMNED TO A LIVING DEATH. + +Every ten days or so crowds of handcuffed men are driven through +the streets of Havana, which they will never tread again, on their +way to the transport ship which will convey them to the penal +settlements on the African coast. Many of these men represent the +elite of Cuban society. Seldom is a direct charge brought against +them. Police spies denounce them as Cuban sympathizers. They are +given no trial, that they may prove the charges false. On +administrative order they are sentenced to exile for life, and +frequently the source of their misfortune can be traced to private +revenge or personal feeling. Since the beginning of the war at +least ten thousand prominent citizens have been torn from their +native island, families and friends, and sent to life exile in the +filthy, overcrowded, deadly swamps of Fernando Po. With a little +money and good health it is possible to survive in Ceuta, but none +ever returns from Fernando Po. On the 23d of March a large party +of citizens of the Matanzas district passed through Havana on +their way to the transport. It was a sad procession. Hopeless, +jaded, despairing men, with arms tied behind them and feet +shackled, forced to leave Cuba and face a slow, horrible death. On +the train from Matanzas two of these unfortunates were literally +shot to pieces. The guards reported they tried to escape and were +shot in the attempt. Their fellow-prisoners told a different +story. "The two men were deliberately taken out on the platform +between the cars and fired upon. And the soldiers would give no +reason." The action could likely be traced to personal revenge. + +For three-quarters of a century the misgovernment of Spain in Cuba +was a neighborhood shame and scandal to the people of the United +States. Warning off the interference of any other foreign nation, +under the policy known as the "Monroe Doctrine," the American +people witnessed the repeated efforts of a less favored nation of +this hemisphere to release itself from the grasp of the oppressor. +They witnessed at the periods of each of these revolts their own +ships of war patroling the southern coast and the waters adjacent +to Cuba to intercept any young Americans whose sympathies might +lead them to join the Cuban cause, and they acquiesced, because +the law as it stood exacted it. They witnessed in more than one of +these revolts, when some young Americans, who had eluded the +vigilance of United States cruisers, landed on the island and were +captured by Spanish troops. These young men stood against the +walls of Morro Castle and were shot like dogs, because their +government was powerless under the law to aid them. They witnessed +the offers on the part of their government at various times to +terminate the continued scandal upon civilized government at one +of the doorways of their country by the purchase of the island for +a generous sum of money, and the rejections of such propositions +by Spain. + +The American people finally realized that peace could never come +to Cuba until it was imposed by the action of the United States, +and the opinion gradually grew that neither international +obligations nor a desire for the maintenance of friendly relations +with Spain could justify our government in permitting these +outrages to continue at our doors. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +OUTRAGES ON AMERICANS IN CUBA. + +How Spain Pays Her Debts--An Old Soldier's Experience--The Case +of Pedro Casanova--Destruction of Property--Robbery and Murder--A +Cruel Attack--The Insurgents to the Rescue--Hiding in a Cane +Field--The Appeal to the Consul--Intervention Justifiable. + + +Many American citizens in Cuba have been confined in Spanish +prisons, a number have been sent to the penal colonies, the +property of some has been confiscated, and others have been +murdered in cold blood. A celebrated case, which shows how slowly +the wheels of justice sometimes revolve, was that of Antonio +Maximo, a naturalized American citizen. He was condemned to death, +and his estates declared the property of the government, by order +of a court-martial, in 1870. He was charged with participating in +the revolution then going on in Cuba and convicted, in spite of +the fact that he was not residing on the island. The United States +demanded restitution and indemnification, and in 1873 the Spanish +republic admitted that the claim was just. The decree was +confirmed in 1876 by the royal government, but the authorities in +Cuba delayed its execution until the estates were in ruins. Spain +finally offered the sum of 1,500,000 pesos as indemnity, and this +offer was accepted in 1886. The Cortes, however, made no +appropriation for the payment, and in 1888 the Spanish minister of +state attempted to affix to the agreement the new condition that +certain claims of Spanish subjects should be adjudicated and +settled simultaneously. Secretary Bayard rejected the proposition, +and our government continued to urge the Spanish authorities to +fulfill their contract. On June 12, 1895, Secretary Olney +instructed Hannis Taylor, United States minister at Madrid, to ask +Spain to give assurances that she would settle the claim within +two months. The Spanish government then offered to pay the +principal of the claim, and the claimant agreed to forego the +interest. On September 14, the original claimant having died, the +Spanish government paid $1,499,000, equal to 1,500,000 pesos, in +settlement of the long-standing claim. + +AN OLD SOLDIER'S EXPERIENCE. + +William Ewing, of Buffalo, New York, served in the Seventeenth +United States infantry all through the civil war, and is a member +of the G. A. R. He went to Cuba, and invested $7,000, all the +money he had, in a sugar plantation, and with his wife and +daughter and his brother-in-law, William Hamilton, he took up his +abode on the island. + +Finally, owing to the unsettled conditions resulting from the war, +he sent his family back to the United States, and joined the +insurgent army. His brother-in-law also espoused the Cuban cause, +and was killed in battle. Discouraged by his reverses, he decided +to return to his native land, and made his escape from the island +by boarding a blockade runner, which landed him at Atlantic City, +from where he walked to New York. Grand Army comrades gave him +food and shelter, and assisted him to reach his family. This man +has a personal interest in the success of the cause, for when that +time comes he hopes to regain possession of his property. + +THE CASE OF PEDRO CASANOVA. + +Pedro Casanova, a citizen of the United States, resided near the +little railway station of San Miguel de Jaruca with his family, +which consists of his wife and three children and his nephew, the +latter born in the United States. He told the story of his wrongs +at the hands of the Spaniards to a representative of the New York +Herald in the following words: + +"I have suffered great outrages from the Spanish soldiers. The +soldiers recently passed on the road, and my wife called my +attention to the fact that they had broken into a vacant house +where valuable property was stored, and were pulling things in +pieces. Just then I saw two officers coming toward the house. I +was very glad, and went out to meet them, and invited them to +enter the house and refresh themselves. They accepted, and said +they liked coffee. While they were drinking, one or two soldiers +came and spoke to the captain, who asked me, 'Who are the men in +the sugar house?' 'My employes,' I replied, 'including one +engineer. The others are engaged in repairs.' + +"The captain said: 'I hear rebels are hidden there. I must take +the men before the major for examination; the major himself will +be here to-morrow.' + +"After he left I found the door of the house on the hill broken +open. A quantity of bottled beer had been taken, also my saddles +and bridles, and many other things. Gloves and other articles of +woman's apparel were tossed in the yard. I went to the station. +The drug store looked as if it had been visited by a mad bull. All +the shelves and drawers were thrown out and smashed. An empty +store opposite was in the same condition. The counter was thrown +down and the door posts hacked by machetes. The large coffee mill +was broken, and all was in disorder. An account of this work was +what the soldiers had whispered to the captain. The officer had +remarked to me with a sneer: 'The insurgents are very kind to you, +as no harm has been done here.' + +"I was surprised on the following Wednesday morning to hear shots +as of several volleys of musketry. About three hundred soldiers-- +infantry and cavalry--were, in fact, outside, having surrounded my +house. More soon appeared under command of Captain Cerezo +Martinez. In most brutal and vulgar terms he ordered all in the +house to go outside. The soldiers rushed in and dragged me out by +the coat collar. My wife, with her baby, was taken out, a rifle +being pointed at her breast. Eleutrie Zanabria, a negro servant, +who was badly frightened, tried to hide. He was pulled to the +front, and before my eyes a soldier struck him a heavy blow with +his machete, cutting him deep in the head and arm, leaving a pool +of blood on the floor. The wound was serious. + +"An order was then given to take into custody all men on the +estate. Near a tree beyond the hill, one hundred yards from the +house, I stopped, about forty paces from the others, to talk to +the captain, who had been at the house the week before. At that +moment a young negro, Manuel Febels, made a dash to escape. Some +cavalrymen rushed after him, firing. He fell, and they mutilated +his body, taking out his eyes. The officer, enraged at the negro's +flight, pulled out his sabre, and shouted to the others of the +party: 'Get down on your knees!' They obeyed and he had them bound +and kept in that position a quarter of an hour. + +"While I was talking to the captain my wife and five-year-old +child were begging for mercy for me. The cavalrymen helped +themselves to corn for their horses, and finally started. The +officers told me that my nephew's life and my own were only spared +because we were Americans, and they did not want to get into +trouble with the United States. They then ordered me to leave San +Miguel without waiting a moment. + +"Their explanation of the raid was that the rebels had fired upon +the troops, and that they saw one man run, as he fired, into my +house, and that, under the major's instructions, the whole family +should have been killed. My wife and children were in agony while +I was away. My employes were all taken away by the troops. + +"An officer of high rank in the Spanish army passed my place after +I left, came to me here, and said: 'I know what has happened. The +man in command is unfit to be an officer of Spain.' I heard that +my men had been taken to the Spanish camp and shot while eating +breakfast." + +DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY. + +The brothers Farrar, in presenting their claim for indemnity, made +the following statement: + +"On Saturday, March 21, the dwelling house of the coffee +plantation Estrella was the object of a wanton attack by the +column of Gen. Bernat, operating in that region. The said building +received cannon shots of grape and cannister, breaking the door, +one window, several piazza columns, and greatly endangering the +lives of the families of my brothers, Don Tasio and Don Luis +Farrar, both American citizens. There were two small children in +the house. From my information it appears that the troops +mentioned had sustained fire with a rebel band in Paz plantation, +a quarter-league from Estrella. The rebels having fled to Pedroso +and Buena Esperanza plantations, the government troops advanced +toward Estrella in quite an opposite direction from that taken by +the rebels. On arriving at the borders of Estrella plantation the +Spanish column began firing cannon at the dwelling house, and it +was immediately invaded by the soldiers, who ransacked it, +carrying off wardrobes, all jewelry and men's clothing which they +contained, as well as the sum of about $60 in money. They also +took away everything found in workmen's dwellings, arresting at +the same time twelve of the occupants, whom they conducted to +Alquizar as insurgents. It should be observed that the cannon were +fired solely at the dwelling house of the owners, although there +were twenty other buildings on the plantation, and the place was +entirely clear of insurgents. + +"In consideration of all the above, and particularly on account of +the danger to which his relatives were exposed, and also for the +unjustifiable looting on the part of the regular troops in the +service of a constituted government, the undersigned does most +solemnly protest, and asks an immediate indemnity for the damages +suffered, which he values at $5,000, as all work has been stopped +on the plantation and everything abandoned." + +A CRUEL ATTACK. + +The case of Dr. Deligado is a particularly pathetic one. His home +was in New York, where he was a practicing physician, but he went +to Cuba to take possession of some property which he had +inherited. His father told the story of their sufferings to a +correspondent, and his account was supplemented by additional +particulars from the doctor himself. The elder gentleman said: + +"Our plantation is called Dolores, the old name being Morales. It +was about half past one on the 4th day of March when a regiment of +rebels, about four hundred or five hundred men, invaded the place. +They told us they were Maceo's men, and soon after them came +Maceo, with twenty-four women, sixteen whites and eight mulattoes. +I understood that these women were the wives of the officers. + +"Maceo shook hands politely and asked if I would allow them to +take breakfast with us. Of course there was nothing to do but say +yes, and the men spread themselves over about seventy acres of the +plantation, the officers and ladies coming into the house. They +had provisions with them, but desired to cook and serve them, +which they did. They sat down at the table and were soon joking +and laughing. Suddenly we heard rifle shots. Hernandez yelled to +his wife to hand him his machete. Then all went out and found that +the firing had come from what seemed to be an advance guard of the +Spanish troops. There was some skirmishing at a distance, and the +insurgents rode away. They did not wish to fight on the +plantation, as they were on another mission. + +"The Spaniards had fired the cane, thinking there were other +insurgents hiding there. Spanish bullets rattled on the tiled roof +of the house, and farm hands who were plowing back of the house +got frightened and wished to come in. + +"After a while I opened the window to see how matters stood and +saw two cavalrymen and a captain, with two soldiers. My son and +the farm hands went out toward the burning cane in an attempt to +save some oxen that were near the cane. When the captain saw them +he shouted: 'Who are those people?' I told him they were our +workmen, and he then gave orders to clear the house. They rushed +their horses right through the house, the captain leading them. I +took out my American papers and showed them to him to prove that I +was a peaceful citizen. 'They are the worst documents you could +have,' said the captain. They answered my son in the same way, and +the captain repeated the order to clear the house. Then they +ordered us to march on as prisoners and told the women to stay +back. My son asked them to let me stay back with the women, and +they allowed me to do so. Of course the women were panic-stricken +and screaming when they saw their husbands being taken away. + +"We heard shots and then a second volley. One of the women cried +out: 'They have killed my husband!' Her words were true. After +about three hours I ventured out, and I saw coming towards the +house the old farm hand, a man of about seventy. He seemed to be +holding a red handkerchief over his arm, but when I got nearer I +saw that it was covered with blood. He cried out when he saw me: +'They have killed them!' 'My son! My son!' I cried. 'He was the +first one they killed,' he said. + +"I took the man in the house and tried to bind up his arm, which +had been shattered by a bullet. I endeavored to pacify the women, +and told them they should go to the nearest neighbors for help. +The two white farm hands, who had been hiding in the cane, then +came over toward the house, while I was trying to quiet the women. +They were afraid to move, panic-stricken, and would not go for +help. + +"Suddenly a young man dashed up to the house at full gallop. He +drew his revolver and told the farm hands to get cots and pillows +and medicine to bring to the missing men in case any of them +should be still alive. He said he would shoot them if they +disobeyed, and they did as he directed. They made up a litter, and +we walked on till we found the place where the men lay in a pool +of blood. + +"I looked into my son's face and cried out: 'My son, my son!' He +opened his eyes and whispered: 'Father, they have killed us.'" + +The old gentleman broke down in a passion of weeping at these +recollections of the awful scene, and the son gave his account of +the horrible butchery: + +"They marched us along," said the Doctor, "and I spoke to the +general: 'General, I am an American citizen, and here are my +papers from Mr. Williams.' 'They are the worst things you could +have,' he said. 'I wish the Consul were here himself, so that I +could treat him thus,' and he struck me three times in the face. +Then he sounded the bugle calling the volunteers, and ordered us +taken to the rear guard. Of course, we knew that this meant death. +They tied us in a line with our hands pinioned. I knew the +sergeant and said to him: 'Is it possible that you are going to +kill me?' 'How can I help it?' he answered. Then the order was +given and the soldiers rushed upon us with machetes. Their knives +cut our ropes as we tried to dodge the blows, and the soldiers +fired two volleys at us. The first shot grazed my head, and I +dropped to the ground as though dead. The old farm hand also threw +himself to the earth. This act saved our lives. + +"The other four men who tried to fight were killed. At the second +discharge a bullet pierced my side. When we all lay as though dead +they came up and turned us over and searched our pockets--mine +first, of course, as I was better dressed than the other men. One +of the soldiers noticed that my breast moved and shouted out: +'This fellow is not dead yet. Give him another blow,' and he +raised his machete and gave me a slash across the face and throat. +Then I became unconscious." + +Delgado's father took up the story as his son left off: "The brave +young man who brought us to the place where my son was, now jumped +from his horse and gave orders to the men to lift my son on the +litter, as we found he was the only man still living. We put a +pillow under his head, and the two farm hands lifted the litter +and carried it into the cane field. Meanwhile the women relatives +of the dead men came up and began to wail and cry. The young man, +whom we afterwards found was an insurgent leader, told them they +should be quiet, as their lamentations would bring the Spanish +troops upon the scene again. + +"Then the litter was carried into the cane field. This young man +said: 'You must immediately write to the American consul. I will +furnish you with a messenger, and you may rest safely in this cane +field with your son. I will put a guard of 500 men around it so +that they cannot burn it, as they do when they know people are +hiding in the cane.' + +"For five days I was in the cane field with my son. It rained upon +us, and then I put the pillows over my son's chest, in order to +protect him. I suffered greatly from rheumatism. Only the young +man appeared and said that General Maceo had sent a guard to +escort me back to my home. With my boy we were taken there and +guard kept around our house. The messenger came back from the +Consul, and I came on to Havana to see General Weyler, who had my +son brought here to the city." + +Stories of outrages on Americans that are unquestionably true +might be furnished in numbers sufficient to more than fill this +entire volume, but enough have been given to convince the most +skeptical that the demand for intervention was justified on our +own account, as well as for the sake of the people of Cuba. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +McKINLEY SUCCEEDS CLEVELAND. + +The Cuban Question Not a New One--The Efforts of Former +Administrations to Bring About a Settlement--President Cleveland's +Message--Recommendations of President McKinley--The Spanish +Minister's Insulting Letter--His Resignation Accepted--The Apology +of the Spanish Government. + + +For more than ninety years the United States government has been +confronted with a Cuban question. At times it has disappeared from +our politics, but it has always reappeared. Once we thought it +wise to prevent the island from winning its independence from +Spain, and thereby, perhaps, we entered into moral bonds to make +sure that Spain governed it decently. Whether we definitely +contracted such an obligation or not, the Cuban question has never +ceased to annoy us. The controversies about it make a long series +of chapters in one continuous story of diplomatic trouble. Many of +our ablest statesmen have had to deal with it as Secretaries of +State and as Ministers to Spain, and not one of them has been able +to settle it. One President after another has taken it up, and +every one has transmitted it to his successor. It has at various +times been a "plank" in the platforms of all our political +parties--as it was in both the party platforms of 1896--and it has +been the subject of messages of nearly all our Presidents, as it +was of President Cleveland's message in December, 1896, in which +he distinctly expressed the opinion that the United States might +feel forced to recognize "higher obligations" than neutrality to +Spain. In spite of periods of apparent quiet, the old trouble has +always reappeared in an acute form, and it has never been settled; +nor has there recently been any strong reason for hope that it +could be settled merely by diplomatic negotiation with Spain. Our +diplomats have long had an experience with Spanish character and +methods such as the public can better understand since war has +been in progress. The pathetic inefficiency and the continual +indirection of the Spanish character are now apparent to the +world; they were long ago apparent to those who have had our +diplomatic duties to do. + +Thus the negotiations dragged on. We were put to trouble and +expense to prevent filibustering, and filibustering continued in +spite of us. More than once heretofore has there been danger of +international conflict, as for instance when American sailors on +the Virginius were executed in Cuba in 1873. Propositions have +been made to buy the island, and plans have been formed to annex +it. All the while there have been great American interests in +Cuba. Our citizens have owned much property and made investments +there, and done much to develop its fertility. They have paid +tribute unlawful as well as lawful, both to insurgents and to +Spanish officials. They have lost property, for which no indemnity +has been paid. All the while we have had a trade with the island, +important during periods of quiet, irritating during periods of +unrest. + +TROUBLE NOT A NEW ONE. + +The Cuban trouble is, therefore, not a new trouble, even in an +acute form. It had been moving forward toward a crisis for a long +time. Still, while our government suffered these diplomatic +vexations, and our citizens these losses, and our merchants these +annoyances, the mass of the American people gave little serious +thought to it. The newspapers kept us reminded of an opera bouffe +war that was going on, and now and then there came information of +delicate and troublesome diplomatic duties for our Minister to +Spain. If Cuba were within a hundred miles of the coast of one of +our populous States, and near one of our great ports, periods of +acute interest in its condition would doubtless have come earlier +and oftener, and we should long ago have had to deal with a crisis +by warlike measures. Or if the insurgents had commanded respect +instead of mere pity, we should have paid heed to their struggle +sooner; for it is almost an American maxim that a people cannot +govern itself till it can win its own independence. + +When it began to be known that Weyler's method of extermination +was producing want in the island, and when appeals were made to +American charity, we became more interested. President Cleveland +found increasing difficulty with the problem. Our Department of +State was again obliged to give it increasingly serious attention, +and a resolute determination was reached by the administration +that this scandal to civilization should cease--we yet supposed +peacefully--and Spain was informed of our resolution. When Mr. +McKinley came to the Presidency, the people, conscious of a Cuban +problem, were yet not greatly aroused about it. Indeed, a +prediction of war made at the time of the inauguration would have +seemed wild and foolish. Most persons still gave little thought to +Cuba, and there seemed a likelihood that they would go on +indefinitely without giving serious thought to it; for neither the +insurgents, nor the Cuban junta, nor the Cuban party in the United +States, if there was such a party, commanded respect. + +PRESIDENT McKINLEY'S MESSAGE. + +President McKinley sent a message to Congress a few weeks after +his inauguration, in which he recommended the appropriation of +$50,000 for the relief of American citizens in Cuba. It read as +follows: + +"Official information from our Consuls in Cuba establishes the +fact that a large number of American citizens in the island are in +a state of destitution, suffering for want of food and medicines. +This applies particularly to the rural districts of the central +and eastern parts. The agricultural classes have been forced from +their farms into the nearest towns where they are without work or +money. The local authorities of the several towns, however kindly +disposed, are unable to relieve the needs of their own people, and +are altogether powerless to help our citizens. The latest report +of Consul-General Lee estimates that 600 to 800 are without means +of support. I have assured him that provision would be made at +once to relieve them. To that end I recommend that Congress make +an appropriation of not less than $50,000, to be immediately +available for use under the direction of the Secretary of State. + +"It is desirable that a part of the sum which may be appropriated +by Congress should, in the discretion of the Secretary of State, +also be used for the transportation of American citizens who, +desiring to return to the United States, are without means to do +so." + +The joint resolution offered by Senator Gallinger, which embodied +the recommendations of President McKinley, passed both Houses +without a dissenting vote. + +An influential journal printed the following editorial concerning +this measure: + +"It is an essentially new departure in international affairs, and +it is in order for the sticklers for precedent to enter fussy +protestation, as they did in connection with the Venezuelan +question, against the Monroe doctrine, declaring it was not to be +found in the code of international law. It is certainly very +unusual, if not unprecedented, for the government to make a relief +appropriation for its own people in some foreign land. The truth +is, this Cuban situation is wholly exceptional. Here is a little +island in a state of civil war. It is largely a sectional war, one +part of the island being in possession of one of the belligerents, +and the other section in possession of the other belligerent. + +"Several hundreds of our American citizens are in that section of +the island occupied by Spanish armies, and are suffering, in +common with the Cubans themselves, from a deliberate policy of +starvation. Weyler is trying to conquer by famine. That is his +fixed purpose, and, from the nature of the case, no discrimination +is made between Spanish subjects in rebellion and American +citizens sojourning in the island. If the policy of starvation +cannot be maintained without this indiscrimination then so much +the worse for Weyler and his policy. Congress has only to make the +appropriation asked for, and the relief will go forward, without +regard to any collateral consequences." + +DE LOME'S INSULTING LETTER. + +One of the most sensational incidents in connection with Spanish +affairs prior to the destruction of the Maine was the publication +of a letter, which fell into the hands of the Cuban Junta, written +by Senor Dupuy De Lome, the representative of the Spanish +government in Washington, to the editor of a newspaper at Madrid. +A translation of the letter is given: + +My Distinguished and Dear Friend: + +You need not apologize for not having written to me. I ought to +have written to you, but have not done so on account of being +weighed down with work. + +The situation here continues unchanged. Everything depends on the +political and military success in Cuba. The prologue of this +second method of warfare will end the day that the Colonial +Cabinet will be appointed, and it relieves us in the eyes of this +country of a part of the responsibility of what may happen there, +and they must cast the responsibility upon the Cubans, whom they +believe to be so immaculate. + +Until then we will not be able to see clearly, and I consider it +to be a loss of time and an advance by the wrong road, the sending +of emissaries to the rebel field, the negotiating with the +autonomists, not yet declared to be legally constituted, and the +discovery of the intentions and purposes of this government. The +exiles will return one by one, and when they return will come +walking into the sheepfold, and the chiefs will gradually return. + +Neither of these had the courage to leave en masse, and they will +not have the courage to thus return. The President's message has +undeceived the insurgents, who expected something else, and has +paralyzed the action of Congress, but I consider it bad. + +Besides the natural and inevitable coarseness with which he +repeats all that the press and public opinion of Spain has said of +Weyler, it shows once more what McKinley is--weak and catering to +the rabble, and, besides, a low politician, who desires to leave a +door open to me and to stand well with the jingoes of his party. +Nevertheless, as a matter of fact, it will only depend on +ourselves whether he will prove bad and adverse to us. + +I agree entirely with you that without military success nothing +will be accomplished there, and without military and political +success there is here always danger that the insurgents will be +encouraged, if not by the government, at least by part of the +public opinion. I do not believe you pay enough attention to the +role of England. Nearly all that newspaper canaille, which swarm +in your hotel, are English, and while they are correspondents of +American journals, they are also correspondents of the best +newspapers and reviews of London. + +Thus it has been since the beginning. To my mind, the only object +of England is that the Americans should occupy themselves with us +and leave her in peace, and if there is a war, so much the better. +That would further remove what is threatening her, although that +will never happen. It would be most important that you should +agitate the question of commercial relations, even though it would +be only for effect, and that you should send here a man of +importance, in order that I might use him to make a propaganda +among the senators and others, in opposition to the Junta and to +win over exiles. There goes Amblarad. I believe he comes too +deeply taken up with political matters, and there must be +something great or we shall lose. Adela returns your salutation, +and we wish you in the new year to be a messenger of peace and +take this new year's present to poor Spain. Always your attentive +friend and servant, who kisses your hand, + +ENRIQUE DUPUY DE LOME. + +As soon as this letter was made public, De Lome cabled his +resignation to the Spanish government, and withdrew his passports +from the State Department in Washington, thus saving himself the +mortification of a dismissal. The Spanish government at Madrid +sent the following communication to Minister Woodford regarding +the affair: + +The Spanish Government, on learning of the incident in which +Minister Dupuy De Lome was concerned, and being advised of his +objectionable communication, with entire sincerity laments the +incident, states that Minister De Lome had presented his +resignation, and it had been accepted before the presentation of +the matter by Minister Woodford. That the Spanish Ministry, in +accepting the resignation of a functionary whose services they +have been utilizing and valuing up to that time, leaves it +perfectly well established that they do not share, and rather, on +the contrary, disauthorize the criticisms tending to offend or +censure the chief of a friendly State, although such criticisms +had been written within the field of friendship and had reached +publicity by artful and criminal means. + +That this meaning had taken shape in a resolution by the Council +of Ministers before General Woodford presented the matter, and at +a time when the Spanish Government had only vague telegraphic +reports concerning the sentiments alluded to. That the Spanish +nation, with equal and greater reason, affirms its view and +decision after reading the words contained in the letter +reflecting upon the President of the United States. + +As to the paragraph concerning the desirability of negotiations of +commercial relations, if even for effect and importance of using a +representative for the purpose stated in Senor Dupuy De Lome's +letter, the government expresses concern that in the light of its +conduct, long after the writing of the letter, and in view of the +unanswerable testimony of simultaneous and subsequent facts, any +doubt should exist that the Spanish Government has given proof of +its real desire and of its innermost convictions with respect to +the new commercial system and the projected treaty of commerce. + +That the Spanish Government does not now consider it necessary to +lay stress upon, or to demonstrate anew the truth and sincerity of +its purpose and the unstained good faith of its intentions. That +publicly and solemnly, the Government of Spain contracted before +the mother country and its colonies a responsibility for the +political and tariff charges which it has inaugurated in both +Antilles, the natural ends of which, in domestic and international +spheres, it pursues with firmness, which will ever inspire its +conduct. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE CASE OF EVANGELINA CISNEROS. + +A Martyr to the Cause--Filial Devotion--Spanish Chivalry--In a +Spanish Prison--An American Rescuer--Yankee Pluck Against Brute +Force--The Escape--Arrival in New York--Enthusiastic Reception--A +Home in the Land of Liberty. + + +Spanish officials in Cuba have always denied the charge that they +made war on women, and have insisted that the tales of persecution +of the weaker sex that have reached this country were inventions +of the insurgents, published to gain sympathy for their cause. In +direct contradiction to this claim is the story of Evangelina +Cisneros, the niece of the president of the Cuban republic. Her +father, a Cuban patriot of prominence, was banished to the Isle of +Pines, and she showed her filial devotion by leaving a luxurious +home to share his exile. While there, her beauty attracted the +attention of a Spanish General, who tried by every means in his +power to gain her favor. It was natural that she should despise +anyone who wore the hated uniform of Spain, and, because she +rejected his advances, she was charged with conspiring against the +government, and sent to a jail in Havana. + +Her unhappy fate attracted the attention of Mr. W. R. Hearst, the +proprietor of the New York Journal, and he, actuated no doubt by +philanthropic motives, as well as the desire to advance the +interests of his paper, determined to make an effort for her +release. + +How this was accomplished is best told by Mr. Karl Decker, who was +Mr. Hearst's representative in carrying out the plot. + +"I have broken the bars of prison and have set free the beautiful +captive of Monster Weyler, restoring her to her friends and +relatives, and doing by strength, skill and strategy what could +not be accomplished by petition and urgent request of the Pope. +Weyler could blind the Queen to the real character of Evangelina, +but he could not build a jail that would hold against enterprise +when properly set to work. + +"To-night all Havana rings with the story. It is the one topic of +conversation. Everything else pales into insignificance. No one +remembers that there has been a change in the Ministry. What +matters it if Weyler is to go? Evangelina Cisneros has escaped +from the jail, thought by everyone to be impregnable. A plot has +been hatched right in the heart of Havana--a desperate plot--as +shown by the revolver found on the roof of the house through which +the escape was effected, and as the result of this plot, put into +effect under the very nose of Spanish guards, Evangelina is free. +How was it done? How could it have been done? + +DETAILS OF THE ESCAPE. + +"These are the questions asked to-night by the frequenters of the +cafes throughout the city, where the people of Havana congregate. +It is conceded by all, by the officials of the palace included, to +be the most daring coup in the history of the war, and the +audacity of the deed is paralyzing. No one knows where Evangelina +is now, nor can know. + +"To tell the story of the escape briefly, I came here three weeks +ago, having been told to go to Cuba and rescue from her prison +Miss Cisneros, a tenderly-reared girl, descended from one of the +best families in the island, and herself a martyr to the +unsatisfied desires of a beast in Spanish uniform. I arrived at +Cienfuegos late in September, telegraphed to a known and tried man +in Santiago de Cuba to meet me in Havana, and then went to Santa +Clara, where I picked up a second man, known to be as gritty as +Sahara, and then proceeded to Havana. + +"Here I remained in almost absolute concealment, so as to avoid +the spies that dog one's steps wherever one may go, and make +impossible any clever work of this kind. Both the men who +accompanied me, Joseph Hernandon and Harrison Mallory, pursued the +same course, and remained quiet until all plans had been +completed. + +"The fact that Miss Cisneros was incommunicado made the attempt +seem at first beyond the possibility of success, but we finally, +through Hernandon, who was born on the island, and speaks Spanish +like a native, succeeded in sending a note to her through an old +negress, who called upon one of her friends in the prison. A +keeper got this note through two hands to Miss Cisneros, and three +keepers later got to her a package of drugged sweets. Having +established communication with her, we began work without losing a +day." + +THE PRISON LEFT BEHIND. + +Mr. Decker then tells hew he rented a house adjoining the prison, +and instructed Miss Cisneros to give the drugged candies to the +other women who were in the prison with her. As soon as the drug +produced the desired effect on them, the bars of the prison were +cut from the outside, and Miss Cisneros was assisted through the +window, onto the roof of the house Mr. Decker had rented, kept in +concealment for two days, and then smuggled on board a ship, bound +for the land of liberty. + +Her arrival in New York is thus described: + +"Evangeline Cisneros, one week ago a prisoner among the outcast +wretches in a Havana prison, is a guest at the Waldorf hotel. +Surrounded by luxury and elegance, she is alternately laughing and +crying over the events of one short week. One week ago last night +a correspondent broke the bars of her cell and led her to liberty +over the flat roofs of the Cuban capital. It is the memory of +those thrilling few minutes that meant for her a lifetime of +captivity or a future of peace and liberty that most often occurs +to her now. + +"She arrived to-day on the Ward liner, Seneca, and was taken from +the steamer by a boat at quarantine, thanks to the courtesy of the +Government and the quarantine authorities. When the Seneca sailed +from Havana there figured on the passenger list one Juan Sola. A +girl who signed the name of Juana Sola to the declaration, exacted +by the Custom House officers, was the nearest passenger to making +good the lost one. Her declaration was that she brought nothing +dutiable into the country. + +"If ever that declaration was truthfully made, it was made in the +case of this brown-eyed, chestnut-haired girl, who was so anxious +to please the man who made her sign. All she had was the simple +red gown she had on her back and a bundle that contained a suit of +clothes such as a planter's son might have worn. + +"Those were the clothes that Juan Sola wore when he ran up the +gang-plank in Havana, with a big slouch hat over the chestnut +hair, that even danger of discovery could not tempt her to cut, +and a fat cigar between a red, laughing pair of lips that +accidentally, maybe, blew a cloud of smoke into the face of the +chief of police, who was watching that plank, and made the +features of the young man very indistinct indeed. + +"There was no reason why the chief of police should scan too +closely the young man with the big cigar. Juan Sola's passport had +been duly issued by the Spanish government, and as far as the +papers showed, there was no reason to suspect him. + +"Of course Juan Sola was the girl the correspondent had rescued +from prison, and the fame of whose escape was on every tongue in +Havana, the girl for whose capture the police had for three days +been breaking into houses and guarding the roads, and yet she +passed under their noses with no disguise but a boy's suit of +clothes. + +"Miss Cisneros did not court any more danger than was necessary, +and at once went to her cabin. The next day, however, when Morro +Castle was left far behind, she appeared on deck, transformed into +Senorita Juana Sola, alias Evangelina Cisneros. + +"When the ship sighted Cape Hatteras light the young woman asked +what light it was, and when told that it was an American beacon, +she knelt down in the saloon and prayed. After that she wept for +joy. She must have been all strung up with excitement over her +experiences, and when she saw the light she could contain herself +no longer, but simply overflowed. + +"Nothing could be seen of the Cuban girl as the Seneca slowed +opposite quarantine to permit the boarding of the health officer. +The other passengers, after the habit of ocean travelers, grouped +amidships to scan the vessel of the tyrant, who had it in his +power to lock them all up in quarantine. The girl was hidden away +in her stateroom, wondering what reception awaited her in the big +city whose sky-line broke the horizon ahead. + +"The people on board were kind to her from the moment she revealed +her identity, but at this moment when she had reached the haven of +refuge, to gain which she and her gallant rescuers had risked +death itself, she fled from the new-found friends and would not +even look out of the door of her stateroom." + +Miss Cisneros was given a great reception in Madison Square +garden, during her stay in New York, where many noted men and +women congratulated her on her happy escape, and welcomed her to +"the land of the free, and the home of the brave." Since then she +has become the protege of Mrs. John A. Logan, widow of the famous +General, and is now a member of her family. + +It is suspected that General Weyler connived at the escape of Miss +Cisneros, as it is not probable that it could have been +accomplished without the knowledge of the prison officials, and as +they were not called to account for their negligence, it would +seem that they were simply obeying orders in keeping their eyes +conveniently closed. + +The Military Judge of Havana issued a proclamation commanding Miss +Cisneros to return to prison, but it was evident that this was +merely a legal formality. There were men in Cuba, occupying high +official positions, who could not afford to have the story of the +persecutions of which she was a victim, while in voluntary exile +with her father in the Isle of Pines, made known, for it would +have gained for them the scorn and contempt of the civilized +world. Her case had attracted the attention of men and women of +prominence, not only in our own country, but in England, France +and Germany as well, and it was likely to become an international +affair, and Weyler probably decided to escape these complications +by allowing her to be "rescued" from her prison cell. + +While all the details of the affair go to prove that this +supposition is correct, all concerned have guarded the secret +well, and it is but just to state that there is no direct proof to +support the theory, and both the man who planned and the one who +executed deserved all the honors they received. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +WORK OF MISS CLARA BARTON AND THE RED CROSS. + +The Geneva Conference--Miss Barton's Work in the War of the +Rebellion--Organization of the American Red Cross--The Work in +Cuba--Appeal to the Public--A Floating Hospital--Correspondence +with Admiral Sampson--The Spanish Prisoners in Key West, and What +the Red Cross Did for Them. + + +Many attempts have been made to bring about an international +agreement for mitigating the horrors and mortality of battle. The +first successful movement of this kind was started at the same +time that the civil war was raging in the United States. A +conference of jurists and others interested in humanitarian work +was held in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1863. They drew up an +international compact, which was approved by the Swiss government, +and the support and sanction of the French empire were won. It was +several years, however, before the articles of agreement were +signed by all the civilized nations of the world, and, strange to +relate, the United States was the last of the great powers to +officially recognize the rights to special protection secured to +the bearers of the Red Cross symbol. + +In the autumn of 1881 a final effort was made to gain the +agreement of the United States to the stipulations of the +convention of Geneva, and assurances were given by President +Arthur of his willingness to accede. The President and the Senate +subsequently formally recognized the association, and the treaty +was signed March 16, 1882. Pending this action by the government, +a national society was formed and incorporated under the laws of +the District of Columbia, bearing the name of the American +Association of the Red Cross. + +By this international treaty the Red Cross society is given +peculiar privileges in times of war, and its agents and officers +are permitted to carry on their work without hindrance from either +of the belligerents, but they are prohibited from having anything, +however remote, to do with military or naval operations. They deal +exclusively with the means provided to aid the wounded, relieve +the suffering, and care for the sick, in all of which the Red +Cross agents know neither friend nor foe. In case of a battle the +ambulances, surgeons and nurses of the society go upon the field +at soon as it is possible for them to do so and carry out the work +of mercy that has been undertaken. + +The American society has been generous in extending its aid to +other countries in times of war, and during the Franco-Prussian +hostilities in 1870-71 it sent to Paris from its own funds +$120,000, while the French branch expended $2,500,000. Even the +Spanish branch contributed to the humanitarian work of that war in +the sum of $4,000. In the Turko-Russian, the Tunisian, the +Tonquin, the Madagascar, the Greeco-Turkish and several other wars +the Red Cross has carried on its work of mercy. + +MISS CLARA BARTON. + +When the war of the Rebellion begun Miss Clara Barton was a clerk +in the Patent Office in Washington. She resigned her position to +devote herself to the care of wounded soldiers on the field of +battle. In 1864 she was appointed by General Butler "lady in +charge" of the hospitals at the front of the Army of the James. In +1865 she was sent to Andersonville, Georgia, to identify and mark +the graves of Union soldiers buried there, and in the same year +was placed by President Lincoln in charge of the search for the +missing men of the Union army, and while engaged in this work she +traced out the fate of 30,000 men. In 1873 she inaugurated a +movement to secure recognition of the Red Cross society by the +United States government, and finally, during the administration +of President Arthur, she saw her labors rewarded. She naturally +became President of the American branch of the society, which was +founded in 1882, and she still holds that honored office. + +WORK IN CUBA. + +After Weyler's infamous order of reconcentration went into effect +the Red Cross society was not long in realizing that it had work +to do among the suffering people of Cuba. An appeal was made to +the public, and an expedition was dispatched to the island, with +Miss Barton at its head. In speaking of her work during that reign +of terror, Senator Proctor said in the course of his address to +the Senate: + +"Miss Barton needs no endorsement from me. I have known and +esteemed her for many years, but had not half appreciated her +capability and her devotion to her work. I especially looked into +her business methods, fearing here would be the greatest danger of +mistake, that there might be want of system, and waste and +extravagance, but I found that she could teach me on all those +points. I visited the warehouse where the supplies are received +and distributed, saw the methods of checking, visited the +hospitals established or organized and supplied by her, saw the +food distributed in several cities and towns, and everything seems +to me to be conducted in the best possible manner." + +When diplomatic relations were broken off between our country and +Spain, and the American consuls in Cuba were recalled, it was +deemed advisable that the representatives of the Red Cross then in +Cuba should come with them. Miss Barton and her assistants +returned to New York and immediately commenced the work of +preparation to follow our army into Cuba. The following appeal was +issued: + +The American National Red Cross Relief Corps, acting under the +auspices of American National Red Cross, has for its objects the +collection of funds for providing medical and surgical attendance, +nursing, medical supplies, food, clothing, and such necessary +assistance as may be required by the American National Red Cross, +upon call of the United States government, in order to unify all +endeavors to that end during the present war. + +Under the provisions of the Geneva conference, from which every +National Red Cross society derives its authority, the American +National Red Cross is directed to provide such relief as may be +required by all, without recognition of friend or foe, who may +suffer from the calamities incidental to war, pestilence or +famine. + +The Red Cross here, and throughout the civilized world, by a wide +and varied experience in recent wars, recognizing by international +treaty the sacred obligations of helpfulness for the suffering, +wherever found, has so perfected its organization that it becomes +the recognized and legitimate channel for contributions from all +classes of individuals, and every variety of auxiliary +association. + +For the purpose of properly systemizing the benevolent impulses of +the general public, and of giving proper direction of efficient +Red Cross work, the committee solicits the co-operation of +individuals and auxiliary associations throughout the country, +confident that through such means the various funds and articles +collected can most safely and most directly reach their ultimate +destination. + +The steamer State of Texas was chartered and loaded with food, +medicines and hospital supplies, and headquarters were established +at Key West. + +When Miss Barton joined the State of Texas at Key West on the 29th +of April, there seemed to be no immediate prospect of an invasion +of Cuba by the United States army, and, consequently, no prospect +of an opportunity to relieve the distress of the starving Cuban +people. Knowing that such distress must necessarily have been +greatly intensified by the blockade, and anxious to do something +to mitigate it--or, at least, to show the readiness of the Bed +Cross to undertake its mitigation--Miss Barton wrote and sent to +Admiral Sampson, Commander of the Naval Forces on the North +Atlantic Station, the following letter: + +S. S. State of Texas, May 2, 1898. + +Admiral W. T. Sampson, U. S. N., Commanding Fleet before Havana: + +Admiral--But for the introduction kindly proffered by our mutual +acquaintance Captain Harrington, I should scarcely presume to +address you. He will have made known to you the subject which I +desire to bring to your gracious consideration. + +Papers forwarded by direction of our government will have shown +the charge intrusted to me; viz., to get food to the starving +people of Cuba. I have with me a cargo of 1,400 tons, under the +flag of the Red Cross, the one international emblem of neutrality +and humanity known to civilization. Spain knows and regards it. + +Fourteen months ago the entire Spanish government at Madrid cabled +me permission to take and distribute food to the suffering people +in Cuba. This official permission was broadly published. If read +by our people, no response was made and no action taken until two +months ago, when, under the humane and gracious call of our +honored President, I did go and distribute food, unmolested +anywhere on the island, until arrangements were made by our +government for all American citizens to leave Cuba. Persons must +now be dying there by hundreds, if not thousands, daily, for want +of the food we are shutting out. Will not the world hold us +accountable? Will history write us blameless? Will it not be said +of us that we completed the scheme of extermination commenced by +Weyler? + +Fortunately, I know the Spanish authorities in Cuba, Captain-General +Blanco and his assistants. We parted with perfect friendliness. They do +not regard me as an American merely, but as the National representative +of an international treaty to which they themselves are signatory and +under which they act. I believe they would receive and confer with me if +such a thing were made possible. + +I should like to ask Spanish permission and protection to land and +distribute food now on the State of Texas. Could I be permitted to +ask to see them under a flag of truce? If we make the effort and +are refused, the blame rests with them; if we fail to make it, it +rests with us. I hold it good statesmanship at least to divide the +responsibility. I am told that some days must elapse before our +troops can be in position to reach and feed these starving people. +Our food and our forces are here, ready to commence at once. With +assurances of highest regard, I am, Admiral, + +Very respectfully yours, + +[Signed] CLARA BARTON. + +At the time when the above letter was written, the American Red +Cross was acting under the advice and direction of the State and +Navy Departments, the War Department having no force in the field. + +Admiral Sampson replied as follows: + +U. S. Flagship New York, First Rate, Key West, Fla., May 2, 1898. + +Miss Clara Barton, President American National Red Cross: + +1. I have received through the senior naval officer present a copy +of a letter from the State Department to the Secretary of the +Navy; a copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the +Commander-in-Chief of the naval force at this station; and also a +copy of a letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the commandant +of the naval station at Key West. + +2. From these communications it appears that the destination of +the S. S. State of Texas, loaded with supplies for the starving +reconcentrados in Cuba, is left, in a measure, to my judgment. + +3. At present I am acting under instructions from the Navy +Department to blockade the coast of Cuba for the purpose of +preventing, among other things, any food supply from reaching the +Spanish forces in Cuba. Under these circumstances it seems to me +unwise to let a ship-load of such supplies be sent to the +reconcentrados, for, in my opinion, they would be distributed to +the Spanish army. Until some point be occupied in Cuba by our +forces, from which such distribution can be made to those for whom +the supplies are intended, I am unwilling that they should be +landed on Cuban soil. + +Yours very respectfully, + +[Signed] W. T. SAMPSON, Rear-Admiral U. S. N. + +Commander-in-Chief U. S. Naval Force, North Atlantic Station. + +After this exchange of letters Miss Barton had a conference with +Admiral Sampson, in the course of which the latter explained more +fully his reasons for declining to allow the State of Texas to +enter any Cuban port until such port had been occupied by American +troops. + +On the 3d of May Miss Barton sent the following telegram to +Stephen. E. Barton, Chairman of the Central Cuban Belief +Committee, in New York: + +Key West, May 3, 1898. + +Stephen E. Barton, Chairman, etc.: + +Herewith I transmit copies of letters passed between Admiral +Sampson and myself. I think it important that you should present +immediately this correspondence personally to the government, as +it will place before them the exact situation here. The utmost +cordiality exists between Admiral Sampson and myself. The Admiral +feels it his duty, as chief of the blockading squadron, to keep +food out of Cuba, but recognizes that, from my standpoint, my duty +is to try to get food into Cuba. If I insist, Admiral Sampson will +try to open communication under a flag of truce; but his letter +expresses his opinion regarding the best method. Advices from the +government would enable us to reach a decision. Unless there is +objection at Washington, you are at liberty to publish this +correspondence if you wish. + +[Signed] CLARA BARTON. + +On May 6 the Chairman of the Central Cuban Relief Committee +replied as follows: + +Washington, D. C,, May 6, 1898. + +Clara Barton, Key West, Fla.: + +Submitted your message to President and Cabinet, and it was read +with moistened eyes. Considered serious and pathetic. Admiral +Sampson's views regarded as wisest at present. Hope to land you +soon. President, Long, and Moore send highest regards. + +[Signed] BARTON. + +Under these circumstances, of course, there was nothing for the +Red Cross steamer to do but wait patiently in Key West until the +army of invasion should leave Tampa for the Cuban coast. + +Meanwhile, however, Miss Barton had discovered a field of +beneficent activity for the Red Cross in Key West, where there +were nearly 200 Spaniards, mostly fishermen, prisoners on vessels +captured while running the blockade, and without means of +subsistence. Most of these unfortunate men lived on fish after +they were captured and none of them had a chance to obtain other +food, as under the law they were not permitted to leave their +vessels. The naval officers had no authority to supply the +captives with food from the ships in the harbor, so their lot was +far from being enviable. + +When Miss Clara Barton received word of their plight she sent Dr. +Egan, the chief medical officer of the expedition, with several +attendants, around among the fleet of prizes to distribute food. +On one of the larger smacks Dr. Egan found that the crew had had +nothing but fish to eat for several days. The well in the boat, in +which there were hundreds of live fish, contained also a large +number of dead ones, which were putrefied and were rapidly +polluting the living ones. The physician immediately ordered the +dead fish removed and fresh water pumped into the well. He then +furnished bread, potatoes and salt meat to the crew, so that, the +continuity of Friday diet might be changed. + +The Red Cross relief boats made a complete and accurate list of +the Spanish prizes in the harbor--twenty-two in all--with the +numerical strength of every crew, the amount of provisions, if +any, on every vessel, and the quantity and kind of food that each +would require. This was at once provided, and thus almost the +first work done by the Red Cross in our war with Spain was the +feeding of representatives of a nation that had forced us into war +mainly because of its policy of starvation of the people of Cuba. + +On the morning of June 20, the Red Cross steamer State of Texas +left Key West for Santiago, stocked with food and medicines, and +having on board Miss Barton, Mr. Kennan, and a complete working +force of doctors and nurses. They were warmly welcomed on their +arrival on Cuban shores, and the State of Texas was the first +American ship to enter the harbor of Santiago after the surrender. + +The Red Cross has done a grand work on many battlefields in every +quarter of the globe, but never has it rendered more efficient aid +to suffering humanity than it did on the southern shores of the +island of Cuba. On the battlefield, braving the bullets of the +foe, in the hospitals, ministering to the wants of the wounded and +the dying, among the wretched non-combatants, giving food to the +starving, and nursing the fever-stricken refugees, these noble men +and women were ever ready to answer to the cry of the needy and +the helpless. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +THE CATASTROPHE TO THE MAINE. + +The Board of Inquiry in Session--Its Report Received by Congress +--Spanish Officials in Cuba Show Sympathy--The Evidence of the +Divers--A Submarine Mine--The Officers and Men of the Maine +Exonerated--Responsibility Not Fixed. + + +The story of the destruction of the battleship Maine has already +been told in these pages. The Naval Board appointed to inquire +into the causes of the disaster was composed of the following +officers of the United States Navy: Captain Sampson, of the Iowa; +Captain Chadwick, of the New York; Captain Marix, of the Vermont, +and Lieutenant Commander Potter, of the New York. + +After an investigation which lasted for more than three weeks, +this Board of Inquiry sent its report to President McKinley, who +transmitted it to Congress, accompanied by the following message: + +To the Congress of the United States: + +For some time prior to the visit of the Maine to Havana harbor our +consular representatives pointed out the advantages to flow from +the visits of national ships to the Cuban waters, in accustoming +the people to the presence of our flag as the symbol of good will +and of our ships in the fulfillment of the mission of protection +to American interests, even though no immediate need therefor +might exist. + +Accordingly, on the 24th of January last, after conference with +the Spanish Minister, in which the renewal of visits of our war +vessels to Spanish waters was discussed and accepted, the +peninsular authorities at Madrid and Havana were advised of the +purpose of this Government to resume friendly naval visits at +Cuban ports, and in that view the Maine would forthwith call at +the port of Havana. This announcement was received by the Spanish +Government with appreciation of the friendly character of the +visit of the Maine, and with notification of intention to return +the courtesy by sending Spanish ships to the principal ports of +the United States. Meanwhile the Maine entered the port of Havana +on the 25th of January, her arrival being marked with no special +incident besides the exchange of customary salutes and ceremonial +visits. + +The Maine continued in the harbor of Havana during the three weeks +following her arrival. No appreciable excitement attended her stay; on +the contrary, a feeling of relief and confidence followed the resumption +of the long interrupted friendly intercourse. So noticeable was this +immediate effect of her visit that the Consul-General strongly urged +that the presence of our ships in Cuban waters should be kept up by +retaining the Maine at Havana, or, in the event of her recall, by +sending another vessel there to take her place. + +At forty minutes past nine in the evening of the 15th of February +the Maine was destroyed by an explosion, by which the entire +forward part of the ship was utterly wrecked. In this catastrophe +two officers and two hundred and sixty-four of her crew perished, +those who were not killed outright by her explosion being penned +between decks by the tangle of wreckage and drowned by the +immediate sinking of the hull. + +Prompt assistance was rendered by the neighboring vessels anchored +in the harbor, aid being especially given by the boats of the +Spanish cruiser Alphonse XII., and the Ward Line steamer City of +Washington, which lay not far distant. The wounded were generously +cared for by the authorities of Havana, the hospitals being freely +opened to them, while the earliest recovered bodies of the dead +were interred by the municipality in the public cemetery in the +city. Tributes of grief and sympathy were offered from all +official quarters of the island. + +The appalling calamity fell upon the people of our country with +crushing force and for a brief time an intense excitement +prevailed, which in a community less just and self-controlled than +ours might have led to hasty acts of blind resentment. This +spirit, however, soon gave way to the calmer processes of reason +and to the resolve to investigate the facts and await material +proof before forming a judgment as to the cause, the +responsibility, and, if the facts warranted, the remedy. This +course necessarily recommended itself from the outset to the +Executive, for only in the light of a dispassionately ascertained +certainty could it determine the nature and measure of its full +duty in the matter. + +The usual procedure was followed, as in all cases of casualty or +disaster to national vessels of any maritime state. A Naval Court +of Inquiry was at once organized, composed of officers well +qualified by rank and practical experience to discharge the duties +imposed upon them. Aided by a strong force of wreckers and divers, +the court proceeded to make a thorough investigation on the spot, +employing every available means for the impartial and exact +determination of the causes of the explosion. Its operations have +been conducted with the utmost deliberation and judgment, and +while independently pursued, no source of information was +neglected and the fullest opportunity was allowed for a +simultaneous investigation by the Spanish authorities. + +REPORT OF THE BOARD RECEIVED. + +The finding of the Court of Inquiry was reached after twenty-three +days of continuous labor, on the 21st of March, and having been +approved on the 22d by the commander-in-chief of the United States +naval forces of the North Atlantic station, was transmitted to the +Executive. + +It is herewith laid before Congress, together with the voluminous +testimony taken before the court. Its purport is in brief as +follows: + +When the Maine arrived at Havana she was conducted by the regular +government pilot to Buoy No. 5, to which she was moored in from +five and one-half to six fathoms of water. The state of discipline +on board and the condition of her magazines, boilers, coal bunkers +and storage compartments are passed in review, with the conclusion +that excellent order prevailed and that no indication of any cause +for an internal explosion existed in any quarter. + +At eight o'clock in the evening of February 15th everything had +been reported secure and all was quiet. At forty minutes past nine +o'clock the vessel was suddenly destroyed. There were two distinct +explosions with a brief interval between them. The first lifted +the forward part of the ship very perceptibly; the second, which +was more open, prolonged and of greater volume, is attributed by +the court to the partial explosion of two or more of the forward +magazines. + +The evidence of the divers establishes that the after part of the +ship was practically intact and sank in that condition a very few +minutes after the explosion. The forward part was completely +demolished. Upon the evidence of a concurrent external cause the +finding of the court is as follows: + +At frame seventeen the outer shell of the ship, from a point +eleven and one-half feet from the middle line of the ship, and six +feet above the keel, when in its normal position, has been forced +up so as to be now about four feet above the surface of the water; +therefore about thirty-four feet above where it would be had the +ship sunk uninjured. + +The outside bottom plating is bent into a reversed V-shape, the +after wing of which, about fifteen feet broad and thirty-two feet +in length (frame 17 to frame 25), is doubled back upon itself +against the continuation of the same place extending forward. At +frame 18 the vertical keel is broken in two and the flat keel bent +into an angle similar to the angle formed by the outside bottom +plate. This break is now about six feet below the surface of the +water and about thirty feet above its normal position. + +A SUBMARINE MINE. + +In the opinion of the court this effect could have been produced +only by the explosion of a mine situated under the bottom of the +ship, at about frame 18 and somewhat on the port side of the ship. + +The conclusions of the court are: That the loss of the Maine was +not in any respect due to fault or negligence on the part of any +of the officers or members of her crew; + +That the ship was destroyed by the explosion of a submarine mine, +which caused the partial explosion of two or more of her forward +magazines; and + +That no evidence has been obtainable fixing the responsibility for +the destruction of the Maine upon any person or persons. + +I have directed that the finding of the Court of Inquiry and the +views of this Government thereon be communicated to the Government +of Her Majesty, the Queen Regent, and I do not permit myself to +doubt that the sense of justice of the Spanish nation will dictate +a course of action suggested by honor and the friendly relations +of the two governments. + +It will be the duty of the Executive to advise the Congress of the +result, and in the meantime deliberate consideration is invoked. + +(Signed,) WILLIAM McKINLEY. Executive Mansion, March 28, 1898. + +REPORT OF THE INVESTIGATING BOARD. + +The text of the report of the Board of Investigation was as +follows: + +U. S. S. Iowa, first rate, Key West, Florida, Monday, March 21, +1898. + +After full and mature consideration of all the testimony before +it, the court finds as follows: + +1. That the United States battleship Maine arrived in the harbor +of Havana, Cuba, on the twenty-fifth day of January, Eighteen +Hundred and Ninety-eight, and was taken to Buoy No. 4, in from +five and a half to six fathoms of water, by the regular Government +pilot. The United States Consul-General at Havana had notified the +authorities at that place the previous evening of the intended +arrival of the Maine. + +2. The state of discipline on board the Maine was excellent, and +all orders and regulations in regard to the care and safety of the +ship were strictly carried out. All ammunition was stowed in +accordance with prescribed instructions, and proper care was taken +whenever ammunition was handled. Nothing was stowed in any one of +the magazines or shell rooms which was not permitted to be stowed +there. + +The magazine and shell rooms were always locked after having been +opened, and after the destruction of the Maine the keys were found in +their proper place in the Captain's cabin, everything having been +reported secure that evening at eight P. M. The temperatures of the +magazines and shell room were taken daily and reported. The only +magazine which had an undue amount of heat was the after 10-inch +magazine, and that did not explode at the time the Maine was destroyed. + +The torpedo warheads were all stowed in the after part of the ship +under the ward room, and neither caused nor participated in the +destruction of the Maine. The dry gun cotton primers and +detonators were stowed in the cabin aft, and remote from the scene +of the explosion. + +Waste was carefully looked after on board the Maine to obviate +danger. Special orders in regard to this had been given by the +commanding officer. Varnishes, dryers, alcohol and other +combustibles of this nature were stowed on or above the main deck +and could not have had anything to do with the destruction of the +Maine. The medical stores were stored aft under the ward room and +remote from the scene of the explosion. No dangerous stores of any +kind were stowed below in any of the other store rooms. + +The coal blinkers were inspected daily. Of those bunkers adjacent +to the forward magazines and shell rooms four were empty, namely, +"B3, B4, B5 and B6." "A5" had been in use that day and "A16" was +full of new river coal. This coal had been carefully inspected +before receiving it on board. The bunker in which it was stowed +was accessible on three sides at all times, and the fourth side at +this time, on account of bunkers "B4" and "B6" being empty. This +bunker, "A16" had been inspected Monday by the engineer officer on +duty. + +The fire alarms in the bunkers were in working order, and there +had never been a case of spontaneous combustion of coal on board +the Maine. The two after boilers of the ship were in use at the +time of the disaster, but for auxiliary purposes only, with a +comparatively low pressure of steam and being tended by a reliable +watch. These boilers could not have caused the explosion of the +ship. The four forward boilers have since been found by the divers +and are in a fair condition. + +On the night of the destruction of the Maine everything had been +reported secure for the night at eight P. M. by reliable persons, +through the proper authorities, to the commanding officer. At the +time the Maine was destroyed the ship was quiet, and, therefore, +least liable to accident caused by movements from those on board. + +3. The destruction of the Maine occurred at 9:40 P. M. on the 15th +day of February, 1898, in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, she being at +the time moored to the same buoy to which she had been taken upon +her arrival. + +There were two explosions of a distinctly different character, +with a very short but distinct interval between them, and the +forward part of the ship was lifted to a marked degree at the time +of the first explosion. + +The first explosion was more in the nature of a report, like that +of a gun, while the second explosion was more open, prolonged and +of greater volume. This second explosion was, in the opinion of +the court, caused by the partial explosion of two or more of the +forward magazines of the Maine. + +The evidence bearing upon this, being principally obtained from +divers, did not enable the court to form a definite conclusion as +to the condition of the wreck, although it was established that +the after part of the ship was practically intact and sank in that +condition a very few minutes after the destruction of the forward +part. + +4. The following facts in regard to the forward part of the ship +are, however, established by the testimony: That portion of the +port side of the protective deck which extends from about frame 30 +to about frame 41 was blown up aft, and over to port, the main +deck from about frame 30 to about frame 41 was blown up aft, and +slightly over to starboard, folding the forward part of the middle +superstructure over and on top of the after part. + +This was, in the opinion of the court, caused by the partial +explosion of two or more of the forward magazines of the Maine. + +5. At frame 17 the outer shell of the ship, from a point eleven +and one-half feet from the middle line of the ship and six feet +above the keel when in its normal position, has been forced up so +as to be now about four feet above the surface of the water, +therefore, about thirty-four feet above where it would be had the +ship sunk uninjured. The outside bottom plating is bent into a +reversed V-shape, the after wing of which, about fifteen feet +broad and thirty-two feet in length (from frame 17 to frame 25) is +doubled back upon itself against the continuation of the same +plating extending forward. + +At frame 18 the vertical keel is broken in two and the flat keel +bent into an angle similar to the angle formed by the outside +bottom plating. This break is now about six feet below the surface +of the water and about thirty feet above its normal position. + +THE OFFICERS OF THE MAINE EXONERATED. + +In the opinion of the court this effect could have been produced +only by the explosion of a mine situated under the bottom of the +ship at about frame 18, and somewhat on the port side of the ship. + +6. The court finds that the loss of the Maine on the occasion +named was not in any respect due to fault or negligence on the +part of the officers or men of the crew of said vessel. + +7. In the opinion of the court the Maine was destroyed by the +explosion of a submarine mine, which caused the partial explosion +of two of her forward magazines. + +8. The court has been unable to obtain evidence fixing the +responsibility for the destruction of the Maine upon any person or +persons. + +W. T. SAMPSON, Captain U. S. N., President. + +A. MARIX, Lieutenant-Commander U. S. N., Judge Advocate. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +PATIENCE AT THE VANISHING POINT. + +Our Former Troubles with Spain Recalled--The Verdict of the +People--Spanish Rule a Blot on Civilization--The Attitude of +Other Nations--The Necessity for Delay--The Message to Congress-- +"The War in Cuba Must Stop!" + + +The American people did not wait for the report of the Naval +Board to form an opinion as to the cause of the tragedy. The +masses think in events, and not in syllogisms, and this was an +event. This event provoked suspicions in the public mind. The +thought of the whole nation was instantly directed to Cuba. The +fate of the sailors on the Virginius, twenty-five years ago, was +recalled. The public curiosity about everything Cuban and Spanish +became intense. The Weyler method of warfare became more generally +known. The story of our long diplomatic trouble with Spain was +recalled. Diplomacy was obliged to proceed with doors less +securely shut. The country watched for news from Washington and +from Madrid with eagerness. It happened to be a singularly quiet +and even dull time in our own political life--a time favorable for +the concentration of public attention on any subject that +prominently presented itself. + +Leslie's Weekly voiced the popular sentiment in its issue of April +14 in the following language: + +"If the report of the board of inquiry is accepted as final, then +the destruction of the Maine was an act of war. The Maine was in a +Spanish harbor on a peaceful errand. Its location was fixed by the +Spanish authorities, and if a mine was planted in the harbor, it +could only have been planted by the Spaniards. To think otherwise +is to discredit the official report. The verdict may be challenged +by the Spanish government. Spain may insist on the raising of the +wreck and upon an expert examination. If such an examination is +made, and if the weight of evidence controverts the verdict, our +position will be humiliating. We take it, therefore, that our +government is entirely satisfied with the examination, and that it +accepts the verdict of the court of inquiry as final and without +appeal. This verdict makes Spain responsible for the loss of the +Maine, the sacrifice of the lives of 266 heroes, and for all the +consequences involved. The indictment must be answered. Any other +nation than this would have demanded an immediate answer. We can +wait. On the answer made by Spain the issues of the future must +depend. No policy of evasion such as Spain has pursued in all her +dealings with us will enable her to escape. She is at the bar of +judgment with bloody fingers, and must plead guilty. No other plea +can be accepted. And the punishment must fit the crime." + +CAUSES LEADING TO STRIFE. + +The better the condition of Cuba was understood, the more +deplorable it was seen to be; the more the government of the +island was examined, the wider seemed the divergence between +Spain's methods and our own; the more the diplomatic history of +the case was considered, the plainer became Spain's purpose to +brook no interference, whether in the name of humanity or in the +name of friendly commercial interests. The calm report of the +naval court of inquiry on the blowing up of the Maine and Senator +Proctor's report on the condition of Cuba put the whole people in +a serious mood. + +These and more made their contributions to the rapidly rising +excitement. But all these together could not have driven us to war +if we had not been willing to be driven--if the conviction had not +become firm in the minds of the people that Spanish rule in Cuba +was a blot on civilization that had now begun to bring reproach to +us; and when the President, who favored peace, declared it +intolerable, the people were ready to accept his judgment. + +Congress, it is true, in quiet times, is likely to represent the +shallows and the passing excitement of our life rather than its +deeper moods, but there is among the members of Congress a +considerable body of conservative men; and the demand for war was +practically unanimous, and public opinion sustained it. Among the +people during the period when war seemed inevitable, but had not +yet been declared--a period during which the powers of Europe +found time and mind to express a hope for peace--hardly a peace +meeting was held by influential men. The President and his Cabinet +were known to wish longer to try diplomatic means of averting war, +but no organized peace party came into existence. Except +expressions of the hope of peace made by commercial and +ecclesiastical organizations, no protest was heard against the +approaching action of Congress. Many thought that war could be +postponed, if not prevented, but the popular mood was at least +acquiescent, if not insistent, and it eventually became +unmistakably approving. + +Not only was there in the United States an unmistakable popular +approval of war as the only effective means of restoring +civilization in Cuba, but the judgment of the English people +promptly approved it--giving evidence of an instinctive race and +institutional sympathy. If Anglo-Saxon institutions and methods +stand for anything, the institutions and methods of Spanish rule +in Cuba were an abomination and a reproach. And English sympathy +was not more significant as an evidence of the necessity of the +war, and as a good omen for the future of free institutions, than +the equally instinctive sympathy with Spain that was expressed by +some of the decadent influences on the continent; indeed, the real +meaning of the American civilization and ideals will henceforth be +somewhat more clearly understood in several quarters of the world. + +American character will be still better understood when the whole +world clearly perceives that the purpose of the war was only to +remove from our very doors this cruel and inefficient piece of +medievalism which was one of the great scandals of the closing +years of the century. + +Notwithstanding the fact that we were on the very verge of war, +with all its horrors, all its possibilities of destruction to life +and happiness, the nation pursued its accustomed way, transacted +its business by day, and slept peacefully at night. Upon the +shoulders of the Chief Executive rested the gravest of all +responsibilities, and the nation trusted to him to carry it +safely. Rash and impetuous demands for hasty and hostile action +were heard. Congressmen, under the pressure of their constituents, +filled the air with cries for speedy action, but amid all the +tumult the President stood serene. He realized, what the country, +strangely enough, had not comprehended, that we were drifting into +a conflict with a nation that was on a war footing. He knew that +we were totally unprepared for war. Munitions, ships, stores, +supplies, of vast amount and infinite variety, were absolutely +required before a step could be taken. Harbor defenses, a closer +connection between exposed points, and the installation of modern +armaments--a thousand things had to be done, and done at once. +Modern guns required supplies of modern ammunition, of which there +was scarcely any to be obtained on this side of the water. This +was the situation, as the President, the heads of the army and the +navy, and the Cabinet saw it, and it was left discreetly +undisclosed to the world. + +They understood the necessity of delay as well as the necessity +for statesmanship of the highest quality in dealing with the Cuban +question. We lost nothing by their delay. We gained untold +advantages by their prudence, a prudence that never forsook them, +even when the preparations for war were completed. The message to +Congress was a calm, dispassionate, judicial presentation of the +case, and upon that presentation of facts and of evidence we went +before the jury of the nations of the world. There could be but +one verdict rendered that the American people could accept, and +that verdict, whether it came by peace or war, was, in the +language of the President's message, that "the war in Cuba must +stop!" + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +EVENTS IN THE AMERICAN CONGRESS. + +Cuba's Friends in Congress--Senator Proctor's Address to His +Colleagues--A Notable Exhibition of Patriotism--An Appropriation +for the National Defense--Relief for the Survivors and Victims of +the Maine--The Recognition of Cuban Independence. + + +From the date of the first attempt of the people of Cuba to +secure their independence from Spain, they have had advocates in +the American Congress who have worked with voice and vote in their +behalf. After the commencement of the revolution in 1895 these +champions gradually increased in numbers and influence, until at +the time of Mr. McKinley's inauguration they included in their +ranks many of the leaders in both houses. + +In February, 1898, several Senators and Representatives went to +Cuba for the purpose of studying the conditions on the island, and +to gain a personal knowledge of the results of Spain's policy of +rule or ruin. + +Senator Proctor was one of this committee, and after their return +to the United States, in a speech to his colleagues, he made the +strongest argument in favor of intervention in behalf of Cuba that +was ever made in the Senate of the United States. He had carefully +prepared his address, and he delivered it as an official report of +what he had observed on the island. He gave no opinion of what +action should be taken by the government. He said the settlement +"may well be left to an American President and the American +people." But while he did not make a recommendation in so many +words, he left the impression with all who heard him that he +favored a declaration by our government of the independence of +Cuba. He declared that he was opposed to annexation, and, while +many Cubans advocated the establishment of a protectorate by the +United States, he could not make up his mind that this would be +the best way out of the difficulty. He told his associates that he +believed the Cubans capable of governing themselves, and +reinforced this statement by the assertion that the Cuban +population would never be satisfied with any government under +Spanish rule. The senator's remarkable speech undoubtedly had a +powerful effect, both in influencing congressional action, and in +swaying public opinion. As an able and responsible member of +Congress and an ex-secretary of war, his words would carry weight +under any circumstances, but apart from these considerations, the +speech was notable because of its evident fidelity to facts, and +its restraint from everything resembling sensationalism. + +A NOTABLE EXHIBITION OF PATRIOTISM. + +There was never a more notable exhibiton of harmony and +patriotism in any legislative body in the world than occurred in +the House of Representatives when Congressman Cannon presented a +bill appropriating $50,000,000 for the national defense and +placing this amount in President McKinley's hands, to be expended +at his discretion. + +Party lines were swept away, and with a unanimous voice Congress +voted its confidence in the administration. Many members who were +paired with absent colleagues took the responsibility of breaking +their pairs, an unprecedented thing in legislative annals, in +order that they might go on record in support of this vast +appropriation to maintain the dignity and honor of their country. +Speaker Reed, who as the presiding officer, seldom voted, except +in case of a tie, had his name called and voted in his capacity as +representative. The scene of enthusiasm which greeted the +announcement of the vote--yeas, 311; nays, none--has seldom been +paralleled in the House. The bill passed the Senate without a +dissenting vote, and, on March 9, the President signed the +measure, thus making it a law. + +RELIEF FOR THE SURVIVORS OF THE MAINE. + +On March 21, the House unanimously passed the bill for the relief +of the survivors and victims of the Maine disaster. The bill +reimbursed the surviving officers and men for the losses they +sustained to an amount not to exceed a year's sea pay, and +directed the payment of a sum equal to a year's pay to the legal +heirs of those who perished. + +When the President sent to Congress the report of the Naval Board +of Examiners the feeling of that body at once found open +expression in resolutions proposing a declaration of war, +recognition of the independence of Cuba, armed intervention, and +other decisive and warlike steps against Spain. Every group of +senators talked of Cuba. Constant and continual conferences were +held, and all recognized the seriousness of the occasion. On the +House side it was apparent that the majority could no longer be +controlled by what was known as the conservative element, led by +the speaker. Groups of members in a state of excitement were to be +seen on every hand. It was generally acknowledged that a serious +condition had arisen, that a crisis was at hand. + +On April 11 the long expected message was received. In it the +President asked Congress to authorize him to take measures to +secure a termination of hostilities in Cuba, and to secure in the +island the establishment of a stable form of government, and to +use the military and naval forces of the United States as might be +necessary. The message was received in silence. The most notable +criticism made was the entire absence of any reference to Cuban +independence. The admission in the message that the President had +proposed an armistice to Spain until October provoked vigorous +comment. But conservative members were highly pleased with the +position taken by the President, and many still hoped that war +might be prevented. + +However, this did not prevent the purchase of a number of armed +cruisers from foreign powers, which were transferred to the United +States flag. The ships of several passenger and mail lines were +also purchased, or leased as auxiliary cruisers, and were at once +remanned and put in commission. The most notable examples were the +two American built ships, St. Patil and St. Louis of the American +line. The new purchases were fitted for their new uses at once, +and the preparations for war went on without delay. + +Congress, taking its cue from the President, united upon the +following resolutions which were signed by the President on April +20: + +Joint resolutions for the recognition of the independence of the +people of Cuba demanding that the government of Spain relinquish +its authority and government in the island of Cuba, and to +withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and +directing the President of the United States to use the land and +naval forces of the United States to carry these resolutions into +effect. + +Whereas, The abhorrent conditions which have existed for more than +three years in the island of Cuba, so near our own borders, have +shocked the moral sense of the people of the United States, have +been a disgrace to Christian civilization, culminating, as they +have, in the destruction of a United States battleship, with 260 +of its officers and crew, while on a friendly visit in the harbor +of Havana, and cannot longer be endured, as has been set forth by +the President of the United States in his message to Congress of +April 11, 1898, upon which the action of Congress was invited; +therefore, be it resolved; + +First--That the people of the island of Cuba are, and of right +ought to be, free and independent. + +Second--That it is the duty of the United States to demand, and +the government of the United States does hereby demand, that the +government of Spain at once relinquish its authority and +government in the island of Cuba and Cuban waters. + +Third--That the President of the United States be, and hereby is, +directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of +the United States, and to call into the actual service of the +United States the militia of the several States to such an extent +as may be necessary to carry these resolutions into effect. + +Fourth--That the United States hereby disclaims any disposition or +intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over +said island, except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its +determination when that is accomplished to leave the government +and control of the island to its people. + +The Spanish government was deluded by the belief that in the event +of war our country would not be able to present a united front, +and that sectional animosities would weaken our strength. The +action of Congress from the time of the first rumors of war to the +end of the session snowed how little ground there was for this +belief. The representatives of the people from all sections of our +broad land gave President McKinley loyal support in every +undertaking, and the South vied with the North, the East with the +West, in expressions of devotion to our nation and our flag. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +PRESIDENT McKINLEY ACTS. + +The Message to Congress--Loss of American Trade--Terrible +Increase in the Death Rate--American Aid for the Starving--The +President's Proposition to Spain--Grounds for Intervention--The +Destruction of the Maine--The Addenda. + + +With the press and public of the entire country at a fever heat +of indignation, and the evident determination on the part of a +large majority of the members of the Congress of the United States +to bring matters to a crisis, it was evident to all that the time +for action had arrived. + +The President yielded to the popular demand, and on April 11 he +sent to Congress the following message: + +To the Congress of the United States: + +Obedient to that precept of the Constitution which commands the +President to give from time to time to the Congress information of +the state of the Union, and to recommend to their consideration +such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient, it +becomes my duty now to address your body with regard to the grave +crisis that has arisen in the relations of the United States to +Spain by reason of the warfare that for more than three years has +raged in the neighboring island of Cuba. I do so because of the +intimate connection of the Cuban question with the state of our +own Union, and the grave relation the course of which it is now +incumbent upon the nation to adopt, must needs bear to the +traditional policy of our Government if it is to accord with the +precepts laid down by the founders of the Republic and religiously +observed by succeeding administrations to the present day. + +The present revolution is but the successor of other similar +insurrections which have occurred in Cuba against the dominion of +Spain, extending over a period of nearly half a century, each of +which during its progress has subjected the United States to great +effort and expense in enforcing its neutrality laws, caused +enormous losses to American trade and commerce, caused irritation, +annoyance and disturbance among our citizens, and by the exercise +of cruel, barbarous and uncivilized practices of warfare, shocked +the sensibilities and offended the humane sympathies of our +people. + +Since the present revolution began, in February, 1895, this +country has seen the fertile domain at our threshold ravaged by +fire and sword in the course of a struggle unequaled in the +history of the island, and rarely paralleled as to the number of +the combatants and the bitterness of the contest by any revolution +of modern times, where a dependent people striving to be free have +been oppressed by the power of the sovereign State. Our people +have beheld a once prosperous community reduced to comparative +want, its lucrative commerce virtually paralyzed, its exceptional +productiveness diminished, its fields laid waste, its mills in +ruins, and its people perishing by tens of thousands from hunger +and destitution. We have found ourselves constrained in the +observance of that strict neutrality which our laws enjoin, and +which the law of nations commands, to police our waters and watch +our own seaports in prevention of any unlawful act in aid of the +Cubans. + +LOSS OF AMERICAN TRADE. + +Our trade has suffered, the capital invested by our citizens in Cuba has +been largely lost, and the temper and forbearance of our people have +been so seriously tried as to beget a perilous unrest among our own +citizens, which has inevitably found its expression from time to time in +the National Legislature, so that issues wholly external to our own body +politic stand in the way of that close devotion to domestic advancement +that becomes's self-contained commonwealth, whose primal maxim has been +the avoidance of all foreign entanglements. All this must needs awaken, +and has indeed aroused, the utmost concern on the part of this +government, as well during my predecessor's term as in my own. + +In April, 1896, the evils from which our country suffered through +the Cuban war became so onerous that my predecessor made an effort +to bring about a peace through the mediation of this government in +any way that might tend to an honorable adjustment of the contest +between Spain and her revolted colony, on the basis of some +effective scheme of self-government for Cuba under the flag and +sovereignty of Spain. It failed, through the refusal of the +Spanish Government then in power to consider any form of +mediation, or, indeed, any plan of settlement which did not begin +with the actual submission of the insurgents to the mother +country, and then only on such terms as Spain herself might see +fit to grant. The war continued unabated. The resistance of the +insurgents was in no wise diminished. + +The efforts of Spain were increased, both by the despatch of fresh +levies to Cuba and by the addition to the horrors of the strife of +a new and inhuman phase, happily unprecedented in the modern +history of civilized Christian peoples. The policy of devastation +and concentration by the Captain-General's bando of October, 1896, +in the province of Pinar del Rio was thence extended to embrace +all of the island to which the power of the Spanish arms was able +to reach by occupation or by military operations. The peasantry, +including all dwelling in the open agricultural interior, were +driven into the garrison towns or isolated places held by the +troops. The raising and moving of provisions of all kinds were +interdicted. The fields were laid waste, dwellings unroofed and +fired, mills destroyed, and, in short, everything that could +desolate the land and render it unfit for human habitation or +support was commanded by one or the other of the contending +parties and executed by all the powers at their disposal. + +By the time the present administration took office a year ago, +reconcentration--so-called--had been made effective over the +better part of the four central and western provinces, Santa +Clara, Matanzas, Havana and Pinar del Rio. The agricultural +population, to the estimated number of 300,000, or more, was +herded within the towns and their immediate vicinage, deprived of +the means of support, rendered destitute of shelter, left poorly +clad, and exposed to the most unsanitary conditions. As the +scarcity of food increased with the devastation of the depopulated +areas of production, destitution and want became misery and +starvation. + +TERRIBLE INCREASE IN THE DEATH RATE. + +Month by month the death rate increased in an alarming ratio. By +March, 1897, according to conservative estimate from official +Spanish sources, the mortality among the reconcentrados, from +starvation and the diseases thereto incident, exceeded 50 per +centum of their total number. No practical relief was accorded to +the destitute. The overburdened towns, already suffering from the +general dearth, could give no aid. + +In this state of affairs my administration found itself confronted +with the grave problem of its duty. My message of last December +reviewed the situation, and narrated the steps taken with a view +to relieving its acuteness and opening the way to some form of +honorable settlement. The assassination of the Prime Minister, +Canovas, led to a change of government in Spain. The former +administration, pledged to subjugation without concession, gave +place to that of a more liberal party, committed long in advance +to a policy of reform involving the wider principle of home rule +for Cuba and Puerto Rico. + +The overtures of this government made through its new Envoy, +General Woodford, and looking to an immediate and effective +amelioration of the condition of the island, although not accepted +to the extent of admitted mediation in any shape, were met by +assurances that home rule, in an advanced phase, would be +forthwith offered to Cuba, without waiting for the war to end, and +that more humane methods should henceforth prevail in the conduct +of hostilities. + +AMERICAN AID FOR THE STARVING. + +While these negotiations were in progress, the increasing +destitution of the unfortunate reconcentrados and the alarming +mortality among them claimed earnest attention. The success which +had attended the limited measure of relief extended to the +suffering American citizens among them by the judicious +expenditure through the Consular agencies of the money +appropriated expressly for their succor by the joint resolution +approved May 24, 1897, prompted the humane extension of a similar +scheme of aid to the great body of sufferers. A suggestion to this +end was acquiesced in by the Spanish authorities. On the 24th of +December last I caused to be issued an appeal to the American +people inviting contributions in money or in kind for the succor +of the starving sufferers in Cuba, followed this on the 8th of +January by a similar public announcement of the formation of a +Central Cuban Relief Committee, with headquarters in New York +city, composed of three members representing the National Red +Cross and the religious and business elements of the community. + +Coincidentally with these declarations, the new Government of +Spain continued to complete the policy already begun by its +predecessor of testifying friendly regard for this nation by +releasing American citizens held under one charge or another +connected with the insurrection, so that, by the end of November, +not a single person entitled in any way to our national protection +remained in a Spanish prison. + +The war in Cuba is of such a nature that short of subjugation or +extermination a final military victory for either side seems +impracticable. The alternative lies in the physical exhaustion of +the one or the other party, or perhaps of both--a condition which +in effect ended the Ten Years' War by the truce of Zanjon. The +prospect of such a protraction and conclusion of the present +strife is a contingency hardly to be contemplated with equanimity +by the civilized world, and least of all by the United States, +affected and injured as we are, deeply and intimately by its very +existence. + +Realizing this, it appeared to be my duty in a spirit of true +friendliness, no less to Spain than to the Cubans who have so much +to lose by the prolongation of the struggle, to seek to bring +about an immediate termination of the war. To this end I submitted +on the 27th ultimo, as a result of much representation and +correspondence through the United States Minister at Madrid, +propositions to the Spanish Government looking to an armistice +until October 1, for the negotiation of peace with the good +offices of the President. + +THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSITION TO SPAIN. + +In addition I asked the immediate revocation of the order of +reconcentration so as to permit the people to return to their +farms and the needy to be relieved with provisions and supplies +from the United States, co-operating with the Spanish authorities +so as to afford full relief. + +The reply of the Spanish Cabinet was received on the night of the 31st +ultimo. It offers as the means to bring about peace in Cuba, to confide +the preparation thereof to the Insular Parliament, inasmuch as the +concurrence of that body would be necessary to reach a final result, it +being, however, understood that the powers reserved by the Constitution +to the central government are not lessened or diminished. As the Cuban +Parliament does not meet until the 4th of May nest, the Spanish +Government would not object, for its part, to accept at once a +suspension of hostilities if asked for by the insurgents from the +General-in-Chief, to whom it would pertain in such a case to determine +the duration and conditions of the armistice. + +The propositions submitted by General Woodford and the reply of +the Spanish Government were both in the form of brief memoranda, +the texts of which are before me, and are substantially in the +language above given. + +There remain the alternative forms of intervention to end the war, +either as an impartial neutral by imposing a rational compromise +between the contestants, or as the active ally of one party or the +other. + +As to the first, it is not to be forgotten that during the last +few months the relation of the United States has virtually been +one of friendly intervention in many ways, each not of itself +conclusive, but all tending to the exertion of a potential +influence toward an ultimate pacific result just and honorable to +all interests concerned. The spirit of all our acts hitherto has +been an earnest, unselfish desire for peace and prosperity in +Cuba, untarnished by differences between us and Spain and +unstained by the blood of American citizens. + +The forcible intervention of the United States as a neutral, to +stop the war, according to the large dictates of humanity and +following many historical precedents where neighboring States have +interfered to check the hopeless sacrifices of life by internecine +conflicts beyond their borders, is justifiable on rational +grounds. It involves, however, hostile constraint upon both the +parties to the contest, as well to enforce a truce as to guide the +eventual settlement. + +GROUNDS FOR INTERVENTION. + +The grounds for such intervention may be briefly summarized as +follows: + +First. In the cause of humanity and to put an end to the +barbarities, bloodshed, starvation and horrible miseries now +existing there, and which the parties to the conflict are either +unable to or unwilling to stop or mitigate. It is no answer to say +this is all in another country, belonging to another nation, and +is therefore none of our business. It is specially our duty, for +it is right at our door. + +Second. We owe it to our citizens in Cuba to afford them that +protection and indemnity for life and property which no government +there can or will afford, and to that end to terminate the +conditions that deprive them of legal protection. + +Third. The right to intervene may be justified by the very serious +injury to the commerce, trade and business of our people, and by +the wanton destruction of property and devastation of the island. + +Fourth. Aid which is of the utmost importance. The present +condition of affairs in Cuba is a constant menace to our peace and +entails upon this Government an enormous expense. With such a +conflict waged for years in an island so near us, and with which +our people have such trade and business relations; when the lives +and liberty of our citizens are in constant danger and their +property destroyed and themselves ruined; where our trading +vessels are liable to seizure and are seized at our very door by +warships of a foreign nation, the expeditions of filibustering +that we are powerless altogether to prevent, and the irritating +questions and entanglements thus arising--all these and others +that I need not mention, with the resulting strained relations, +are a constant menace to our peace and compel us to keep on a +semi-war footing with a nation with which we are at peace. + +THE DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE. + +These elements of danger and disorder already pointed out have +been strikingly illustrated by a tragic event which has deeply and +justly moved the American people. I have already transmitted to +Congress the report of the Naval Court of Inquiry on the +destruction of the battleship Maine in the harbor of Havana during +the night of the 15th of February. The destruction of that noble +vessel has filled the national heart with inexpressible horror. +Two hundred and fifty-eight brave sailors and marines and two +officers of our navy, reposing in the fancied security of a +friendly harbor, have been hurled to death, grief and want brought +to their homes and sorrow to the nation. + +The Naval Court of Inquiry, which, it is needless to say, commands +the unqualified confidence of the Government, was unanimous in its +conclusions that the destruction of the Maine was caused by an +exterior explosion--that of a submarine mine. It did not assume to +place the responsibility. That remains to be fixed. + +In any event the destruction of the Maine, by whatever exterior +cause, is a patent and impressive proof of a state of things in +Cuba that, is intolerable. That condition is thus shown to be such +that the Spanish Government cannot assure safety and security to a +vessel of the American navy in the harbor of Havana on a mission +of peace and rightfully there. + +Further referring in this connection to recent diplomatic +correspondence, a despatch from our Minister to Spain, of the 26th +ultimo, contained the statement that the Spanish Minister for +Foreign Affairs assured him positively that Spain would do all +that the highest honor and justice required in the matter of the +Maine. The reply above referred to of the 31st ultimo also +contained an expression of the readiness of Spain to submit to an +arbitration all the differences which can arise in this matter, +which is subsequently explained by the note of the Spanish +Minister at Washington of the 10th instant as follows: + +As to the question of fact which springs from the diversity of +views between the report of the American and Spanish boards, Spain +proposes that the fact be ascertained by an impartial +investigation by experts, whose decision Spain accepts in advance. +To this I have made no reply. + +In view of these facts and these considerations, I ask the +Congress to authorize and empower the President to take measures +to secure a full and final termination of hostilities between the +Government of Spain and the people of Cuba, and to secure in the +island the establishment of a stable government capable of +maintaining order and observing its international obligations, +insuring peace and tranquillity and the security of its citizens +as well as our own, and to use the military and naval forces of +the United States as may be necessary for these purposes. + +And in the interest of humanity and to aid in preserving the lives +of the starving people of the island, I recommend that the +distribution of food and supplies be continued, and that an +appropriation be made out of the public treasury to supplement the +charity of our citizens. The issue is now with Congress. It is a +solemn responsibility. I have exhausted every effort to relieve +the intolerable condition of affairs which is at our doors. + +Prepared to execute every obligation imposed upon me by the +Constitution and the law, I await your action. + +THE ADDENDA. + +Yesterday, and since the preparation of the foregoing message, +official information was received by me that the latest decree of +the Queen Regent of Spain directs General Blanco in order to +prepare and facilitate peace, to proclaim a suspension of +hostilities, the duration and details of which have not yet been +communicated to me. This fact, with every other pertinent +consideration, will, I am sure, have your just and careful +attention in the solemn deliberations upon which you are about to +enter. If this measure attains a successful result, then our +aspirations as a Christian, peace-loving people will be realized. +If it fails, it will be only another justification for our +contemplated action. + +(Signed,) WILLIAM McKINLEY. + +Executive Mansion, April 11, 1898. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +STRENGTH OF THE OPPOSING SQUADRONS AND ARMIES. + +Growth of the White Squadron in a Single Decade--Progress of Our +Navy a Gratifying Ode after It Was Fairly Started--How the United +States Stands in Comparison with the Other Nations of the World-- +List of Ships in the American Navy--List of Ships in the Navy of +Spain at the Beginning of the War--Interest of All Countries +Centered on the Result of Our Naval Battles--Modern Guns and +Projectiles--The Armies of the Two Combatants--Coast Defenses of +the United States. + + +Three elements enter into the fighting efficiency of nations at +war: the strength of their navies, the strength of their armies +and the condition of their coast defences. For the first time in +many years general attention of the people of the United States +was centered upon these conditions when the outbreak of +hostilities began to threaten. Inasmuch as it was an admitted fact +that most of the fighting would be done at sea, or at least that +the efficiency of our fleets would be the most important factor, +most of the attention was directed to a study of the navy. + +The constructions of what we call the new navy of the United +States, "the white squadron," which has placed us sixth in the +rank of the naval powers of the world, instead of so far down that +we were scarcely to be counted at all, has all been done in less +than twelve years. It may be that to stand sixth in rank is not +yet high enough, but the progress of a single decade certainly is +remarkable. + +After the Civil War, when hostilities on our own coast and +complications abroad seemed to be at an end, the care of the navy +was abandoned and ships were sold with scarcely a protest, almost +as entirely as had been done eighty years before, at the end of +the Revolution. There was even less reason for this policy, +because in 1785 the country was poor and needed the money the +ships brought, while in the twenty years following the Civil War +there was no such excuse of national poverty. By 1885 there was no +United States navy at all worthy the name, for the wooden vessels +on the list, with their obsolete guns, were of no value whatever +in the event of hostilities with a foreign power that had kept up +its equipment with rifled guns and ironclads. + +The movement to repair the decay began when, in 1881, Secretary of +the Navy William H. Hunt appointed the first advisory board, +presided over by Rear-Admiral John Bodgers, "to determine the +requirements of a new navy." This board reported that the United +States should have twenty-one battleships, seventy unarmored +cruisers of various sizes and types, twenty torpedo boats, five +rams and five torpedo gunboats, all to be built of steel. The +report was received by Congress and the country with the attention +it merited, but to get the work started was another matter. + +POLICY OF THE ECONOMISTS. + +The economists had been praising the policy of idleness in naval +construction, claiming first that we were at peace and did not +need to spend money on expensive vessels and, next, that naval +construction was in an experimental stage and that we should let +the European nations go to the expense of the experiments, as they +were doing, and when some result had been reached, take advantage +of it, instead of wasting our own money in work that would have to +be thrown away in a few years. + +When the country became convinced that a navy was needed, it was +found that we could not follow out that pleasant little theory. +Our naval authorities could not obtain the facts and the +experience they wanted from other nations, and our shipyards could +not build even one of the armored ships. We could not roll even +the thinnest of modern armor-plates, and could not make a gun that +was worth mounting on a modern vessel if we had it. + +The shipyard of John Roach did the first work on the new navy, and +during Secretary Chandler's term of office built the Chicago, the +Boston, the Atlanta and the Dolphin. Instead of battleships, the +first of the fleet were third-rate cruisers. Armor-plate was +bought in a foreign market, and we actually went abroad for the +plans of one our largest cruisers--the Charleston. + +In 1885 the navy department came under the administration of +Secretary William C. Whitney, and it was beginning with his years +of service that the greatest progress was made. While our +shipyards were learning to build ships, the gunmakers and the +makers of armor-plate were learning their craft too, so that +progress was along parallel lines. In 1886 the sum of $2,128,000 +was appropriated for modern rifled guns. The first contract for +armor-plate was signed in 1887. Since that time the plants for +construction have been completed and armor-plate equal to the best +in the world turned out from them. Ten years of apprenticeship +have taught us how to build whatever we need to carry on naval +warfare. + +TAKES THE RANK OF SIXTH. + +By 1894 the United States had risen to the sixth among the naval +powers of the world, the first ten and their relative strength +expressed in percentage of that of Great Britain being as follows: + + Great Britain 100 United States 17 + France 68 Spain 11 + Italy 48 China 6 + Russia 38 Austria 5 + Germany 21 Turkey 3 + +Since that time the relative position of the leaders has not +materially changed, although some estimates are to the effect that +Russia and Italy have changed places and that Spain has gained +slightly on the United States. Of the ones at the foot of the +procession all have dropped below the station assigned them, by +the advance of Japan, which has come from outside the file of the +first ten and is now eighth, ranking between Spain and China. The +estimates are based on a calculation of all the elements that +enter into the efficiency of the navies, such as tonnage, speed, +armor, caliber and range of armament, number of enlisted men and +their efficiency. Such calculations cannot be absolute, for they +cannot measure at all times the accuracy of the gunnery of a +certain vessel. The human equation enters so prominently into +warfare that mathematical calculations must be at all times +incomplete. Americans will be slow to believe, however, that they +are at any disadvantage in this detail, whatever their material +equipment may be. + +The following table shows the strength of the navy of the United States. +In that part of the table marked "first rate" the four ships placed +first are first-class battle ships, the Brooklyn and New York are +armored cruisers, the Columbia, Olympia and Minneapolis protected +cruisers, the Texas a second-class battle ship and the Puritan a +double-turret monitor. Among the second-raters all but the Miantonomah, +Amphitrite, Monadnock and Terror (monitors) are protected cruisers. The +newly bought boats, New Orleans and Albany, belong in this class. The +third-raters are a heterogeneous lot, consisting of cruisers, gunboats, +old monitors and unprotected cruisers. Of the fourth raters, Vesuvius is +a dynamite ship, the Yankee and Michigan are cruisers, the Petrel, +Bancroft and Pinta are gunboats and the Fern is a transport. The +remaining classes of the table are homogeneous. The government has +recently purchased numerous tugs and yachts not accounted for in the +table: + + FIRST RATE. + + NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull + (tons) main battery horsepower + + Iowa 11,340 18 12,105 Steel + Indiana 10,288 16 9,738 Steel + Massachusetts 10,288 16 10,403 Steel + Oregon 10,288 16 11,111 Steel + Brooklyn 9,215 20 18,769 Steel + New York 8,200 18 17,401 Steel + Columbia 7,375 11 18,509 Steel + Minneapolis 7,375 11 20,862 Steel + Texas 6,315 8 8,610 Steel + Puritan 6,060 10 3,700 Iron + Olympia 5,870 14 17,313 Steel + + + SECOND RATE. + + NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull + (tons) main battery horsepower + + Chicago 4,500 18 9,000 Steel + Baltimore 4,413 10 10,064 Steel + Philadelphia 4,324 12 8,815 Steel + Monterey 4,084 4 5,244 Steel + Newark 4,098 12 8,869 Steel + San Francisco 4,098 12 9,913 Steel + Charleston 3,730 8 6,666 Steel + Miantonomah 3,990 4 1,426 Iron + Amphitrite 3,990 6 1,600 Iron + Monadnock 3,990 6 3,000 Iron + Terror 3,990 4 1,600 Iron + Lancaster 3,250 12 1,000 Wood + Cincinnati 3,213 11 10,000 Steel + Raleigh 3,213 11 10,000 Steel + Atlanta 3,000 8 4,030 Steel + Boston 3,000 8 4,030 Steel + + + THIRD RATE. + + NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull + (tons) main battery horsepower + + Hartford 2,790 13 2,000 Wood + Katahdin 2,155 4 5,068 Steel + Ajax 2,100 2 340 Iron + Canonicus 2,100 2 340 Iron + Mahopac 2,100 2 340 Iron + Manhattan 2,100 2 340 Iron + Wyandotte 2,100 2 340 Iron + Detroit 2,089 10 5,227 Steel + Montgomery 2,089 10 5,580 Steel + Marblehead 2,089 10 5,451 Steel + Marion 1,900 8 1,100 Wood + Mohican 1,900 10 1,100 Wood + Comanche 1,873 2 340 Iron + Catskill 1,875 2 340 Iron + Jason 1,875 2 340 Iron + Lehigh 1,875 2 340 Iron + Montauk 1,875 2 340 Iron + Nahant 1,875 2 340 Iron + Nantucket 1,875 2 340 Iron + Passaic 1,875 2 340 Iron + Bennington 1,710 6 3,436 Steel + Concord 1,710 6 3,405 Steel + Yorktown 1,710 6 3,392 Steel + Dolphin 1,486 2 2,253 Steel + Wilmington 1,392 8 1,894 Steel + Helena 1,392 8 1,988 Steel + Adams 1,375 6 800 Wood + Alliance 1,375 6 800 Wood + Essex 1,375 6 800 Wood + Enterprise 1,375 4 800 Wood + Nashville 1,371 8 2,536 Steel + Monocacy 1,370 6 850 Iron + Thetis 1,250 0 530 Wood + Castine 1,177 8 2,199 Steel + Machias 1,177 8 2,046 Steel + Alert 1,020 3 500 Iron + Ranger 1,020 6 500 Iron + Annapolis 1,000 6 1,227 Comp + Vicksburg 1,000 6 1,118 Comp + Wheeling 1,000 6 1,081 Comp + Marietta 1,000 6 1,054 Comp + Newport 1,000 6 1,008 Comp + + + FOURTH RATE. + + NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull + (tons) main battery horsepower + + Vesuvius 929 3 3,795 Steel + Yantic 900 4 310 Wood + Petrel 892 4 1,095 Steel + Fern 840 0 0 Wood + Bancroft 839 4 1,213 Steel + Michigan 685 4 365 Iron + Pinta 550 2 310 Iron + + + TORPEDO BOATS. + + NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull + (tons) main battery horsepower + + 1-Gushing 105 3 1,720 Steel + 2-Ericsson 120 3 1,800 Steel + 3-Foote 142 3 2,000 Steel + 4-Rodgers 142 3 2,000 Steel + 5-Winslow 142 3 2,000 Steel + 6-Porter 0 3 0 Steel + 7-Du Pont 0 3 0 Steel + 8-Rowan 182 3 3,200 Steel + 9-Dahlgren 146 2 4,200 Steel + 10-T. A. M. Craven 146 2 4,200 Steel + 11-Farragut 273 2 5,600 Steel + 12-Davis 132 3 1,750 Steel + 13_Fox 132 3 1,750 Steel + 14-Morris 103 3 1,750 Steel + 15-Talbot 46 1/2 2 850 Steel + 16-Gwin 46 1/2 2 850 Steel + 17-Mackenzie 65 2 850 Steel + 18-McKee 65 2 850 Steel + 19-Stringham 340 2 7,200 Steel + 20-Goldsborough 247 1/2 2 0 Steel + 21-Bailey 235 2 5,600 Steel + Stiletto 31 2 359 Wood + + + TUGBOATS. + + NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull + (tons) main battery horsepower + + Fortune 450 0 340 Iron + Iwana. 192 0 300 Steel + Leyden 450 0 340 Iron + Narkeeta 192 0 300 Steel + Nina 357 0 388 Iron + Rocket 187 0 147 Wood + Standish 450 1 340 Iron + Traffic 280 0 0 Wood + Triton 212 0 300 Steel + Waneta 192 0 300 Steel + Unadilla 345 0 500 Steel + Samoset 225 0 450 Steel + + + SAILING SHIPS. + + NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull + (tons) main battery horsepower + + Monongahela 2,100 4 0 Wood + Constellation 1,186 8 0 Wood + Jamestown 1,150 0 0 Wood + Portsmouth 1,125 12 0 Wood + Saratoga 1,025 0 0 Wood + St. Mary's. 1,025 0 0 Wood + + + RECEIVING SHIPS. + + NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull + (tons) main battery horsepower + + Franklin 5,170 4 1,050 Wood + Wabash 4,650 0 950 Wood + Vermont 4,150 0 0 Wood + Independence 3,270 .6 0 Wood + Richmond 2,700 .2 692 Wood + + + UNSERVICEABLE. + + NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull + (tons) main battery horsepower + + New Hampshire 4,150 .6 0 Wood + Pensacola 3,000 0 680 Wood + Omaha. 2,400 0 953 Wood + Constitution 2,200 4 0 Wood + Iroquois 1,575 0 1,202 Wood + Nipsic 1,375 4 839 Wood + St. Louis 830 0 0 Wood + Dale. 675 0 0 Wood + Minnesota 4,700 9 1,000 Wood + + + UNDER CONSTRUCTION. + + NAME Displacement Guns in indicated Hull + (tons) main battery horsepower + + Kearsarge 11,525 22 10,000 Steel + Kentucky 11,525 22 10,000 Steel + Illinois 11,525 18 10,000 Steel + Alabama 11,525 18 10,000 Steel + Wisconsin 11,525 18 10,000 Steel + Princeton 1,000 6 800 Comp + Plunger 168 2 1,200 Steel + Tug No. 6 225 0 450 Steel + Tug No. 7 225 0 450 Steel + Training ship. 1,175 6 0 Comp + +SPAIN'S NAVY IS A WEAKER ONE. + +Spain's navy is decidedly weak when compared with that of the +United States. A mere glance at the two tables will be sufficient +to show the difference. Spain's list of unarmored cruisers is +long, but four of our battle ships or swift, modern, armored +cruisers could blow the lot out of the water. In torpedo boats we +compare favorably with Spain. In one respect Spain is stronger, +that is in her six speedy torpedo boat destroyers. This table +accounts for every war ship Spain has, to say nothing of the few +antique merchantmen of the Spanish liner company which can be +turned into cruisers. + + +FIRST-CLASS BATTLE SHIPS. + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + Pelayo 9,900 22 17.0 Steel + Vitoria (inefficient)7,250 0 11.0 Iron + + + OLD BATTLE SHIPS. + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + Numancia 7,250 10 11.0 Iron + + +FIRST-CLASS ARMORED CRUISERS. + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + Carlos V 9,235 28 20.0 Steel + Cisneros 7,000 24 20.0 Steel + Cataluna 7,000 24 20.0 Steel + Princess Asturias 7,000 24 20.0 Steel + Almirante Oquendo 7,000 30 20.0 Steel + Maria Teresa 7,000 30 20.0 Steel + Vizcaya 7,000 30 20.0 Steel + Cristobal Colon 6,840 40 20.0 Steel + + +SECOND-CLASS ARMORED CRUISERS. + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + Alfonso XII 5,000 19 20.0 Steel + Lepanto 4,826 25 20.0 Steel + + +UNARMORED CRUISERS. + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + Reina Christina 3,520 21 17.5 Steel + Aragon 3,342 24 17.5 Steel + Cartilla 3,342 22 17.5 Steel + Navarra 3,342 16 17.5 Steel + Alfonso XII 3,090 23 17.5 Steel + Reina Mercedes 3,090 21 17.5 Steel + Velasco 1,152 7 14.3 Steel + C. de Venadito 1,130 13 14.0 Steel + Ulloa 1,130 12 14.0 Steel + Austria 1,130 12 14.0 Steel + Isabel 1,130 15 14.0 Steel + Isabel II 1,130 16 14.0 Steel + Isla de Cuba 1,030 12 16.0 Steel + Isla de Luzon 1,030 12 16.0 Steel + Ensenada 1,030 13 15.0 Steel + Quiros 315 0 0 Iron + Villabolas 315 0 0 Iron + ---- 935 5 0 Wood + + +TORPEDO BOATS. [Footnote: Armed with two and four torpedo tubes, +six quick fire and two machine guns.] + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + Alvaro de Bezan 830 0 20.0 Steel + Maria Molina 830 0 20.0 Steel + Destructor 458 0 20.0 Steel + Filipinas 750 0 20.0 Steel + Galicia 571 0 20.0 Steel + Marques Vitoria 830 0 20.0 Steel + Marques Molina 571 0 20.0 Steel + Pinzon 571 0 20.0 Steel + Nueva Espana 630 0 20.0 Steel + Rapido 570 0 20.0 Steel + Temerario 590 0 20.0 Steel + Yanez Pinzon 571 0 20.0 Steel + + +GUNBOATS. [Footnote: There are eighteen others of smaller size, +which with the above were built for service in Cuban waters, +and are now there.] + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + Hernon Cortes 300 1 12.0 Steel + Pizarro 300 2 12.0 Steel + Nunez Balboa 300 1 12.5 Steel + Diego Velasquez 200 3 12.0 Steel + Ponce de Leon 200 3 12.0 Steel + Alvarado 100 2 12.0 Steel + Sandoval 100 2 12.0 Steel + + +TORPEDO BOAT DESTROYERS. + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + Audaz 400 6 30.0 Steel + Furor 380 6 28.0 Steel + Terror 380 6 28.0 Steel + Osada 380 6 28.0 Steel + Pluton 380 6 28.0 Steel + Prosperina 380 6 28.0 Steel + + +SMALL TORPEDO BOATS. + +NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + Ariete 0 0 26.1 Steel + Rayo 0 0 25.5 Steel + Azor 0 0 24.0 Steel + Halcon 0 0 24.0 Steel + Habana 0 0 21.3 Steel + Barcelo 0 0 19.5 Steel + Orion 0 0 21.5 Steel + Retamosa 0 0 20.5 Steel + Ordonez 0 0 20.1 Steel + Ejercito 0 0 19.1 Steel + Pollux 0 0 19.5 Steel + Castor 0 0 19.0 Steel + Aire 0 0 8.0 Steel + + +GUN VESSELS (SO-CALLED). + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + General Concha 520 0 0 Steel + Elcano 524 0 0 Steel + General Lego 524 0 0 Steel + Magellanes 524 0 0 Steel + + +BUILDING. + + +(Battle ship.) + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + ---- 10,000 0 0 Steel + + +(Armored cruisers.) + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + ---- 10,500 0 0 Steel + Pedro d'Aragon 6,840 0 0 Steel + + +(Protected cruisers.) + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + Reina Regente 5,372 0 0 Steel + Rio de la Plata 1,775 0 0 Steel + + +(Torpedo boats.) + +Five of Ariete type and one of 750 tons. + + +LINERS FOR CONVERSION. + + NAME. Tonnage. Guns in Speed in Hull. + Batteries. knots/hour. + + Magellanes 6,932 0 17.0 Steel + Buenos Aires 5,195 0 14.0 Steel + Montevideo 5,096 0 14.5 Steel + Alfonso XII 5,063 0 15.0 Steel + Leon XIII 4,687 0 15.0 Steel + Satrustegui 4,638 0 15.0 Steel + Alfonso XIII 4,381 0 16.0 Steel + Maria Cristina 4,381 0 16.0 Steel + Luzon 4,252 0 13.0 Steel + Mindanao 4,195 0 13.5 Steel + Isla de Panay 3,636 0 13.5 Steel + Cataluna 3,488 0 14.0 Steel + City of Cadiz 3,084 0 13.5 Steel + + +INTEREST IN THE WORKING OF MODERN WAR SHIPS. + +The puzzle that was troubling every naval authority as well as +every statesman in the civilized world, at the outbreak of the war +between the United States and Spain, was what would be the results +of a conflict at sea between the floating fortresses which now +serve as battle-ships. Since navies reached their modern form +there had been no war in which the test of the battle-ship was +complete. Lessons might be learned and opinions formed and +prophesies made from the action of battle-ships in the war between +China and Japan, the war between Chili and Peru, and from the +disasters which had overtaken the Maine in the harbor of Havana +and the Victoria in her collision with the Camperdown, as well as +the wreck of the Reina Regente and others. But in all these, +combine the information as one might, there was insufficient +testimony to prove what would happen if two powers of nearly equal +strength were to meet for a fight to a finish. + +Whatever was uncertain, it was known at least that there would be no +more sea fights like those of the last century and the first half of +this, when three-deck frigates and seventy-four-gun men-of-war were +lashed together, while their crews fought with small arms and cutlasses +for hours. Those were the days when "hearts of oak" and "the wooden +walls of England" made what romance there was in naval warfare, and the +ships of the young United States won respect on every sea. In the fights +of those days the vessels would float till they were shot to pieces, and +with the stimulus of close fighting the men were ready to brave any odds +in boarding an enemy's craft. It was well understood that the changed +conditions would make very different battles between the fighting +machines of to-day. + +That a naval battle between modern fleets, armed with modern guns, +would be a terribly destructive one both to the ships and to the +lives of those who manned them, was conceded by all naval +authorities. The destructiveness would come not only from the +tremendous power and effectiveness of the guns, but also from the +fact that the shell had replaced the solid shot in all calibers +down to the one-pounder, so that to the penetrating effect of the +projectile was added its explosive power and the scattering of its +fragments in a destructive and death-dealing circle many feet in +diameter. + +MODERN GUNS AND PROJECTILES. + +The modern armor-piercing shell, made of hardened steel, and with +its conical point carefully fashioned for the greatest penetrating +power, has all the armor-piercing effectiveness of a solid shot of +the same shape, while its explosiveness makes it infinitely more +destructive. For the modern shell does not explode when it first +strikes the side or armor of an enemy's ship, but after it has +pierced the side or armor and has exhausted its penetrative +effect. The percussion fuse is in the base of the shell, and is +exploded by a plunger driven against it by the force of the impact +of the shell on striking. The time between the impact of the shell +and its explosion is sufficient for it to have done its full +penetrative work. + +It first must be understood that all modern guns on ships-of-war are +breech-loading and rifled, and that the smooth bore exists only as a +relic, or to be brought out in an emergency for coast defense, when +modern guns are not available. From the thirteen-inch down to the +four-inch, the guns are designated by their caliber, the diameter of +their bore, and the shot they throw, while from that to the one-pounder +they take their name from the weight of the shot. Everything below the +one-pounder is in the machine-gun class. + +The base of rapid-fire work is the bringing together in one +cartridge of the primer, powder, and shell. When the limit of +weight of cartridge, easily handled by one man, is reached, the +limit of rapid-fire action is also reached; and, although the +quick-moving breech mechanisms have been applied abroad to guns of +as large as eight-inch caliber, such guns would rank as quick, +rather than rapid firing, and would require powder and shot to be +loaded separately. + +On the modern battleships the function of the great guns is the +penetration of the enemy's armor, either at the waterline belt or on the +turrets and gun positions, while that of the rapid-firers is the +destruction of the unarmored parts or the disabling of the guns not +armor protected. The six, three, and one-pounders direct their rain of +shots at the turret portholes, gun shields, or unprotected parts of the +ship, having also an eye to torpedo-boats, while from the fighting tops, +the Gatlings rain a thousand shots a minute on any of the crew in +exposed positions. With such a storm of large and small projectiles it +would seem to be rather a question of who would be left alive rather +than who would be killed. + +The guns in use in the United States navy are the 13-inch, 12-inch, +10-inch, 8-inch, 6-inch, 5-inch, 4-inch, 6-pounders, 3-pounders, +1-pounder, Hotchkiss 37 mm. revolver cannon, and the machine guns. In +the following table is given the length and weight of these guns, as +well as of the shell they carry: + + Length Powder weight + of gun, charge, of shell, + GUNS. feet. pounds. pounds. + + One-pounder 5.1 .3 1 + Three-pounder 7.3 1.7 3 + Six-pounder 8.9 3.0 6 + Fourteen-pounder 11.6 8.0 14 + Four-inch 13.7 14.0 33 + Five-inch 17.4 30.0 50 + Six-inch 21.3 50.0 100 + Eight-inch 28.7 115.0 250 + Ten-inch 31.2 240.0 500 + Twelve-inch 36.8 425.0 850 + Thirteen-inch 40.0 550.0 1,100 + + +HOW THE BIG GUNS ARE USED. + +The 14-pounder, although not included in the navy armament, is +given for the purpose of comparison, since it is with guns of this +caliber that some of the Spanish torpedo-boat destroyers are +armed. The largest gun as yet mounted on our largest torpedo-boats +is the 6-pounder, while a single 1-pounder is the gun armament of +the ordinary torpedo-boat. The Hotchkiss revolver cannon is not +given in the table because its caliber, etc., is the same as that +of the 1-pounder, and, in fact, the latter has superseded it in +the latest armaments, so that it is now found only on the older +ships of the modern fleet. The machine guns are not given because +their effective work is practically the same. The Gatling is of +45-caliber, and uses the government ammunition for the Springfield +rifle. + +A look over the table shows some general principles in the matter +of powder and shell used. The powder charge is about half the +weight of the shell, while the length of the shell is a little +over three times its diameter. + +To attain its extreme range a gun must be given an elevation of about +fifteen degrees. The greatest elevation given any of the guns on +shipboard is about six degrees. This limit is made by two factors--the +size of the portholes or opening in the turrets for the larger guns, and +the danger of driving the gun backward and downward through the deck by +any greater elevation. The practical range of the great guns of a ship, +the ten, twelve, and thirteen-inch, is not, therefore, believed to be +over five or six miles, and even at that range the chances of hitting a +given object would be very small. A city could, of course, be bombarded +with, effect at such a range, since a shell would do tremendous damage +wherever it might strike, but a city to which a ship could approach no +nearer than say seven miles would be safe from bombardment. + +The muzzle velocities given the shells from the guns of the navy are +something tremendous, while the muzzle energy is simply appalling. The +shell from the thirteen-inch gun leaves the muzzle at a velocity of +2,100 feet a second, and with an energy of 33,627-foot tons, or the +power required to lift one ton one foot. From this velocity the range is +to 1,800 feet a second in the one-pounder, although from the +three-pounder at 2,050 feet it averages about the same as the +thirteen-inch. The five-inch rapid-fire gun has the greatest muzzle +velocity at 2,250 feet. The muzzle energy is, of course, small in the +smaller guns, being only twenty-five-foot tons in the one-pounder and +500 tons in the fourteen-pounder. + +The power of penetration has already been given in a general way, +but the power of penetration of steel is much greater. At its +muzzle velocity the thirteen-inch shell will penetrate 26.66 +inches of steel, the twelve-inch, 24.16 inches; the ten-inch, 20 +inches, and the five-inch, 9 inches. The one-pound shell bursts in +piercing one-fourth and nine-sixteenths-inch plates, scattering +its fragments behind the target. + +It may be interesting to note that the cost of one discharge of a +thirteen-inch gun is $800, and that when a battleship like the +Massachusetts lets loose her entire battery, both main and +secondary, the cost of a single discharge is $6,000. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +BATTLESHIPS AND TROOPS BEGIN TO MOVE. + +The North Atlantic Squadron Sent to Key West--Commodore Schley at +Hampton Roads--The Voyage of the Oregon--The Camp at Chickamauga-- +Where the Initial Work of Mobilizing the Troops Was Done--Life at +Camp Thomas--Life on the Famous Battle Field--Rendezvous at Fort +Tampa--The Great Artillery Camp. + + +Immediately following the action of Congress authorizing the +President to call into service the army and navy of the United +States, the North Atlantic squadron, under command of Captain +Sampson, was mobilized at Key West. It consisted of the following +vessels: Battleships Iowa and Indiana, armored cruiser New York, +the monitors Puritan, Terror and Amphitrite, the gunboats +Nashville, Castine, Machias, Wilmington and Helena, the cruisers +Detroit, Cincinnati and Marblehead, and the torpedo-boats Cushing, +Ericsson, Dupont, Foote, Winslow, Porter and Mayflower. + +These comprised a hard fighting aggregation under a cool and +daring fighter. The two first-class battleships were not equaled +in fighting power by anything in the Spanish navy, and the New +York was one of the best fighting ships of her kind in the world. + +Commodore Winfield Scott Schley and the fighters of his flying +squadron were gathered at Hampton Roads, impatient for orders from +Washington to face the foe. Far away in Pacific waters Commodore +Dewey was cabled the command to hold himself in readiness to +proceed to Manila, and the good ship Oregon, under command of +Captain Clarke, was steaming her way around Cape Horn to join the +fleet in Cuban waters. + +In the army equal activity was shown. + +THE CAMP AT CHICKAMAUGA. + +Chickamauga Park, near Chattanooga, Tenn., was the point of +concentration for the regular troops which were gathered for the +war with Spain. It was the initial camp where the mobilization +took place, and from which soldiers and supplies were dispatched +to seacoast towns within easy striking distance of Cuba. When +orders went out from army headquarters at Washington for the +movement of the regulars to Chickamauga a thrill of soldierly +pride swelled the breast of every man who wore Uncle Sam's blue +uniform, and there was a hasty dash for the new camp. There is +nothing an army man, officer or private, dislikes so much as +inactivity. Fighting, especially against a foreign foe, suits him +better than dawdling away his time in idleness, and word to "get +to the front" is always welcome. + +For nearly three weeks troops poured into Chickamauga on every +train. They came from all parts of the country, and from every +regiment and branch of the service. There were "dough-boys" and +cavalry-men, engineers and artillerymen; some regiments were there +in force, others were represented by detachments only. There were +companies and parts of companies, squadrons and parts of +squadrons, batteries and parts of batteries. It was a bringing +together of Uncle Sam's soldier boys from all conceivable sections +of the country. They came from posts in California and Texas, from +Wyoming and Maine, from Colorado and Minnesota. In time of peace +the regular army is badly scattered. It is seldom that an entire +regiment is stationed at one post, the companies being distributed +over a wide area of territory. A mobilization, therefore, like +that at Chickamauga, tended to consolidate and put new life into +commands which had been badly dismembered by the exigencies of the +service. Old comrades were brought together and there was a sort +of general reunion and glorification. Men who had been doing +police duty near big cities met those who had been watching +Indians on the plains, or chasing greaser bandits on the border +line. They exchanged stories and prepared for the stern realities +of war with a vigor which boded ill for the foe they were to face. + +Uncle Sam's soldier is a great grumbler when in idleness. He finds +fault with his officers, his food, his quarters, his clothing, his +pay, and even with himself. Nothing pleases him. He records big, +sonorous oaths about his idiocy in swearing away his liberty for a +term of years. But let the alarm of war sound, show him active +preparations for a scrimmage with the enemy, and the "regular" is +happy. This was the condition which prevailed at Chickamauga. The +men were full of enthusiasm and worked as hard as the proverbial +beavers. Drills once distasteful and shirked whenever possible +were gone through with alacrity and the "boy in blue" was a true +soldier, every inch of him. There was war in sight. + +LIFE AT CAMP THOMAS. + +On one point at least there was an accord of opinion in rank and +file--the camp was well named. "Camp George H. Thomas" they called +it, in memory of old "Pap," the hero of Chickamauga, and men and +officers alike took a very visible pride in being residents of the +tented city. The establishment of the community at Camp Thomas was +much like the establishment of a colony in an unsettled land, in +so far as domestic conveniences were concerned. Everything had to +be taken there, and each regiment, which was a small canvas town +in itself, had to depend entirely upon its own resources. Dotted +here and there throughout the entire expanse of the fifteen-mile +reservation, these cities of tents were seen, and the brave men +who lived in them depended upon themselves and each other for what +little entertainment they got. A description of the quarters of +one officer will serve for all. An "A," or wall tent, 10 by 12 +feet, and some of them a size smaller, was his house. On one side +a folding camp cot, with a thin yet comfortable mattress and an +abundance of heavy, woolen army blankets. A table about twenty +inches square, with legs that fold up into the smallest possible +space, stood near the door at the foot of the cot. A folding chair +or two for his visitors, a large valise or a very small trunk, a +bit of looking glass hanging from a tent pole, a tubular lantern, +or, if the tenant of the tent was not so fortunate as to possess +such a modern light, then a candle attached to a stick in the +ground beside his bed. Tie strings attached to the rear wall of +the tent afforded a hanging place for "his other shirt" and a pair +of extra shoes. His leggings and boots were on his feet, and his +belt, pistol and saber stood in a corner. A pad of writing paper, +pocket inkstand, a razor strop, unless he had foresworn shaving, a +briar or corn-cob pipe, and a bag of tobacco completed the +furnishings of his house. Commanding officers, at regimental +headquarters, had an extra roof, or "tent fly," as an awning in +front of their quarters, but otherwise lived as other officers +did. + +The enlisted men, quartered in the conical wall tents now adopted +by the army, bunked with heads to the wall and feet toward the +center, from nine to twelve in a tent Their bedding and blankets +were good and they were as comfortable as soldiers could hope to +be in the field. Some of the regiments from the remote Northwest +had the Sibley conical tent, which has no wall, but which has a +small sheet iron stove. These were more than appreciated during +the cold, rainy weather that prevailed at Camp Thomas. + +The mess tents and cookhouses are about alike in all the arms of +the service. The "cuddy-bunk" oven, made of sheet, iron, bakes +well and looks like two iron pans fastened together, one upon the +top of the other. Men detailed as cooks and waiters, or "kitchen +police," as they are denominated in the posts, attended to the +preparation and serving of the meals, and the soldiers lived well, +indeed. Field rations were used when in transit from point to +point, but when in camp the company or troop mess purchased fresh +meats, vegetables, eggs, fruits, etc., and lived high. + +RENDEZVOUS AT FORT TAMPA. + +Twenty-eight batteries of artillery, almost the entire complement +of this branch of the United States army, were in camp at Port +Tampa, Fla., awaiting orders to make a descent upon the Spanish +forces in Cuba. This great gathering of artillery was the feature +of the camp. Infantry and cavalry troops were held there also, and +their number increased every day, but it was in the artillery that +the civilian spectators took the most interest. This may be said +without disparagement of the "dough boys" and "hostlers," +notwithstanding the fact that there were some of Uncle Sam's most +famous fighters in both lines of service stationed at Tampa, among +them being the Ninth cavalry, and the Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, +Thirteenth and Twenty-fourth infantry. No cavalry regiment has a +finer record than the Ninth, the "buffalo" troopers, who gave the +Sioux and Apaches more fighting than they wanted, but Southern +people have no use for negro soldiers, and their laudations went +to the white artillerymen. + +No such aggregation of light and heavy artillery has been gathered +before at any one city in the United States, even in war time. + +Life in camp at Tampa was much the same as at Chickamauga, except +that the weather was much hotter. To offset this, however, the +boys had fine sea bathing, good opportunities for sailing parties, +and the best of fresh fish with which to leaven their rations of +salt horse and hardtack. It is astonishing how quickly a man +learns to forage and cook after joining the regular army. Three +months of service will transform the greenest of counter-jumpers +into an expert in the art of enticing chickens from their coops +and turning them into savory stews. One of the troopers of the +Ninth cavalry was called "Chickens," from his predilections in +this line. There were orders against foraging, of course; there +always are in friendly territory, but they never amount to much. +The officers knew they were disobeyed, but they winked the other +eye and said nothing. It is hinted that in this course may be +often found an explanation of the lavishness with which the +officers' mess is served. One night Major--was smoking a nightcap +cigar just outside his tent, when he caught sight of "Chickens" +stealing past in the shade of the trees. "Chickens" of course was +halted and asked why he was prowling around at that time of night. +Before the culprit could frame an excuse the Major noticed a +suspicious bulging of the front of the trooper's blouse, and an +uneasy, twisting motion within. It was plain to him that +"Chickens" had been foraging, and was getting back into quarters +with his plunder. + +"Been foraging, hey?" said the Major. "Don't you know it's against +orders?" + +"Chickens" stammered out a denial, when the Major, making a sudden +grab at the front of his blouse, tore it open, and out fell two +plump pullets. + +"Stealing hens, hey?" said the Major. "You'll go to the clink for +this." + +"Ah didn't dun steal 'em, Majah," said "Chickens," with brazen +effrontery. "Ah 'clar to goodness Ah didn't know dem pullets was +dar. Mus' have crawled into mah blous t' keep wahm, Majah." + +The reply tickled the veteran so much that he let "Chickens" pass, +and the next morning there was one officer at the post who had +stewed pullet for breakfast. + +One of the most famous regiments of infantry at Tampa was the +Thirteenth. It has the well-earned reputation of being a good +fighting body. Some of the most distinguished officers of the army +have been on its rolls in time past, among them Sherman and +Sheridan. The history of the Thirteenth goes back to May 14, 1861, +when President Lincoln directed its organization. The first +colonel was William T. Sherman, who re-entered the army after a +number of years engaged in banking and the practice of law. C. C. +Augur was one of the majors, and Philip H. Sheridan was a captain. +Sheridan joined the regiment in November, 1861, but was soon +appointed chief commissary and quartermaster to the Army of +Southwest Missouri, which practically severed his connection with +the regiment. + +In 1862 the first battalion of the regiment entered on active +service in the Mississippi valley. It engaged in the Yazoo +expedition under Sherman, who was by that time a major-general of +volunteers, and took part later in Grant's operations around +Vicksburg. The battalion won for its colors the proud inscription, +"First Honor at Vicksburg," and lost 43.3 per cent of its force in +the attack on the Confederates. Among the dead was its then +commander, who died on the parapet. Sherman's nine-year-old son, +Willie, who was with his father at Vicksburg, was playfully +christened a "sergeant" of the Thirteenth battalion, and his death +of fever in October, 1863, called forth a sorrowful letter from +General Sherman to the commander of the Thirteenth. "Please convey +to the battalion my heartfelt thanks," he wrote, "and assure each +and all that if in after years they call on me or mine, and +mention that they were of the Thirteenth regulars when Willie was +a sergeant, they will have a key to the affections of my family +that will open all it has; that we will share with them our last +blanket, our last crust!" + +After the war the regiment was transferred to the West. It was +employed in Kansas, Montana, Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and elsewhere +until 1874, for a large part of the time serving almost +continuously against hostile Indians. In 1874 it was moved to New +Orleans, and was engaged on duty in the Department of the South +for six years. During the labor riots of 1877 all but two +companies were on duty at Pittsburg, Scranton, Wilkesbarre and +other points in Pennsylvania. Then back to the West it went again, +and, with some slight vacations, remained on the frontier until +October, 1894, when it was transferred to various posts in New +York State. + + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS TERMINATE. + +Grave Responsibilities Bravely Met--The Ultimatum to Spain--The +Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Sends Minister Woodford His +Transports--Our Consuls in Cuba Leave the Island--Fate of +Americans Left Behind--Spanish Spies at Work--Playing a Desperate +Game. + + +None but those who were close to the men at the head of our +Government just prior to the commencement of the war with Spain +can realize with what solicitude they watched the development of +the preliminary proceedings. + +With full appreciation of their grave responsibilities, knowing +the power inherent in their positions to effect results, and yet +cognizant as the days went by of their inability to prevent the +fulfillment of fate, they endeavored to guide events so far as +they could in a course which will hold them and the people +blameless in the sight of the world for whatever might follow. +That they withstood the strain so well bears testimony to their +mental poise and strength of character. + +The President's demeanor underwent a noticeable change. The +affable, cheery mood which formerly characterized him, gave way to +a sternness of manner which befits a humane but just judge called +upon to execute a righteous sentence. A curious illustration of +Mr. McKinley's temperament was shown in the difference in his +bearing after the passage of the resolutions which made war +inevitable. So long as there was the slightest chance for peace +the pressure of uncertainty bore heavily upon him, and his face +assumed a wan and haggard look. That look did not entirely +disappear, but it was no longer marked by anxiety. From the moment +the decision was reached which imposed upon him the leadership of +a nation at war, he seemed to have experienced a sense of relief, +for he saw his pathway straight before him, no matter how rough it +might be. + +Immediately after signing the resolutions declaring for +intervention by our Government, the President sent an ultimatum to +Spain, quoting the act of Congress, and notifying her that her +army and navy must be withdrawn from Cuba by noon of April 23. + +The Spanish Minister, Polo y Bernabe, at once applied for his +passports, and left the country. The Spanish Government, without +waiting for Minister Woodford to deliver the ultimatum of the +United States Government, sent him his transports, thus taking the +initiative and practically declaring war against this government. +The official notification to General Woodford, from the Spanish +Minister of Foreign Affairs, was as follows: + +Dear Sir: + +In compliance with a painful duty, I have the honor to inform you +that there has been sanctioned by the President of the Republic a +resolution of both chambers of the United States which denies the +legitimate sovereignty of Spain, and threatens immediate armed +intervention in Cuba, which is equivalent to a declaration of war. + +The Government of Her Majesty has ordered her Minister at +Washington to retire without loss of time from the territory of +North America with all of the personality of the Legation. By this +act the diplomatic relations which formerly existed between the +two countries, and all official communications between their +respective representatives cease. I am obliged to inform you, so +that on your part you can make such arrangements as you believe +convenient. + +I beg that at a suitable time Your Excellency will acknowledge +receipt of this and take this opportunity to reiterate the +assurance of my most distinguished consideration. + +PIO GULLON. + +General Woodford then turned over the Legation to the care of the +British Government, and ordered all American Consuls in Spain to +cease their offices and leave the country at once. He then made +his own preparations to leave and started for Paris without delay. + +CONSULS IN CUBA LEAVE THE ISLAND. + +Anticipating the action taken by Congress, a peculiar form of +notice had been agreed upon between Consul-General Lee and the +Consuls some weeks previously. The telegram notifying them to +leave the island was to be in these words: "Appropriation for +relief of American citizens is exhausted." This form was devised +for a reason which had its bearing upon the unhappy fate of the +Americans left on the island. Spaniards of the vindictive class +never got over the action of the United States in undertaking the +support of its citizens in Cuba. That action was in striking +contrast "with the course of the Spanish Government. The Spaniards +lost no opportunity to show their resentment toward the Americans. +When local measures of relief were planned, the Americans were +taunted, and told to look to the United States for help and +protection. The charity extended by the United States brought upon +the beneficiaries persecution at the hands of the Spaniards. +General Lee, realizing the strength of this unworthy sentiment, +thought that a message in the language quoted would be so grateful +to Spanish eyes that it would be put through to the Consuls +without delay. He was right about that. The government attempted +to make provision for the removal of the Americans on the island +at the same time that the Consuls were notified to withdraw. +Results showed that only a comparatively small number availed +themselves of the opportunities to go. A ship made its way along +the south coast of Cuba and removed from Santiago, Manzanillo and +Cienfuegos between 200 and 300 refugees, conveying them to +Jamaica. This was hardly one-half. From the northern coast the +number taken off the island was much smaller. At Havana there were +on the rolls of the Consulate over 600 Americans, of whom perhaps +200 elected to take passage on the ships sent by the United +States. At Matanzas, Consul Brice had about 400 Americans. Consul +Barker, at Sagua, had about the same number, while Consul Hance, +at Cardenas, had about 100. Very few of these wanted to leave +their interests and relatives. All of them were utterly destitute. +They did not know what they could do if they landed in the United +States without friends. Many of them were Cubans, who had lived in +the United States only long enough to obtain American citizenship. +All their ties were in Cuba. They believed that the warships would +come quickly with provisions. And so they chose to stay. When the +Consuls left they put food enough in the possession of these +Americans to last them from ten days to two weeks. The fate of +these unfortunates can only be imagined. From the prejudice which +existed toward the American reconcentrados the Consuls know that +they would be the last to receive any consideration when the +blockade began to bear heavily. + +SPANISH SPIES AT WORK. + +Just prior to the breaking out of actual hostilities between this +country and Spain the military attache of the Spanish legation at +Washington was compelled to leave this country, because it was +known he had been seeking to learn certain facts relative to the +strength of our forts and their defensive equipment. This man was +Lieutenant Sobral, and in plain and uncompromising English, he was +a spy, or member of the Spanish secret service, which implies the +same thing. + +Before he left this country he had been ejected from several forts +along the South Atlantic coast, where he had been found +endeavoring to gain access to those mysteries which no man, unless +he wears the blue of the United States army, can righteously know +aught of, even in times of peace. This was the first intimation +this country had that Spain would introduce here the same system +of espionage she employs at home. Following Sobrap's expulsion +from the country came the knowledge that Spanish spies were +working in Washington, watching every move made there; that they +swarmed in Key West and in New York city, where they maintained a +strict surveillance over the members of the Cuban Junta. + +Many of these spies were American citizens, or at least nominally +so, for their work was done under the direction of a well-known +detective agency, acting, of course, with the Spanish +representatives here. These men were principally engaged in +preventing the shipment of stores and arms to Cuba. At one time it +was impossible to enter or leave the building where the Junta had +its headquarters without observing one or more men hanging about +the place, apparently with nothing to do and making a vain effort +to do it as gracefully as possible. These were thrilling times in +the annals of the Junta, when Rubens, Palma and Captain O'Brien +were regularly followed to and from their homes to their +headquarters. These were good times, too, for the American +detective agency. But all this was mere clumsy work, more of an +annoyance than anything else, and scarcely any hindrance to the +shipping of arms and stores when the Junta was fortunate enough to +have the arms and stores to ship. + +But after the declaration of war, the spy question assumed an +aspect as serious as it was unlocked for. Spain worked silently, +secretly and through one of the best-handled branches of her +government and with all the Latins' natural love of intrigue. She +no longer paid much heed to Palma or Rubens, or to Captain +O'Brien. She was playing a bigger game. American detectives no +longer represented her interests here--an impossibility under +existing conditions, of course. Under Polo was established a most +complete department of espionage, which he controlled from the +refuge Canada offered him. + +The gathering together of information and those facts which +usually concern the operation of secret service of civilized +countries seemed to be a side issue with this particular +department. The scope of its operations was along different lines +from those usually followed by the mere spy. + +Polo's intention appeared to be to carry the war into America in a +new and startling manner--startling, because his movements could +not be seen or foretold until the blow was struck. He made use of +the corps under his control to place the bomb of the anarchist and +apply the torch of the incendiary under our arsenals and to those +buildings where the government stored its supplies for the army +and navy. + +For a time he was successful in his cowardly scheming and his +emissaries celebrated his success with many tons of good American +gunpowder, and at the cost of some good American lives. Bombs were +found in the coal reserved for use aboard our men-of-war. They +were even taken from the coal bunkers of our ships and they were +found in certain of the government buildings at Washington. +Indeed, the situation became so serious that finally strangers +were not allowed to visit a man-of-war or enter a fort. + +It must be remembered that there are in America thousands of +Spaniards who, unless they commit some overt act of violence, can +enjoy all the privileges accorded to a citizen. This, together +with our mixed population, in many quarters made up largely of the +peoples of Southern Europe, all more or less of one type, all +speaking languages which, to untrained ears at least, are almost +identical one with the other, gave the Spanish spy in America a +protection and freedom from suspicion and surveillance he would +hardly meet with in any other country, and which, by the inverse, +offered no opportunity for the American spy in Spain, had we +chosen to make use of the same methods. + +PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME. + +These Spaniards were playing a desperate game, however. It was +literally at the peril of their necks, for should a man be +apprehended, there would be no possibility of escaping the +ignominious death that usually awaits on such services. Sobral was +allowed to go, though there was no question but that his conduct +was so incriminating that he was liable to arrest, trial, and, if +convicted, death, had this country cared to hold him. His fate +abroad would be easy to foretell. His guilt was almost as great as +that which brought Major Andre to his death in the times of the +Revolution. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +FIRST GUNS AND FIRST PRIZES OF THE WAR. + +Capture of the LaFayette--The Government Orders Her Release-- +Towing Prizes Into Key West--The Spanish Set a Trap--The Vicksburg +and the Morrill Take the Bait--The Spanish Gunners Poor Marksmen-- +Another Narrow Escape. + + +Shortly after the proclamation of the blockade of Cuban ports a +capture was made which threatened international complications. The +French mail steamer LaFayette was held up almost under the guns of +Morro Castle. + +The Annapolis hailed her in the harbor offing and receiving no +answer but a show of the French tricolor plumped a six-pounder +across her bows and brought her up standing. + +PRAYERS AND TEARS IN STATEROOMS. + +Of the 161 cabin passengers on the steamer eighty were women and +children. They locked themselves in the staterooms when the +warning shot was fired and the Annapolis and Wilmington +approached, and gave themselves up to prayers and tears. + +Most of the passengers were Spaniards or Cubans, and there were a +few Mexicans. Nearly all were bound for Havana. + +The steamer was filled to the hatches with medicines, provisions, +wines and cotton goods consigned to merchants in Havana and Vera +Cruz, Mexico. It is estimated that the value of the ship's cargo +was nearly $500,000. Her net tonnage is 4,000 tons. She hails from +Santander, France, and cleared from Corunna, Spain, April 23, two +days after the President issued the blockade proclamation, +although Captain Lechapelane declared he was not notified. + +As soon as official notice of her capture reached Washington +telegrams were sent ordering immediate release. + +The explanation for this action on the part of the administration +is given in the statement which follows and which was issued from +the White House: + +"The LaFayette was released in pursuance of orders which were +issued by the Navy Department previous to her seizure, but which +had not been received by the commanding officers of the vessels +that made the capture. The facts are that on April 29 the French +Embassy made an informal inquiry as to whether the LaFayette, +which left Saint Nazaire, France, for Vera Cruz, by way of Havana, +before war was declared or information of the blockade was +received, would be allowed to land at Havana certain passengers, +her mail bags and the dispatch bag of the Consulate-General of +France and take some French passengers on board. An assurance was +given that, if this privilege should be granted, the steamer would +be forbidden by the French Consul to land goods. + +"The matter was duly considered and it was decided that, without +regard to the strict law of blockade and as an act of courtesy, +the request of the French Government should be acceded to. Orders +were accordingly sent on the 2d of May. When information was +received of the capture of the steamer and of her having been +brought to Key West, these orders were communicated to the +captors, with instructions to release the steamer and see that the +orders were duly delivered, so that they might be carried into +effect. No demand was made, either by or on behalf of the French +Government, directly or indirectly, for the steamer's release. The +Wilmington will escort the LaFayette to Havana to-night." + +On May 8th the British tramp steamer Strathdee, Captain Currie, +attempted to run the blockade, but was overhauled by the gunboat +Machias. The Captain of the Strathdee claimed that the vessel was +loaded with sugar and that he had on board a number of Spanish +refugees from Sagua la Grande. He also said that the steamer was +bound for Matanzas, where it was desired to disembark some of the +refugees. The commander of the Machias was skeptical of the story, +however, and warned the Captain of the Strathdee that if he +attempted to take the vessel into Matanzas she would be fired on, +whereupon the Strathdee put about and steamed away in the +direction of New York. + +THREE SMALL PRIZES TOWED INTO KEY WEST. + +Three prizes were brought in May 9th. They were the brigantine +Lorenzo, taken by the Montgomery near Havana, on Friday, while +bound for Rio de la Plata with a cargo of dried beef. + +The Espana, a little fishing sloop, was taken by the Morrill about +three miles off Mariel just after a sharp engagement. The Newport +was close at hand at the time, and a prize crew made up from both +ships brought the capture in. + +The third vessel taken was the schooner Padre de Dios, Master +Mateo Herrera, laden with fish. It was taken by the Newport off +Mariel, and was brought in by a petty officer and a prize crew. +All three accepted one blank shot apiece as sufficient. + +MAKING HER PRIZE WORK AS TOWBOAT. + +One captive was seen taking another to port on the morning of May +9th. Both are prizes of the gunboat Newport, and were captured +between Mariel and Havana. + +It was about sunrise, just after an inexplicable shot had been fired +from a Havana battery, that a dispatch boat off Morro Castle sighted the +Newport with a big Norwegian tramp steamer, the Bratsberg, following +obediently. Suddenly the Newport's stack blew clouds of black smoke, +and, looking for the cause, a pretty two-masted schooner was seen, her +sails wing and wing, flying from the northwest for Havana. + +A blank shot sounded over the waters. The schooner stood no +chance, but she kept her course until a solid six-pounder from the +Newport skimmed across to her, and dropped ahead of the bowsprit. +Then she dropped her jib and came about quickly, sailing toward +the warship, as one has seen a dog run to his master at the snap +of a lash. She was the Fernandito, avaricious of the bounty +Captain-General Blanco offered for fish delivered to hungry +Havana. A line was put aboard her, and the Bratsberg was compelled +to take the other end and go to Key West. + +The Spanish set a trap one day during the blockade. The wily +Spaniards arranged a trap to send a couple of our ships to the +bottom. A small schooner was sent out from Havana harbor to draw +some of the Americans into the ambuscade. The ruse worked like a +charm. The Vicksburg and the Morrill, in the heat of the chase and +in their contempt for Spanish gunnery, walked straight into the +trap that had been set for them. Had the Spaniards possessed their +souls in patience but five minutes longer, not even their bad gun +practice would have saved our ships, and two more of our vessels +would lie at the bottom within two lengths of the wreck of the +ill-starred Maine. + +Friday evening the Vicksburg and the Morrill, cruising to the west +of Morro Castle, were fired on by the big guns of the Cojimar +batteries. Two shots were fired at the Vicksburg and one at the +Morrill. Both fell short, and both vessels, without returning the +fire, steamed out of range. It would have been folly to have done +otherwise. But this time the Spaniards had better luck. The +schooner they had sent out before daylight ran off to the +eastward, hugging the shore, with the wind on her starboard +quarter. About three miles east of the entrance to the harbor she +came over on the port tack. A light haze fringed the horizon and +she was not discovered until three miles off shore, when the +Mayflower made her out and signaled the Morrill and Vicksburg. + +THEY TAKE THE BAIT. + +Captain Smith, of the Morrill, and Commander Lilly, of the Vicksburg, +immediately slapped on all steam and started in pursuit. The schooner +instantly put about and ran for Morro Castle before the wind. By doing +so she would, according to the well-conceived Spanish plot, lead the two +American warships directly under the guns of the Santa Clara batteries. +These works are a short mile west of Morro, and are a part of the +defenses of the harbor. There are two batteries, one at the shore, which +has been recently thrown up, of sand and mortar, with wide embrasures +for eight-inch guns, and the other on the crest of the rocky eminence +which juts out into the water of the gulf at the point. + +The upper battery mounts modern 10-inch and 12-inch Krupp guns +behind a six-foot stone parapet, in front of which are twenty feet +of earthwork and a belting of railroad iron. This battery is +considered the most formidable of Havana's defenses except Morro +Castle. It is masked and has not been absolutely located by the +American warships. It is probably due to the fact that the Spanish +did not desire to expose its position that the Vicksburg and +Morrill are now afloat. + +The Morrill and Vicksburg were about six miles from the schooner +when the chase began. They steamed after her at full speed, the +Morrill leading until within a mile and a half of the Santa Clara +batteries. Commander Smith, of the Vicksburg, was the first to +realize the danger into which the reckless pursuit had led them. +He concluded it was time to haul off and sent a shot across the +bow of the schooner. + +NEARLY HIT BY SHRAPNEL SHELLS. + +The Spanish skipper instantly brought his vessel about, but while +she was still rolling in the trough of the sea, with her sails +flapping, an 8-inch shrapnel shell came hurtling through the air +from the water battery, a mile and a half away. It passed over the +Morrill between the pilothouse and the smokestack and exploded +less than fifty feet on the port quarter. The small shot rattled +against her side. It was a close call. + +Two more shots followed in quick succession, both shrapnel. One +burst close under the starboard quarter, filling the engine room +with the smoke of the explosion of the shell, and the other, like +the first, passed over and exploded just beyond. + +The Spanish gunners had the range and their time fuses were +accurately set. The crews of both ships were at their guns. +Lieutenant Craig, who was in charge of the bow 4-inch rapid-fire +gun of the Morrill, asked for and obtained permission to return +the fire. At the first shot the Vicksburg, which was in the wake +of the Morrill, slightly in-shore, sheered off and passed to +windward under the Morrill's stern. + +ANOTHER NARROW ESCAPE. + +In the meantime, Captain Smith also put his helm to port, and was +none too soon, for as the Morrill stood off a solid 8-inch shot +grazed her starboard quarter and kicked up tons of water as it +struck a wave 100 yards beyond. Captain Smith said afterward that +this was undoubtedly an 8-inch armor piercing projectile, and that +it would have passed through the Morrill's boilers had he not +changed his course in the nick of time. + +All the guns of the water battery were now at work. One of them +cut the Jacob's ladder of the Vicksburg adrift, and another +carried away a portion of the rigging. As the Morrill and the +Vicksburg steamed away their aft guns were used, but only a few +shots were fired. The Morrill's 6-inch gun was elevated for 4,000 +yards and struck the earth-works repeatedly. The Vicksburg fired +but three shots from her 6-pounder. + +The Spaniards continued to fire shot and shell for twenty minutes, +but the shots were ineffective. Some of them were so wild that +they roused the American "Jackies" to jeers. The Spaniards only +ceased firing when the Morrill and Vicksburg were completely out +of range. + +If all the Spanish gunners had been suffering from strabismus +their practice could not have been worse. But the officers of both +the Morrill and Vicksburg frankly admit their own recklessness and +the narrow escape of their vessels from destruction. They are +firmly convinced that the pursuit of the schooner was a neatly +planned trick, which almost proved successful. + +If any one of the shots had struck the thin skin of either vessel +it would have offered no more resistance than a piece of paper to +a rifle ball. + +The accurate range of the first few shots is accounted for by the +fact that the Spanish officers had ample time to make +observations. The bearings of the two vessels were probably taken +with a range-finder at the Santa Clara battery, and, as this +battery is probably connected by wire with Morro, they were able +to take bearings from both points, and by laborious calculations +they fixed the positions of the vessels pretty accurately. With +such opportunity for observation it would have been no great trick +for an American gunner to drop a shell down the smokestack of a +vessel. + +As soon as the ships sheered off after the first fire, the Spanish +gunners lost the range and their practice became ludicrous. If +they had waited five minutes longer before opening fire, Captain +Smith says it would have been well-nigh impossible to have missed +the target. + +Prior to the invasion of Cuba by our army large stores of arms and +ammunition were sent to the insurgents. One of the most notable of +these expeditions was made by the tug Leyden, which carried 50,000 +rounds of rifle cartridges and two chests of dynamite. She left +Key West with Colonel Acosta and some twenty-five other Cubans on +board, who were to join General Gomez in Santa Clara Province. The +tug reached the Cuban coast and after landing her passengers in +safety steamed to a point seventeen miles west of Havana, where +she was met by General Perico Delgado with about 100 Cubans on the +beach. The Leyden's crew began landing the ammunition, when a +small body of Spanish cavalry appeared some little distance back +from the shore, and, dismounting, began firing upon the Leyden. +Several bullets had penetrated the tug's smoke-stack, when the +boat drew off the shore some three miles, where it met the gunboat +Wilmington. + +Returning under the protection of the gunboat, the Leyden again +began landing its cargo. The Spaniards soon returned, and, +ignoring a lively fusillade from Degaldo's insurgents, resumed +their attack on the Leyden. The Wilmington, which had taken up a +position further off shore, sent a three-pound shell into the +midst of the cavalry, wounding several of them and putting them to +flight. The Leyden then finished the work of landing the +ammunition, and returned to Key West. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +DECLARATION OF WAR. + +The Spanish Minister in Washington Demands His Passports-- +Minister Woodford Leaves Madrid--Formal Declaration of War--Our +Government Declares Its Intentions--The War Feeling in Spain-- +Effect of the Declaration in Cuba--Opinion of the Vice-President +of the Cuban Republic. + + +Spain was given until Saturday, April 23, at noon, to answer the +demand of our government expressed in, the joint Cuban +resolutions, passed by both Houses of Congress, and signed by the +President. In default of an answer by that time, the President +declared his intention to carry out the purpose of the ultimatum. +A copy of this ultimatum was delivered to Senor Polo, the Spanish +Minister at Washington. Senor Polo instantly demanded his +passports, declared all diplomatic relations between himself as +Minister and the United States no longer possible, and within a +few hours was on his way to Canada. + +At Madrid, before our Minister could comply with his instructions, +he was notified by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs that +diplomatic relations were at an end. He at once asked for his +passports, and the same day left for Paris. + +President McKinley rightly regarded the conduct of Spain in +breaking off diplomatic intercourse and refusing even to receive +his demand, as an equivalent to an absolute refusal. There +remained no reason to await action till Saturday noon, as no +possible reply could be expected to a demand the very presentation +of which had been positively rejected. In short, Spain instantly +showed that it regarded the act of Congress and President as +practically a declaration of war, and there remained no resort +except to arms. + +On Monday, April 25, the President sent to Congress a message +asking for a joint resolution declaring that a state of war +existed between Spain and the United States, and a bill was at +once introduced into the House declaring that war did exist, and +had existed, since and including April 21, which passed in less +than two minutes. The Senate promptly concurred and the bill +became a law. + +While the United States was not a party to the Declaration of +Paris, the government made known its intention to maintain its +four cardinal principles: (1) Privateering abolished. (2) Neutral +flags to exempt an enemy's goods from capture, except contraband +of war. (3) Neutral goods under an enemy's flag not to be seized +(4) Blockade to be binding must be effective. Spain, on her part, +issued a decree recognizing the fact that a state of war existed, +breaking off all treaties with the United States, and promising to +observe the rules just given, except that she maintained her right +to grant letters of marque to privateers. But this exception was +modified by Spain's declaring her intention to send out only +auxiliary cruisers taken from the mercantile marine and kept under +naval control. One consideration which may have influenced this +decision was the self-evident fact that the European Powers would +certainly interfere, in the event that Spain attempted to carry on +privateering under the old methods. + +THE WAR FEELING IN SPAIN. + +In Spain the war feeling was high. The Queen Regent, in her +speech to the Cortes, declared "the unalterable resolution of my +government to defend our rights, whatsoever sacrifices may be +imposed upon us in accomplishing this task." She said further: + +"Thus identifying myself with the nation, I not only fulfil the +oath I swore in accepting the regency, but I follow the dictates +of a mother's heart, trusting to the Spanish people to gather +behind my son's throne and to defend it until he is old enough to +defend it himself, as well as trusting to the Spanish people to +defend the honor and territory of the nation." + +THE POLICY OF THE ADMINISTRATION. + +The President and Congress undoubtedly acted on the lines of good +policy in making a formal declaration of war. As Mr. McKinley said +in his message to Congress, the trend of events compelled him to +take measures of a hostile kind. A blockade had been established +and Spanish vessels had been captured. While every civilized power +on earth immediately learned the facts, there still remained the +necessity of going through the formal act of notifying them of +this government's intentions. In this instance, as in others in +the nation's history, the actual hostilities were begun before it +seemed necessary for the government to make a formal declaration. +According to the authorities on international law, "a declaration +may be necessary, but is not essential." In this case, when it +became so evident that a general conflict was imminent, the +administration did fairly by the commercial nations of the world +in formally stating its position, and giving them all warning as +to the consequences which might follow in the case of vessels +attempting to enter Cuban waters. + +The resolutions were admirably brief and concise, merely declaring +the existence of a state of war, and authorizing the President to +do whatever he thought best with the army and the navy. + +By this act, while the situation was in itself no way changed, the +nation assumed a definite diplomatic status as a power at war, and +was free to proceed to any such acts as came within the laws of +civilized nations in time of war. + +EFFECT OF THE DECLARATION IN CUBA. + +When the news of the action of the administration reached the +insurgents in Cuba it caused great rejoicing among them, for they +felt that the hour of their deliverance was at last at hand. In +speaking of it, Dr. Capote, Vice-President of the Cuban Republic, +said: + +I desire to thank the great American people and their government +for the resolution they have made to free us from the tyrannical +rule of Spain. The people of Cuba believe in the good faith of the +people of America. They believe in their honesty of purpose to +free Cuba and are confident of their ability to do so; but it must +be borne in mind that the loadstar of the Cuban is not merely +freedom from the dominion of Spain, but independence from outside +control, however beneficent that control might be, and absolute +non-interference by others in the management of our own affairs. +"Cuba free and independent" is the watchword of Cuban liberty. + +The Cuban commanders await some decisive step on the part of your +generals. If you can open up and maintain communication with the +Cuban armies, and give us a plentiful supply of arms and +ammunition, we will free Cuba without the loss of an American +soldier. Our position on the field is precarious. For lack of +supplies, we cannot concentrate our troops. Our camps shift from +place to place, according to food conditions. We are hampered and +embarrassed for lack of ammunition. We cannot arm the men we are +able to put in the field. Open up communication, give us arms and +supplies, and we ask no more. + +As to the eventual settlement of the island, when the war is ended +and when the last Spanish soldier has left Cuba, the work of the +provisional government will be ended. The people of Cuba, whatever +the class or sympathy, will then say how we shall be governed. +There will be no reprisals, no confiscation, no distinctions. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +CALL FOR THE NATIONAL GUARD, OUR CITIZEN SOLDIER. + +Enthusiastic Answer to the Call--Requirements of the War +Department--Who May Enlist--How the Army was Formed--In the +Training Camps--The American Makes the Best Soldier--The "Rough +Riders"--Cowboys and Society Men--Their Uniforms and Their +Weapons--Their Fighting Leaders. + + +If all the men who showed a desire to answer the call to arms had +been accepted, no nation in the world could have boasted of a +larger army. The demand was so limited and the supply so great +that many more had to be refused than were accepted, and many of +the National Guard, who were given the preference in all the +States, were rejected at the final examination, because they +lacked some of the qualifications necessary in a soldier of the +United States. + +According to the requirements of the war department applicants for +enlistment must be between the ages of 18 and 35 years, of good +character and habits, able-bodied, free from disease and must be +able to speak the English language. If one is addicted to the bad +habit of smoking cigarettes it is quite likely that he will not +pass the physical examination. A man who has been a heavy drinker +is apt to be rejected without ceremony. + +Married men will only be enlisted upon the approval of the +regimental commander. + +Minors must not be enlisted without the written consent of father, +only surviving parent, or legally appointed guardian. Original +enlistment will be confined to persons who are citizens of the +United States or who have made legal declaration of their +intention to become citizens thereof. + +These requirements fulfilled a man is permitted to take the +physical examination. Few understand just how rigid this +examination is. Many have been rejected who thought that they were +in perfect physical condition. A number of applicants who were +confident that they would be allowed to enlist were rejected by +the physicians on account of varicose veins. Varicose veins are +enlarged veins which are apt to burst under the stress of long +continued exertion. Closely allied to this is varicocele, which +threw out a surprisingly large proportion of the National Guard +and the recruits. + +After a man is weighed and his height taken, he is turned over to +the doctor, who places the applicant's hands above his head and +proceeds to feel his flesh. If it is soft and of flabby fiber the +physician is not well pleased and if he finds that the bones are +too delicate for the amount of flesh he turns the applicant down. +Fat men, however, get through if their bones are solid and there +is no organic weakness of any description. To discover the +condition of the heart the applicant is made to hop about five +yards on one foot and back again on the other. The doctor then +listens to the beating of the heart. He lifts his head and says to +some apparently fine-looking specimen of manhood the simple word: + +"Rejected." + +This man has heart trouble, and, strange to say, he does not know +it. If a man be of a pale complexion or rather sallow, the doctors +will question him with regard to his stomach. Of course the lungs +are thoroughly tested. It is not often, however, that any one +presents himself who is suffering from lung trouble. One man in +particular was rejected because of the formation of his chest. He +was what is commonly known as "pigeon-breasted." The doctors said +that there was not enough room for air in the lungs, and yet the +rejected applicant was a well-known athlete. + +But after all organic centers have been found in excellent +condition several things yet remain to be tested. A man's feet +must not blister easily. His teeth must be good, because bad teeth +interfere with digestion and are apt to develop stomach troubles. +Of course other things taken into consideration a particular +defect may be overlooked according to the discretion of the +doctor. A man with his index finger gone stands no show. + +A bow-legged man will be accepted, but a knocked-kneed man rarely. + +The final test is of the eyes. At a, distance of twenty feet one +must be able to read letters a half inch in size. Many tricks were +played to read the letters when the eager candidate could see only +a blur before him. The favorite method was to memorize the letters +from those who had taken the examination and knew in just what +order the letters were situated. + +HOW AN ARMY IS FORMED. + +The making of an army--that is what it means to turn men of peace +to men of war, to fit the mechanic or the business man, the farmer +or the miner, for a passage at arms with a foreign foe--has been +for the present generation a matter of conjecture and of lessons +drawn from previous passages in the nation's chronicles. In our +war with Spain it became a fact, and the progress made in the +various stages forms a chapter in the public history which is as +interesting as any of those conquests of either peace or war which +brighten for every American the pages of the achievements of the +Union of the States. + +It is impossible to tell just how an army is made. During the long +debates which preceded the declaration of war, eloquent men on +both sides of the chambers of Congress pictured the strength of +American arms, the shrillness of the scream of the eagle, and the +sharpness of his talons, and applauding galleries saw in the +coming combat little but the calling out of the vast body of the +reserve strength of the American people, its marching upon the +enemy, and return, bearing captured standards and leading +prisoners in chains, to the music of the applauding nations, and +the thanksgiving of a people made free by their struggles. The +other side was never touched. The nights of toil by staff +officers, the multiplied forces of mills and factories, the shriek +of the trains crossing the continent, bearing men and munitions, +and the hours of waiting for the completion of those warlike +implements which the peaceful American has never before +contemplated in the expansion of his industrial institutions, were +entirely overlooked. + +Not by all, however, for, from the moment the conflict seemed +inevitable, stern-eyed men who had fought before began to count, +not the cost, but the hours between the giving of an order and its +fulfillment, between the calling and the coming, and finally when +the results of their labors were completed the story of what they +did may be partly told. + +All the processes of making a soldier are as distinct as are those +which mark the seed time and the harvest, the milling and the +making of the loaf. It can be readily seen that in a country where +the standing army is but 25,000, and the militia forces of the +various States bears such a slight proportion to the population, +that manufactures of materials of use only in time of war could +not flourish. Thus it was that at the time of the commencement of +hostilities there was available in the United States equipment for +an army of less than one-fifth the size of that which afterwards +took the field, and patriotism and fidelity were shown as much in +the outfitting of that force, as can be shown in actual battle by +any volunteer or regular officer, whether he be posted in fort or +field, and win glory by brilliant dash, or simply doing his duty +by holding his post. + +The ready response to the President's call for volunteers was +sufficient to prove that the people were eager to take up arms and +ready to go to the front. But enthusiasm, patriotism and readiness +never make an army. An army is a great machine, of which each +individual is a part, and there even the militia men of the +various States, who had spent so much time in preparing themselves +for just such a struggle, lacked the one great element without +which no army can hope for success: the capacity to move in +unison. Few of the States had given their men the training which +makes of the simple company or regiment a wheel in the brigade or +division. + +In the great camps at Chickamauga, at Camp Alger, at Tampa, and at +San Francisco the task of making an army from men who a month +before had been working in the store, the mill or the field, went +on. This meant long, thorough drilling under competent +instructors. Careful study of the tactics and intelligent +comprehension of the meaning of an order makes the soldier. It is +not possible to imagine anything more difficult than the thorough +training of the arms bearer, and for this task the American seems +better fitted than the men of any other country. In an analysis of +the soldiers of the world an authority would place the American, +combining as he does the blood of nations, at the head of the +list, for the reason that with his finer sensibility, his greater +capacity to think while acting and to act while thinking, all tend +to produce in him that character capable of high and perfect +development in the soldier. + +At Chickamauga, under General Wade; at Washington, under General +Graham; at Tampa, under General Shafter; at San Francisco, under +General Merriam, and on the New York and New England coasts under +brigadiers who had served East and West, the raw material was +formed, until at length the perfect soldier was produced, the +soldier of whom it could be said: + + "Theirs not to reason why, + Theirs but to do and die." + +ABOUT THE ROUGH RIDERS. + +Those who are acquainted with the nature of the service usually +required of cavalry in time of war will not question the +usefulness of the cowboy regiment--rough riders as they are +called--that were raised in the West to take part in the invasion +of Cuba. + +The cowboy is a rapidly passing type. Barbed wire, the fencing in +of the range, together with the irrigation and cultivation of +those regions which were once marked as deserts on the maps--have +been responsible for his undoing and he has made what may prove to +be his last stand, as a soldier. + +The cowboy regiment was the idea of the assistant secretary of the +navy, Theodore Roosevelt, who had had some experience himself as a +cowboy on his Wyoming ranch and who was an expert in such matters +as branding, rope-throwing, broncho breaking and those other +practices which are peculiar to the "cow-puncher." + +Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt's regiment, which figures on the army +records as the "1st regiment of rifle rangers," but which the +general public from the first preferred to call "Roosevelt's rough +riders," or more simply still, "Teddy's terrors," was made up +almost entirely of cowboys, with a small sprinkling of society +men, who had both a fondness and an aptitude for horsemanship, +which had found no other outlet than that offered by the hunting +field and the polo ground. + +MADE UP ALMOST ENTIRELY OF COWBOYS. + +In organization the regiment was not widely different from the +famous Texas Rangers, but the uniform was the same as that of the +cavalrymen of the regular army, slightly modified. Its personnel, +with the exception of the millionaire members--was about the same, +however, as that of the Rangers. It included men from almost every +State in the Union, and they could one and all ride well, and +shoot well, and many of them smelled powder in more than one +Indian war. + +While Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt took the most active part in +its formation, he did not command the regiment. That +responsibility was delegated to Colonel Wood, who was almost as +well known in the West as Roosevelt was in the East. He entered +the army as a surgeon, but he probably had much more to do with +the making of wounds than their healing. + +It is said of him that when he was first assigned for duty to an +Arizona post he arrived at the post one night at 7 o'clock, and +the next morning at 4 was in the field and at work. This was +during the Apache campaign in 1885, and Surgeon Wood soon won for +himself the name of the fighting doctor. He was conspicuous in the +famous Geronimo outbreak, having command at various times of the +infantry and scouts engaged in the chase after that wily savage. + +The regiment was armed with the Krag-Jorgensen carbine and +revolvers, without which no cowboy would be complete even in time +of peace. And instead of the regular cavalry sword, which is a +rather unwieldy instrument except in the hands of men trained to +its use, the rough riders adopted the Cuban machete, which even +the inexperienced can use successfully; but it was not intended +that they should be swordsmen; their reliance was on the rifle and +revolver. The machete was carried merely as a possible dependence +should ammunition fail, or a hand-to-hand encounter with the +cavalry of the enemy occur. In the development of this plan of +action it can be seen that Colonel Wood and Lieutenent-Colonel +Roosevelt in the tactics they employed followed closely those used +by the mounted riflemen of the revolution. It was a band of this +sort that after a ride of sixty miles the last day met and utterly +routed the English under Colonel Ferguson. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +BLOCKADE OF CUBAN PORTS. + +Contraband of War--Confiscation of Cargoes--Establishment of a +Blockade--Notice to Other Nations--Prizes, Lawful and Unlawful-- +Privateering Abolished--Distribution of Prize Money--The Use the +Government Makes of Its Share. + + +While the great blockade was in progress the air was full of talk +about "prizes," "contraband," "search," and "seizure," and some of +the terms proved rather puzzling to the average citizen who had +never had occasion to study the rules of war. + +First about "contraband." It is one of the strictest rules of war +that neutral nations must not interfere nor in any way give help +to either party. To furnish ships or arms or ammunition might +greatly prolong the conflict or even change its result, especially +where this assistance is extended to a nation--like Spain to-day-- +ill supplied and of small resources. This would be manifestly +unfair, and for a neutral to offer or abet such aid is a grave +offense. For remissness in an aggravated case of this sort (that +of the Alabama) England was forced to pay us heavy damages. +Neither national sympathy nor national interests afford any +excuse. + +That is why we restrained and punished those who organized +expeditions to help the Cubans while we were still at peace with +Spain. But nations engaged in war must not ask too much. They may +insist that a neutral shall allow no hostile operations to be +carried on within its territory, but they have no right to demand +that it shall punish its private citizens for engaging in trade in +articles that may be helpful to the enemy, for that would be +imposing too much trouble and expense upon a nation which has no +concern in the quarrel. Such trade is punishable, but it is the +business of the nation injured by it to catch the ships engaged in +it and enforce the penalty--which is usually confiscation of the +goods as "contraband of war." To do this it may stop and search +any ships--except warships--which it finds at sea; and so long as +no outrages are committed the neutral must submit and has no +ground for complaint. Trade in contraband goods is tolerated, but +it is carried on at the trader's own risk. His government will not +undertake to protect him from the legitimate consequences of his +venture. + +As has been stated, the contraband goods are confiscated by the +captor. The vessel, however, must be captured while the guilty +goods are still on board; to seize the proceeds after the cargo +has been sold and landed is not allowable, though it has sometimes +been done. If the ship belongs to the same owner as the forfeited +goods, it, too, is confiscated; otherwise it goes free after the +goods are taken off. + +It is very important to know just what articles are contraband and +what are not; but this is often hard to decide. There is no +question about weapons, military equipments and ammunition. These +are plainly contraband, and the materials from which they are made +are classed with them whenever they seem intended for military +uses. Thus sulphur and saltpeter are always contraband. The +detached parts of cannon and naval engines do escape by the trick +of separation. + +Cloth is not contraband in itself, but if of a quality evidently +designed for the manufacture of uniform it would probably be +seized. Horses are so useful in war that most nations treat them +as contraband--though, oddly enough, Russia has never done so. +Still more objectionable, nowadays, is coal, which will never be +allowed to reach the bunkers of hostile warships if it can be +prevented. This shows plainly how uncertain and changeful is the +list, for fifty years ago coal was as free as provisions, though +even food must not be run through the lines of a blockade. + +Articles, such as coal, which are of great value in war, but are +also largely used for peaceful purposes, are called "occasional +contraband" and their seizure has given rise to endless disputes. +There is no justice in treating them as contraband except when +they are obviously destined for hostile use. Sometimes, in +doubtful cases, such goods, instead of being confiscated, are +seized and paid for to prevent their reaching the enemy. This is +called "pre-emption;" but, fair as it seems, there is much danger +that it will be made a pretext for appropriating goods which ought +to go quite free, and the practice is generally condemned. + +Search at sea is extremely annoying, and ships entirely innocent +of contraband are often subjected to great inconvenience. That +must be endured; to attempt to resist or escape would make them +liable to confiscation, whatever their cargo might prove to be. +Only properly commissioned vessels, however, are entitled to hold +up merchantmen for this purpose. Another kind of meddling in war +for which a neutral citizen may be punished by confiscation, but +for which his government is not held responsible, is blockade +running. + +A blockade, such as we maintained around Cuba, is established by +stationing war vessels at the entrances of harbors and at +intervals along the blockaded coast. Its purpose is to cut off +supplies and stop all communication with the enemy by sea. The +merchant ships of all nations are therefore forbidden to pass or +even to approach the line, and the penalty for disobedience is the +confiscation of both ship and cargo--whether the latter is +contraband or not here makes no difference. If the ship does not +stop when hailed she may be fired upon, and if she is sunk while +endeavoring to escape it is her own fault. And unlike vessels +merely guilty of carrying contraband, she is no less liable to +seizure on her return voyage, after her cargo has been disposed +of. Altogether, blockade running is perilous business. It is +usually attempted under cover of night or stormy weather, and it +is as full of excitement and adventure as war itself. The motive +is usually either to take advantage of famine prices, or to aid +the enemy by bringing supplies or carrying dispatches. + +Neutral ships, however, are entitled to some sort of warning that +a blockade exists. Notice is therefore sent to all neutral +governments, announcing the fact and stating exactly the extent of +coast covered. Besides this, until the blockade has lasted for +some time and thus has become generally known it is customary for +the officers of the blockading fleet to visit and warn every ship +that approaches, the warning, with the date, being entered upon +her register. If, after that, she approaches the forbidden coast, +she is liable to confiscation--though possibly great stress of +weather might excuse her provided she landed no cargo. +Instructions of this sort were issued by President McKinley to our +squadron blockading Cuba. A reasonable time, also, was granted to +ships that were lying in the blockaded ports at the time when the +blockade was declared, to make their escape. President McKinley +allowed thirty days for this purpose, which was unusually liberal. + +Nations engaged in war have sometimes assumed that they could +establish a blockade by simply issuing a proclamation forbidding +neutrals to approach the enemy's coast, without stationing ships +to enforce it. For example, during the Napoleonic wars, France +declared the whole coast of England to be blockaded at a time when +she scarcely dared send out a ship from her ports, having been +soundly thrashed at Trafalgar. But these "paper blockades" are a +mere waste of time and ink. They are not valid, and except in the +way of angry and contemptuous protest, no nation would consider +them worthy of the slightest attention. If Spain, for instance, +should attempt a desperate game of bluff by declaring New Orleans, +New York and Boston under blockade, all neutral ships would come +and go just the same, and she would meddle with them at her peril. +This question--if it ever was a question--was finally decided by +the epoch-making convention of the powers at the close of the +Crimean war (treaty of Paris, 1856), which, along with other rules +that have revolutionized naval warfare, declared that "blockades +in order to be binding must be effective." This means that they +must be maintained by a force actually stationed on the blockaded +coast, strong enough to make it decidedly dangerous to attempt to +run through. The temporary absence of some of the ships, however, +either in pursuit of an enemy or on account of a violent storm, +would not invalidate the blockade, and ships seeking to take +advantage of such an opening would be liable to the full penalty +if caught. + +And now a few words about "prizes"--a particularly interesting and +timely theme, for during the very first week of the war our fleet +captured no fewer than fifteen of them. + +In time of war properly commissioned ships are entitled to capture +not only the armed vessels but also the helpless merchantmen of +the enemy. It does seem a good deal like piracy, but it has been +the universal practice from time immemorial. These captured +vessels are taken to some convenient port of the captor's own +country that the courts may pass judgment on them, and if there +has been no mistake made in the seizure they are forthwith +condemned as "lawful prize." Then they are sold, and "prize money" +is awarded the captors in proportion to the value of the prize. +The cargo is treated in the same way, unless it happens to belong +to a neutral, in which case it is free; though the owner must put +up with the inconvenience and delay resulting from the seizure, +since he deliberately took that risk when he placed his goods in a +hostile craft. Formerly his property was sometimes confiscated +under these circumstances, but the treaty of Paris, already +mentioned, put a stop to that. Formerly, too, the goods of enemies +could be taken from neutral ships and confiscated in the same +manner as contraband of war, but the treaty of Paris made an end +of that also. + +Another excellent rule adopted on that notable occasion abolished +privateering. Privateers were armed ships belonging to private +citizens who had obtained from their own government a commission +(letter of marque) which authorized them to make prize of the +enemy's merchant vessels and appropriate the proceeds. The +abolition of privateering was a long step in the right direction, +for the privateer's motive was mainly plunder, and the whole +business was really close kin to piracy. Neither the United States +nor Spain signed the original agreement, but both have acceded to +it now--Spain, evidently, very much against her will, for her +citizens thirsted for the rich booty of our commerce, a fact which +makes supremely ridiculous her crazy ravings against our +legitimate captures as "American piracy." + +DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZE MONEY. + +The prize money adjudged to captors is distributed in the +following proportions: + +1. The commander of a fleet or squadron, one-twentieth part of all +prize money awarded to any vessel or vessels under his immediate +command. + +2. To the commander of a division of a fleet or squadron, a sum +equal to one-fiftieth of any prize money awarded to a vessel of +the division under his command, to be paid from the moiety due the +United States, if there be such moiety; if not, from the amount +awarded the captors. + +3. To the fleet captain, one-hundredth part of all prize money +awarded to any vessel of the fleet in which he is serving, in +which case he shall share in proportion to his pay, with the other +officers and men on board such vessel. + +4. To the commander of a single vessel, one-tenth of all the prize +money awarded to the vessel. + +5. After the foregoing deductions, the residue is distributed +among the others doing duty on board, and borne upon the books of +the ship, in proportion to their respective rates of pay. + +All vessels of the navy within signal distance of the vessel +making the capture, and in such condition as to be able to render +effective aid if required, will share in the prize. Any person +temporarily absent from his vessel may share in the captures made +during his absence. The prize court determines what vessels shall +share in a prize, and also whether a prize was superior or +inferior to the vessel or vessels making the capture. + +The share of prize money awarded to the United States is set apart +forever as a fund for the payment of pensions to naval officers, +seamen and marines entitled to pensions. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +SPANISH DISSENSIONS AT HOME. + +Spain Threatened with Interior Difficulties--Danger that the +Crown Might Be Lost to the Baby King of Spain--Don Carlos and the +Carlists Are Active--Castelar Is Asked to Establish a Republic-- +General Weyler as a Possible Dictator--History of the Carlist +Movement and Sketch of "the Pretender." + + +While these events were in progress in the international +relations of the United States and Spain, with a threat of a +hopeless war hanging over the latter, the embarrassments of the +government of the peninsular kingdom as to the conflict of its own +affairs at home multiplied daily. Altogether aside from the +prospective operations of the war itself the Queen Regent and her +Ministry had more than one local difficulty to face. + +It was frankly recognized in their inner councils that a +succession of Spanish defeats, in all probability, would lose the +throne to the dynasty and that the boy king would never wear the +crown of his father. A second threat of danger was that in the +midst of difficulties abroad there would be an uprising of the +adherents of Don Carlos "The Pretender," who would take advantage +of the situation to start a civil war and seize the authority. In +addition to all this, the republicans of Spain, growing more +restless under the misgovernment they saw, united in an address to +Castelar, who was formerly the president of the Spanish republic, +urging that he declare the republic again established and +promising to support him in such a movement. The names of 20,000 +of the best citizens of Spain were signed to this request, and it +was an element of danger to the monarchy that was well recognized. +Finally, the partisans of General Weyler, who comprised a large +element of the proudest and most influential people of Spain, +showed distinct signs of a desire to establish a dictatorship with +that ferocious general as the supreme authority. He had been +recalled from Cuba as a rebuke and in order to alter the policies +which he had established there. His friends were ready to resent +the rebuke and offer him higher place than he had had before. + +DON CARLOS AND THE CARLISTS. + +Spain has been the scene of many revolutions, a fact easily +understood when the character of the government is known. +Dishonesty and oppression in an administration always breed the +spirit of rebellion. Don Carlos, who regards Alfonso as a usurper, +and believes himself the true King of Spain, issued, April 13, +from his retreat in Switzerland, a manifesto to his supporters. In +this he arraigned the government, sought to inflame the excited +Spanish populace against the Queen Regent, her son and her +ministers, and declared that they had permitted the Spanish +standard to be dragged in the mud. He said in part: + +Twenty years of patriotic retirement have proved that I am neither +ambitious nor a conspirator. The greater and better part of my +life as a man has been spent in the difficult task of restraining +my natural impulses and those of my enthusiastic Carlists, whose +eagerness I was the first to appreciate, but which nevertheless I +curbed, although it rent my heart to do so. To-day national honor +speaks louder than anything, and the same patriotic duty which +formerly bade me say "Wait yet a while," may lead me to cry, +commanding the Carlists, "Forward," and not only the Carlists, but +all Spaniards, especially to the two national forces which still +bravely withstand the enervating femininities of the regency, the +people and the army. + +If the glove which Washington has flung in the face of Spain is +picked up by Madrid I will continue the same example of abnegation +as before, wretched in that I cannot partake in the struggle other +than by prayers and by the influence of my name. I will applaud +from my soul those who have the good fortune to face the fire, and +I shall consider those Carlists as serving my cause who embark in +war against the United States. + +But if everything leads me to fear that the policy of humiliation +will again prevail, we will snatch the reins of government from +those who are unworthy to hold them and we will occupy their +places. + +While their leader was talking in this strain, his supporters were +preparing to act. They believed that the conditions for a +revolution were more favorable than they had been for years, that +the present dynasty was doomed, and that Spain would be forced to +choose between republicanism and Don Carlos. The only chance, they +said for the retention of the present dynasty, would be for Spain +to defeat the United States, and they were not so blind as to +believe that such would be the outcome of a war between the two +powers. + +READY FOR ACTION. + +Don Carlos himself believed that the time had come to act. He +journeyed to Ostend, where he consulted with Lord Ashburnham and +other Catholic Englishmen who were his supporters, and mapped out +a plan of campaign. He stood ready at any convenient moment to +cross the frontier and place himself at the head of his +supporters. + +Never since there was a pretender to the throne of Spain, and Don +Carlos is the third of the name, had the outlook been so favorable +for the fall of the constitutional monarchy. + +Discontent has been widespread in Spain and it has been fomented +by the Carlists, with a splendid organization, with more than +2,000 clubs scattered in various parts of the kingdom. + +Causes for discontent have not been lacking, and the Cuban and +Philippine revolts, together with the threatened trouble with the +United States, were not the only reasons for popular +dissatisfaction. Spain was bankrupt and found it difficult to +borrow money from the money lenders of London and Paris. With the +increased expenses due to the revolution there had been a decrease +in receipts for the same cause--the usual revenues from Havana +being lacking. The people were poor and thousands of them +starving. Additional taxation was out of the question, for the +people were taxed to the limit. + +These were the causes to which the strength of the Carlist +agitation was due. And that it was strong there can be no doubt. +The birthday of Don Carlos, March 30, was celebrated this year +with an enthusiasm and unprecedented degree of unanimity +throughout the kingdom, and the government did not feel itself +strong enough to interfere with them. + +TOASTED AS KING. + +There were hundreds of fetes in cities, towns and villages, and +many of them were held in the open air, where the pretender was +toasted as "El Key" or "the king," and Alfonso was ignored. + +This inaction could be due only to the fact that the government +was powerless. To say that they did not fear Don Carlos would be +ridiculous, as the latest manifesto of Don Carlos was suppressed, +and the government was really in fear and trembling. A more +plausible reason would be that the ministry wished to be in the +good graces of Don Carlos should he win, and they were not ready +to trust themselves to absolute loyalty to the present dynasty. + +Meanwhile, as this chapter is written, reports from Spain tell of +unprecedented Carlist activity. They are arming themselves. Arms +are pouring across the frontier in such quantities as to show that +the Carlists are preparing for an early rising, and all of the +actions and utterances of the leader show that they are only +waiting for a favorable opportunity to begin the revolution. +Strong proof of this is to be found in the fact that since Don +Carlos secured his second wife's vast fortune he has been +penurious, and it is not believed that he would spend money in +arms unless he believed the expenditure would bring about some +practical advantage to his cause. + +His agents have been working among the army officers, and it is +said that they have secured many recruits for their cause. The +throne of Spain, like the throne of Russia, during the last +century, or that of Borne in the days of the empire, rests largely +upon the army, and if the army, discontented and dissatisfied as +it certainly is, were to revolt, Don Carlos' success would be +almost certain. + +Ever since his marriage in 1894 with the Princess de Rohan, who +brought him a large fortune, Don Carlos has been watching a +favorable opportunity for a coup. There cannot be a better one +than that which will be offered when Spain is defeated by the +United States, and it would not be surprising to see Don Carlos +unfurl his banner to the breeze and call for troops to rally to +his standard. + +Those who are supporters of the pretensions of Don Carlos believe +they have right on their side. His supporters love him with the +loyalty of the legitimists to the house of Stuart during the +period before the restoration in England. His personality is +attractive. He has all the elements of personal popularity with +the masses. He is brave and dashing. He does not sit and weep over +the fallen glories of his race, but he is always ready for action. +He is ready at any moment to lead an army in a forlorn cause and +will fight, for what he believes to be his rights. + +FLOWER OF SPAIN. + +The position occupied in Spanish affairs by Don Carlos is similar +to that occupied by Prince Charles Edward toward the throne of +Great Britain during the last century. His family has been +dispossessed for about the same length of time and he has made a +fight just as romantic, but with more brilliant prospects, and at +the head of the heroic highlanders, dwellers in the Basque +mountains. His followers are the flower of Spain, the most +aristocratic families in the kingdom, willing to risk all in his +support, setting property and life itself as worth naught compared +with their honor. + +There have been three Carlist pretenders to the throne of Spain. +The first was Carlos V., born in 1788. He laid claim to the throne +on the death of his brother, Ferdinand VII., in 1833. + +Ferdinand had had a stormy reign, torn by dissensions between the +court and the popular party. Napoleon compelled him to resign in +favor of Joseph Bonaparte, but he returned to the throne of his +ancestors upon the fall of Bonaparte. During twenty-eight years he +married five wives in succession. By four of these he had no +children, but a daughter was born to the last, who had been +Princess of Naples. She secured an absolute mastery of the king, +who was an imbecile unfitted to reign. The heir apparent to the +throne was the grandfather of the present Don Carlos, Carlos V., +the brother of Ferdinand. Between Carlos and his brother there had +been a long enmity. + +Christina used her influence with her husband to persuade him to +disinherit his brother. By the Salic law females were excluded +from inheriting the throne of France. But through the influence of +Ferdinand and his spouse the cortes was persuaded to repeal the +law, the more willingly since Carlos was in favor of absolutism, +while with a woman as ruler the chances would be better for the +perpetuation of constitutionalism. The Carlists claim that during +the last days Ferdinand repented his act and issued documents +which would have established Carlos' right to the succession, but +that these were suppressed. However that may be, upon the death of +Ferdinand his baby daughter was declared Queen of Spain, with her +mother as regent. + +For five years there was civil war. The youth and weakness of the +baby queen proved her strength. The liberals believed that with +her as the nominal ruler the continuance of the constitutional +monarchy would be assured. For the same reasons France and England +supported Isabella. These were odds against which Carlos could not +effectually fight, and in 1869 he retreated from Spain, and the +historians treat the succession as settled in favor of the young +girl, who even at that time was not in her teens. + +QUEEN ISABELLA'S REIGN. + +Isabella II., or rather her mother, for the latter was the real +ruler, did not rule with prudence. Scandals disgraced the reign, +and led to the regent's removal from the regency. Queen Isabella's +ill-fated marriage and other intrigues led to domestic +disturbances which kept alive the pretensions of the Carlists. + +Upon the death of the first pretender, in 1853, a second arose in +the person of his son, Don Carlos, Count de Montemolim. He +attempted to cause a revolution in 1860, but was arrested with his +brother, and they were not liberated until they had signed a +renunciation of their claims to the throne. + +The second pretender died in 1861, and then the present Don Carlos +arose. He was the son of Don Juan, and a brother of the two who +had renounced their claims to the Spanish throne, and he claimed +that their renunciation could not be binding on him. This was the +Don Carlos who is now the leader of the legitimists, and he has +never renounced his claim to the throne of his ancestors. + +His name in full is Don Carlos de los Dolores Juan Isidore Josef +Francisco Quirino Antonio Miguel Gabriel Rafael. He was born in +the little village of Laibach in the Austrian Alps, while his +parents were on a journey through the country, and from his +infancy his career has been surrounded with a romance which has +endeared him to the hearts of his followers. His father, Don Juan, +was an exile from Spain and a royal wanderer seeking a place where +he could end his life in peace. + +He and his wife were befriended by the Emperor Ferdinand of +Austria, who placed the young Don Carlos under the care of a +Spanish priest, who educated him for the priesthood. Even in his +infancy he cared nothing to become a priest in spite of his devout +devotion to the Roman Catholic faith, but dreamed of the day when +he would rule as King of Spain. + +Don Carlos was only seventeen years of age when he met and fell in +love with Margaret, the daughter of the Duke of Parma. She was +only fourteen, and the mother of the young prince persuaded them +to postpone the marriage for three years. With his wife the +pretender received a large fortune and he has been able to +maintain a court in the semblance of royalty for several years. + +Thirty years ago Carlos might have been king. The crown was then +offered him by Prim and Sagasta, who journeyed to London for the +purpose. They said it should be his if he would support the +liberal constitution proposed for the country and would favor the +separation of church and state. It was the latter idea that led to +his rejection of the proffered honor. His strict Roman Catholic +training made him refuse, for religion was more to him than +anything else. + +CARLOS' SCORNFUL REFUSAL. + +"When I come to my throne," he declared, "I shall rule my land as +I see fit." + +These were the words with which he scornfully spurned their offer. + +The republicans never forgave him, and later when, after the +dethronement of Isabella, his name was again proposed in the +cortes by his supporters, Prim and Sagasta were his most bitter +enemies. + +On Don Carlos' behalf, insurrections--speedily repressed--took +place in 1869 and 1872. But the insurrection headed by him in +person in 1873 proved much more formidable and kept the Basque +provinces in a great confusion till the beginning of 1876, when it +was crushed. + +Before the commencement of the war of 1872-76, Don Carlos defined +clearly his position and views in various manifestos addressed to +the people of Spain. He declared that with him the revolutionary +doctrine should have no place. What Spain wanted, said Don Carlos, +was that no outrage should be offered to the faith of her fathers, +for in Catholicity reposed the truth, as she understood it, the +symbol of all her glories, the spirit of all her laws and the bond +of concord between all good Spaniards. What Spain wanted was a +real king and a government worthy and energetic, strong and +respected. + +The opportunity for Don Carlos was found in the troublous times +that led to and followed the abdication of Amadeo I., Duke of +Aosta, who had been elected by the cortes. The four years' war +commenced in spring, 1872, and a year later Amadeo abdicated in a +message saying that he saw Spain in a continual struggle, and the +era, of peace more distant; he sought remedies within the law, but +did not find them; his efforts were sterile. + +Thereupon the two chambers combined as the sovereign power of Spain and +voted for a republic. The two years of the republic were the stormiest +in Spanish history, and it was then that the Carlists made the greatest +progress. They numbered probably one-third of the people of Spain. A +republic was not suited to the disposition of the Spaniards, and +Castelar, who had the helm of the ship of state, gave up his task in +disgust. Then Alfonso XII., son of the exiled Isabella, was proclaimed +heir to the throne. Alfonso XIII., is his son. + +Alfonso XII.'s first task was to suppress the Carlists, and in +this he succeeded. The people were tired of the continual strife. +Royalists and republicans alike welcomed the new monarch. + +The number of his followers gradually dwindling and finding that +continued resistance would be unavailable, Don Carlos was finally +convinced that it would be useless to continue the struggle. So +early in 1876 his army disbanded. Accompanied by his bodyguard he +crossed the Pyrenees. As he stepped his foot on French soil he +turned as if to bid farewell to Spain, but his last words, +energetically pronounced, were: "Volvere, volvere! I will return, +I will return!" And it is the belief of his followers that his +time is near at hand. + +HIS LOYAL FOLLOWERS. + +No man has more devoted followers. The army that fought for him +during the Carlist revolution was one of the most heroic that has +ever been gathered together. To his standard came young men of +good family from every nation. He was regarded as the +representative of the old regime of monarchists, and in his ranks +were those who hoped for the re-establishment of the now obsolete +divine right of kings. He was the head of the house of Bourbon in +all Europe. Except for the existence of Maria Theresa, daughter of +Ferdinand of Modena, married the Prince Louis of Bavaria, Don +Carlos would be the legitimate representative of the royal house +of Stuart, and, barring the English act of settlement, King of +Great Britain and Ireland. + +This fact may have had something to do with the cold shoulder that +was turned to him by all of the powers of Europe. Don Carlos was +regarded as the representative of the half-dozen pretenders to the +throne who live in exile amid little courts of their own and build +air castles peopled with things they will do when they mount the +thrones of which they believe themselves to have been defrauded. + +The Carlists believe that with the support of one of the great +governments they would have won. But they could obtain no +recognition even of their belligerency, and that was in spite of +the fact that, as early as 1873, the president of the Spanish +Republic has declared in the cortes: "We have a real civil war. +... It has a real administrative organization and collects taxes. +You have presented to you one state in front of another. It is in +fact a great war." + +Yet in spite of this declaration and in spite of the fact that the +five successive heads of the Madrid government recognized the +belligerency of the Carlists by conventions; that treaties were +made for the running of railroads and for other purposes, and that +the Carlists, had a mint, postoffice and all of the equipments of +a regular government, recognition was withheld by the powers. +Everything depended upon England, and General Kirkpatrick, a +brigadier general in the civil war, who represented the Carlists +as charge d'affaires at London, was unable to secure that boon +from Gladstone, and none of the continental powers would act until +England had led the way. + +After his retirement from Spain, when the war had exhausted his +resources, Don Carlos lived humbly and quietly at Paris. He had +ceased to love his wife and they led a miserable domestic life. He +would sell his war horse and fling the money to her on the bare +table, telling her to buy bread with it. Then his friends would +buy the horse back again. Once he disposed of the badge of the +Order of Golden Fleece that had decorated the son of his +illustrious ancestor, Charles V. The discreditable part of this +action was not so much in the actual act of pawning as that he put +the blame for it on an old general who had served him with +fidelity for twenty years. He claimed that the general had stolen +it, imagining that the old soldier's devotion to his interests +would induce him to remain silent. But the general at once told +all of the facts in the case, and also told how Don Carlos had +used the money to satisfy the demands of a notorious demi-mondaine. + +His financial difficulties came to an end with the death of the +Comte and Comtesse de Chambord, who bequeathed the larger part of +their immense wealth to their favorite niece, wife of Don Carlos. +The duchess kept the money in her own hands, but gave him all he +needed. At her death she was quite as provident, leaving the money +in trust for her children and giving only a small allowance to her +husband, from whom she had lived apart for fifteen years. + +MARRIED A FORTUNE. + +This threw the pretender again into financial straits, for he has +expensive tastes which require a large fortune to support. So he +looked around for a bride. His followers were startled to hear of +his marriage to the wealthy Princess Marie Berthe de Rohan. The +marriage took place April 29, 1894, and, although she was handsome +and exceedingly rich and a member of the illustrious Rohan family, +which alone of all the noble families of France and Austria has +the privilege of calling the monarch cousin--it was regarded as a +mesalliance by all of the Carlists in Spain and legitimists +everywhere. They believed that Don Carlos should have not married +any but the scion of a royal house. + +By his first marriage Don Carlos had five children, among them Don +Jaime, now in his twenty-eighth year, who is regarded as heir to +the throne by the Carlists. Don Jaime is said to possess to a high +degree the strength of will and the determined character of his +father. He was educated in England and Austria, and is now serving +in the Russian army. Military science is his hobby, and he will be +able to fight for his throne, as his father has done, if it +becomes necessary. + +Don Carlos is now in Switzerland, that home of the exiled from +other lands, and where he spends his summers. His winter residence +is at the Palais de Loredane in Venice. + +At the present date the Carlist party is one of the strongest +political parties in Spain. This does not appear in the +representation in the Spanish cortes, for under the present system +the right to exercise the franchise freely is a farce. + +There is no doubt that Don Carlos' popularity is greater than that +of the little king. The queen is regarded as a foreigner and the +king is too young to awaken any admiration in spite of the fact +that every opportunity is taken to make him do so. To popularize +the little king the queen regent promenades the poor child through +the provinces. He makes childish speeches to the populace, touches +the flags of the volunteers and in every way seeks to revive the +enthusiasm for the house of Austria. But without avail. The +wretched peasants, ground down by taxes, find little to stir them +in the sight. + +On the contrary, Don Carlos is a great military hero, whose +actions have stirred the people to admiration in spite of his many +bad qualities. + +That the present dynasty will endure when all of the evils from +which Spain suffers are considered, seems hard to believe. Unless +a miracle happens or the powers bolster up the throne of the +little king, the people are likely to turn to Don Carlos for +relief. There are those who believe that republicanism is also +rampant and that the Carlist agitation masks republican doctrines, +and that Weyler will be dictator. This may be. But Don Carlos +seems nearer the throne than he has been at any time during his +career. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +THE PHILIPPINES, PUERTO RICO, AND OTHER COLONIES OF SPAIN. + +The Philippines Another Example of the Shocking Misgovernment of +Spain's Outlying Possessions--Interesting Facts About the +Philippines--Spanish Oppression and Cruelty--Manila, the Capital +of the Islands--Manufactures and Trade of the Eastern +Archipelago--Puerto Rico and Its History--The Products and People +--Spirit of Insurrection Rife--The Colonies Off the Coast of +Africa Where Spain Exiles Political and Other Offenders--The +Canaries, Fernando Po and Ceuta. + + +From the very beginning of our war with Spain the peninsular +kingdom had reason to fear that the loss of Cuba would be but one +of the disasters to befall it in the war with the United States. +It was recognized in all quarters that the Queen Regent would have +been willing to let the Cuban insurrectionists have their island +without further protest, had it not been for the fact that giving +up probably would have incited an insurrection at home, resulting +in a loss of the crown to her son before he should have a chance +to wear it. + +It was quite well understood as a like probability that the +Philippine islands, that splendid colony of Spain in the East +Indies, would be lost to Spanish control at the same time, and +that the island of Puerto Rico, the last remnant of Spain's great +colonial possessions in the Western hemisphere, after Cuba's loss, +would gain its freedom too. The Queen Regent having spurned the +only course in Cuban affairs which the United States would permit, +with American war-ships threatening Manila, it became immediately +apparent that the other horn of the dilemma which had been chosen +was as fatal to Spanish sovereignty as the first would have been. + +Even Cuba, with all its abominations, scarcely afforded so +remarkable a picture of Spanish oppression, miscalled government, +as may be seen in the Philippines. It is only the remoteness and +isolation of these unhappy islands that has prevented the +atrocities there perpetrated from arousing the indignation of the +whole world. Readers are familiar enough with the shocking +barbarities practiced in times of disorder by the Spanish +authorities, and they do not need to be multiplied here, but in +the Philippines is demonstrated the utter incapacity of the +Spanish for the exercise of civilized government over a dependent +province even in times of so-called peace. + +The Philippines are extremely interesting in themselves, but are +seldom visited by tourists, partly in consequence of their lying +out of the ordinary lines of travel and partly because of the +policy of Chinese seclusion cultivated by the government. The +climate, too, is unhealthy, even beyond what is usual in the +tropics, and the unsettled state of the country, swarming with +exasperated savages and bandits of the worst description, makes +excursions beyond the limits of the principal cities very +perilous. About 600 islands are included in the group, and the +total area is considerable--some 150,000 square miles, three or +four times that of Cuba, Exact data, however, are difficult to +obtain. There are a multitude of insignificant islets hardly known +except upon the charts of navigators; but Luzon almost equals Cuba +in extent. Altogether the islands probably contain less than +8,000,000 souls; so that Spanish cruelty finds plenty of raw +material to work upon. + +CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION. + +And most of it is raw to the last degree--a medley of diverse and +hostile races, ranging from the puny and dying remnant of the +Negritos, who live like wild beasts in the highlands, subsisting +upon the roots which they claw out of the ground, to the fierce +and unsubdued Mohammedan tribes that still keep up the bloody war +of creeds which raged in Spain itself for so many centuries. These +latter are chiefly of Malay origin and many of them are +professional head-hunters, well qualified to retort Spanish +outrages in kind. There are also Chinese in large numbers and +half-castes of all varieties. The proportion of Europeans is +small, even in the cities. The resident Spaniards are all soldiers +or officials of some sort and are there simply for what they can +make by extortion and corrupt practices. + +The Philippine islands were discovered in 1521 by Magellan, the +circumnavigator, and were conquered by Spain and made a colony in +the reign of Philip II., for whom they were named, half a century +later. Spanish sway never has extended over more than half of the +1,400 islands of the archipelago, the others remaining under their +native wild tribes and Mohammedan rulers. The conjectural area is +about 120,000 square miles, and the estimated population about +7,500,000. About half this area and three-quarters of this +population are nominally under Spanish rule, but the insurrection +has left things in a good deal of doubt. The remainder of the +people are governed according to their own customs, by independent +native princes. Education is exceedingly backward. The Roman +Catholic clergy have been industrious, and probably 2,500,000 +natives are nominal converts to the Christian religion; but +education has advanced very little among them. There is a Roman +Catholic archbishop of Manila, besides three bishops. + +The history of the Philippines has included a succession of +revolutions against Spanish authority, put down by ferocious +warfare and cruelty on the part of the victors. The conversion and +subjugation of the islands were not accompanied by quite the +horrors that characterized the Spanish conquest of South America, +but the record is second only to that. Manila was captured by the +English in 1762 and was held by them for two years until ransomed +by the Spanish by a payment of 1,000,000 pounds. Contests with +rebellious tribes, attacks by pirates, volcanic eruptions, +earthquakes and tornadoes help to break the monotony of the +history. + +MANILA, THE CAPITAL OF THE COLONY. + +Manila, the capital city of the colony and of Luzon, the largest +island, lies 628 miles, or sixty hours' easy steaming, southeast +of Hongkong, and twice that distance northeast of Singapore. The +population of the city is about 330,000, of whom only 10,000-- +including troops, government officials and clergy--are Europeans, +and not more than 500 are English-speaking people. A few American +houses have branches in Manila, so that there is an American +population of perhaps 100. The city faces a fine bay, into which +flows the River Pasig. Most of the Europeans live in Binondo, a +beautiful suburb on higher ground, across the river. There are +many native dialects, but the social, official and business idiom +is Spanish. The army of Spanish civil, religious, military and +naval officials is a leech on the people in the same fashion as it +was in Cuba. All the places of profit are monopolized by them, +appointments to choice offices in the Philippines being given to +those whom it is desired to reward for service to the government +in Spain. It is quite well understood that such an appointee is +expected to gain a fortune as rapidly as he can, by any method +possible, so that he may give way for some one else to be brought +over from Spain for a similar reward. The policy is the same as +the colonial policy of Spain in Cuba was, and the same results +have followed. + +But, indeed, pillage of the wretched natives is the almost open +aim of the government--the sole end for which it is organized and +maintained; so why should petty officials be scrupulous? It is the +old Roman provincial system, denounced by Cicero 2,000 years ago, +but in Spain unforgotten and unimproved. What other use has she +for dependencies, except as a source of revenue wrung by torture +from the misery of slaves, and incidentally as a battening ground +for her savage war dogs? Here the detestable Weyler is said to +have accumulated a fortune of several millions of dollars in three +years--more than twenty times the whole amount of his salary! + +The methods employed in this legalized system of robbery are +medieval in character, but often highly ingenious. One of them is +the "cedula personal," a sort of passport. Every person in the +islands and over eighteen years of age and accessible to the +authorities is required to take out one of these documents; even +the women are not exempt. The cedula must be renewed annually and +the cost is from $1.50 to $25, according to circumstances--the +chief circumstances being the victim's ability to pay. This in a +country where wages sometimes fall as low as five cents a day! And +any one who holds a cedula costing less than $3 is further +required to render the government fifteen days of unremunerated +labor. + +INSTANCES OF PETTY EXTORTION. + +But the cedula is only one device out of many for extracting gold +from the refractory ore of poverty. A hungry native cannot kill +his own hog or buffalo for meat without a special permit--which, +of course, must be paid for. He is not allowed to press out a pint +of cocoanut oil from the fruit of his own orchard until he has +obtained a license, and this also has its price. The orchard +itself is taxed; everything is taxed in the Philippines. + +The resident Chinese are further subjected to a special tax-- +whether for existing or for not being something else is not +stated. They are not popular and are treated with the most +shameless injustice. This the following incident will illustrate: + +Fires are very frequent in Manila and very destructive, most of +the houses being of wood, while the poorer districts are a mere +jumble of bamboo huts, thousands of which are sometimes consumed +in a day without exciting much comment. A fire in the business +portion, however, arouses more interest; it affords opportunities +that are not to be neglected. On one such occasion, where the +scene of conflagration was a quarter chiefly occupied by Chinese +shops, the street was soon thronged with an eager mob. The poor +Chinamen, acting much like crazed cattle, had fled into their +upper chambers and locked the doors, apparently preferring death +by fire to the treatment they were likely to receive outside. But +there was no escape. + +The "rescuers"--Spanish soldiers--quickly broke in with axes and +after emptying the money boxes, hurled the wretched Mongolians and +all their goods into the street, to be dealt with at discretion. +It was a mere pretext for robbery and outrage, as many of the +shops were remote from the fire and in no danger. The next morning +the middle of the street was piled high with soiled and broken +goods; and any one who cared to bribe the sentries was allowed to +carry away as much as he pleased. All day long the carts went to +and fro, openly conveying away the plunder. The owners were not in +evidence; what had become of them is not recorded. Such is the +"fire department" in Manila. + +Taxes are imposed for "improvements," but no improvements are +permitted even when backed by foreign capital. The roads remain +impassable canals of mud, education is a farce, the introduction +of machinery is frowned upon and progress is obstructed. + +The natural resources of the Philippines are very good, and under +a civilized administration these islands would be rich and +prosperous. But the mildew of Spanish misgovernment is upon +everything and its perennial blight is far more disastrous than +the worst outbreaks of savagery in time of war. His total +inability to maintain an endurable government in time of peace is +what marks the Spaniard as hopelessly unfit to rule. + +Manila has cable connection with the rest of the world, and +regular lines of passenger steamers. The European colony has its +daily papers, which are, however, under strict censorship, +religious and military, and keeps up with the news and the +fashions of the day. Until the insurrection of the last two years, +the army, except two Spanish brigades of artillery and a corps of +engineers, was composed of natives and consisted of seven +regiments of infantry and one of cavalry. There was also a body of +Spanish militia in Manila, a volunteer corps similar to the one +which was always maintained in Havana under Spanish rule, which +could be called out by the captain-general in the event of need. + +SPAIN'S FEEBLE CONTROL OF THE ISLANDS. + +When the latest insurrection began, Spain shipped to its far-off +colony all the men who could be spared from service in Cuba, and +after a few months of fighting it was announced that the rebellion +was crushed. As a matter of fact, however, Spain has control of +but a comparatively small part of the islands, and the natives +elsewhere are as free from obligation to pay Spanish taxes as they +were before the discovery. + +Trade restrictions have hampered the commercial progress of the colony, +but in spite of that fact their trade with the outside world is a large +one. For many years after the conquest but one vessel a year was +permitted to ply between Manila and the Spanish-American port of +Acapulco. Then the number was increased to five. Then a Spanish +chartered company was given a monopoly of the trade of the islands. When +that monopoly expired, other houses began business, until finally many +large English and German firms shared the trade, while American houses +and American ships were by no means at the foot of the list. The total +volume of the exports and imports is about $75,000,000 annually. + +The manufactures of the Philippines consist chiefly of textile +fabrics of pineapple fiber, silk and cotton; hats, mats, baskets, +rope, furniture, pottery and musical instruments. Vegetable +products of great value are indigo, cocoa, sugar, rice, bamboo, +hemp and tobacco. Coffee, pepper and cassia grow wild in +sufficient quantity and quality to provide a living for those who +wish to take advantage of what nature has provided. Coal, gold, +iron and copper are mined with profit. The soil is exceedingly +fertile, and although the climate is tropical, with little change +except between wet and dry seasons, it has not been difficult for +Europeans to accustom themselves to it. The largest island is +nearly 500 miles long and 125 miles wide, while others are more +than half as large. It must be remembered that the interior of +these great islands, and the whole of hundreds of the smaller +ones, are unexplored and almost unvisited by travelers from +civilized lands, as Spanish exploration has been of little +practical value to the rest of the world or to science. + +PUERTO RICO. + +Puerto Rico, the smaller of the two islands which Spain held in +the West Indies, was discovered by Columbus in 1493 and occupied +by soldiers under Ponce de Leon early in the sixteenth century. It +lies well outside the Caribbean sea, in the open Atlantic, and for +this reason it is not at all affected climatically, as Cuba is, by +proximity to the continent. Its climate is determined mostly by +the ocean, whose breezes sweep constantly over the entire island, +tempering deliciously the tropical heat, of the sun. + +The surface of the island is equally favorable to excellent +climatic conditions. It has no mountains, but it has hills that +extend from end to end of it and form a perfect watershed and +afford drainage for plains and valleys. Thirteen hundred rivers, +forty-seven of them navigable, drain 3,500 square miles of +territory, a territory as large as the state of Delaware. All over +its extent are, besides the principal range of hills that are by +some called mountains, round-topped hills of finest soil, which +are nearly every one cultivated. In summer the heat is not +excessive in the valleys and in winter ice never forms oil the +hills. It is a purely agricultural country and the great majority +of the natives are farmers. In the population of 810,000 are +300,000 negroes, who are now free, and since their freedom have +gone into the towns and cities and found work in the sugar mills +and at similar employments. + +The native Puerto Ricans adhere to the soil. Their labors are not +severe where the soil is loose and rich, as it is every where +except near the seashore, and for reasons already stated the +climate is very favorable to a comfortable existence. The only +drawback perhaps to this comfort for dwellers on the island is +lack of substantial bridges over the many streams and the absence +of good roads. + +There are a number of extensive forests on the island, and while +they resemble in their main outlines those of the other West India +islands, certain varieties of trees and shrubs exist there that +are not seen elsewhere. Baron Eggers, who in 1883 had a coffee +farm of 2,000 acres just coming into bearing, found leisure from +his other employments to explore some of the forests and--he being +an authority on the subject--the facts he discovered and reported +have been regarded of interest by travelers and students. He found +palms and a strange variety of orchid, but the palms were not so +lofty, nor the orchids so rich as they both are on the Caribbean +islands. But he found trees of great beauty and great utility in +manufactures that are not abundant on the other islands, if, +indeed, they are ever found on any of them. + +The Baron describes with rapture the sabino, so called by the +natives, but by him called the talauma; it is from fifteen to +twenty feet high, with spreading branches, having large silvery +leaves and bearing immense white, odorous flowers. The hietella is +another tree that has remarkable leaves and yields beautiful +crimson flowers. He describes still another tree, without naming +it, as having orangelike foliage, large purple flowers, and as +having in its neighborhood other trees, different from it, but +resembling it and evidently allied to it. This tree, he says, is +not found elsewhere. Still another tree, the ortegon, whose +flowers are purple spikes a yard long, and whose wood is used for +timber, is common on the high lands near the coast. And there are +dye woods, mahogany and lignum vitae. Hence it is seen that the +forests of Puerto Rico are generally beautiful, and strange in +some of their features. + +The words Puerto Rico are, when translated, Rich Port, and they +are very applicable to this snug spot in the Atlantic ocean, only +a short distance off the United States coast. Every variety of +soil is adapted to the growth of a particular kind of crop. The +highest hills, as the lowest valleys, are cultivated with +reference to what they will best produce. On the hills, rice; in +the valleys, coffee, cotton and sugar cane; on the rising grounds +between the valleys and hills, tobacco. Puerto Rico rice, unlike +that of the Carolinas, grows on dry lands, even on the highest +hills, without watering. It is the staple food of the laborers. +The consular report to Washington for 1897 says the product of +coffee that year was 26,655 tons; of sugar, 54,205 tons, and of +tobacco, 1,039 tons. The number of bales of cotton is not given, +but the consul expatiates on its fine quality. The richness of the +sugar lands may be judged from this item in the report: "Three +hogsheads of sugar is an average yield per acre, without using +fertilizers of any kind." + +Puerto Rico is one of the finest grazing countries in the world. +Its herds of cattle are immense, and from them are supplied cattle +of a superior quality to the other West India islands. Great +quantities of hides are shipped to various countries. + +Though richly agricultural as the island is, and entitled as it is +to be regarded as exclusively agricultural, in past times +considerable mining was done there, in gold, copper and salt. +Indeed, copper is still mined to a small extent, and salt is still +so plentiful that the government finds a profit in monopolizing +the sale of it. + +Puerto Rico is only 100 miles in length and from fifty to sixty +miles in breadth, and as square as a dry-goods box. East and west +and north and south its coast lines run almost as regularly as if +projected by compass. It is the delight of the sailorman, as its +fertile soil is the joy of the agriculturist. + +The harbor of San Juan is the chief in Puerto Rico, and one of the +best of its size in the Caribbean sea. It is safe and sheltered, +large and land-locked, and though the entrance is somewhat "foul," +ships drawing three fathoms can enter and find anchorage within, +good holding ground being had at any depth up to six fathoms. The +bay is broad as well as beautiful, and opens toward the north, so +that a vessel laying her course from New York could, if there were +no obstructions en route, sail directly into the harbor. + +The fortifications which surround the city of San Juan are, like +the Spanish pedigrees, ancient, flamboyant, beautiful to look at, +but as worthless withal. This city of about 25,000 inhabitants is +completely inclosed within imposing walls of stone and hardened +mortar from 50 to 100 feet in height. They have picturesque gates +and drawbridges, portcullises and demilunes, quaint old sentry +boxes projecting into the sea, frowning battlements, and all that; +but most of their cannon date back from the last century. + +In ancient times the chief fort or castle was called the "morro," or +Moorish tower, because it was generally round; and San Juan, like +Havana, has its Morro as the most prominent point of its fortifications. +It stands on a bluff jutting out from the city walls and has a +lighthouse immediately in the rear of it. Against the seaward front of +the massive walls the ocean pounds and thunders, but the landward harbor +is quiet and safe for any craft. A broad parade ground is inclosed +within the walls, westward from the citadel, and not far off is the +oldest house in the city, no less a structure than the ancient castle of +Ponce de Leon, one-time governor here and discoverer of Florida. His +ashes are also kept here, in a leaden case, for Ponce the Lion-Hearted +was a great man in his day and cleaned out the Indians of this island +with a thoroughness that earned him an exceeding great reward. + +Just under the northern wall of the castle is the public cemetery, +the gate to it overhung by an ornate sentry box, and the bones of +evicted tenants of graves whose terms of rental have expired, are +piled in the corners of the inclosure. The prevailing winds by day +are from the sea landward; by night, from the inland mountains +toward the coast. Far inland rises the conical summit of the great +Luquillo, a mountain about 4,000 feet in height, and from whose +sides descend streams that fertilize the island. + +It is about ninety miles from San Juan to Ponce, the southern +port, by a fine road diagonally across the island. The Spaniards +generally are poor road-builders, but in this island they have +done better than in Cuba, and one may travel here with a fair +amount of comfort to the mile. There are several lines of +railroads building, a system being projected around the island 340 +miles in length. + +The city of Ponce is the largest, with a population of about 38,000 and +an export trade of vast extent. It is the chief sugar-shipping point, +though it has no good harbor, and lies nearly three miles from the sea. +It is a rather fine city, with a pretty plaza and a grand cathedral, and +its houses, like those of San Juan, are all built of stone. + +Other harbors are: On the east coast, Fajardo and Humacao; on the +north, besides San Juan, Arrecibo; on the west, Aguadilla and +Mayaguez, at the former of which Columbus watered his caravels in +1493, and where the original spring still gushes forth. + +Going with Puerto Rico are two small islands called Culebra and +Vieque, mainly inhabited by fishermen, but with fine forests of +dye and cabinet woods to be exploited. The commerce of the island +is mainly with the United States. We gained $1,000,000 a year in +exports to this island for the last ten years, and nearly +$3,000,000 in imports. With a staple government and under wise +control, Puerto Rico will more nearly attain to its full +productiveness. The annual sugar yield is estimated at near 70,000 +tons; that of coffee, 17,000 tons; bananas, nearly 200,000,000; +cocoanuts, 3,000,000, and tobacco, 7,000,000 pounds. Gold was +originally abundant here, and copper, iron and lead have been +found. With enterprise and protection to life and property they +will be profitably exploited. + +COLONIAL POSSESSIONS OF SPAIN. + +The loss of Cuba and Puerto Rico did not leave Spain without +colonial possessions, as the subjoined table will show: + + Area--English + Possessions in Asia square miles. Population. + + Philippine Islands 114,326 7,000,000 + Sulu Islands 950 73,000 + Caroline Islands and Palaos 560 36,000 + Marianne Islands 420 10,172 + ------- --------- + Total Asiatic possessions 116,256 7,121,172 + + Possessions in Africa + + Rio de Oro and Adrar 243,000 100,000 + Ifni 27 6,000 + Fernando Po, Annabon, Corsico, Elobey, San Juan 850 30,000 + ------- ------- + Total African possessions 243,877 136,000 + +The Sulu archipelago lies southwest of the Island of Mindanao, and +directly south of Manila and the Mindora sea. The chief island +gives its name to the group, which extends to the three-mile limit +of Borneo. The area of the whole is estimated at 950 square miles; +the population at 75,000 Melanesians. + +The Caroline and Marianne, or Ladrone Islands, are more numerous, +but scarcely as important or as populous as the Sulu group. They +belong to what is sometimes known as Micronesia, from the extreme +diminutiveness of the land masses. The two groups are east and +northeast of the Philippines, and in easy sailing reach from +Manila. From east to west they are spread over 30-odd degrees of +longitude, and from north to south over 20 degrees of latitude. + +The inhabited islands are of coral formation, generally not over +ten or twelve feet above high water mark. They are, in fact, heaps +of sand and seaweed blown over the coral reefs. Most of these +islands are narrow bands of land from a few yards to a third of a +mile across, with a lagoon partly or wholly inclosed by the reef. +Cocoanuts and fish are the chief reliance of the natives, who are +an inferior species, even for Polynesians. + +First and most attractive of the African dependencies, both by +reason of natural resources and of their advantages as a naval +base, are the Canaries, which are regarded as a part of the +Spanish kingdom proper, so long and so secure has been the hold of +Spain upon them. + +More extensive in area, if not more attractive for residence +purposes, is the sandy, partially desert stretch bearing the names +of Rio de Oro (River of Gold), and Adrar. The imaginary line +familiar to schoolboys under the name of the Tropic of Cancer has +an especial fondness for this region, passing near the north and +south center. The district is close to the Canaries on its +northern edge, and it is ruled by a sub-governor under the +Governor of the Canaries. There are two small settlements on the +coast The only glory Spain gets from this possession is that of +seeing its color mark on the maps of Africa. + +Of the other African possessions enumerated some are hardly big +enough to be seen on an ordinary map without the aid of a +microscope. Corisco is a little stretch of coast around an inlet +just south of Cape St. John, near the equator. Fernando Po Island +will be found right in the inner crook of the big African elbow. +Annabon Island is off Cape Lopez. + +Another possession or claim of the decadent peninsula monarchy +remains to be catalogued--the country on the banks of the Muni and +Campo rivers, 69,000 square miles, and containing a population of +500,000. The title to this section is also claimed by France. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +PROGRESS OF HOSTILITIES. + +Eagerness to Fight--Matanzas Bombarded--Weyler's Brother-in-law a +Prisoner of War--The Situation in Havana--Blanco Makes a Personal +Appeal to Gomez--The Reply of a Patriot--"One Race, Mankind"--The +Momentum of War--Our Position Among Nations. + + +The striking peculiarity at the commencement of the war was the +general eagerness to fight. There have been wars in which there +was much maneuvering and blustering, but no coming to blows. There +have been campaigns on sea and land in which commanders exhausted +the devices of strategy to keep out of each other's way, but in +this war the Americans strained strategy, evaded rules, and sought +excuses to get at the Spaniards. + +Given a Spanish fortified town and an American fleet, and there was a +bombardment on short notice. Given a Spanish fort and a Yankee gunboat, +and there was a fight. There were no "all-quiet-on-the-Potomac" or +"nothing-new-before-Paris" refrains. The Americans knew they were right, +and they went ahead. + +MATANZAS BOMBARDED. + +The first actual bombardment of Cuban forts took place on April +27th at Matanzas, when three ships of Admiral Sampson's fleet, the +flagship New York, the monitor Puritan, and the cruiser +Cincinnati, opened fire upon the fortifications. The Spaniards had +been actively at work on the fortifications at Punta Gorda, and it +was the knowledge of this fact that led Admiral Sampson to shell +the place, the purpose being to prevent their completion. + +A small battery on the eastern side of the bay opened fire on the +New York, and the flagship quickly responded with her heavy guns. +Probably twenty-five eight-inch shells were sent from the battery +at our ships, but all of them fell short. A few blank shells were +also fired from the incomplete battery. + +One or two of those whizzed over Admiral Sampson's flagship. After +completing their work the ships put out to the open sea, the +flagship returning to its post off Havana, while the Cincinnati +and the Puritan remained on guard off Matanzas. While the flagship +New York, her sister cruiser, the Cincinnati, and the monitor +Puritan were locating the defenses of Matanzas harbor the +batteries guarding the entrance opened fire on the New York. Their +answer was a broadside from Admiral Sampson's flagship, the first +fire being from the forward eight-inch gun on the port side. The +monitor attacked the Point Maya fortification, the flagship went +in close and shelled Rubalcaya Point, while the Cincinnati was +soon at work shelling the fortification on the west side of the +bay. In less than twenty minutes Admiral Sampson's warships had +silenced the Spanish batteries. + +The explosive shells from the forts fell wide of the ships. The +last one fired from the shore was from Point Rubalcaya. The +monitor Puritan let go with a shot from one of her twelve-inch +guns, and its effect was seen when a part of the fortification +went into the air. The battery at Maya was the stronger of the two +and its fire more constant, but all its shells failed to hit our +ships. + +The target practice of the flagship was an inspiring sight. At +every shot from her batteries, clouds of dust and big pieces of +stone showed where the Spanish forts were suffering. The New York, +after reducing the range from over six thousand to three thousand +yards, fired shells at the rate of three a minute into the enemy's +forts, each one creating havoc. The Puritan took equally good care +of Point Maya. When she succeeded in getting the range, her +gunners landed a shell inside the works at every shot. + +When permission was given to the Cincinnati to take part in the +first battle between Yankee and Spanish forces, the cruiser came +up to within 2,000 yards of the shore, and almost immediately her +guns were at work. Cadet Boone on the flagship fired the first gun +in answer to the Spanish batteries. + +The Spanish mail steamer Argonauta, Captain Lage, was convoyed +into Key West harbor by the United States cruiser Marblehead on +May 3. Colonel Vicente De Cortijo of the Third Spanish cavalry, +who, with nineteen other army officers, was taken on the prize, is +a brother-in-law of Lieutenant General Valeriano Weyler. Colonel +De Cortijo and the other officers were transferred to the Guido +and the privates to the Ambrosio Bolivar, two other trophies of +the first week of the war. + +The Argonauta herself was no mean prize, being of 1,000 tons +burden, but the value of the capture was mainly in the prisoners +of war and the mail matter going to General Blanco. Her cargo was +general merchandise, with a large quantity of ammunition and +supplies for the Spanish troops in Cuba. + +THE SITUATION IN HAVANA. + +A correspondent wrote from Havana, on the 3d of May, as follows: + +"The dispatch boat succeeded again to-day in opening communication +with Havana, and your correspondent brought away with him the +morning papers of yesterday. + +"The City of Havana is a sad sight. There are still a few of the +reconcentrados about the streets now, but starvation has ended the +misery of most of them, and their bones have been thrown into the +trenches outside of the city. + +"Starvation now faces the Spanish citizens themselves. Havana is a +graveyard. Two-thirds of the inhabitants have fled. The other +third is beginning to feel the pangs of hunger. + +"The prices rival those of Klondike. Beefsteak is $1 a pound. +Chickens are $1 each. Flour is $50 a barrel. Everything is being +confiscated for Blanco's army. Sleek, well-fed persons are daily +threatened with death to make them divulge the whereabouts of +their hidden stores of provisions. + +"Several provision stores in the side streets have been broken +into and looted. General Blanco is being strongly urged to sink +artesian wells to provide water in the event of a siege, as a +joint attack by the Cuban and American forces would destroy the +aqueduct. It is not thought that Blanco will attempt this, as he +will not have sufficient time. + +"A bulletin posted on the wall of the palace this morning +announced that the mail steamship Aviles from Nuevitasa and the +Cosme Herra from Sagua arrived last night. It is also stated that +the Spanish brig Vigilante arrived at Matanzas from Montevideo +with food supplies for the government. + +"The palace of the Captain General is practically deserted since +the blockade began. Blanco has personally taken command of Mariena +battery, and is directing the erection of new sand batteries all +along the water front west of the entrance to Havana Bay. +Lieutenant General Perrado is making Guanabacoa his headquarters, +and is planting new batteries and strengthening the fortifications +as much as possible. Over 300 draymen are engaged in the hauling +of sand from the mouth of Almandres for use in the construction of +the earthworks along the coast, and in the city suburbs all +draymen have been ordered to report for volunteer duty with their +drays. The streets are riotous with half-drunken Spanish +volunteers crying for American and Cuban blood. + +"At night the city is wrapped in darkness, all gas and electric +lights being shut off by order of Blanco. Spanish soldiers are +taking advantage of this to commit shocking outrages upon +unprotected Cuban families. In spite of these direful +circumstances Blanco has ordered the decoration of the city, +hoping to incite the patriotism of the populace." + +BLANCO MAKES A PERSONAL APPEAL TO GOMEZ. + +On May 4 General Blanco made a supreme effort to win over the +Cuban forces, writing a letter to General Gomez. A copy of this +letter and the answer of General Gomez were found upon Commander +Lima, who was picked up by the Tecumseh fifteen miles from Havana. +The letter of General Blanco was as follows: + +General Maximo Gomez, Commander-in-Chief of the Revolutionary +Forces: + +Sir--It cannot be concealed from you that the Cuban problem has +radically changed. We Spaniards and Cubans find ourselves facing a +foreign people of different race, of a naturally absorbent +tendency, and with intentions not only to deprive Spain of her +flag over the Cuban soil, but also to exterminate the Cuban +people, due to its having Spanish blood. + +The supreme moment has, therefore, arrived in which we should +forget our past misunderstandings, and in which, united by the +interests of our own defense, we, Spaniards and Cubans, must repel +the invader. + +General, due to these reasons, I propose to make alliance of both +armies in the City of Santa Clara. The Cubans will receive the +arms of the Spanish army, and with the cry of "Viva Espana!" and +"Viva Cuba!" we shall repel the invader and free from a foreign +yoke the descendants of the same people. + +Your obedient servant, + +RAMON BLANCO. + +To this General Gomez replied as follows: + +Sir--I wonder how you dare to write me again about terms of peace +when you know that Cubans and Spaniards can never be at peace on +the soil of Cuba. You represent on this continent an old and +discredited monarchy. We are fighting for an American principle, +the same as that of Bolivar and Washington. + +You say we belong to the same race and invite me to fight against +a foreign invader, but you are mistaken again, for there are no +differences of races and blood. I only believe in one race, +mankind, and for me there are but good and bad nations, Spain so +far having been a bad one and the United States performing in +these movements toward Cuba a duty of humanity and civilization. + +From the wild, tawny Indian to the refined, blond Englishman, a +man for me is worthy of respect according to his honesty and +feelings, no matter to what country or race he belongs or what +religion he professes. + +So are nations for me, and up to the present I have had only +reasons for admiring the United States. I have written to +President McKinley and General Miles thanking them for American +intervention in Cuba. I don't see the danger of our extermination +by the United States, to which you refer in your letter. If it be +so, history will judge. For the present I have to repeat that it +is too late for any understanding between my army and yours. + +Your obedient servant, + +MAXIMO GOMEZ. + +ONE RACE--MANKIND. + +The reply of Gomez to Blanco will live in history. Blanco's +strange appeal to the Cuban general was characteristic of a +Spaniard. It would seem that an intelligent man would not have +made such an appeal, well knowing that it would be useless. For +three years Gomez had waged what to many seemed to be a hopeless +fight. After these years of sacrifice he obtained the United +States as an ally, an acquisition that assured him of final +success. Under these circumstances Blanco, the representative of +the forces against which Gomez had been contending, appealed to +Gomez to join with him in an effort to repel the United States +forces. Such an appeal under the circumstances, in view of the +fact that Blanco was regarded as an intelligent man, showed the +Spaniard to be incapable of appreciating the sentiments which +prompted a people to maintain a struggle for liberty. + +General Blanco based his appeal upon the claim that the Cuban and +the Spaniard belonged to the same race and worshiped at the same +shrine. He sought to stir up within Gomez' breast racial and +religious prejudices, and went so far as to suggest that in the +event Gomez united his forces with those of Blanco, Spain would +give liberty to Cuba, and would "open her arms to another new +daughter of the nations of the new world who speak her language, +profess her religion and feel in their veins the noble Spanish +blood." + +Gomez' letter was interesting for several reasons. To those who +had pictured him as a coarse, illiterate man this letter was a +revelation. It was not, however, a surprise to those who had +carefully studied Gomez' career and who understand that he was a +scholarly man as well as a thorough soldier. + +"I only believe in one race, mankind," said Gomez, and that +sentence will occupy a conspicuous place in the history of this +continent. + +"From the wild, tawny Indian to the refined, blond Englishman," +said Gomez, "a man for me is respectful according to his honesty +and feelings, no matter to what country or race he belongs or what +religion he professes. So are nations for me." Such excellent +sentiments were doubtless wasted on the Spaniard, but men of all +civilized nations, even we of the United States, may find great +value in these splendid expressions by the Cuban general. + +The man who believes that there is but one race to whom we owe +allegiance, that that race is mankind, and that to that race he +owes all allegiance, must have his heart in the right place. The +man who discards the consideration of accident of birth and, apart +from patriotic affairs, applies the term "comrade" to all of God's +creatures, that man has not studied in vain the purposes of +creation. The man who forms his estimate of individuals according +to the manhood displayed by the individual, banishing from his +mind all racial and religious prejudices, must certainly have +studied the lesson of life to good advantage. + +"I only believe in one race, mankind." That is a sentiment that +the religious instructors and the sages have endeavored to impress +upon us. But the combined efforts of all the instructors and all +the sages in teaching of the brotherhood of man have not been so +impressive as was the simple statement of this splendid patriot +wherein he repelled the temptation to racial and religious +prejudice. + +Mankind is the race, and the honest man's the man, no matter to +what country he belongs or what religion he professes. That was a +sentiment of Maximo Gomez, the Cuban patriot, the clean-cut +American, a sentiment to which the intelligence of the world will +subscribe and in the light of which prejudice must finally fade +away. + +THE MOMENTUM OF WAR. + +As far as the American people were concerned, the destruction of +the Maine was the beginning of hostilities. The Nation dropped, on +the instant, the slow-going habits of peace, and caught step to +the intense and swift impulse of war. Great events crowded one +another to such an extent that we made more history in sixty days +than in the preceding thirty years. The movement was not a wild +drifting, but was as straight, swift, and resistless as that of a +cannon ball. There was an object in view, and the government and +the people went straight at it. + +When the Maine was destroyed our navy was scattered, our army was +at thirty different posts in as many States, there were no +volunteers in the field, no purpose of war in the minds of the +people. The Spanish hold on Cuba seemed secure; no one thought of +Spain's yielding Puerto Rico or the Philippine islands. The people +could not be brought to serious consideration of the Cuban +question, and they were indifferent to the fate of Hawaii. They +held back when any one talked of our rights in the Pacific, and +had little enthusiasm in the plans to strengthen our navy and our +coast defenses. All these questions were urgent, but the people +hesitated and Congress hesitated with them. + +The explosion that destroyed our battleship and slaughtered our +seamen cut every rope that bound us to inaction. In a week the +navy was massed for offensive movement. In three weeks $50,000,000 +had been placed at the disposal of the President to forward the +preparations for national defense. In a month new war vessels had +been purchased, the old monitors had been repaired and put in +commission, the American liners had been transferred to the navy. +In two months war had been declared, the reorganized North +Atlantic squadron had blockaded Cuban ports, and the regular army +was moving hurriedly to rendezvous in the South. In another week +125,000 volunteers were crowding the State capitals. + +Under the momentum of war we swept forward in a few weeks to the +most commanding position we had ever occupied among nations. +Without bluster or boast we impressed the world with our strength, +and made clear the righteousness of our cause. We proved that a +republic wedded to peace can prepare quickly for war, and that a +popular government is as quick and powerful as a monarchy to +avenge insult or wrong. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +SEA FIGHT OFF MANILA, AMERICANS VICTORIOUS. + +The Eyes of the World Fixed on the First Great Naval Battle of +Our War with Spain--Asiatic Waters the Scene of the Notable +Conflict--Importance of the Battle in Its Possible Influence on +the Construction of All the European Navies--Bravery of Admiral +Dewey and the American Sailors of His Fleet--A Glorious Victory +for the Star-Spangled Banner--Capture of Manila and Destruction of +the Spanish Fleet. + + +Seldom has the attention of all the world been so directed upon +an expected event in a remote quarter of the globe, as during the +few days at the end of April when the American fleet in Asiatic +waters was steaming toward an attack on Manila, the capital of the +Philippine islands. The eyes of every civilized country were +strained to see what would be the result of the encounter which +was certain to come. + +It was recognized frankly by the authorities on warfare +everywhere, that the outcome of this first great naval battle +would go far toward deciding the fortunes of the entire war. But +the importance of the event from this point of view was less than +that from another which interested the governments of all Europe. +This first test of the modern fighting machine at sea was expected +to furnish lessons by which the merits of such vessels could be +definitely judged. It might be that they would prove far less +efficient than had been calculated by the lords of the admiralty, +and that the millions and millions invested in the fleets of +Europe would be found virtually wasted. It was this, quite as much +as its bearing on the war, that made universal attention direct +itself upon the meeting of the squadrons in the Philippines. + +All America rejoiced at the news that came flashing over the +cables on Sunday, May 1, when the first word of the battle reached +the United States. Even Spanish phrases could not conceal the fact +that the encounter had been a brilliant victory for the valor of +American sailors, and the strength of American ships. A Spanish +fleet of superior size virtually annihilated, a city in terror of +capture, the insurgent armies at the gates of Manila, the losses +of Spanish soldiers and sailors admittedly great, and finally the +sullen roar of discontent that was rising against the government +in Madrid--all these things indicated that the victory had been an +overwhelming one for the Asiatic squadron under Admiral George +Dewey. + +As the details of the engagement began to multiply, in spite of +Spanish censorate over the cables, which garbled the facts as +generously as possible in favor of the Spanish forces, the +enthusiasm of the people throughout the cities and villages of +America swelled in a rising tide of joy and gratitude for the +victory that had been given to them. From Eastport to San Diego, +and from Key West to Seattle, flags flashed forth and cheers of +multitudes rose toward the sky. Around the newspaper bulletins, +throngs gathered to read the first brief reports, and then +scattered to spread the news among their own neighbors. Seldom has +an event been known so widely throughout the country with as +little delay as was this news of an American victory in the +antipodes. There was a sense of elation and relief over the +result, and an absolute assurance grew in every one's mind that no +reverse to American arms could come in the threatened conflicts +ashore or at sea. + +A NATION IN SUSPENSE. + +But after the first news of victory was received there came a +period of delay. It was learned that the cable between Manila and +Hongkong had been cut, and the only means of immediate +communication was suspended. + +Then came fretful days of waiting and not a word further as to the +great battle. To add to the anxiety, from time to time came ugly +rumors about Admiral Dewey being trapped, and when all the +circumstances of the case were considered it is not strange that +something like a chill of apprehension began to be felt as to the +fate of the American fleet and its gallant commander. Manila bay +was known to be mined, and electric connections might again have +been made. The guns of the forts on the land-locked bay might not +have been silenced, and Spanish treachery and guile might have +accomplished what in open battle Spain's fleet had been unable to +do. + +But the morning of the 7th of May brought word from Hongkong that +sent a thrill of patriotic pride through all America. Our Yankee +tars had won the fight, and won it without the loss of a man. + +Even those who witnessed the overwhelming victory could scarcely +understand how the ships and the men of Admiral Dewey's vessels +came out of the battle unhurt and practically unmarked. + +Soon after midnight on Sunday morning, May 1, the American fleet, +led by the flagship Olympia, the largest vessel among them, passed +unnoticed the batteries which were attempting to guard the wide +entrance to the harbor. Each vessel had orders to keep 400 yards +behind the preceding one, and as there were nine vessels, +including the two transports and colliers Nanshan and Zafiro, in +the American fleet, the line was nearly a mile and three-quarters +long, and at the rate of steaming it was perhaps three-quarters of +an hour from the time the Olympia came within range of the shore +batteries until the two transports were safely inside the harbor. + +The Olympia, Baltimore, Raleigh, Petrel and Concord passed in +safety and the land batteries might never have suspected the +presence of the fleet but for a peculiar accident on the +McCulloch. The soot in the funnel caught fire. Flames spouted up +from it, and the sparks fell all over the deck. The batteries must +have been awake and watching. Five minutes later, or just at +11:50, signals were seen on the south shore, apparently on +Limbones point. The flying sparks from this boat made her the only +target in the American line. She continued to steam ahead, and at +12:15, May 1, just as she came between the fort at Restingo and +the batteries on the island of Corregidor she was fired upon by +the fort at the south. + +The Boston, just ahead, had her guns manned and ready, and she +responded to the shore fire with great promptness, sending an +eight-inch shell toward the curl of smoke seen rising from the +battery. This was the first shot fired by the Americans. It was +not possible to judge of its effect. There was another flash on +shore and a shell went singing past, only a few yards ahead of her +bow. If it had struck fairly it would have ripped up the unarmored +cutter. This was the McCulloch's only chance to get into battle. +She slowed down and stopped and sent a six-pound shot at the shore +battery and followed immediately with another. + +The Spaniards answered, but this time the shot went wild. The +McCulloch then sent a third shell, and almost immediately, the +Boston repeated with one of her big guns. After that the shore +battery ceased, and the last half of the fleet steamed into the +bay without further interruption. At no time did the batteries on +Corregidor fire. All the firing by the Spanish came from the south +battery, which was much nearer. Five or six shells were fired by +the Americans, and the Spanish shot three times, doing absolutely +no damage. There were conflicting reports among the naval officers +as to the firing at the entrance to the bay, but it is certain +that the McCulloch fired three shots. During this firing, the +chief engineer of the McCulloch died of nervous shock. + +WHEN SPANISH SHIPS WERE SIGHTED. + +After passing through the channel the American line moved very +slowly. The men on the McCulloch were in a fighting fever after +the brush at the entrance to the harbor, and were expecting every +minute to hear cannonading from the heavy ships ahead. The fleet +crept on and on, waiting under the cover of darkness, and not +certain as to their location or at all sure that they would not +run into a nest of mines at any moment. + +It was nearly 1 o'clock when they were safely in the bay. Between +that hour and 4:30 the fleet, moving slowly in a northeasterly +direction, headed for a point perhaps five miles to the north of +Manila. After covering about seventeen miles, and with the first +light of day, the Spanish ships were sighted off to the east under +shelter of the strongly fortified naval station at Cavite. The +batteries and the town of Cavite are about seven miles southwest +of Manila, and are on an arm of land reaching northward to inclose +a smaller harbor, known as Baker bay. From where the fleet first +stopped, the shapes of the larger Spanish cruisers could be made +out dimly, and also the irregular outlines of the shore batteries +behind. It was evident, even to a landsman, that the Spanish fleet +would not fight unless our vessels made the attack, coming within +range of the Cavite batteries. + +The signaling from the flagship and the hurried movement on every +deck showed that the fleet was about to attack. In the meantime +the McCulloch received her orders. She was to lie well outside, +that is, to the west of the fighting line, and protect the two +cargo ships, Nanshan and Zafiro. The position assigned to her +permitted the American fleet to carry on their fighting maneuvers +and at the same time to keep between the Spanish fleet and the +three American ships which were not qualified to go into the +battle. + +GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S PROCLAMATION. + +Shortly before 5 o'clock Sunday morning and when every vessel in +the fleet had reported itself in readiness to move on Cavite, the +crews were drawn up and the remarkable proclamation issued by the +governor-general of the Philippine islands, on April 23, was read +to the men. Every American sailor went into battle determined to +resent the insults contained in the message, which was as follows: + +Spaniards! Hostilities have broken out between Spain and the +United States. The moment has arrived for us to prove to the world +that we possess the spirit to conquer those who, pretending to be +loyal friends, have taken advantage of our misfortune and abused +our hospitalities, using means which civilized nations count +unworthy and disreputable. + +The North American people, constituted of all the social +excrescences, have exhausted our patience and provoked war with +their perfidious machinations, with their acts of treachery, with +their outrages against laws of nations and international +conventions. The struggle will be short and decisive, the God of +victories will give us one as brilliant and complete as the +righteousness and justice of our cause demand. Spain, which counts +on the sympathies of all the nations, will emerge triumphantly +from the new test, humiliating and blasting the adventurers from +those states that, with out cohesion and without history, offer to +humanity only infamous tradition and the ungrateful spectacle of +chambers in which appear united insolence, cowardice and cynicism. +A squadron, manned by foreigners possessing neither instructions +nor discipline, is preparing to come to this archipelago with the +ruffianly intention of robbing us of all that means life, honor +and liberty. + +Pretending to be inspired by a courage of which they are +incapable, the North American seamen undertake as an enterprise +capable of realization the substitution of protestantism for the +Catholic religion you profess, to treat you as tribes refractory +to civilization, to take possession of your riches as if they were +unacquainted with the rights of property, and kidnap those persons +whom they consider useful to man their ships or to be exploited in +agricultural or individual labor. Vain design! Ridiculous +boasting! Your indomitable bravery will suffice to frustrate the +attempt to carry them into realization. You will not allow the +faith you profess to be made a mockery, impious hands to be placed +on the temple of the true God, the images you adore to be thrown +down by unbelief. The aggressors shall not profane the tombs of +your fathers. They shall not gratify their lustful passions at the +cost of your wives' and daughters' honor or appropriate the +property that your industry has accumulated as a provision for +your old age. No! They shall not perpetrate the crimes inspired by +their wickedness and covetousness, because your valor and +patriotism will suffice to punish and abase the people that, +claiming to be civilized and cultivated, have exterminated the +natives of North America instead of bringing to them the life of +civilization and progress. Men of the Philippines, prepare for the +struggle, and united under the glorious Spanish flag, which is +ever covered with laurels, let us fight with the conviction that +victory will crown our efforts, and to the calls of our enemies +let us oppose with the decision of the Christian and patriotic cry +of "Viva Espana." Your governor, + +BASILIO AUGUSTIN DIVILIO. + +EXPLODING THE MINES. + +If the cry of "Remember the Maine" were not enough to put the +American sailors in a fighting mood as the warships moved forward +in battle line, the memory of this insulting proclamation helped +to put them on their mettle. + +The Olympia headed straight for the Spanish position a few minutes +before 5 o'clock. She was moving at moderate speed. The other +vessels followed in the same order which had been observed in +entering the bay. The Spaniards were impatient and showed bad +judgment. At 5:10 o'clock there was a puff of smoke from one of +the Cavite batteries and a shell dropped into the water far +inshore from the flagship. Several shots followed, but the range +was too long. While the American ships continued to crowd on, two +uplifts of the water far in the wake of the Olympia, and off at +one side, were seen. Two mines had been exploded from their land +connections. They did not even splash one of our boats, but those +who were watching and following behind, held their breath in +dread, for they did not know at what moment they might see one of +the ships lifted into the air. But there were no more mines. The +Spaniards, in exploding them, had bungled, as they did afterward +at every stage of their desperate fighting. + +Already there was a film of smoke over the land batteries and +along the line of Spanish ships inshore. The roar of their guns +came across the water. Our fleet paid no attention. + +The Olympia, in the lead, counted ten Spanish warships, formed in +a semi-circle in front of the rounding peninsula of Cavite, so +that they were both backed and flanked by the land batteries. The +ten vessels which made the fighting line were the flagships Reina +Christina, the Castilla, the Antonio de Ulloa, the Isla de Cuba, +the Isla de Luzon, the El Correo, the Marquis del Duero, the +Velasco, the Gen. Lezo and the Mindanao, the latter being a mail +steamer which the Spaniards had hastily fitted with guns. The +Castilla was moored head and stern, evidently to give the fleet a +fixed spot from which to maneuver, but the other boats were under +steam and prepared to move. + +The Olympia opened fire for the American fleet when two miles away +from the enemy. She began blazing away with her four eight-inch +turret guns. The thunders of sound came rolling across the water +and the flagships were almost hidden in smoke. Now our ships +circled to the north and east in the general direction of the city +of Manila. That is, the American fleet circling toward the +northeast and further in toward shore all the time, turned and +came back in a southwesterly direction, passing in parade line +directly in front of the Spanish fleet and batteries, so that the +first general broadside was from the port side, or the left of the +ships as one stands on the stern and faces the bow. The McCulloch +had taken its position so that the fleet, in delivering this first +broadside, passed between it and the enemy. The McCulloch and the +Nanshan and Zafiro played in behind the heavy line like the backs +of a football team. + +Having delivered the port broadside, the American fleet turned, +heading toward the shore, and moved back toward the northeast, +delivering the starboard broadside. + +As our ships passed to and fro, the stars and stripes could be +seen whirling out from the clouds of smoke, and as the line passed +the second and third times without a sign of any ship being +injured, the sailors began to feel that the Spaniards were not so +formidable after all. Their shots went tearing away over our ships +or splashed the water farther in shore. Some of the men who fought +at the guns said that after the first general broadside, the +sailors laughed at the wild shots, and exposed themselves +recklessly, feeling that they were in no particular danger. + +The story of the first general engagement is that the Americans +moved in front of the Spanish line five times, pouring in +broadsides with all the available guns. Each time the fleet drew +nearer to shore, and each time the firing became more terribly +effective, while the Spaniards failed to improve in marksmanship. +Our gunners fired first the port broadsides, then the starboard, +then the port again, then the starboard and then the port guns for +a third time, and at this last, or fifth, return for an engagement +along the line they were within 1,500 yards of the Spanish +position. Our whole line was choked with smoke, but still unhurt. +The Spanish fleet was already wounded beyond recovery. + +DUEL OF THE FLAGSHIPS. + +It was during the delivery of this last attack that the Reina Christina +made a valiant attack. Up to that time not a Spanish ship had left the +line of battle. As the Olympia approached, Admiral Montejo gave orders, +and the Reina Christina moved out from the line to engage the big +flagship of the American fleet. Admiral Dewey's boat welcomed the +battle. Every battery on the Olympia was turned on the Reina Christina. +In the face of this awful fire she still advanced. The American sailors +had ridiculed the gunnery of the Spaniards, but they had to admire this +act of bravery. She came forward and attempted to swing into action +against the Olympia, but was, struck fore and aft by a perfect storm of +projectiles. With the Olympia still pounding at her, she swung around +and started back for the protection of the navy yard. Just after she had +turned a well-aimed shell from one of the Olympia's eight-inch guns +struck her, fairly wrecking the engine-room and exploding a magazine. +She was seen to be on fire, but she painfully continued her way toward +the shelter of Cavite and continued firing until she was a mass of +flames. It was during this retreat that Captain Cadarso was killed. The +bridge was shot from under Admiral Montejo. The Spanish sailors could be +seen swarming out of the burning ship and into the small boats. Admiral +Montejo escaped and transferred his pennant to the Castilla. He had been +on the Castilla less than five minutes when it was set on fire by an +exploding shell. + +Toward the close of the decisive engagement, and just after the +Reina Christina had been sent back, hammered to pieces and set on +fire, two small torpedo boats made a daring attempt to slip up on +the Olympia. A pall of smoke was hanging over the water. Taking +advantage of this, they darted out from the Spanish lines and +headed straight for the American flagship. They were fully 800 +yards in advance of the Spanish line (or more than half of the way +toward the Olympia) when they were discovered. Admiral Dewey +signaled his men to concentrate all batteries on them. Every gun +on the port side of the Olympia was leveled on the two little +craft which came flying across the water. A fierce fire was +opened, but they escaped the first volley and came on at full +speed. The flagship stopped. A second broadside was delivered. The +torpedo boats were either injured or else alarmed, for they turned +hastily and started for the shore. An eight-inch shell struck one. +It exploded and sunk immediately, with all on board. The other, +which had been hit, ran all the way to shore and was beached. +These were the only two attempts the Spanish made to offer +offensive battle. + +It would be difficult to describe in detail these first two hours +of terrific fighting. The sounds were deafening, and at times the +smoke obscured almost the whole picture of battle. The American +commander himself could not estimate the injury to the enemy until +after he had withdrawn from the first general engagement and +allowed the smoke to clear away. Unfortunately, our fleet had no +supply of smokeless powder. All during the fighting of Sunday +morning, Admiral Dewey stood with Captain Lambertson on the +forward bridge of the Olympia. He was absolutely exposed to the +heaviest firing, because the Spanish fleet and the land batteries +as well continually made a target of our big flagship. Captain +Wildes, on the Boston, carried a fan as he stood on the bridge, +and at one time drank a cup of coffee while continuing to give +orders to his gunners. + +It was 7:45 when the American fleet withdrew out of range, not +because it had suffered any reverses, but merely to ascertain the +damages and hold a consultation. + +Not until the commanders had reported to Admiral Dewey did he +learn of the insignificant loss which his fleet had sustained. Not +one man had been killed and not one vessel was so badly injured +but that it was ready to put to sea at once. Through the glasses +it could be seen that the Reina Christina and the Castilla were +burning. The smaller vessels had taken refuge behind the arsenal +at Cavite. The Mindanao had been driven ashore. Already the +victory was almost complete. The American sailors were wild with +enthusiasm. Although hardly one of them had slept the night +before, and they had been fighting in a burning temperature, they +were more than anxious to return to the engagement and finish the +good work. It was thought best, however, to take a rest for at +least three hours. The decks were cleaned and the guns readjusted, +and after food had been served to the men, the fleet formed and +headed straight for Cavite again. The remnant of the Spanish +squadron offered very little resistance, but the forts at Cavite +continued their wild efforts to strike an American warship. + +MAKING THE SECOND ATTACK. + +This time the Baltimore was sent in advance. She headed boldly to +within range of the Cavite batteries. By this time the Americans +had a contempt for Spanish marksmanship. The Baltimore opened fire +and pounded away for thirty minutes. At the end of that time every +gun of the batteries had been silenced. Of the Spanish war-ships +the Antonio de Ulloa was the only one which came out of refuge to +offer battle with the Baltimore and she met with horrible +punishment. Her decks were literally swept with shell, but even +after she was apparently wrecked her lower guns were used with +wonderful persistence. + +The Baltimore, having silenced the forts, turned all her guns on +the Spanish cruiser and actually riddled her. She sank and all her +crew went down with her. That was the end of Spanish resistance. +Admiral Dewey ordered his light-draught vessels to enter the navy +yard and destroy everything that might give future trouble. The +Boston, the Concord and the Petrel were detailed for this duty, +but the Boston, drawing twenty feet, ran aground twice, not +knowing the shoals, and had to leave the work to the Petrel and +Concord. By the time these two vessels reached the navy yard they +found the vessels there abandoned and most of them on fire. They +destroyed the fag end of the Spanish fleet, and when Sunday +afternoon came there was nothing left above water to represent the +Spanish naval force in Asiatic waters except the transport Manila. +The arsenal had been shelled to pieces. + +At 12:45 o'clock the signal was given that the Spanish had +surrendered. The word was passed rapidly from ship to ship. The +American sailors were crazy with delight. There was tremendous +cheering on every ship. The enthusiasm became even greater when +the word was passed that not one of our men had been killed and +not one American vessel had been injured. The eight men who were +hurt by the explosion on the Baltimore continued to fight until +the end of the battle. The Boston was struck once and the +officers' quarters set on fire. + +For some reason the Spanish gunners seemed to think that the +Baltimore was especially dangerous, having the general build of a +battleship, and, next to the flagship, she had to withstand the +greatest amount of firing, and was struck several times, with no +great damage. Except for the torn rigging and a few dents here and +there few signs could be discovered that the vessels had engaged +in one of the most decisive naval battles of modern times. + +The Concord and the Petrel were not hit at all, although the +latter went deeper into the enemy's position than any other vessel +in our fleet The Olympia made a glorious record. She was struck +thirteen times, counting the shells which tore through her +rigging, but she came out as good as she went in. + +LOSS OF THE SPANISH. + +Compared with these trivial losses the damage done to the Spanish +was fearful. Five hundred and fifty of them were killed and 625 +wounded. Eleven of their ships were totally demolished, and the +Americans captured one transport and several smaller vessels. +Their money loss by reason of the battle was not less than +$5,000,000. + +During the naval action a battery of 10-inch guns at Manila opened +an ineffectual fire on our fleet as it was moving into action +north of Cavite. The admiral did not return' the fire out of mercy +for the people of Manila, as any shots passing over the shore +batteries would have landed in a populous portion of the city. + +On Monday, May 2, the Raleigh and Baltimore were sent to demand +the surrender of the forts at the mouth of the bay. These forts +were taken without resistance. The troops had fled and only the +commandant remained to surrender himself. + +In regard to the cutting of the cable, Admiral Dewey regarded the +action as necessary. He sent word to the governor by the British +consul that if he was permitted to send his dispatches to the +United States government the cable would not be cut. The governor +refused to promise and Admiral Dewey decided to stop all +communication between Manila and Madrid. + +On Monday, when the cable was cut, the commander established a +marine guard at Cavite to protect the hospitals and the Spanish +wounded. Surgeons and the hospital corps of the American fleet +were detailed to care for the wounded Spaniards, and they cared +for them as tenderly as if they were brothers in arms instead of +enemies. On Wednesday, May 4, several hundred of the wounded +Spaniards were conveyed under the Red Cross flag to Manila and +were cared for in the hospitals there. + +The Spaniards in Manila no longer feared the Americans, but they were in +dread of capture by the insurgents. The rebels were over-running Cavite +and pillaging houses. The country back of Manila was full of burning +buildings and wrecked plantations. The reckless insurgents were applying +the torch right and left. + +ADMIRAL MONTEJO'S PRIVATE PAPERS. + +The most interesting capture made by the Americans was a bundle of +private papers belonging to Admiral Montejo. One of these +communications, bearing his signature, showed that it was his +intention to have a general review and inspection of the fleet at +7 o'clock on Sunday morning. This proves that he was not expecting +the American fleet so soon. + +Other papers showed that it had been his intention at one time to +intrust the defense of Manila to the land batteries and take the +fleet to Subig bay, north of Manila, believing that he could there +take up a strong position and have an advantage over an attacking +fleet. + +According to the reports from Manila the admiral first went ashore +at Cavite and had his wounds dressed. He succeeded in evading the +insurgents, who wished to capture him, and arrived in Manila +twelve hours after the fight. + +There are some very interesting figures as to the amount of firing +done by our ships during the battle. The Olympia fired 1,764 +shells, aggregating twenty-five tons in weight. The Baltimore did +even heavier firing, being called upon to reduce the forts after +the first engagement, and sent no less than thirty-five tons of +metal into the Spanish ships and the land batteries. The remainder +of the fleet shot a total of eighty tons of metal, making a grand +total of 140 tons. + +The Spanish officers attributed the American victory to the +rapidity and the accuracy of our fire rather than to the weight of +projectiles used. Also, the fact that the American ships were +painted a lead color and did not stand out boldly against the +water made them very unsatisfactory targets and kept the Spanish +gunners guessing as to the correct range. + +In spite of his overwhelming defeat Admiral Montejo did not forget +the courtesies of the occasion. On Monday he sent word by the +British consul to Admiral Dewey that he wished to compliment the +Americans on their marksmanship. He said that never before had he +witnessed such rapid and accurate firing. Admiral Dewey, not to be +outdone in the amenities of war, sent his compliments to the +Spanish admiral and praised the Spaniards very highly for their +courage and resistance. He said that the Spanish force was +stronger than he had believed it would be before his arrival at +the harbor, and he had really expected a shorter and less stubborn +battle. It is said that this message, although complimentary to +the Spanish, did not give Admiral Montejo any real comfort. + +The Spanish ships destroyed were: The Reina Christina, flagship of +Admiral Montejo; Cruiser Castilla (wooden); Cruiser Don Antonio de +Ulloa; Protected Cruiser Isla de Luzon; Protected Cruiser Isla de +Cuba; Gunboat General Lezo; Gunboat Marquis del Duero; Gunboat El +Cano; Gunboat El Velasco; the Steamer Mindanao, with supplies, +burned. + +These were captured: Transport Manila, with supplies; Gunboat +Isabella I; Cruiser Don Juan de Austria; Gunboat Rapido; Gunboat +Hercules; two whaleboats; three steam launches. + +Secretary Long sent this dispatch immediately to Acting Admiral +Dewey: + +The President, in the name of the American people, thanks you and +your officers and men for your splendid achievement and +overwhelming victory. In recognition he has appointed you Acting +Admiral, and will recommend a vote of thanks to you by Congress as +a foundation for further promotion. + +DEWEY'S NEW RANK. + +The Senate unanimously confirmed the President's nomination making +George Dewey a rear admiral in the United States navy. Congress +made the place for him, and the President promoted him. + +He bears on his shoulders two stars and an anchor instead of two +anchors and a star. His pay has been increased from $5,000 a year +to $6,000 a year, while at sea and until he retires. He was +presented with a sword, and medals were struck for his men. His +elevation in rank, his increase in pay, are gratifying tributes to +his greatness. But there is a rank to which the President could +not elevate him, a position that Congress could not create, for he +created it himself. In the hearts of the people Admiral Dewey is +the Hero of Manila, holding a place prouder than a king's, a place +in the love and admiration and gratitude of a great nation. + +Greater than Farragut, greater than Hull, greater than Hawke or +Blake or Nelson, Dewey is the greatest of fleet commanders, the +grandest of the heroes of the sea. It will be recorded of him that +he was faithful to duty, true to his flag, magnanimous to his +enemies and modest in the hour of triumph. + + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +HAWAII, AND OUR ANNEXATION POLICY. + +Location of the Islands--Their Population--Honolulu, the Capital +and the Metropolis--Political History--The Traditional Policy of +the United States--Former Propositions for Annexation-- +Congressional Discussion--The Vote in the House of +Representatives--The Hawaiian Commission. + + +A work of this character would be incomplete without mention of +the Hawaiian Islands, and their intimate political and commercial +connection with our own country. For many years prior to the +commencement of the war with Spain there had been a growing +sentiment in favor of their annexation to the United States, and +events in Washington during the first month of that conflict +showed conclusively that a large majority of the members of both +houses of Congress were strongly in favor of the measure. + +The Hawaiians are a group of eight inhabited and four uninhabited +islands lying in the North Pacific Ocean, distant from San +Francisco about 2,100 miles, from Sidney 4,500 miles, and from +Hongkong 4,800 miles. They are the most important in the +Polynesian group, and were discovered by Captain Cook in 1788. +Their combined area is 6,640 square miles, and their population is +about 85,000. The islands are to a great extent mountainous and +volcanic, but the soil is highly productive. Sugar, rice, and +tropical fruits grow in abundance, and over ninety per cent of the +trade is with the United States. + +FORTUNES EASILY MADE. + +The world knows comparatively nothing about the great fortunes +that have been amassed in Hawaii in the last thirty years. The +children of the Yankee missionaries who sailed from Boston and +Gloucester around the Horn to carry the gospel to the Sandwich +islands in the '30s and '40s are the richest and most aristocratic +people in Honolulu. For mere songs the sons of missionaries +obtained great tracts of marvelously fertile soil for sugar +planting in the valleys of the island, and with their natural +enterprise and inventive spirit they developed the greatest sugar +cane plantations in the world. + +When the United States gave a treaty to the Hawaiian kingdom putting +Hawaiian raw sugar on the free tariff list, the profits of the sugar +planters went up with a bound. For twenty-five years the dividends of +several of the Yankee companies operating sugar plantations and mills on +the islands ranged from 18 to 30 per cent a year. The Hawaiian +Commercial Sugar Company paid 25 per cent dividends annually from 1870 +to 1882. The world has never known productiveness so rich as that of the +valleys of Maui and Hawaii for sugar cane. The seed had only to be +planted and the rains fell and nature did the rest. One tract of 12,000 +acres of land on Maui was given to a young American, who married a +bewitching Kanaka girl, by her father, who was delighted to have a +pale-faced son-in-law. It was worth about $200 at the time. The tract +subsequently became a part of a great sugar plantation. It was bought by +Claus Spreckels for $175,000 and is worth much more than that now. The +Spreckles, Alexander, Bishop, Smith and Akers accumulated millions in +one generation of sugar cultivation in the Hawaiian islands. + +HUNDREDS OF VOLCANOES. + +The volcanoes of Hawaii are a class by themselves. They are not +only the tallest, but the biggest and strangest in the whole +world. Considering that they reach from the bottom of the Pacific +ocean (18,000 feet deep here) to over 15,000 feet above sea level, +they really stand 33,000 feet high from their suboceanic base to +their peaks. The active craters on the islands number 300, but the +dead craters, the ancient chimneys of subterranean lava beds, are +numbered by the thousands. The islands are of lavic formation. +Evidences of extinct volcanoes are so common that one seldom +notices them after a few weeks on the islands. Ancient lava is +present everywhere. The natives know all its virtues, and, while +some ancient deposits of lava are used as a fertilizer for soils, +other lava beds are blasted for building material and for +macadamizing roads. Titanic volcanic action is apparent on every +side. Every headland is an extinct volcano. Every island has its +special eruption, which, beginning at the unfathomable bottom of +the sea, has slowly built up a foundation and then a +superstructure of lava. On the island of Hawaii and on Molokai are +huge cracks several thousands of feet deep and many yards wide +which were formed by the bursting upward of lava beds ages and +ages ago. The marks of the titanic force are plainly visible. + +Mark Twain is authority for saying that the two great active +volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea, on the island of Hawaii, are the +most interesting in the world. Certainly they are the most unique. +Mauna Loa is 14,000 feet above sea level. Every six or seven years +there is an eruption from its sides and several times the flow of +lava has threatened the ruin of the town of Hilo, thirty miles +away. The crater on Mauna Loa is three miles in diameter and 600 +feet deep. Over the crater hangs an illuminated vapor which may be +seen at night over 200 miles distant. When Mauna Loa is in violent +eruption a fountain of molten lava spouts every minute over 250 +feet in the air, bursting into 10,000 brilliantly colored balls, +like a monstrous Roman candle pyrotechnic. + +Then there is Kilauea--a shorter and flatter volcanic mountain +sixteen miles distant. It has the greatest crater known--one nine +miles across and from 300 to 800 feet deep. And such a crater! In +it is a literal lake of molten lava all the time. At times the +lava is over 100 feet deep and at other times it is 200 feet, +according to the pressure on it deep in the bowels of the earth. +Signs of volcanic activity are present all the time throughout the +depth of the molten mass in the form of steam, cracks, jets of +sulphurous smoke and blowing cones. The crater itself is +constantly rent and shaken by earthquakes. Nearly all tourists go +to see the marvelous eruptions on Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Hotels +have been built on the mountain sides for the accommodation of +sightseers, and there are plenty of guides about the craters. + +Oahu has many places of interest outside of Honolulu. One may +visit the sugar plantations, rice farms, and may go to Pearl +harbor or the Punchbowl. The latter is an extinct volcano rising a +few hundred feet above the town. Another resort is the Pali, the +highest point in the pass through the range of mountains that +divides Oahu. It is the fashion, and a very good fashion it is, to +see the Pali and praise its charms. It is the Yosemite of Hawaii. +The view from this height sweeps the whole island from north to +south. In the direction of the capital the land slopes to a level +two miles from the sea and then spreads flatly to the shore. The +hillsides are not, as a rule, in a state of cultivation, although +the soil is fertile. The land is now cumbered with wild guava, +which bears fruit as big as the lemon, and with the lantana, the +seeds of which are scattered broadcast by an imported bird called +the minah. On the lower ground small farmers, mostly orientals, +make their homes, and there are several cane plantations. + +Honolulu, the capital and chief city, has a population of about +25,000, and presents more of the appearance of a civilized place +than any other town in Polynesia. Although consisting largely of +one-story wooden houses, mingled with grass huts half smothered by +foliage, its streets are laid out in the American style, and are +straight, neat and tidy. Water-works supply the town from a +neighboring valley, and electric lights, telephones, street car +lines, and other modern improvements are not lacking. + +The arrangement of the streets in Honolulu reminds many Americans +of those in Boston or the older part of New York. All the streets +are narrow, but well kept, and, with a few exceptions, they +meander here and there at will. A dozen thoroughfares are crescent +shaped and twist and turn when one least expects. All the streets +are smooth and hard under a dressing of thousands of wagon loads +of shells and lava pounded down and crushed by an immense steam +roller brought from San Francisco. + +THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE ISLANDS DECLARED. + +In 1843 the independence of the Hawaiian Islands was formally +guaranteed by the English and French governments, and for a number +of years they were under a constitutional monarchy. On the death +of King Kalakaua in 1891, his sister, the Princess Liliuokalani, +succeeded to the throne, and soon proved herself to be an erratic +and self-willed ruler. She remained constantly at variance with +her legislature and advisers, and in January, 1893, attempted to +promulgate a new constitution, depriving foreigners of the right +of franchise, and abrogating the existing House of Nobles, at the +same time giving herself power of appointing a new House. This was +resisted by the foreign element of the community, who at once +appointed a committee of safety, consisting of thirteen members, +who called a mass meeting of their class, at which about 1,500 +persons were present. The meeting unanimously adopted resolutions +condemning the action of the Queen, and authorizing a committee to +take into further consideration whatever was necessary to protect +the public safety. + +The committee issued a proclamation to the Hawaiian people, formed +itself into a provisional government, took possession of the +national property, and sent commissioners to the United States +inviting this republic to annex the islands. The United States did +not respond, but continued the old relation of friendly guarantor. + +A constitutional convention held session from May 20 to July +3, 1894, and on July 4 the constitution was proclaimed, the new +government calling itself the "Republic of Hawaii." + +In refusing to grant this appeal for annexation, the officials at +the head of the United States government at that time were of the +opinion that such action would be in direct opposition to our +traditional policy, and the same argument has since been advanced +by the opponents of the plan. + +We were thus brought face to face with the question, "What is +American policy?" Many statesmen of recent years have declared +that our great growth and increasing importance among nations +imposed obligations which should force us to take greater part in +the affairs of the world. Following the lead of European +statecraft, they also asserted that we should adopt this policy to +encourage and protect our expanding commercial interests. Not only +were we facing problems the war directly presented, but other +nations seemed to think that we were about to cast aside the +advice of Washington concerning entangling alliances, and +establish the relation of an ally with Great Britain. + +Edward Everett foresaw the extension of the republican idea, and +declared that "in the discharge of the duty devolved upon us by +Providence, we have to carry the republican independence, which +our fathers achieved, with all the organized institutions of an +enlightened community--institutions of religion, law, education, +charity, art and all the thousand graces of the highest culture-- +beyond the Missouri, beyond the Sierra Nevada; perhaps in time +around the circuit of the Antilles, perhaps to the archipelagoes +of the central Pacific." + +The treaty of 1783 with Great Britain defined the western boundary +of the United States as the Mississippi river, down to the Florida +line on the 31st parallel of north latitude. The original colonies +comprised less than half of this area, the rest being organized +several years later as the Northwest Territory. In 1803 the United +States purchased from Napoleon for $15,000,000 the province of +Louisiana, over 1,000,000 square miles in area, including +Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, the Indian Territory, most of +Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, the two Dakotas, Montana, +Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and most of Wyoming. With this +cession came absolute ownership and control of the Mississippi. + +By the treaty of February 12, 1819, with Spain, Florida was next +acquired, and Spain abandoned all claims upon the territory +between the Rocky mountains and the Pacific, embraced in the +Louisiana purchase. Texas was annexed in 1845. Under the treaty of +Guadaloupe Hidalgo, in 1848, which ended the Mexican war, +California, Nevada, parts of Colorado and Wyoming, Utah, New +Mexico and Arizona became a part of the United States. The Gadsden +purchase of 1853 acquired the portion of this territory south of +the Gila river. Fourteen years later the territory of Alaska was +purchased from Russia. + +Territorial acquisition has been the policy of successive periods +of American politics. Hitherto annexation has been confined to +contiguous territory, except in the case of Alaska, separated only +by narrow stretches of sea and land. But in the case of the +Hawaiian Islands an entirely different problem confronted us. + +HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION IN HISTORY. + +The question of annexation of the Hawaiian Islands has been before +the American people in some form for nearly fifty years. In 1851 a +deed of provisional cession of the islands to the United States +was executed by King Kamehameha Ill., and delivered to the United +States Minister at Honolulu--the act being subsequently ratified +by joint resolution of the two Houses of the Hawaiian Legislature. +In 1854 a formal treaty of annexation was negotiated between King +Kamehameha and the Hon. David L. Gregg, in the capacity of +commissioner, and acting under special instructions of Secretary +Marcy, then Secretary of State under President Pierce. The King +died, however, before the engrossed copy of the treaty had been +signed, which prevented the completion of the act. But for this +there is every reason to believe that annexation would have been +an accomplished fact at that time, as the administration of +President Pierce was thoroughly committed to it. The policy then +distinctly enunciated was not to have the islands come in as a +State but as a Territory. + +President Grant was a zealous advocate of annexation, and in 1874 +a reciprocity treaty with the islands was entered into by +Secretary Fish, under which the Hawaiian government bound itself +not to "lease or otherwise dispose of or create any lien upon any +port, harbor, or other territory ... or grant any special +privilege or right of use therein to any other government," nor +enter into any reciprocity treaty with any other government. +Thirteen years later (1887), under the administration of President +Cleveland, there was a renewal of this treaty, to which was added +a clause giving to the United States authority for the exclusive +use of Pearl River (or harbor) as a coaling and repair station for +its vessels, with permission to improve the same. Article IV of +this treaty bound the respective governments to admit certain +specified articles free of duty and contained the following +provision: + +"It is agreed, on the part of his Hawaiian Majesty, that so long +as this treaty shall remain in force he will not lease or +otherwise dispose of or create any lien upon any port, harbor, or +other territory in his dominions, or grant any special privilege +or rights of use therein, to any other power, state, or +government, nor make any treaty by which any other nation shall +obtain the same privileges, relative to the admission of any +articles free of duty, hereby secured to the United States." + +This treaty was to remain in force seven years (until 1894), but, +after that date, was declared to be terminable by either party +after twelve months' notice to that effect. + +There have been two treaties relating to annexation before +Congress within the last five years, the first negotiated by +Secretary of State John W. Foster during the administration of +President Harrison in 1893, the other by Secretary Sherman under +the McKinley administration on the 16th day of June, 1897. The +first was withdrawn by President Cleveland after his accession to +the Presidency. Both were ratified by the Hawaiian Legislature in +accordance with a provision of the constitution of the republic, +and that body, by unanimous vote of both Houses, on May 27, 1896, +declared: + +"That the Legislature of the republic of Hawaii continues to be, +as heretofore, firmly and steadfastly in favor of the annexation +of the Hawaiian Islands to the United States of America, and in +advocating such policy it feels assured that it is expressing not +only its own sentiments but those of the voters of this republic." + +The necessity for a closer relation of the two republics than that +provided for by a commercial treaty, terminable at the pleasure of +either, has been recognized by nearly every President and +Secretary of State from John Tyler down to President McKinley, by +none more strongly than by Daniel Webster in 1851 and by Secretary +Marcy in 1854, while like views have been favored by Secretaries +Seward, Fish, Bayard, Foster, and Sherman since. + +The strategic value of the islands in case of war and their +commercial value at all times are so bound up together that it is +impossible to separate them. The former has been testified to by +such eminent military and naval authorities as General J. M. +Schofield and General Alexander of the United States army and +Captain A. T. Mahan, Admiral Belknap, Admiral Dupont, and George +W. Mellville, Engineer in Chief of the United States navy, and +many others. Their commercial value is demonstrated by the fact +that their trade with the United States for the fiscal year, +ending June, 1897 (amounting to $18,385,000), exceeded that with +either of the following States and confederations: Argentina, +Central America, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela, Russia, or +Denmark; was more than twice that with Colombia or Sweden and +Norway; nearly three times that with Chile; four times that with +Uruguay; nearly four times that with Portugal; nearly seven times +that with Turkey; ten times greater than that with Peru, and +greater than that of Greece, Peru, Turkey, Portugal, and Sweden +and Norway combined. + +VOTE FOR ANNEXATION. + +By a vote of 209 to 91 the House of Representatives on the +afternoon of June 15 adopted the Newlands resolutions, providing +for the annexation of Hawaii. The debate, which was continued +without interruption for three days, was one of the most notable +of Congress, the proposed annexation being considered of great +commercial and strategic importance by its advocates, and being +looked upon by its opponents as involving a radical departure from +the long-established policy of the country and likely to be +followed by the inauguration of a pronounced policy of +colonization, the abandonment of the Monroe doctrine and +participation in international wrangles. More than half a hundred +members participated in the debate. + +Notable speeches were made by Messrs, Berry, Smith and Hepburn +for, and by Messrs. Johnson and Williams against the pending +measure. Few members were upon the floor until late in the +afternoon and the galleries had few occupants. As the hour of +voting drew near, however, members began taking their places and +there were few more than a score of absentees when the first roll +call was taken. The announcement of the vote upon the passage of +the resolutions was cheered upon the floor and applauded generally +by the spectators. + +The resolutions adopted in a preamble relate the offer of the +Hawaiian republic to cede all of its sovereignty and absolute +title to the government and crown lands, and then by resolution +accept the cession and declare the islands annexed. The +resolutions provide for a commission of five, at least two of whom +shall be resident Hawaiians, to recommend to Congress such +legislation as they may deem advisable. The public debt of Hawaii, +not to exceed $4,000,000, is assumed, Chinese immigration is +prohibited, all treaties with other powers are declared null, and +it is provided that until Congress shall provide for the +government of the islands all civil, judicial and military powers +now exercised by the officers of the existing government shall be +exercised in such manner as the President shall direct, and he is +given power to appoint persons to put in effect a provisional +government for the islands. + +Mr. Fitzgerald spoke against the Newlands resolutions. In the +course of his speech he emphasized the failure of the majority of +Hawaiians to express their desire relative to annexation. He +insisted that every people had the right to the government of +their choice. Speaking further, Mr. Fitzgerald opposed annexation +on the ground that an injurious labor element would be brought +into competition with American laborers. + +Supporting the resolution Mr. Berry devoted much of his time to +showing that annexation was in line with democratic policy. He +reviewed the territorial additions to the original states to show +that practically all had been made by democrats. + +Mr. Berry digressed to speak of the Philippine situation, and +while not advocating the retention of the islands he declared the +United States should brook no interference upon the part of +Germany. He said America should resent any intervention with all +her arms and warships. Mr. Berry's remarks in this connection were +applauded generously. + +William Alden Smith, member of the committee on foreign affairs, +advocating annexation, said: + +"Annexation is not new to us. In my humble opinion the whole North +American continent and every island in the gulf and the Caribbean +sea and such islands in the Pacific as may be deemed desirable are +worthy of our ambition. Not that we are earth hungry, but, as a +measure of national protection and advantage, it is the duty of +the American people to lay peaceful conquest wherever opportunity +may be offered. + +"It has been argued that our constitution makes no provision for a +colonial system, but if President Monroe had been merely a lawyer, +if he had contented himself by looking for precedent which he was +unable to find, if he had consulted the jurisprudence of his time +and planned his action along academic lines the greatest doctrine +ever announced to the civilized world, which now bears his name, +though in unwritten law, but in the inspiration, the hope, the +security of every American heart, would have found no voice potent +enough and courageous enough to have encircled the western +hemisphere with his peaceful edict. + +"Precedent, sir, may do for a rule of law upon which a fixed and +definite superstructure must be built, but it is the duty of +statesmanship to cease looking at great public questions with a +microscope and sweep the world's horizon with a telescope from a +commanding height." + +Mr. Johnson then was recognized for a speech in opposition. He +laid down the three propositions that annexation was unnecessary +as a war measure in the present conflict with Spain; that +annexation was unnecessary to prevent the islands from falling +into the hands of some other power to be used against us, and that +the proposition to annex was inherently wrong and was the opening +wedge upon an undesirable and disastrous policy of colonization. + +Advancing to the danger of annexation being the first step in +colonization, he said gentlemen could not deny that the holding of +the Philippines was contemplated already. What was more deplorable +and significant, he said, was the expressed fear of the President +lest Spain should sue for peace before we could secure Puerto +Rico. Mr. Johnson said men were already speaking disparagingly of +the Cubans and their capacity for government, and it was useless +to attempt to hide the truth that American eyes of avarice were +already turned to Cuba, although but two months since action was +taken to free and establish that island as independent. + +REPLY BY MR. DOLLIVER. + +Mr. Dolliver, speaking in support of the resolutions, complimented +the speech of the Indiana member, but suggested its success as an +applause-getter would be greater than as a maker of votes. + +"I cannot understand," declared Mr. Dolliver, "how a man who +distrusts everything of his own country can fail utterly to +suspect anything upon the part of other great powers of the +world." Concluding, Mr. Dolliver refuted the charge that +annexationists had any hidden motives looking to colonial +expansion. As to the future of the Philippines, Cuba and Puerto +Rico, he declared that he knew nothing, but he had faith that in +the providence of God the American people would be guided aright +and these questions would be met and disposed of properly when +occasion should arise. + +Mr. Cummings, in a ten-minute speech, supported annexation and +indulged in severe denunciation of former President Cleveland for +his effort to re-establish the monarchy in Hawaii and the hauling +down of the American flag by Commissioner Blount. + +Mr. Hepburn was recognized to conclude in support of the +resolutions. He believed the people of the country were familiar +with the issue involved, and the time was opportune for a vote and +final action. Answering the claim that annexation would mean +launching upon colonization, he disavowed any such understanding. +He said he hoped to see every Spanish possession fall into the +possession of this country in order to contribute to the enemy's +injury, and that being accomplished the question of their +disposition would arise and be met when the war should end. + +The House resolution extending the sovereignty of the United States over +Hawaii was adopted in the Senate by a vote of forty-two to twenty-one, +and President McKinley's signature added that country to our +possessions. The President appointed as commissioners to visit the +islands and draw up for the guidance of Congress a system of laws for +their government, the following gentlemen: Senator Shelby M. Cullom, of +Illinois; Senator John T. Morgan, of Alabama; Representative Robert R. +Hitt, of Illinois; President Sanford B. Dole, of Hawaii; Justice W. F. +Frear, of Hawaii. + + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +CONTINUED SUCCESS FOR AMERICAN SOLDIERS AND SAILORS. + +The Bombardment of San Juan--The Engagement at Cardenas--The +Voyage of the Oregon--The Battle at Guantanamo--Santiago Under +Fire--Landing the Troops in Cuba--The Charge of the Rough Riders +--The Sinking of the Merrimac--The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet-- +The Fall of Santiago. + + +On the morning of May 12, a portion of the fleet, commanded by +Admiral Sampson, made an attack on the forts of San Juan de Puerto +Rico. The engagement began at 5:15 a. m. and ended at 8:15 a. m. +The enemy's batteries were not silenced, but great damage was done +to them, and the town in the rear of the fortifications suffered +great losses. The ships taking part in the action were the Iowa, +Indiana, New York, Terror, Amphitrite, Detroit, Montgomery, +Wampatuck, and Porter. + +At 3 o'clock in the morning all hands were called on the Iowa, a +few final touches in clearing ship were made, and at 5 "general +quarters" sounded. The men were eager for the fight. + +The tug Wampatuck went ahead and anchored its small boat to the +westward, showing ten fathoms, but there was not a sign of life +from the fort, which stood boldly against the sky on the eastern +hills hiding the town. + +The Detroit steamed far to the eastward, opposite Valtern. The +Iowa headed straight for the shore. Suddenly its helm flew over, +bringing the starboard battery to bear on the fortifications. + +At 5:16 a.m. the Iowa's forward twelve-inch guns thundered out at +the sleeping hills, and for fourteen minutes they poured starboard +broadsides on the coast. Meanwhile the Indiana, the New York, and +other ships repeated the dose from the rear. The Iowa turned and +came back to the Wampatuck's boat and again led the column, the +forts replying fiercely, concentrating on the Detroit, which was +about 700 yards away, all 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, the blood was washed away, and everything +proceeded like target practice. + +Morro battery, on the eastward arm of the harbor, was the +principal point of attack. Rear Admiral Sampson and Captain Evans +were on the lower bridge of the Iowa and had a narrow escape from +flying splinters, which injured three men. The Iowa was hit eight +times, but the shells made no impression on its 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 dust +showed where the shells struck, but the smoke hung over +everything. The shells screeching overhead and dropping around +showed that the Spaniards still stuck to their guns. + +The enemy's firing was heavy, but wild, and the Iowa and New York +were the only ships hit. They went right up under the guns in +column, delivering broadsides, and then returned. The after-turret +of the Amphitrite got out of order temporarily during the +engagement, but it banged away with its 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 Porter +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 officers and men of +all the ships behaved with coolness and bravery. The shots flew +thick and fast over all our ships. + +The men of the Iowa who were hurt during the action were injured +by splinters thrown by 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. + +At 7:45 a. m. Admiral Sampson signaled "Cease firing." "Retire" +was sounded on the Iowa, and it headed from the shore. + +After the battle was over Admiral Sampson said: + +"I am satisfied with the morning's work. I could have taken San +Juan, but had no force to hold it. I merely wished to punish the +Spaniards, and render the port unavailable as a refuge for the +Spanish fleet. I came to destroy that fleet and not to take San +Juan." + +The man killed by the fire from the forts was Frank Widemark, a +seaman on the flagship New York. A gunner's mate on the Amphitrite +died during the action from prostration caused by the extreme heat +and excitement. + +The Iowa, Indiana, New York, Terror, and Amphitrite went close +under the fortifications after the armed tug Wampatuck had piloted +the way and made soundings. + +The Detroit and Montgomery soon drew out of the line of battle, +their guns being too small for effective work against +fortifications. + +Three times the great fighting ships swung past Morro and the +batteries, roaring out a continuous fire. Whenever the dense smoke +would lift, great gaps could be seen in the gray walls of Morro, +while from the batteries men could be seen scurrying in haste. + +The Spanish fire was quick enough, but ludicrously uncertain. This +was shown after Admiral Sampson had given the order to cease +firing and retire. The monitor Terror evidently misunderstood the +order, for it remained well in range of the Spanish guns and +continued the bombardment alone. The few guns still served by the +Spaniards kept banging away at the Terror, and some of the shots +missed it at least a mile. It remained at its work for half an +hour before retiring, and in all this time was not once hit. + +THE FIRST AMERICANS KILLED. + +America's first dead fell on the 11th of May in a fierce and +bloody combat off Cardenas, on the north coast of Cuba. Five men +were blown to pieces and five were wounded on the torpedo boat +Winslow. The battle was between the torpedo boat Winslow, the +auxiliary tug Hudson, and the gunboat Wilmington on one side, and +the Cardenas batteries and four Spanish gunboats on the other. The +battle lasted but thirty-five minutes, but was remarkable for +terrific fighting. The Winslow 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 ventilators were slightly +scratched by flying shrapnel. The Winslow was within 2,500 yards +of the shore when the shells struck. How it came to be so close +was told by its commander, Lieutenant John Bernadou. 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's the result." + +He was on the Hudson when he said this, and with the final words +he pointed to the huddle of American flags on the deck near by. +Under the Stars and Stripes were outlined five rigid forms. + +List of the killed: Worth Bagley, ensign; John Daniels, first-class +fireman; John Tunnel, cabin cook; John Varveres, oiler. The wounded: J. +B. Bernadou, lieutenant, commanding the Winslow; R. E. Cox, gunner's +mate; D. McKeowan, quartermaster; J. Patterson, fireman; F. Gray. + +STORY OF THE FIGHT. + +The story of the fight, as told by the Hudson's men, is as +follows: + +The Winslow, the Hudson, the Machias, and the Wilmington were +among the ships off Cardenas on the blockade, the Wilmington +acting as flagship. The Machias lay about twelve miles out. The +others were stationed close in, on what is called the inside line. +At a quarter to 9 o'clock the Hudson, under Captain F. H. Newton, +was taking soundings in Diana Cay bars and Romero Cay, just +outside Cardenas, so close to shore that it grounded, but it +floated off easily into the shallow water. + +At half past 11 the Wilmington spoke the Hudson and the Winslow +and assigned them to duty, the Winslow to start to the eastern +shore of, Cardenas Bay and the Hudson to the western shore, while +the Wilmington took its station in mid-channel. This work occupied +two hours. Nothing 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 Cardenas, and a shell whistled over them. +The Winslow was on the inside, nearer the shore. The Hudson and +the Winslow reported to the Wilmington, and orders came promptly +to go in and open fire; but the Spaniards 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 at five minutes past 2 o'clock, and for twenty minutes +the firing continued from the shore without cessation, but none of +the shots 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 terrific rate. How many of the torpedo +boat's shots took effect is not known. The first two of the +Hudson's shells fell short, but after these two every one floated +straight into the smoke-clouded shore. The Spaniard's aim in the +meantime was improving and it was presently seen that two empty +barks had been anchored off shore. It was twenty-five minutes +before 3 o'clock when a four-inch shell struck the Winslow on the +starboard beam, knocking out its forward boiler and starboard +engine and crippling the steering gear, but no one was injured. + +Lieutenant Bernadou was standing forward watching the battle with +calm interest and directing his men as coolly as if they were at +target practice. By the one-pounder amidships stood Ensign Bagley, +the oiler, the two firemen, and the cook. The little boat gasped +and throbbed and rolled helplessly from side to side. Lieutenant +Bernadou did not stop for an examination. He knew his boat was +uncontrollable. The Hudson was a short distance off still pounding +away with her guns. It was hailed and asked to take the Winslow in +tow. It was a vital moment. Guns roared from shore and sea. +Lieutenant Scott, in charge of the Hudson's aft gun, sat on a box +and smoked a cigarette as he directed the fire. + +Captain Newton stood near Lieutenant Meed at the forward gun and +watched its workings with interest. Chief Engineer Gutchin 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 vessel, waiting to receive it. A +vicious fire was singing about them. The Spaniards seemed to have +found the exact range. + +KILLED BY A BURSTING SHELL. + +There was a momentary delay in heaving the towline, and Ensign +Bagley suggested that the Hudson'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. Grimy with sweat and +powder, they tugged at it and drew nearer foot by foot to the +Hudson. Almost at the same instant another four-inch shell +shrieked through the smoke and burst directly under them. Five +bodies went whirling through the air. Two of the group were dead +when they fell--Ensign Bagley and Fireman Daniels. The young +ensign was literally disemboweled, and the entire lower portion of +the fireman's body was torn away. The other three died within a +few minutes. A flying piece of shrapnel struck Lieutenant 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 starboard, and, with its steering gear +smashed, the torpedo boat floundered about in the water at the +mercy of the enemy's fire, which never relaxed. + +The fire of the Americans was of the usual persistent character, +and the nerve of the men was marvelous. Even after the Winslow's +starboard engine and steering gear were wrecked the little boat +continued pouring shot into the Spaniards on shore until it was +totally disabled. + +Meanwhile the Wilmington from its outlying station was busy with +its bigger guns and sent shell after shell from its 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 the Wilmington. + +The Hudson quickly threw another line to the Winslow, and the +helpless torpedo boat was made fast and pulled out of the +Spaniards' exact range. The tug then towed it to Piedras Cay, a +little island twelve miles off, near which the Machias lay. There +it was anchored for temporary repairs, while the Hudson brought +the ghastly cargo into Key West, with Dr. Richards of the Machias +attending to the wounded. Not until this mournful journey was +begun was it learned that Lieutenant Bernadou had been injured. He +scoffed at the wound as a trifle, but submitted to treatment and +is doing well. + +When the Hudson drew up to the government dock at Key West 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 protruding from beneath, confirmed the news. +Ambulances were called and the wounded were carried quickly to the +army barracks hospital. The dead were taken to the local +undertaker's shop, where they lay all day on slabs, the mutilated +forms draped with flags. The public were permitted to view the +remains, and all day a steady stream of people flowed through the +shop. + +The American boats made furious havoc with Cardenas harbor and +town. The captain of the Hudson said: + +"I know we destroyed a large part of their town near the wharves, +burned one of their gunboats, and I think destroyed two other +torpedo destroyers. We were in a vortex of shot, shell and smoke, +and could not tell accurately, but we saw one of their boats on +fire and sinking soon after the action began. Then a large +building near the wharf, I think the barracks, took fire, and many +other buildings were soon burning. The Spanish had masked +batteries on all sides of us, hidden in bushes and behind houses. +They set a trap for us. As soon as we got within range of their +batteries they would move them. I think their guns were field +pieces. Our large boats could not get into the harbor to help us +on account of the shallow water." + +Amid a perfect storm of shot from Spanish rifles and batteries the +American forces made an attempt to cut the cables at Cienfuegos, +on the 11th of May. Four determined boat crews, under command of +Lieutenant Winslow and Ensign Magruder, from the cruiser +Marblehead and gunboat Nashville, put out from the ships, the +coast having previously been shelled, and began their perilous +work. The cruiser Marblehead, the gunboat Nashville and the +auxiliary cruiser Windom drew up a thousand yards from shore with +their guns manned for desperate duty. + +One cable was quickly severed and the work was in progress on the +other when the Spaniards in rifle pits and a battery in an old +lighthouse standing out in the bay opened fire. The warships +poured in a thunderous volley, their great guns belching forth +massive shells into the swarms of the enemy. The crews of the +boats proceeded with their desperate work, notwithstanding the +fact that a number of men had fallen, and, after finishing their +task, returned to the ships through a blinding smoke and a heavy +fire. Two men were killed, and seven wounded by the fire of the +enemy. Captain Maynard had a narrow escape from death. A rifle +shot hit his side close to the heart, but caused only a flesh +wound and he kept at his post to the end. The officers of the +Windom were enthusiastic over the work of the men in the launches. +They fired in regular order and shot well. The Windom demolished +the lighthouse, which was in reality a fort, and not one stone was +left standing upon another. + +On May 14 Admiral Sampson ordered Captain Goodrich to cut the +French cable running from Mole St. Nicholas, Hayti, to Guantanamo, +Cuba, about thirty miles to the eastward of Santiago. In +compliance with this order the St. Louis and the Wampatuck +appeared off Guantanamo about daylight, and the Wampatuck, with +Lieutenant Jungen in command and Chief Officer Seagrave, Ensign +Payne, Lieutenant Catlin and eight marines and four seamen on +board, steamed into the mouth of the harbor, and, dropping a +grapnel in eight fathoms of water, proceeded to drag across the +mouth of the harbor for the cable. + +About 150 fathoms of line were run out when the cable was hooked in +fifty fathoms of water. This time the lookout reported a Spanish +gun-boat coming down the harbor and a signal was sent to the St. Louis, +lying half a mile outside. She had already discovered it, and +immediately opened fire with her two port six-pounders. The Wampatuck +then commenced firing with her one three-pounder. The gunboat, however, +was out of range of these small guns and, the shells fell short. + +The Spaniards opened fire with a four-inch gun, and every shot went +whistling over the little Wampatuck and struck in the water between her +and the St. Louis. Being well out of range of the six-pounders the +gunboat was perfectly safe, and she steamed back and forth firing her +larger guns. For about forty minutes the tug worked on the cable, while +the shells were striking all around her, but she seemed to bear a +charmed life. + +Captain Goodrich, seeing that he could not get the gunboat within +range of his small guns, while that vessel could easily reach the +St. Louis and Wanipatuck with her heavier battery, signaled the +tug to withdraw. The grappling line was cut and both vessels +steamed out to sea, leaving the cable uncut. + +As the tug turned and started out it was noticed that riflemen on +shore were firing at her. Lieutenant Catlin opened up with the +Gatling gun mounted aft and the Spaniards on shore could be seen +scattering and running for shelter. The French cable was cut the +next morning off Mole St. Nicholas, well outside of the three-mile +limit. + +Lieutenant Catlin was formerly on the battleship Maine, and +perhaps he took more than ordinary interest in firing his guns. + +"You could tell by the grim smile on his face as he fired each +shot," one of his brother officers said, "that he was trying to +'get even,' as far as lay in his power, for the awful work in +Havana harbor." + +SECOND CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS. + +The President issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 more +volunteers on May 25. This made the total army strength, regular +and volunteer, 280,000. + +The official call issued by the President in the form of a +proclamation was as follows: + +Whereas, An act of Congress was approved on the 25th day of April, +1898, entitled "An act declaring that war exists between the +United States of America and the kingdom of Spain," and, + +Whereas, By an act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for +temporarily increasing the military establishment of the United +States in time of war and for other purposes," approved April +22, 1898, the President is authorized, in order to raise a +volunteer army, to issue his proclamation calling for volunteers +to serve in the army of the United States, + +Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United +States, by virtue of the power vested in me by the constitution +and the laws and deeming sufficient occasion to exist, have +thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, volunteers to +the aggregate number of 75,000 in addition to the volunteers +called forth by my proclamation of the 23d day of April, in the +present year; the same to be apportioned, as far as practicable, +among the several States and Territories and the District of +Columbia, according to population, and to serve for two years +unless sooner discharged. The proportion of each arm and the +details of enlistment and organization will be made known through +the war department. + +In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the +seal of the United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of Washington, this 25th day of May, in the year +of our Lord, 1898, and of the independence of the United States, +the 122d. + +WILLIAM McKINLEY. + +By the President, WILLIAM K. DAY, Secretary of State. + +RUNNING DOWN HIS PREY. + +Four weeks after the victory of Rear-Admiral Dewey at Manila, +Commodore Schley, in command of the flying squadron, had his +shrewdness and pertinacity rewarded by finding the Spanish fleet +in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba. + +For ten days he had, in the face of conflicting rumors, insisted +that the ships of Spain were trying to make a landing on the +southern coast of Cuba. This was evidently not in consonance with +certain official information and his opinion was not given much +weight. + +The captain of the British steamer Adula, who was interviewed at +Cienfuegos, told of seeing the Spanish fleet in the vicinity of +Santiago de Cuba, evidently awaiting an opportunity to get in. +Captain Sigsbee of the St. Paul related how he had captured a +Spanish coal vessel going into the harbor of Santiago, and +Commodore Schley argued from these two incidents that the fleet of +Spain was waiting in some haven near by until such time as a +visit, fruitless in its results, should be made there by the +Americans when, upon their departure, the Spanish fleet would run +in. + +Consequently, Commodore Schley determined to find it. Himself in +the lead with the flagship, he started toward the harbor. The +Spanish troops at the works and batteries could be seen, through +glasses, preparing in haste to give the American ships as warm a +reception as possible. + +When about five miles from the batteries the lookouts reported the +masts of two ships, and Flag Lieutenant Sears and Ensign McCauley +made out the first to be the Cristobal Colon. Two torpedo boats +were also made out and a second vessel of the Vizcaya class was +seen. + +All this time Commodore Schley was upon the afterbridge of the +Brooklyn making good use of his binoculars. Arrived at the harbor +entrance, when the ships were sighted from the deck, he turned his +eyes from the glasses long enough to wink and say: "I told you I +would find them. They will be a long time getting home." + +THE VOYAGE OF THE OREGON. + +The voyage of the Oregon from San Francisco to Florida is a matter +of historic interest, for it was the first craft of the kind to +weather the famous cape. When it anchored off Sand Key, Fla., it +had completed the longest trip ever made by a battleship. +Altogether she sailed 18,102 miles in eighty-one days, and this +includes the days she spent in coaling. Prior to this trip the +record for long voyages had been held by a British flagship, which +steamed from England to China. The distance from Puget Sound to +Sand Key is more than two-thirds the circumference of the earth. +The big trip was a record of itself, and it included within it +several minor records for battleship steaming. For example, the +Oregon ran 4,726 miles without a stop of any kind for any purpose. +Such a run is longer than the voyage from New York to Queenstown +or to Bremen or to Havre. It is comparable with the great runs of +the magnificent merchant ships of the Peninsular and Oriental +Steamship Navigation Company from London to Calcutta, Bombay and +Madras. It was a triumph for any kind of a ship, but it was a +wonder for a battleship. The Oregon left Puget Sound March 6, left +San Francisco on March 19 and drew up at Sand Key, Fla., on May +26. Everything on board of her was shipshape. Her engines, of +11,111 horse power, were bright and fresh and ready for another +voyage of 17,000 miles. Not a bolt was loose; not a screw was out +of order. + +HOBSON WINS FAME. + +On Thursday, June 2, Admiral Sampson decided to send the collier +Merrimac into the bay of Santiago and sink it in the channel's +narrowest part, for the purpose of holding Cervera and his fleet +in the harbor, until the time when their capture or destruction +seemed advisable. He called for volunteers, explaining that it was +a desperate mission, death being almost certain for all those who +ventured in. + +Then the navy showed the stuff of which it is made. Admiral +Sampson wanted eight men. He could have had every officer and man +in the fleet, for all were more than ready. Lieutenant Richmond P. +Hobson was selected to command the expedition, and Daniel +Montague, George Charette, J. C. Murphy, Osborn Deignan, George F. +Phillips, Francis Kelly and B. Clausen were detailed to accompany +him. + +Just before 3 o'clock on the morning of the 3d the collier, deeply +laden with, ballast material and some coal, was headed without +preliminary maneuver straight for the entrance, over which the +remaining batteries from Morro frowned from one side, and those +from Socapa from the other. In the darkness of the early morning +the Merrimac, without a light showing anywhere, dashed within the +line of the forts before it was discovered, Sampson's ships +thundering at the enemy's batteries to divert their attention from +the collier. The Spaniards soon detected it, however, and brought +every possible gun to bear. In the face of a terrific fire of shot +and shell from Spanish guns the Merrimac ran into the narrow +channel, where it was swung across and anchored. Then Lieutenant +Hobson blew a hole in the ship's bottom and with his seven men +took to a boat. They first made an effort to row out of the harbor +and regain the American fleet, but soon realizing that, to attempt +to pass the aroused batteries would mean certain death to all, +they turned and rowed straight towards the Spanish squadron, and +surrendered to Admiral Cervera, who held them as prisoners of war. + +The Spanish commander sent his chief of staff, Captain Oviedo, +under a flag of truce to Admiral Sampson, bearing the information +of the safety of the heroes. The Spanish officers were +enthusiastic in their praise of the bravery shown by Hobson and +his men, and looked upon them with amazement as heroes whose +gallantry far exceeded any Spanish conception of what men might do +for their country, and it was with great chagrin that Admiral +Cervera was prevented by the Madrid authorities from returning the +heroic young officer and his brave men to Admiral Sampson, but was +compelled to deliver them to the military authorities ashore as +prisoners of war. + +THROWN INTO A DUNGEON BY LINARES. + +General Linares, with the brutal instinct that had marked his +conduct of Cuban affairs already intrusted to him, deliberately +placed Hobson and his men in Morro Castle as a shield against the +fire of Sampson's squadron. Here Hobson was locked up for five +days in solitary confinement in a filthy dungeon under conditions +which must have soon resulted in his serious illness and perhaps +in death. The treatment he received and the scanty food given him +were no better than that accorded to a common criminal condemned +to execution. + +This punishment, however, was of short duration on account of the +vigorous protest which was made through a neutral power to Spain, +coupled with Admiral Sampson's notice to the Spanish admiral that +he would be held personally responsible for Hobson's welfare. +Under these circumstances Admiral Cervera interposed his influence +with General Linares; and Hobson, with his men, was transferred to +the barracks in the city. Here his solitary confinement continued, +but he could look out of a window to the hills on the east and see +the smoke from the American rifles of General Shatter's men firing +from their intrenchments with the consolation that his captivity +would be of short duration. + +After the assault on Santiago arrangements were made by the +commanders of the two armies for the exchange of Lieutenant Hobson +and his men for Spanish prisoners held by the Americans, and a +truce was established for that purpose. The place selected for the +exchange was under a tree between the American and Spanish lines, +two-thirds of a mile beyond the intrenchments occupied by Colonel +Wood's Rough Riders, near General Wheeler's headquarters, and in +the center of the American line. + +The American prisoners left the Reina Mercedes hospital on the +outskirts of Santiago de Cuba, where they had been confined, in +charge of Major Irles, a Spanish staff officer, who speaks English +perfectly. + +The prisoners were conducted to the meeting place on foot, but +were not blindfolded. Colonel John Jacob Astor and Lieutenant +Miloy, accompanied by Interpreter Maestro, were in charge of the +Spanish prisoners. These consisted of Lieutenants Amelio Volez and +Aurelius, a German, who were captured at El Caney, and Lieutenant +Adolfo Aries and fourteen non-commissioned officers and privates. +Lieutenant Aries and a number of the men were wounded in the fight +at El Caney. The Spanish prisoners were taken through the American +lines mounted and blindfolded. + +The meeting between Colonel Astor and Major Irles was extremely +courteous, but very formal, and no attempt was made by either of +them to discuss anything but the matter in hand. Major Irles was +given his choice of three Spanish lieutenants in exchange for +Hobson, and was also informed that he could have all of the +fourteen men in exchange for the American sailors. The Spanish +officers selected Lieutenant Aries, and the other two Spanish +officers were conducted back to Juragua. + +It was then not later than 4 o'clock, and just as everything was +finished and the two parties were separating Irles turned and +said, courteously enough, but in a tone which indicated +considerable defiance and gave his hearers the impression that he +desired hostilities to be renewed at once: + +"Our understanding is, gentlemen, that this truce comes to an end +at 5 o'clock." + +Colonel Astor looked at his watch, bowed to the Spanish officer, +without making a reply, and then started back slowly to the +American lines, with Hobson and his companions following. + +The meeting of the two parties and the exchange of prisoners had +taken place in full view of both the American and Spanish soldiers +who were intrenched near the meeting place, and the keenest +interest was taken in the episode. + +SANTIAGO UNDER FIRE. + +On the morning of June 6 the American fleet engaged the Spanish +batteries defending the entrance of the harbor of Santiago de +Cuba, and, after three hours' bombardment, silenced nearly all the +forts, destroyed several earthworks, and rendered the Estrella and +Cayo batteries, two of the principal fortifications, useless. + +The fleet formed in double column, six miles off Morro Castle, at +6 o'clock in the morning, and steamed slowly 3,000 yards off +shore, the Brooklyn leading, followed by the Marblehead, Texas and +Massachusetts, and turned westward. The second line, the New York +leading, with the New Orleans, Yankee, Iowa and Oregon following, +turned eastward. + +The Vixen and Suwanee were far out on the left flank, watching the +riflemen on shore. The Dolphin and Porter did similar duty on the +right flank. The line headed by the New York attacked the new +earthworks near Morro Castle. The Brooklyn column took up a +station opposite the Estrella and Catalina batteries and the new +earthworks along the shore. + +The Spanish batteries remained silent. It is doubtful whether the +Spaniards were able to determine the character of the movement, +owing to the dense fog and heavy rain which were the weather +features this morning. + +Suddenly the Iowa fired a twelve-inch shell, which struck the base +of Estrella battery and tore up the works. Instantly firing began +from both Rear-Admiral Sampson's and Commodore Schley's column, +and a torrent of shells from the ships fell upon the Spanish +works. The Spaniards replied promptly, but their artillery work +was of a poor quality and most of their shots went wild. Smoke +settled around the ships in dense clouds, rendering accurate +aiming difficult. There was no maneuvering of the fleet, the ships +remaining at their original stations, firing steadily. The +squadrons were so close in shore that it was difficult for the +American gunners to reach the batteries on the hilltops, but their +firing was excellent. + +Previous to the bombardment, orders were issued to prevent firing +on Morro Castle, as the American Admiral had been informed that +Lieutenant Hobson and the other prisoners of the Merrimac were +confined there. In spite of this, however, several stray shots +damaged Morro Castle somewhat. + +Commodore Schley's line moved closer in shore, firing at shorter +range. The Brooklyn and Texas caused wild havoc among the Spanish +shore batteries, quickly silencing them. While the larger ships +were engaging the heavy batteries, the Suwanee and Vixen closed +with the small in-shore battery opposite them, raining rapid-fire +shots upon it and quickly placing the battery out of the fight. + +The Brooklyn closed to 800 yards and then the destruction caused +by its guns and those of the Marblehead and Texas was really +awful. In a few minutes the woodwork of Estrella fort was burning +and the battery was silenced, firing no more during the +engagement. Eastward the New York and New Orleans silenced the +Cayo battery in quick order and then shelled the earthworks +located higher up. The practice here was not so accurate, owing to +the elevation of the guns. Many of the shells, however, landed, +and the Spanish gunners retired. + +Shortly after 9 o'clock the firing ceased, the warships turning in +order to permit the use of the port batteries. The firing then +became a long reverberating crash of thunder, and the shells raked +the Spanish batteries with terrific effect. Fire broke out in +Catalina fort and silenced the Spanish guns. The firing of the +fleet continued until 10 o'clock, when the Spanish ceased +entirely, and Admiral Sampson hoisted the "Cease firing" signal. + +After the fleet retired the Spaniards returned to their guns and +sent twelve shots after the American ships, but no damage was +done. In fact, throughout the entire engagement none of our ships +was hit and no American was injured. + +One purpose of Admiral Sampson, it appears, was to land troops and +siege guns at Aguadores, after reducing the defenses of the place, +and then make a close assault upon Santiago, which, in view of the +present condition of its fortifications, may be expected to yield +soon. + +A landing of American troops was effected near Baiquiri, some +distance east of Aguadores, and near the railroad station +connecting with Santiago de Cuba. Later an engagement took place +between the American force and a column of Spanish troops which +had been sent against the landing party. The Spaniards were driven +back. + +THE MARINES AT GUANTANAMO. + +Lieutenant-Colonel R. W. Huntington's battalion of marines landed +from the transport Panther on Friday, June 10, and encamped on the +hill guarding the abandoned cable station at the entrance to the +outer harbor of Guantanamo. On Saturday afternoon a rush attack +was made on them by a detachment of Spanish regulars and +guerrillas, and for thirteen hours the fighting was almost +continuous, until re-enforcements were landed from the Marblehead. + +The engagement began with desultory firing at the pickets, a +thousand yards inland from the camp. Captain Spicer's company was +doing guard duty and was driven in, finally rallying on the camp +and repulsing the enemy at 5 o'clock. The sky was blanketed with +clouds, and when the sun set a gale was blowing out seaward. Night +fell thick and impenetrable. The Spanish squads concealed in the +chaparral cover had the advantage, the Americans on the ridge +furnishing fine targets against the sky and the white tents. + +The Spaniards fought from cover until midnight, discoverable only +at flashes, at which the marines fired volleys. Shortly after +midnight came the main attack. The Spaniards made a gallant charge +up the southwest slope, but were met by repeated volleys from the +main body and broke before they were one-third of the way up the +hill; but they came so close at points that there was almost a +hand-to-hand struggle. The officers used their revolvers. Three +Spaniards got through the open formation to the edge of the camp. +Colonel Jose Campina, the Cuban guide, discharged his revolver, +and they, finding themselves without support, beat a hasty +retreat down the reverse side of the hill. During this assault +Assistant Surgeon John Blair Gibbs was killed. He was shot in the +head in front of his own tent, the farthest point of attack. He +fell into the arms of Private Sullivan and both dropped. A second +bullet threw the dust in their faces. Surgeon Gibbs lived ten +minutes, but he did not again regain consciousness. Four Americans +were killed and one wounded in this engagement. + +Sunday brought no rest. Every little while the p-a-t of a Mauser +would be heard, and a spatter of dust on the camp hillside would +show where the bullet struck. During the day the enemy kept well +back, scattering a few riflemen through the trees to keep up a +desultory fire on the camp. There was no massing of forces, +evidently for fear of shells from the Marblehead, which lay in the +harbor close by. But when night came on again the Spanish forces +were greatly augmented and in the dark were bolder in their +attacks. + +Lieutenant Neville was sent with a small squad of men to dislodge +the advance pickets of the enemy, and his men followed him with a +will. The Spaniards, who had been potting at every shadow in the +camp, fled when the American pickets came swinging down their way. +As the Americans pressed along the edge of the steep hill, +following a blind trail, they nearly fell into an ambush. There +was a sudden firing from all directions, and an attack came from +all sides. + +Sergeant-Major Henry Good was shot through the right breast and +soon died. The Americans were forced back upon the edge of the +precipice and an effort was made to rush them over, but without +success. As soon as they recovered from the first shock and got +shelter in the breaks of the cliff their fire was deadly. Spaniard +after Spaniard went down before American bullets and the rush was +checked almost as suddenly as it was begun, causing the enemy to +fall back. The Americans swarmed after the fleeing Spaniards, +shooting and cheering as they charged, and won a complete victory. +The Spanish forces left fifteen dead upon the field. The American +loss was two killed and four wounded. + +The night attack was picturesque, and a striking spectacle--the +crack of the Mausers, tongues of fire from every bush encircling +the camp, the twitter of the long steel bullets overhead, while +the machine guns down on the water were ripping open the pickets, +and the crash of the field guns could be heard as they were +driving in canister where the fire of the Spaniards was the +thickest. Then there was the screech of the Marblehead's shells as +she took a hand in the fight, and the sharp, quick flashing of the +rapid-firing one-pounder guns from the ships' launches. + +On Tuesday the brave marines, who had been exposed for three days +and nights to the fire of a foe they could but blindly see, weary +of a kind of warfare for which they were not trained, went into +the enemy's hiding place and inflicted disastrous punishment. The +primary object of the expedition was to destroy the tank which +provided the enemy with water. There are three ridges over the +hills between the camp from which the Americans and their Cuban +allies started and the sea. In the valley between the second and +third was the water tank. The Spanish headquarters were located at +cross-roads between the first and second ridges, and it was +against this place that a detachment of fifty marines and ten +Cubans under Lieutenants Mahoney and Magill was sent. Their +instructions were to capture and hold this position. Captain +Elliot with ninety marines and fifteen Cubans went east over the +last range of hills, and Captain Spicer with the same number of +men went to the west. A fourth party of fifty marines and a Cuban +guide under command of Lieutenant Ingate made a detour and secured +a position back of Lieutenant Mahoney. + +The first fighting was done by the men under Lieutenant Magill +with the second platoon of Company E. These parted from the +others, going over the first hill to the second one. They had +advanced but a short distance when they came to a heliograph +station guarded by a company of Spaniards. Shooting began on both +sides, the Mausers of the Spanish and the guns of the Americans +snapping in unison. Our men had toiled up the hillside in the +boiling sun, but they settled down to shooting as steadily and as +sturdily as veterans could have done. The skirmish lasted fifteen +minutes. At the end of this time the Spaniards could no longer +stand the methodical, accurate shooting of Magill's men, and they +ran helter-skelter, leaving several dead upon the field. +Lieutenant Magill took possession of the heliograph outfit without +the loss or injury of a man. + +But this was in truth only a skirmish, and the real fighting was +at hand. Captains Spicer and Elliot and Lieutenant Mahoney led +their men up the second range of hills. A spattering of bullets +gave note that the news of their coming was abroad, but they +toiled up to the top of the hill. Here they found the Spanish camp +situated on a little ridge below them. There was one large house, +the officers' quarters, and around this was a cluster of huts, in +the center of which was the water tank which they had come to +destroy. Quickly they moved into line of battle, and advanced down +the mountain, the enemy's bullets singing viciously, but going +wildly about them. + +Gradually the Americans and Cubans descended the slope, shooting +as they went, and closing in upon the enemy in hiding about the +huts and in the brush. Then the order came to make ready for a +bayonet charge, but it had scarcely been given when the Spaniards +broke from cover and ran, panic-stricken, for a clump of brush +about one hundred yards further on. Then there was shooting quick +and fast. There were dozens of Spanish soldiers who did not reach +the thicket, for the American fire was deadly, and man after man +was seen to fall. + +The fighting blood of the Americans was up. Elliot's command made +straight for the thicket to which the Spanish had fled, routed +them out, and drove them on before. Up the ridge they forced them, +shooting and receiving an answering fire all the way. Pursuers and +pursued moved on over the crest of the hill, and there the +Spaniards received a new surprise. Lieutenant Magill and his men +had made a detour and were waiting for them. As the enemy came +within rifle shot over the hill and started to descend Lieutenant +Magill's men emptied their rifles. The Spanish turned back +dismayed, and wavered for a time between the two fires of our +troops, uncertain which way to turn. Then they assembled at the +top of the hill. This was a fatal mistake, for the Dolphin had +taken up a position to the sea side of the hills in the morning, +and the moment her commander espied the Spaniards on the summit of +the ridge he opened fire upon them. + +The slaughter was terrific, but it is but just to record the fact +that the enemy made a brave fight. They would not surrender, and +made an attempt to fight their way along the summit of the ridge, +but they were routed and ran in all directions to escape. + +While the Americans were destroying the blockhouse, tank and +windmill the Cubans rounded up a Spanish lieutenant and seventeen +privates. These were spared and compelled to surrender. The +lieutenant gave the Spanish loss in the battle at sixty-eight +killed and nearly 200 wounded. Not an American was killed, and no +one seriously wounded. + +TRANSPORTS FILLED WITH TROOPS. + +After weeks of waiting and preparation the first army of invasion +to start from the eastern shores of the United States departed +under the command of General Shatter on the morning of June 14 at +9 o'clock. The fleet of transports consisted of thirty-five +vessels, four tenders and fourteen convoys. The actual embarkation +of the troops began on Monday, June 6. The work proceeded +diligently until late on Wednesday afternoon, when, after the +departure of several vessels, an important order came, calling a +halt in the proceedings. The alleged cause of the delay was the +report that the Hornet while out scouting had sighted several +Spanish war vessels. + +Like a wet blanket came the order to halt. Cheerfulness was +displaced by keen disappointment. Two questions were on every +tongue--"Has Spain surrendered?" "Has our fleet met with a +reverse?" The former met with the readiest belief, many believing +the words in the order "indefinitely postponed" meant peace. + +General Miles and his staff went to Port Tampa Sunday morning at +6:30' to deliver parting instructions. During a heavy rain squall +on Saturday night at 8 o'clock while the transports were straining +at their cables the little tug Captain Sam steamed from ship to +ship megaphoning the order: "Stand ready to sail at daylight." +Above the roar of the storm wild cheers were heard and a bright +flash of lightning revealed the soldiers standing in the rain +waving their wet hats and hurrahing. When the morning broke, piers +were lined with transports, the docks were crowded with box cars, +flat cars, stock cars, baggage and express cars. Most of these +were crowded with soldiers who were cheered until their ears +ached, and who cheered in return until hoarse. + +Bright-colored dresses and fragile parasols in the crowds of blue-coats +indicated the presence of the fair sex. Horses and mules were kicking up +clouds of dust and the sun poured down its hot rays on the sweltering +mass of humanity. Thus Sunday passed, the transports at the docks and +those in midstream receiving their quotas of men and the necessaries to +sustain them. + +STIRRING SCENES CONTINUED. + +General Miles again went to the port on Monday on the early train. +The stirring scenes continued; the mad rush had not abated. +General Miles from the observation end of his car watched the +crowd as it passed near him. The transports swinging at their +moorings were plainly in view, as were also many of those at the +docks. The embarkation of animals was progressing satisfactorily. + +Shortly after 9 o'clock the funnels of the transports began to +pour forth volumes of black smoke. The Olivette, Margaret, Mateo +and Laura were visiting the fleet, giving water to one, troops to +another, animals and equipments to another. Along the pier could +be heard the voices of the transport commanders as they gave their +orders to cut loose. The gangplanks were pulled in, the hatchways +closed, lines cast off and the engines were put in motion. + +The vessels backed into the bay and anchored to await the order to +sail. The Matteawan hove her cable short at 10 o'clock. All eyes +were riveted on the Seguranca, the flagship, and when the final +signal came a mighty cheer arose. From the lower row of portholes +to her tops hats waved in wild delight. The anchor was quickly +weighed and the great vessel pointed her prow down the bay. In a +few minutes the City of Washington, Rio Grande, Cherokee, Iroquois +and Whitney followed. As these boats picked their way through the +anchored fleet men shouted and bands played. Every vessel elicited +a wild display of enthusiasm. These were the only vessels to +depart in the forenoon, some of them going over to St. Petersburg +to procure water. + +General Miles, evidently becoming impatient, embarked on the +Tarpon at 12:30 and went out among the fleet, going as far down +the bay as St. Petersburg and not returning until 4 o'clock. In +the meantime other transports were steaming down the bay. + +In the afternoon the Morgan cut a path of white foam down the +channel, and her lead was followed by the Vigilance, San Marcos, +Clinton, Yucatan, Stillwater, Berkshire, Olivette, Santiago, +Arkansas, Seneca, Saratoga, Miami, Leona, Breakwater and Comal. By +the time these vessels had moved away darkness had enveloped the +remaining ships, from whose sides glimmered long rows of lights. +The Knickerbocker, numbered thirteen, and the Orizaba had much to +take on during the night. The last to load were eager to complete +the task for fear they might be left. By daylight all the ships +except the Seguranca had moved down the bay. At 9 o'clock the +Seguranca, amid cheers and the blowing of whistles, followed. + +General Shatter and his staff were the last to leave. The last +orders were handed to Lieutenant Miley, an aid to General Shafter, +and immediately the flagship started. + +SAMPSON AGAIN SHELLS SANTIAGO. + +Rear-Admiral Sampson's fleet bombarded the batteries at Santiago +de Cuba for the third time at daylight on the morning of June 16. + +For hours the ships pounded the batteries at the right and left of +the entrance, only sparing El Morro, where Lieutenant Hobson and +his companions of the Merrimac were in prison. + +As a preliminary to the hammering given the batteries the dynamite +cruiser Vesuvius at midnight was given another chance. Three 250-pound +charges of gun cotton were sent over the fortifications at the entrance. +The design was to drop them in the bay around the angle back of the +eminence on which El Morro is situated, where it was known that the +Spanish torpedo-boat destroyers were lying. Two charges went true, as no +reports were heard--a peculiarity of the explosion of gun cotton in +water. The third charge exploded with terrific violence on Cayo Smith. + +From where the fleet lay the entrance to the harbor looked, in the +black night, like a door opening into the livid fire of a Titanic +furnace. A crater big enough to hold a church was blown out of the +side of the Cayo Smith and was clearly seen from the ships. + +Coffee was served to the men at 3:30 in the morning, and with the +first blush of dawn the men were called quietly to quarters. The +ship steamed in five-knot speed to a 3,000-yard range, when they +closed up, broadside on, until a distance of three cable-lengths +separated them. They were strung out in the form of a crescent, +the heavy fighting ships in the center, the flagship on the right +flank and the Massachusetts on the left flank. The line remained +stationary throughout the bombardment. The Vixen and Scorpion took +up positions on opposite flanks, close in shore, for the purpose +of enfilading any infantry that might fire upon the ships. + +When the ships got into position it was still too dark for any +firing. The Admiral signaled the ships not to fire until the +muzzles of the enemy's guns in the embrasures could be seen by the +gun captains. + +Fifteen minutes later, at 5:25 am, the New York opened with a +broadside from her main battery at the works on the east of the +entrance to the harbor. All the ships followed in red streaks of +flame. The fleet, enveloped in smoke, pelted the hills and kicked +up dirt and masonry. + +Though the gun captains had been cautioned not to waste +ammunition, but to fire with deliberation, the fire was so rapid +that there was an almost continuous report. The measured crash of +the big thirteen-inch guns of the battleships sounded above the +rattle of the guns of the secondary batteries like thunder-claps +above the din of a hurricane. A strong land breeze off the shore +carried the smoke of the ships seaward, while it let down a thick +curtain in front of the Spanish gunners. + +The dons responded spiritedly at first, but their frenzied, half-crazed +fire could not match the cool nerve, trained eyes and skilled gunnery of +the American sailors. Our fire was much more effective than in preceding +bombardments. The Admiral's ordnance expert had given explicit +directions to reduce the powder charges and to elevate the guns, so as +to shorten the trajectory and thus to secure a plunging fire. + +The effect of the reduced charges was marvelous. In fifteen minutes one +western battery was completely wrecked. The Massachusetts tore a gaping +hole in the emplacement with a 1,000-pound projectile, and the Texas +dropped a shell into the powder magazine. The explosion wrought terrible +havoc. + +The frame was lifted, the sides were blown out and a shower of +debris flew in every direction. One timber, carried out of the +side of the battery, went tumbling down the hill. + +The batteries on the east of Morro were harder to get at, but the +New Orleans crossed the bows of the New York to within 500 yards +of shore and played a tattoo with her long eight-inch rifles, +hitting them repeatedly, striking a gun squarely muzzle-on, +lifting it off its trunnions and sending it sweeping somersaults +high in the air. + +When the order came, at 6:30, to cease firing, every gun of the +enemy had been silenced for ten minutes, but as the ships drew off +some of the Spanish courage returned and a half-dozen shots were +fired spitefully at the Massachusetts and Oregon, falling in their +wakes. + +WENT ASHORE WITH A RUSH. + +Sea and weather were propitious when, on June 22, the great army +of invasion under General Shatter left their transports in +Baiquiri harbor, and landed on Cuban soil. The navy and the army +co-operated splendidly and as the big warships closed in on the +shore to pave the way for the approach of the transports and then +went back again, three cheers for the navy went up from many +thousand throats on the troop-ships and three cheers for the army +rose from ship after ship. + +The Cuban insurgents, too, bore their share in the enterprise +honorably and well. Five thousand of them in mountain fastness and +dark thickets of ravines, lay all the previous night on their guns +watching every road and mountain path leading from Santiago to +Guantanamo. A thousand of them were within sight of Baiquiri, +making the approach of the Spaniards under cover of darkness an +impossibility. + +There is a steep, rocky hill, known as Punta Baiquiri, rising +almost perpendicularly at the place indicated. It is a veritable +Gibraltar in possibilities of defense. From the staff at its +summit the Spanish flag was defiantly floating at sunset; but in +the morning it was gone, and with it the small Spanish guard which +had maintained the signal station. Between nightfall and dawn the +Spaniards had taken the alarm and fled from the place, firing the +town as they left. + +The flames were watched with interest from the ships. Two sharp +explosions were heard. At first they were thought to be the report +of guns from Spanish masked batteries, but they proved to be +explosions of ammunition in a burning building. + +Three hours' waiting made the men on the transports impatient to +get ashore and in action, and every move of the warships was +closely watched by the soldiers. + +A little before 9 o'clock the bombardment of the batteries of +Juragua was begun. This was evidently a feint to cover the real +point of attack, Juragua being about half-way between Baiquiri and +Santiago. The bombardment lasted about twenty minutes. The scene +then quickly shifted back again to the great semi-circle of +transports before Baiquiri. + +At 9:40 o'clock the New Orleans opened fire with a gun that sent a +shell rumbling and crashing against the hillside. The Detroit, +Wasp, Machias and Suwanee followed suit. In five minutes the sea +was alive with flotillas of small boats, headed by launches, +speeding for the Baiquiri dock. Some of the boats were manned by +crews of sailors, while others were rowed by the soldiers +themselves. Each boat contained sixteen men, every one in fighting +trim and carrying three days' rations, a shelter tent, a gun and +200 cartridges. All were ready to take the field on touching the +shore should they be called upon. + +The firing of the warships proved to be a needless precaution, as +their shots were not returned and no Spaniards were visible. + +General Shafter, on board the Seguranca, closely watched the +landing of the troops. Brigadier-General Lawton, who had been +detailed to command the landing party, led the way in a launch, +accompanied by his staff, and directed the formation of the line +of operation. + +A detachment of eighty regulars was the first to land, followed by +General Shafter's old regiment, the First infantry. Then came the +Twenty-fifth, Twenty-second, Tenth, Seventh and Twelfth infantry +in the order named, and the Second Massachusetts and a detachment +of the Ninth cavalry. + +The boats rushed forward simultaneously from every quarter, in +good-natured rivalry to be first, and their occupants scrambled +over one another to leap ashore. As the boats tossed about in the +surf getting ashore was no easy matter, and the soldiers had to +throw their rifles on the dock before they could climb up. Some +hard tumbles resulted, but nobody was hurt. At the end of the pier +the companies and regiments quickly lined up and marched away. + +General Lawton threw a strong detachment for the night about six +miles west, on the road to Santiago, and another detachment was +posted to the north of the town among the hills. The rest of the +troops were quartered in the town, some of them being housed in +the buildings of the iron company. + +Some of the troops were quartered in deserted houses, while others +preferred the shelter of their tents in the adjoining fields. + +The morning's fire, it was seen, had destroyed the roundhouse, the +repair shops and several small dwellings. The town was deserted +when the troops landed, but women and children soon appeared from +the surrounding thickets and returned to their homes. + +Part of the sun-bronzed troops quickly searched the buildings and +beat up the thickets in search of lurking foes and then at +nightfall marched into the unknown country beyond, with long, +swinging strides and the alert bearing of the old frontier army +men, ready to fight the Spaniards Sioux-fashion or in the open, +wherever they could be found. + +The landing was accomplished without loss of life, the only +accident being the wounding of an insurgent on the hills by a +shell from one of the warships. + +VICTORY IS DEARLY BOUGHT. + +On Friday morning, June 24, four troops of the First cavalry, four +troops of the Tenth cavalry and eight troops of Roosevelt's Rough +Riders--less than 1,000 men in all--dismounted and attacked 2,000 +Spanish soldiers in the thickets within five miles of Santiago de +Cuba. A bloody conflict ensued, and the Americans lost sixteen +men, including Captain Allyn M. Capron and Hamilton Fish, Jr., of +the Rough Riders. + +Practically two battles were fought at the same time, one by the +Rough Riders under the immediate command of Colonel Wood, on the +top of the plateau, and the other on the hillsides, several miles +away, by the regulars, with whom was General Young. + +The expedition started from Juragua--marked on some Cuban maps as +Altares--a small town on the coast nine miles east of Morro +Castle, which was the first place occupied by the troops after +their landing at Baiquiri. + +Information was brought to the American army headquarters by +Cubans that forces of Spanish soldiers had assembled at the place +where the battle occurred to block the march on Santiago. + +General Young went there to dislodge them, the understanding being +that the Cubans under General Castillo would co-operate with him, +but the latter failed to appear until the fight was nearly +finished. Then they asked permission to chase the fleeing +Spaniards, but as the victory was already won General Young +refused to allow them to take part in the fight. + +General Young's plans contemplated the movement of half of his +command along the trail at the base of the range of hills leading +back from the coast, so that he could attack the Spaniards on the +flank while the Rough Riders went off to follow the trail leading +over the hill to attack them in front. This plan was carried out +completely. The troops left Juragua at daybreak. The route of +General Young and the regulars was comparatively level and easy of +travel. Three Hotch-kiss guns were taken with this command. + +The first part of the journey of the Rough Riders was over steep +hills several hundred feet high. The men carried 200 rounds of +ammunition and heavy camp equipment. Although this was done easily +in the early morning, the weather became intensely hot, and the +sun beat down upon the cowboys and Eastern athletes as they toiled +up the grade with their heavy packs, and frequent rests were +necessary. The trail was so narrow that for the greater part of +the way the men had to proceed single file. Prickly cactus bushes +lined both sides of the trail, and the underbrush was so thick +that it was impossible to see ten feet on either side. All the +conditions were favorable for a murderous ambuscade, but the +troopers kept a close watch, and made as little noise as possible. + +The Rough Riders entered into the spirit of the occasion with the +greatest enthusiasm. It was their first opportunity for a fight, +and every man was eager for it. The weather grew swelteringly hot, +and one by one the men threw away blankets and tent rolls, and +emptied their canteens. + +The first intimation had by Colonel Wood's command that there were +Spaniards in the vicinity was when they reached a point three or +four miles back from the coast, when the low cuckoo calls of the +Spanish soldiers were heard in the bush. + +It was difficult to locate the exact point from which these sounds +came, and the men were ordered to speak in low tones. + +CHARGE THE ENEMY + +As soon as the enemy could be located a charge was ordered, and +the Americans rushed into the dense thicket regardless of danger. +The Spaniards fell back, but fired as they ran, and the battle +lasted about an hour. + +The Spaniards left many dead on the field, their loss in killed +being not less than fifty. + +The Spanish had carefully planned an ambush and intended to hold +the Americans in check. They became panic-stricken at the boldness +of the rush made by the invading force. The position gained was of +great advantage. + +Where the battle took place a path opens into a space covered with +high grass on the right-hand side of the trail and the thickets. A +barbed wire fence runs along the left side. The dead body of a +Cuban was found on the side of the road, and at the same time +Captain Capron's troops covered the outposts the heads of several +Spaniards were seen in the bushes for a moment. + +It was not until then that the men were permitted to load their +carbines. When the order to load was given they acted on it with a +will and displayed the greatest eagerness to make an attack. At +this time the sound of firing was heard a mile or two to the +right, apparently coming from the hills beyond the thicket. It was +the regulars replying to the Spaniards who had opened on them from +the thicket. In addition to rapid rifle fire the boom of Hotchkiss +guns could be heard. + +Hardly two minutes elapsed before Mauser rifles commenced to crack +in the thicket and a hundred bullets whistled over the heads of +the Rough Riders, cutting leaves from the trees and sending chips +flying from the fence posts by the side of the men. The Spaniards +had opened and they poured in a heavy fire, which soon had a most +disastrous effect. The troops stood their ground with the bullets +singing all around them. Private Colby caught sight of the +Spaniards and fired the opening shot at them before the order to +charge was given. + +Sergeant Hamilton Fish, Jr., was the first man to fall. He was +shot through the heart and died instantly. The Spaniards were not +more than 200 yards off, but only occasional glimpses of them +could be seen. The men continued to pour volley after volley into +the brush in the direction of the sound of the Spanish shots, but +the latter became more frequent and seemed to be getting nearer. + +Colonel Wood walked along his lines, displaying the utmost +coolness. He ordered troops to deploy into the thicket, and sent +another detachment into the open space on the left of the trail. +Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt led the former detachment and tore +through the brush, urging his men on. The shots came thicker and +faster every moment, and the air seemed filled with the singing +and shrieking sound of the Mauser bullets, while the short pop of +the Spanish rifles could be distinguished easily from the heavier +reports of the American weapons. Sometimes the fire would come in +volleys and again shots would follow each other in rapid +succession for several minutes. + +Captain Capron stood behind his men, revolver in hand, using it +whenever a Spaniard exposed himself. His aim was sure and two of +the enemy were seen to fall under his fire. Just as he was +preparing to take another shot and shouting orders to his men at +the same time, his revolver dropped from his grasp and he fell to +the ground with a ball through his body. His troop was badly +disconcerted for a moment, but with all the strength he could +muster he cried, "Don't mind me, boys, go on and fight." He was +carried from the field as soon as possible and lived only a few +hours. Lieutenant Thomas of the same troop received a wound +through the leg soon afterward and became delirious from pain. + +ROOSEVELT'S NARROW ESCAPE. + +The troops that were in the thicket were not long in getting into +the midst of the fight. The Spaniards located them and pressed +them hard, but they sent a deadly fire in return, even though most +of the time they could not see the enemy. After ten or fifteen +minutes of hot work the firing fell off some, and Lieutenant +Colonel Roosevelt ordered his men back from the thicket into the +trail, narrowly escaping a bullet himself, which struck a tree +alongside his head. + +It was evident the Spaniards were falling back and changing their +positions, but the fire continued at intervals. Then the troops +tore to the front and into more open country than where the +enemy's fire was coming from. About this time small squads +commenced to carry the wounded from the thicket and lay them in a +more protected spot on the trail until they could be removed to +the field hospital. + +It was not long before the enemy gave way and ran down the steep +hill and up another hill to the blockhouse, with the evident +intent of making a final stand there. + +Colonel Wood was at the front directing the movement and it was +here that Major Brodie was shot. Colonel Wood and Lieutenant +Colonel Roosevelt both led the troops in pursuit of the fleeing +Spaniards and a hail of bullets was poured into the blockhouse. By +the time the American advance got within 600 yards of the +blockhouse the Spaniards abandoned it and scattered among the +brush up another hill in the direction of Santiago, and the battle +was at an end. + +During all this time just as hot a fire had been progressing at +General Young's station. The battle began in much the same manner +as the other one, and when the machine guns opened fire the +Spaniards sent volleys at the gunners from the brush on the +opposite hillside. Two troops of cavalry charged up the hill and +other troops sent a storm of bullets at every point from which the +Spanish shots came. The enemy was gradually forced back, though +firing all the time until they, as well as those confronting the +Rough Riders, ran for the blockhouse only to be dislodged by +Colonel Wood's men. + +General Young stated afterwards that the battle was one of the +sharpest he had ever experienced. It was only the quick and +constant fire of the troopers, whether they could see the enemy or +not, that caused the Spaniards to retreat so soon. General Young +spoke in the highest terms of the conduct of the men in his +command, and both Colonel Wood and Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt +were extremely gratified with the work done by the Rough Riders on +the first occasion of their being under fire. + +When it became evident that the Spaniards were giving up the +fight, searching parties went through the thicket and tall grass, +picking up the dead and wounded. The latter were carried to a +field hospital half a mile to the rear and all possible attention +was given them, while preparation was made to remove them to +Juragua. + +ARMY IN A BAPTISM OF FIRE. + +After a period of comparative idleness the campaign was opened in +earnest Friday, July 1, when General Shafter's army began an +attack at dawn upon the Spanish fortifications. Shatter had come +from Cuero to El Caney with his army, making headquarters at +Siboney. From these points the Spanish troops under General +Linares had retreated a short distance and taken San Juan hill, +from which they had accurate range of the American batteries. +Shafter's forces were without sufficient guns, while the Spaniards +had more and of a heavier caliber than was anticipated. + +The American army slept Thursday night within sight of its +battlefield of the morrow. At daylight Friday morning the forward +movement began. Hard fighting was expected at El Caney, guarding +the northeastern approach to Santiago, and against this position +were massed the commands of Generals Lawton and Wheeler, supported +by Capron's battery of light artillery. Both General Wheeler and +General Young were sick, so General Sumner was assigned to the +command of the former and Colonel Wood of the Rough Riders was +placed in command of General Young's cavalry brigade. Colonel +Carroll of the Sixth cavalry took General Sumner's place at the +head of the First brigade of cavalry. Under General Lawton were +three brigades--Colonel Van Horn's, consisting of the Eighth and +Twenty-second infantry and the Second Massachusetts volunteers; +Colonel Miles', consisting of the First, Fourth and Twenty-fifth +infantry, and General Chaffee's, consisting of the Seventh, +Twelfth and Seventeenth infantry. On the eve of battle Colonel Van +Horn was replaced by General Ludlow. Under General Sumner were +four troops of the Second cavalry and eight troops of the First +volunteer cavalry; under Colonel Wood the Rough Riders, the Tenth +cavalry and four troops of the First cavalry. These two cavalry +commands occupied the left of the San Juan plain for the attack on +the blockhouse at that point. They were supported by Colonel +Carroll's brigade, consisting of the Third, Sixth and Ninth +cavalry, and by Captain Grimes' battery of the Second artillery. + +The southeastern approaches to the city were commanded by General Kent's +division. His First brigade was commanded by General Hawkins and +consisted of the Sixth and Sixteenth regular infantry and the +Seventy-first New York volunteers. Colonel Pearson commanded the Second +brigade, composed of the Second, Tenth and Twenty-first regular +infantry, while the Third brigade, commanded by Colonel Worth, consisted +of the Ninth, Thirteenth and Twenty-fourth regular infantry. Aguadores +was their objective point. Grimes' battery of artillery and the Rough +Riders were to support General Kent in his attack on Aguadores, while +General Duffield, with the Thirty-third and a battalion of the +Thirty-fourth Michigan volunteers, was in advance of Kent's left. + +CAPTAIN CAPRON OPENS THE FIGHT. + +The first shot of the engagement came at 6:45 o'clock Friday +morning. It was fired by Captain Allyn M. Capron's Battery E of +the First artillery. The privilege of opening the engagement was +granted this officer because of the killing of his son among the +Rough Riders who fell near Sevilla. The Spanish answered the +challenge from their forts and trenches about Caney, and +immediately the battle was on. The Spaniards for a time fought +desperately to prevent the town from falling into the hands of our +forces, but before the fighting had been long under way the +Americans and Cubans under Garcia gained advanced ground. Foot by +foot the enemy was driven back into the village. The enthusiasm of +the American forces was intense and their spirit quickly spread to +the Cuban troops. + +At one time during this fight one of the big military balloons +used by the signal corps for reconnoissance hung over San Juan, +not over 500 yards from the enemy, and for five minutes the +Spaniards below tried to puncture it, but they were unable to get +the range. This balloon proved of inestimable service in the +engagement. It floated just over the tree tops, and was easily +guided along three miles of the road toward the lines of the +enemy. Whenever it halted for the purpose of taking a photograph +of the fortifications below, the Spaniards seized the occasion for +taking pot shots. + +In the fighting at San Juan a Spanish shell two and a half inches +in diameter burst in the midst of Captain Puritier's Battery K of +the First artillery, wounding several. Among those injured was. +Private Samuel Barr. Roosevelt's Rough Riders were also in this +fight and bore themselves with as much credit as in the battle of +last Friday in the bush. Several of the Rough Riders were wounded. + +THE FIGHT BEFORE CANEY. + +Meanwhile the battle was raging fiercely at Caney and Aguadores. +In General Lawton's division the Second Massachusetts up to the +middle of the day sustained the heaviest loss, although other +regiments were more actively engaged. During the afternoon the +fight for the possession of Caney was most obstinate, and the +ultimate victory reflects great credit upon the American troops. +It was a glory, too, for Spain, though she never had a chance to +win at any time during the day. Her men fought in intrenchments, +covered ways and blockhouses, while the American forces were in +the open from first to last. The Spanish soldiers stuck to their +work like men, and this, the first land fight of the war, may well +cause Spain to feel proud of her men. The American soldiers +attacked the intrenchments through open ground, and, from the +firing of the first shot until they were on the hills above Caney, +they fought their way forward and the Spanish were driven +backward. General Chaffee's brigade held the right of the line +with the town of Caney. General Ludlow's division was in the +center and Colonel Miles held the left. + +The firing at times was very heavy during the morning, but the +Spaniards in the covered way made a most obstinate defense and +refused to yield an inch. Time and again the shells from Captain +Capron's battery drove them to cover, but as soon as his fire +ceased they were up and at it again. Despite the heavy firing of +the American troops they were able to make but little apparent +progress during the morning, although eventually they steadily +drew in and inclosed the town on all sides. + +At noon it became evident that the fire from the covered way could +not be stopped by the artillery alone and that no permanent +advance could be made until the place was taken, and General +Lawton decided to capture it by assault. Accordingly he sent a +messenger to General Chaffee, with instructions to take the +position by a charge. General Chaffee thereupon closed in with his +men rapidly from the north, while Captain Capron maintained a +heavy fire on the fort, keeping the Spaniards in the covered way +and putting hole after hole into the stone walls of the fort. +Shortly afterward he threw a shot from the battery, which tore +away the flagstaff, bringing the Spanish flag to the ground. From +that time no banner waved above it. + +No finer work has ever been done by soldiers than was done by the +brigades of General Ludlow and Colonel Miles as they closed in on +the town. The Spanish blazed at them with Mausers and machine guns +but without effect. Nothing could stop them and they pushed in +closer during the afternoon, and by the time General Chaffee's men +were in form Miles and Ludlow were in the streets of the town, +holding with tenacity the Spaniards from retreating toward +Santiago, while Chaffee closed in on the right. + +The fighting for hours in front of Colonel Miles' line at a +hacienda known as "Duero" was very fierce. The Spanish defense was +exceedingly obstinate. The house was guarded by rifle pits, and as +fast as the Spaniards were driven from one they retreated into +another and continued firing. + +When the final closing-in movement was begun at 6 p.m. the town +of Caney was taken and a large number of prisoners was captured. +The Spanish loss was 2,000 in all. + +ATTACK ON AGUADORES. + +The only movement of the day which did not meet with success was +General Duffield's attempt to occupy the sea village of Aguadores. +The New York, the Suwanee and the Gloucester shelled the old fort +and the rifle pits during the forenoon, drove all the Spaniards +from the vicinity and bowled over the parapet from which flew the +Spanish flag; but, owing to the broken railway bridge, General +Duffield's troops were unable to get across the river which +separated them from the little town, and were compelled to go back +to Juragua. + +Saturday at dawn the Spaniards, encouraged by Linares at their +head, attempted to retake San Juan hill. Hotchkiss guns mowed them +down in platoons. They were driven back into the third line of +their intrenchments, and there their sharpshooters, reported to be +among the finest in the world, checked the Americans. The +batteries of Grimes, Parkhurst and Burt were compelled to retire +to El Paso hill. Lawton came with the Ninth Massachusetts and the +Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth Michigan and the Spaniards began +to retreat. + +Sampson then began bombardment of the outer forts of Santiago. The +Oregon shot down Morro's flag and battered the old castle into +dust. The batteries at Punta Gorda were blown up by the Oregon and +the Indiana. Not one of the American ships was hit by the Spanish +fire. + +At Guantanamo the Cuban forces under Garcia and Castillo killed +300 Spanish soldiers and routed the enemy's army there. Castillo's +forces forced their way to within five miles of Santiago. + +SHATTER'S REPORTS OF THE FIGHT. + +The nation was thrown into a fever of excitement Friday when the +following bulletin was posted at the War Department, in +Washington: + +Camp, Near Sevilla, Cuba 5--Action now going on. The firing only +light and desultory. Began on the right near Caney, Lawton's +division. He will move on the northeast part of the town of +Santiago. Will keep you continually advised of progress. + +SHAFTER. + +For several hours this was the only information from the seat of +war, but later a dispatch came from Colonel Alien, in charge of +the signal station at Playa del Este. He said that the fight was +growing furious in all directions. At the time he sent the +telegram eight Americans and nine Cubans had been wounded. All +through Saturday rumors of American reverses were rife, and to +make public information definite, so far as it went, the War +Department thought it wise to post a dispatch which it had +received early that morning. This was as follows: + +Siboney, via Playa del Este, July l.--I fear I have underestimated +to-day's casualties. A large and thoroughly equipped hospital ship +should be sent here at once to care for the wounded. The chief +surgeon says he has use for forty more medical officers. The ship +must bring a launch and boats for conveying the wounded. SHAFTER, +Major-General. + +The next message made public sent a wave of apprehension over the +country. The text was as follows: + +Camp Near Sevilla, Cuba, via Playa del Este, July 3.--We have the +town well invested in the north and east, but with a very thin +line. Upon approaching it we find it of such a character and the +defense so strong it will be impossible to carry it by storm with +my present forces. Our losses up to date will aggregate 1,000, but +list has not yet been made. But little sickness outside of +exhaustion from intense heat and exertion of the battle of day +before yesterday and the almost constant fire which is kept up on +the trenches. Wagon road to the rear is kept open with difficulty +on account of rains, but I will be able to use it for the present. +General Wheeler is seriously ill and will probably have to go to +the rear to-day. General Young is also very ill, confined to his +bed. General Hawkins slightly wounded in the foot during sortie +enemy made last night, which was handsomely repulsed. The behavior +of the troops was magnificent. General Garcia reported he holds +the railroad from Santiago to San Luis and has burned a bridge and +removed some rails; also that General Pando has arrived at Palma +and that the French consul, with about 400 French citizens, came +into his line yesterday from Santiago. I have directed him to +treat them with every courtesy possible. SHAFTER, Major-General. + +General Miles sent the following dispatch to General Shafter: + +Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C., July 3.--Accept my +hearty congratulations on the record made of magnificent +fortitude, gallantry, and sacrifice displayed in the desperate +fighting of the troops before Santiago. I realize the hardships, +difficulties, and sufferings, and am proud that amid those +terrible scenes the troops illustrated such fearless and patriotic +devotion to the welfare of our common country and flag. Whatever +the results to follow their unsurpassed deeds of valor, the past +is already a gratifying chapter of history. I expect to be with +you within one week, with strong reinforcements. + +MILES, Major-General Commanding. + +General Shafter's reply was as follows: + +Playa, July 4, Headquarters Fifth Army Corps, Near Santiago, July +3--I thank you in the name of the gallant men I have the honor to +command for splendid tribute of praise which you have accorded +them. They bore themselves as American soldiers always have. Your +telegram will be published at the head of the regiments in the +morning. I feel that I am master of the situation and can hold the +enemy for any length of time. I am delighted to know that you are +coming, that you may see for yourself the obstacles which this +army had to overcome. My only regret is the great number of +gallant souls who have given their lives for our country's cause. +SHAFTER. + +In the light of these sorrowful, if triumphant, facts it must not +be forgotten that the enemy also suffered a terrible loss. In the +fatuous sortie upon the American position on the night of July 2 +General Linares, commanding in Santiago, was wounded in the foot +and shoulder and 500 of his soldiers died upon the field. Scarcely +a man in our intrenchments was hurt. Of the Spanish 29th battalion +defending El Caney less than 100 survived. General Vara de Rey, +its commander, was buried with military honors, General Ludlow +taking possession of his sword and spurs. + +The Spanish fought stubbornly throughout, and their retreat, +though steady, was slowly and coolly conducted. They contested +every inch of the way and fought with unexpected skill, their +officers handling the troops with bravery and good judgment, and +demonstrating that in them our boys in blue were fighting with +foemen worthy of their steel. + +The gallantry of the American officers was conspicuous throughout +the battle. Major-General Wheeler, who was seriously indisposed +and suffering from an attack of fever, ordered an ambulance to +convey him to the front, where the sound of fighting seemed to +give him new life, and in a short time he called for his horse and +personally directed his division in the attack. + +General Hawkins, commanding the First Brigade, Ninth Division, was +conspicuous for the manner in which he exposed himself to Spanish +bullets. After taking the redoubt on the hill with his command he +stood for a long time on the summit watching the fight. A heavy +fire at times was concentrated on the spot, but he surveyed the +field of battle while the bullets were whizzing past by hundreds. + +SHAFTER DEMANDS THE SURRENDER OF THE CITY. + +On July 3 General Shafter sent the following communication to +General Toral, commanding the Spanish army in the province of +Santiago: + +Headquarters of United States Forces, Near San Juan River, Cuba, +July 3, 8:30 A. M.--To the Commanding General of the Spanish +Forces, Santiago de Cuba--Sir: I shall be obliged, unless you +surrender, to shell Santiago de Cuba. Please inform the citizens +of foreign countries and all women and children that they should +leave the city before 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. Very +respectfully, your obedient servant, W. R. SHAFTER, Major-General, +U. S. A. + +General Toral made this reply: + +Santiago de Cuba, July 3, 2 pm.--His Excellency, the General +Commanding the Forces of the United States, San Juan River--Sir: I +have the honor to reply to your communication of to-day written at +8:30 A. M. and received at 1 pm, demanding the surrender of this +city; on the contrary case announcing to me that you will bombard +the city, and asking that I advise the foreign women and children +that they must leave the city before 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. +It is my duty to say to you that this city will not surrender and +that I will inform the foreign Consuls and inhabitants of the +contents of your message. + +Very respectfully, JOSE TORAL, Commander in Chief, Fourth Corps. + +The British, Portuguese, Chinese, and Norwegian Consuls requested +that non-combatants be allowed to occupy the town of Caney and +railroad points, and asked until 10 o'clock of the next day for +them to leave Santiago. They claimed that there were between +15,000 and 20,000 people, many of them old, whose lives would be +endangered by the bombardment. On the receipt of this request +General Shafter sent the following communication: + +The Commanding General, Spanish General, Spanish Forces, Santiago +de Cuba--Sir: In consideration of the request of the Consuls and +officers in your city for delay in carrying out my intention to +fire on the city, and in the interest of the poor women and +children who will suffer greatly by their hasty and enforced +departure from the city, I have the honor to announce that I will +delay such action solely in their interest until noon of the 5th, +providing during the interval your forces make no demonstration +whatever upon those of my own. + +I am with great respect, your obedient servant, W. R. SHAFTER, +Major-General, U. S. A. + +On July 6 the flag of truce which had been flying over Santiago +for a day or two was still displayed, but a smaller flag was +presently seen coming from the city in the hands of a man in +uniform. + +A party was sent from General Shafter's headquarters to receive +the bearer of the flag. It was found that he was a commissioner +from General Toral. He announced to those who met him that he had +an important communication to deliver to the commander of the +American army, coming direct from General Toral, and he desired to +be taken to General Shafter. + +Ordinarily such a messenger going through the lines would be +blindfolded. Our position was so strong, however, and our +offensive works so impressive, that it was decided to give the +commissioner the free use of his eyes, so that he might see all +the preparations that have been made to reduce the city. The siege +guns and mortar batteries were pointed out to him, and he was +entertained all the way to head-quarters with a detailed +explanation of the number of our forces, our guns, and other +matters that must have been of interest to him. In fact, he was +very much impressed by what he heard and saw. + +Arriving at General Shafter's headquarters the communication from +the Spanish commander was delivered with some ceremony. It was +quite long. General Toral asked that the time of the truce be +further extended, as he wanted to communicate with the Madrid +government concerning the surrender of the city. He also asked +that cable operators be sent to operate the line between Santiago +and Kingston. He promised on his word of honor as a soldier that +the operators would, not be asked to transmit any matter except +that bearing on the surrender, and that he would return them safe +to El Caney when a final reply was received from Madrid. This +request for operators was made necessary by the fact that the men +who had been operating the Santiago cable were British subjects, +and they had all left the city under the protection of the British +consul when the Americans gave notice that the city would be +bombarded unless it surrendered. + +The commissioner said that General Toral wanted to consult with +the authorities in Madrid, for the reason that he had been unable +to communicate with Captain-General Blanco in Havana. + +It was finally arranged that the truce, which expired at four +o'clock on the 6th, should be extended until the same hour on +Saturday, July 9th. + +The commissioner was escorted back through another part of the +camp which was filled with bristling guns. The British consul +having given his consent to the operators returning to the city, +messengers were sent to El Caney to learn if the men would go. +They expressed their willingness, and were escorted to the Avails +of the city, where they were met by a Spanish escort and taken to +the office of the cable company. + +DESTRUCTION OF CERVERA'S FLEET. + +On the morning of July 3, Admiral Cervera, commander of the +Spanish fleet in the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, made a bold dash +for liberty by a desperate attempt to break through the American +line, in the hope of reaching the open sea. + +In the face of overwhelming odds, with nothing before him but +inevitable destruction or surrender if he remained any longer in +the trap in which the American fleet held him, he made a dash from +the harbor at the time the Americans least expected him to do so, +and fighting every inch of his way, even when his ship was ablaze +and sinking, he tried to escape the doom which was written on the +muzzle of every American gun trained upon his vessels. + +The Spaniards made a daring venture, and with a less vigilant foe +they might have succeeded. It was known in the fleet that General +Shatter was closing in on the city and that Admiral Cervera's +position was desperate, but it was supposed that he would remain +in the harbor and train his guns on the American land forces as +long as possible, and that he would blow up his ships rather than +allow them to fall into the hands of the enemy. It is certain that +Admiral Sampson did not expect Cervera to make a break for +liberty, although the American commander has known for several +days that the sinking of the Merrimac did not completely block the +channel entrance to Santiago harbor. + +At 9:35 on Sunday morning the flagship New York, with Admiral +Sampson on board, was many miles to the eastward, bearing the +admiral to a conference with General Shafter. The fleet as a whole +was much farther off shore than usual. Any one looking seaward +from Morro Castle and seeing the distant specks on the water would +not have realized that the port was effectively blockaded. +Evidently the Spaniards had been waiting for the American fleet to +become thus scattered. They thought our fleet was napping, and +that this was the time to make a quick exit and start homeward. + +Very soon after the New York had started to Siboney the shore +batteries opened fire on the American fleet. As the vessels were +practically out of range and not in the usual line formation this +firing from the shore caused some surprise. In the first place, +these batteries had been shelled the day before, and it was +supposed that they had been silenced, and in the second place it +seemed foolish of the Spaniards to undertake haphazard firing. + +At that time the vessels of the blockading squadron were at +varying distances of from three to ten miles from the harbor +entrance. Most of the American cruisers were at the usual Sunday +morning quarters, and not one ship was really prepared for +immediate action. Almost as soon as the batteries opened fire a +Spanish cruiser, the Cristobal Colon, was seen to emerge from the +channel entrance and head toward sea, firing her forward battery +as she came. Then the signals hurried from one ship to another, +and on every American vessel there was a rush of activity. In +every engine room there was a signal for full speed. The entire +fleet began to move in toward the shore, heading for the channel +entrance. At 9:45 the Oquendo slipped out of the channel. By this +time the Cristobal Colon had turned to the west, and with a good +headway was attempting to slip past the blockaders. The Maria +Teresa, the Vizcaya, the two torpedo-boat destroyers, the Furor +and the Pluton, and a gunboat were all clear of the channel +entrance and racing for liberty when the American vessels opened +fire at long range. The Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Texas, Oregon and +Iowa bore down upon the Spaniards and opened fire, but they were +too far away to get a good range. As for the Spaniards, they began +to shoot as soon as they came out of the harbor and continued to +blaze away until they were utterly defeated, but they showed poor +judgment and bad marksmanship. + +THE GLOUCESTER'S GOOD WORK. + +As the Americans came in closer and closer the fighting became +general. The Gloucester had been lying off Aguadores, three miles +east of Morro, when the Spaniards came out. She hurried to join in +the attack, and at first opened fire on one of the large cruisers. +Already they were being pounded with terrific effect by the +battleships, however, so the little Gloucester turned her +attention to the two torpedo-boat destroyers which had slipped out +of the harbor behind the cruisers. The Gloucester was one of the +swiftest boats in the navy, and although she was equipped with +nothing heavier than six-pound guns she made a resolute attack on +the two destroyers, and the chase began. They headed to the west +at high speed, and she flew after them, pouring shot after shot +with such wonderful accuracy, that by the time the destroyers were +five miles to the west of Morro both were on fire and plainly +disabled. They had persistently returned the fire, and a shower of +little shells fell around the yacht, but once more the American +gunners showed their superiority, for the Gloucester was +comparatively unhurt. + +The Furor turned at last and gave battle to the Gloucester. Here +was another instance of American good luck and Spanish +inefficiency. The Furor sent torpedoes against the Gloucester, but +they failed to explode. As soon as the Spanish destroyer stopped +the Gloucester simply raked her fore and aft with rapid-fire guns, +and the Furor again headed west to escape the terrible punishment. +The smoke was pouring out of her sides, and soon she turned in +toward shore, evidently in a sinking condition. The members of the +crew flocked to the small boats and abandoned their craft. Later +on most of them were taken prisoners on shore. The Furor was +floating about, a mass of flame. + +The Pluton also was disabled, and headed for the shore. She was +beached under a low bluff, where a heavy sea was running, and was +soon pounded so that she broke in two in the middle. Only about +half of the crew reached the shore alive. + +Having disposed of the two destroyers the Gloucester lowered her +small boats and sent them ashore to rescue the Spanish sailors. +The Furor drifted about until the fire reached her magazines, and +then there were two terrific explosions which shattered her hull. +Her stern sunk quickly, and as it went down her bow rose until it +stood almost straight up in the air, and in this position she +disappeared from sight. + +TEST OF BATTLESHIPS. + +While the little yacht had been gaining this notable victory over +the two famous destroyers the big battleships had been following +the line of Spanish cruisers and pounding them with great +persistence. The four Spanish cruisers were under the direct fire +of the Brooklyn, and the four battleships, the Massachusetts, the +Texas, the Iowa and the Oregon. It was the first time that any +first-class battleship had ever been put to the test in a naval +battle. The huge fighting vessels kept close after the fast +cruisers and fired their big guns with deadly certainty. The +American fire was so rapid that the ships were surrounded by +clouds of smoke. + +The Spanish gunners seemed unable to get the proper range and many +of their shots were very wild, though a number of them fell +dangerously near to the mark. + +Two guns of the battery just east of Morro also took part in the +game and their shells fell around the American ships. Many of them +struck the upper works of the fleeing Spaniards and must have +resulted in killing and wounding many of their men. + +The Spanish ships had now reached a point about seven miles west +of Morro and a mile or two beyond the place where the Furor was +burning and the Pluton broken in two against the cliff. + +The flagship and the Oquendo were the first to show signals of +distress. Two thirteen-inch shells from one of the battleships had +struck the Maria Teresa at the water line, tearing great holes in +her side and causing her to fill rapidly. The Oquendo suffered +about the same fate and both ships headed for a small cove and +went aground 200 yards from the shore, flames shooting from them +in every direction. + +The Gloucester, after sending a boat ashore to the Pluton, steamed +along the coast to where the armored cruisers were stranded and +went to their assistance. There was danger from the magazines, and +many of those on board jumped into the water and swam to the +shore, though a number were unable to reach the small strip of +sandy beach in the cove and were thrown against the rocks and +killed or drowned. Many of the wounded were lowered into the +ships' own boats and taken ashore, but this task was a most +difficult one. + +The Gloucester had all her boats out and one seaman swam through +the surf with a line from the Maria Teresa, making it fast to a +tree on the shore. By this means many on the flagship, including +Admiral Cervera, lowered themselves into the Gloucester's boats. +The wounded were taken to the Gloucester as rapidly as possible, +and the lower deck of the yacht was soon covered with Spanish +sailors mangled in limb and body by the bursting of shells. + +CHASE OF THE CRISTOBAL COLON. + +The Brooklyn, Oregon, Massachusetts and Texas and several smaller +vessels continued the chase of the Cristobal Colon, and in less +than an hour were lost to view of the burning ships on shore. The +Iowa and Texas both gave assistance to the imperiled crew of the +Vizcaya. Her Captain surrendered his command and the prisoners +were transferred to the battleship. The Vizcaya probably lost +about sixty men, as she carried a complement of 400 and only 340 +were taken aboard the Iowa. + +Soon after Admiral Cervera reached the shore and surrendered he +was taken to the Gloucester, at his own request. There was no +mistaking the heartbroken expression upon the old commander's face +as he took the proffered hand of Captain Wainwright and was shown +to the latter's cabin, but he made every effort to bear bravely +the bitter defeat that had come to him. He thanked the Captain of +the Gloucester for the words of congratulation offered on the +gallant fight, and then spoke earnestly of his solicitude for the +safety of his men on shore. He informed Captain Wainwright that +Cuban soldiers were on the hills preparing to attack his unarmed +men and asked that they be protected. + +For hours after Admiral Cervera went aboard the Gloucester the +Infanta Maria Teresa, Almirante Oquendo and Vizcaya continued to +burn and every now and then a deep roar, accompanied by a burst of +flame and smoke from the sides of the ships, would announce the +explosion of more ammunition or another magazine. + +It may be mentioned as a coincidence that Lieutenant-Commander +Wainwright, the Commander of the Gloucester, was executive officer +of the Maine at the time of the disaster, and, although he +remained in Havana harbor two months after the explosion, he lived +on board the dispatch boat Fern and steadfastly refused to set his +foot within the city until the time should come when he could go +ashore at the head of a landing party of American blue jackets. +To-day it was his ship that sank two Spanish torpedo-boat +destroyers and afterward received the Spanish Admiral aboard as a +prisoner of war. + +From his position on the bridge of the Gloucester Lieutenant-Commander +Wainwright watched the flames and smoke as they enveloped the decks of +the three greatest warships of the Spanish navy, which were soon to be +reduced to nothing but shattered masts and twisted smokestacks +protruding above the water. + +The prisoners of war included the captains of both boats. None +offered any resistance and all were glad to go to the Gloucester, +as they feared an attack from the Cubans. + +When asked to make some statement in regard to the result of the +battle Admiral Cervera said: "I would rather lose my ships at sea, +like a sailor, than in a harbor. It was the only thing left for me +to do." + +The work of the American battleships was as rapid as it was +terrible. At 9:35 the first vessel headed out past Morro Castle. +At 10 o'clock the two destroyers were wrecked and deserted. At +10:15 the Oquendo and Maria Teresa were encircled by the Iowa, +Indiana and Texas. At 10:40 both were on the rocks. A few minutes +later the Vizcaya was abandoned. + +The Cristobal Colon, having the lead, ran farther along the coast +before the persistent firing by the Brooklyn and Massachusetts +brought her to a stop. She fought for twenty minutes. At noon she +was on the rocks, perforated and tattered. Spain's greatest fleet +was destroyed in about three hours. + +Chief Yoeman Ellis of the Brooklyn was the only American killed In +three hours of incessant fighting, while the Spanish loss reached +600 killed, 400 wounded and 1,100 taken prisoners. + +ADMIRAL SAMPSON'S OFFICIAL REPORT. + +Following is the official report sent by Admiral Sampson to the +navy department at Washington: + +United States Flagship New York, First Rate, Off Santiago de Cuba, +July 15, 1898.--Sir: I have the honor to make the following report +upon the battle, with the destruction of the Spanish squadron, +commanded by Admiral Cervera, off Santiago de Cuba on Sunday, July +3, 1898: + +The enemy's vessels came out of the harbor between 9:35 and 10 am, +the head of the column appearing around Cayo Smith at 9:31 and +emerging from the channel five or six minutes later. The positions +of the vessels of my command off Santiago at that moment were as +follows: The flagship New York was four miles east of her +blockading station and about seven miles from the harbor entrance. +She had started for Siboney, where I intended to land, accompanied +by several of my staff, and go to the front to consult with +General Shafter. A discussion of the situation and a more definite +understanding between us of the operations proposed had been +rendered necessary by the unexpectedly strong resistance of the +Spanish garrison of Santiago. I had sent my chief of staff on +shore the day before to arrange an interview with General Shafter, +who had been suffering from heat prostration. I made arrangements +to go to his headquarters, and my flagship was in the position +mentioned above when the Spanish squadron appeared in the channel. + +The remaining vessels were in or near their usual blockading +positions, distributed in a semi-circle about the harbor entrance, +counting from the eastward to the westward in the following order: +The Indiana, about a mile and a half from shore; the Oregon--the +New York's place between these two--the Iowa, Texas and Brooklyn, +the latter two miles from the shore west of Santiago. The distance +of the vessels from the harbor entrance was from two and one-half +to four miles--the latter being the limit of day--blockading +distance. The length of the arc formed by the ships was about +eight miles. + +The Massachusetts had left at 4 A. M. for Guantanamo for coal. Her +station was between the Iowa and the Texas. The auxiliaries +Gloucester and Vixen lay close to the land and nearer the harbor +entrance than the large vessels, the Gloucester to the eastward +and the Vixen to the westward. The torpedo boat Ericsson was in +company with the flagship, and remained with her during the chase +until ordered to discontinue, when she rendered very efficient +service in rescuing prisoners from the burning Vizcaya. + +The Spanish vessels came rapidly out of the harbor at a speed +estimated at from eight to ten knots and in the following order: +Infanta Maria Teresa (flagship), Vizcaya, Cristobal Colon and the +Almirante Oquendo. The distance between these ships was about 800 +yards, which means that from the time the first one became visible +in the upper reach of the channel until the last one was out of +the harbor an interval of only about twelve minutes elapsed. +Following the Oquendo at a distance of about 1,200 yards came the +torpedo-boat destroyer Pluton, and after her the Furor. The +armored cruisers, as rapidly as they could bring their guns to +bear, opened a vigorous fire upon the blockading vessels and +emerged from the channel shrouded in the smoke from their guns. + +The men of our ships in front of the port were at Sunday "quarters +for inspection." The signal was made simultaneously from several +vessels, "Enemy ships escaping" and "general quarters" was +sounded. The men cheered as they sprang to their guns, and fire +was opened probably within eight minutes by the vessels whose guns +commanded the entrance. The New York turned about and steamed for +the escaping fleet, flying the signal "Close in towards harbor +entrance and attack vessels," and gradually increased her speed, +until toward the end of the chase she was making sixteen and a +half knots, and was rapidly closing on the Cristobal Colon. She +was not at any time within the range of the heavy Spanish ships, +and her only part in the firing was to receive the undivided fire +of the forts in passing the harbor entrance and to fire a few +shots at one of the destroyers, thought at the moment to be +attempting to escape from the Gloucester. + +The Spanish vessels, upon clearing the harbor, turned to the +westward in column, increasing their speed to the full power of +their engines. The heavy blockading vessels, which had closed in +toward the Morro at the instant of the enemy's appearance and at +their best speed, delivered a rapid fire, well sustained and +destructive, which speedily overwhelmed and silenced the Spanish +fire. The initial speed of the Spaniards carried them rapidly past +the blockading vessels and the battle developed into a chase, in +which the Brooklyn and Texas had at the start the advantage of +position. The Brooklyn maintained this lead. The Oregon, steaming +with amazing speed from the commencement of the action, took first +place. The Iowa and Indiana, having done good work and not having +the speed of the other ships, were directed by me, in succession, +at about the time the Vizcaya was beached, to drop out of the +chase and resume the blockading station. The Vixen, finding that +the rush of the Spanish ships would put her between two fires, ran +outside of our own column, and remained there during the battle +and chase. + +The skillful handling and gallant fighting of the Gloucester +excited the admiration of every one who witnessed it and merits +the commendation of the navy department. She is a fast and +entirely unprotected auxiliary vessel--the yacht Corsair--and has +a good battery of light rapid-fire guns. She was lying about two +miles from the harbor entrance, to the southward and eastward, and +immediately steamed in, opening fire upon the large ships. +Anticipating the appearance of the Pluton and Furor, the +Gloucester was slowed, thereby gaining more rapidly a high +pressure of steam, and when the destroyers came out she steamed +for them at full speed and was able to close at short range, where +her fire was accurate, deadly and of great volume. + +During this fight the Gloucester was under the fire of the Socapa +battery. Within twenty minutes from the time they emerged from +Santiago harbor the careers of the Furor and the Pluton were ended +and two-thirds of their people killed. The Furor was beached and +sunk in the surf, the Pluton sank in deep water a few minutes +later. The destroyers probably suffered much injury from the fire +of the secondary batteries of the battleships Iowa, Indiana and +the Texas, yet I think a very considerable factor in their speedy +destruction was the fire at close range of the Gloucester's +battery. After rescuing the survivors of the destroyers the +Gloucester did excellent service in landing and securing the crew +of the Infanta Maria Teresa. + +The method of escape attempted by the Spaniards--all steering in +the same direction and in formation--removed all tactical doubts +or difficulties and made plain the duty of every United States +vessel to close in, immediately engage and pursue. This was +promptly and effectively done. + +As already stated, the first rush of the Spanish squadron carried +it past a number of the blockading ships, which could not +immediately work up to their best speed, but they suffered heavily +in passing, and the Infanta Maria Teresa and the Oquendo were +probably set on fire by shells fired during the first fifteen +minutes of the engagement. It was afterwards learned that the +Infanta Maria Teresa's fire main had been cut by one of our first +shots and that she was unable to extinguish the fire. With large +volumes of smoke rising from their lower decks aft, these vessels +gave up both fight and flight and ran in on the beach-the Infanta +Maria Teresa at about 10:15 A. M. at Nima Nima, six and one-half +miles from Santiago harbor entrance, and the Almirante Oquendo at +about 10:30 A. M. at Juan Gonzales, seven miles from the port. + +The Vizcaya was still under the fire of the leading vessels; the +Cristobal Colon had drawn ahead, leading the chase, and soon +passed beyond the range of the guns of the leading American ships. +The Vizcaya was soon set on fire, and at 11:15 A. M. she turned in +shore and was beached at Aserraderos, fifteen miles from Santiago, +burning fiercely, and with her reserves of ammunition on deck +already beginning to explode. + +When about ten miles west of Santiago the Indiana had been +signaled to go back to the harbor entrance, and at Aserraderos the +Iowa was signaled to "resume blockading station." The Iowa, +assisted by the Ericsson and the Hist, took off the crew of the +Vizcaya, while the Harvard and the Gloucester rescued those of the +Infanta Maria Teresa and the Almirante Oquendo. + +This rescue of prisoners, including the wounded, from the burning +Spanish vessels was the occasion of some of the most daring and +gallant conduct of the day. The ships were burning fore and aft, +their guns and reserve ammunition were exploding, and it was not +known at what moment the fire would reach the main magazines. In +addition to this a heavy surf was running just inside of the +Spanish ships. But no risk deterred our officers and men until +their work of humanity was complete. + +There remained now of the Spanish ships only the Cristobal Colon, +but she was their best and fastest vessel. Forced by the situation +to hug the Cuban coast, her only chance of escape was by superior +and sustained speed. When the Vizcaya went ashore the Colon was +about six miles ahead of the Brooklyn and the Oregon, but her +spurt was finished and the American ships were now gaining upon +her. Behind the Brooklyn and the Oregon came the Texas, Vixen and +New York. It was evident from the bridge of the New York that all +the American ships were gradually overhauling the Colon, and that +she had no chance of escape. + +At 12:50 the Brooklyn and the Oregon opened fire and got her +range, the Oregon's heavy shell striking beyond her, and at 1:10 +she gave up without firing another shot, hauled down her colors +and ran ashore at Rio Torquino, forty-eight miles from Santiago. +Capt. Cook of the Brooklyn went on board to receive the surrender. +While his boat was alongside I came up in the New York, received +his report and placed the Oregon in charge of the wreck to save +her, if possible, and directed the prisoners to be transferred to +the Resolute, which had followed the chase. + +Commodore Schley, whose chief of staff had gone on board to +receive the surrender, had directed that all their personal +effects should be retained by the officers. This order I did not +modify. The Cristobal Colon was not injured by our firing, and +probably is not much injured by beaching, though she ran ashore at +high speed. The beach was so steep that she came off by the +working of the sea. But her sea valves were opened and broken, +treacherously, I am sure, after her surrender, and despite all +efforts she sank. When it became evident that she could not be +kept afloat she was pushed by the New York bodily up on the beach, +the New York's stem being placed against her for this purpose--the +ship being handled by Capt. Chadwick with admirable judgment--and +sank in shoal water and may be saved. Had this not been done she +would have gone down in deep water and would have been to a +certainty a total loss. + +I regard this complete and important victory over the Spanish +forces as the successful finish of several weeks of arduous and +close blockade, so stringent and effective during the night that +the enemy was deterred from making the attempt to escape at night +and deliberately elected to make the attempt in daylight. That +this was the case I was informed by the commanding officer of the +Cristobal Colon. + +It was ascertained with fair conclusiveness that the Merrimac, so +gallantly taken into the channel on June 3, did not obstruct it. I +therefore maintained the blockade as follows: + +To the battleships was assigned the duty, in turn, of lighting the +channel. Moving up to the port at a distance of from one to two +miles from the Morro--dependent upon the condition of the +atmosphere--they threw a searchlight beam directly up the channel, +and held it steadily there. This lighted up the entire breadth of +the channel for half a mile inside of the entrance so brilliantly +that the movement of small boats could be detected. + +When all the work was done so well it is difficult to discriminate in +praise. The object of the blockade of Cervera's squadron was fully +accomplished, and each individual bore well his part in it --the +commodore in command on the second division, the captains of ships, +their officers and men. The fire of the battleships was powerful and +destructive and the resistance of the Spanish squadron was in great part +broken almost before they had got beyond the range of their own forts. +The fine speed of the Oregon, enabled her to take a front position in +the chase, and the Cristobal Colon did not give up until the Oregon had +thrown a 13-inch shell beyond her. This performance adds to the already +brilliant record of this fine battleship and speaks highly of the skill +and care with which her admirable efficiency has been maintained during +a service unprecedented in the history of vessels of her class. + +The Brooklyn's westerly blockading position gave her an advantage +in the chase, which she maintained to the end, and she employed +her fine battery with telling effect. The Texas and the New York +were gaining on the chase during the last hour, and had any +accident befallen the Brooklyn or the Oregon, would have speedily +overhauled the Cristobal Colon. From the moment the Spanish vessel +exhausted her first burst of speed the result was never in doubt. +She fell, in fact, far below what might reasonably have been +expected of her. Careful measurements of time and distance give +her an average speed from the time she cleared the harbor mouth +until the time she was run on shore at Rio Tarquino--of 13.7 +knots. Neither the New York nor the Brooklyn stopped to couple up +their forward engine, but ran out the chase with one pair, getting +steam, of course, as rapidly as possible on all boilers. To stop +to couple up the forward engines would have meant a delay of +fifteen minutes--or four miles--in the chase. + +Several of the ships were struck, the Brooklyn more often than the +others, but very slight material injury was done, the greatest +being aboard the Iowa. Our loss was one man killed and one +wounded, both on the Brooklyn. It is difficult to explain this +immunity from loss of life or injury to ships in a combat with +modern vessels of the best type; but Spanish gunnery is poor at +the best, and the superior weight and accuracy of our fire +speedily drove the men from their guns and silenced their fire. +This is borne out by the statements of prisoners and by +observation. The Spanish vessels, as they dashed out of the +harbor, were covered with the smoke from their own guns, but this +speedily diminished in volume and soon almost disappeared. The +fire from the rapid-fire batteries of the battleships appears to +have been remarkably destructive. An examination of the stranded +vessels shows that the Almirante Oquendo especially had suffered +terribly from this fire. Her sides are everywhere pierced and her +decks were strewn with the charred remains of those who had +fallen. + +W. T. SAMPSON, + +Rear Admiral United States Navy, Commander in Chief United States +Naval Force, North Atlantic Station. The Secretary of the Navy, +Navy Department, Washington, D. C. + +BURNING OF THE ALFONSO XII. + +Two batteries silenced; two gunboats put to flight; the Alfonso +XII., a transport of 5,000 tons, loaded with ammunition, beached +and burned; those were the Spanish losses in the second battle of +Mariel on Wednesday, July 6. The Hawk, Prairie and Castine fought +it, destroying the most valuable ship and cargo that Spanish +daring employed to run into Havana's relief after the blockading +squadron stationed itself before Morro. + +The Hawk began the battle Tuesday night off Havana. Lieutenant +Hood had taken his destroyer yacht far in under the guns to watch +the western approach to the harbor. Twenty minutes before midnight +he reached the eastern limit of his patrol, six miles west of +Morro, and went about, swinging farther in shore as he turned. The +Hawk had not finished circling when the forward lookout sighted a +huge four-masted steamer creeping along in the shade of the shore +a quarter of a mile nearer the beach, a mile to the westward. His +"sail ho" warned the master of the steamer that he was discovered +and he put about at the cry and steamed furiously away toward +Mariel. + +Lieutenant Hood was after him in an instant. Eastward within call +lay six warships, but Lieutenant Hood wanted the steamer for his +own prize, and started after her without calling for aid. Mile +after mile the two vessels reeled off, the Hawk waiting to get its +prey well away from the squadron before striking. Twenty miles +from Morro the steamer began drawing away from the destroyer. The +Hawk's men were at their quarters, and when Lieutenant Hood saw +his prize slipping from his grasp his forward six-pounders began +to speak. Some of the shells must have landed, for the Spaniard +ran for shoal water, apparently hoping to catch the Hawk among the +rocks. + +Lieutenant Hood was game, however, and the light-draught Hawk kept +hammering away with her rapid-fire guns and burning signals for +help from the bridge. Two miles east of Mariel the hunted Spaniard +broke for the narrow harbor mouth, and Lieutenant Hood's jackies, +pumping steel across the moonlit waters, groaned in the fear that +she might escape. The raining six-pound shells upset the pilot, +however, and the fleeing ship struck hard on the bar at the west +side of the entrance and stuck fast. With wild cheers the Hawk's +crew tumbled into the boats and boarded the prize, but the +steamer's rail was lined with riflemen and the popping Mausers +drove the Hawk's tars back to their ship. + +The Hawk guarded the prize till morning and then, seeing her fast +aground, ran back to Havana to report to the fleet and to ask help +in taking her. The Castine was sent down to aid in the work, but +the shore batteries opened on the ships when they appeared. After +two hours' fruitless fighting the Hood went back to the fleet for +re-enforcements. The Prairie, manned by Massachusetts reserves, +was dispatched to engage the batteries, and at 1 o'clock in the +afternoon Captain Train took a position two miles from Martello +tower and began pitching six-inch shells into the tower and sand +batteries. Ten shells silenced the three guns in the tower and +sent the artillerymen streaming back over the hill toward the +city. + +Two gunboats inside the harbor poured five-inch shells at the +Prairie, but nine shells from that ship routed them and drove them +back to the city. The sand batteries were harder to silence, but +fifteen shells did that work and wrecked the barracks besides. The +infantry in the rifle pits supporting the batteries were driven +out by five-inch shells from the Castine, which fired during the +morning and afternoon 250 shots. The Prairie used thirty-eight of +her six-inch shells and about 100 six-pounders. The Castine and +Hawk had taken the steamer, and the Hawk then reported to the +fleet at Havana. The Spanish vessel was so badly riddled that the +name could not be deciphered. + +GENERAL MILES ASSUMES COMMAND IN CUBA. + +On July 13 General Miles arrived at the front and assumed personal +command of the army around Santiago. Negotiations for the peaceful +surrender of the city had been going on for several days between +General Shafter, commander of the American forces, and General +Toral of the Spanish army, but it was not until the 16th that a +final agreement was reached. On this date conditions of surrender +were offered, the principal articles of which were as follows: + +First, that all hostilities shall cease pending the agreement of +final capitulation. + +Second, that the capitulation includes all the Spanish forces and +the surrender of all war material within the prescribed limits. + +Third, that the transportation of the troops to Spain shall be +furnished at the earliest possible moment, each force to be +embarked at the nearest port. + +Fourth, that the Spanish officers shall retain their side arms and +the enlisted men their personal property. + +Fifth, that after the final capitulation the Spanish forces shall +assist in the removal of all obstructions to navigation in +Santiago harbor. + +Sixth, that after the final capitulation the commanding officers +shall furnish a complete inventory of all arms and munitions of +war and a roster of all soldiers in the district. + +Seventh, that the Spanish general shall be permitted to take the +military archives and records with him. + +Eighth, that all guerrillas and Spanish irregulars shall be +permitted to remain in Cuba, giving a parole that they will not +again take up arms against the United States unless properly +released from parole. + +Ninth, that the Spanish forces shall be permitted to march out +with all the honors of war, depositing their arms to be disposed +of by the United States in the future, the American commissioners +to recommend to their Government that the arms of the soldiers be +returned to those "who so bravely defended them." + +By the terms of this agreement the southeastern end of Cuba--an +area of about 5,000 square miles--the capital of the province, the +forts and their heavy guns, and Toral's army, about 25,000 strong, +passed into our possession. + +The ceremony which sealed the capitulation of Santiago was simple +and short. Promptly at 9 o'clock in the morning all division and +brigade commanders and their staffs reported to General Shafter at +his headquarters. With Major-General Wheeler at his left, General +Lawton and General Kent behind, and the other officers, according +to rank, following, the little cavalcade, escorted by a detachment +of Rafferty's mounted squadron, rode around the base of San Juan +hill and west on the royal road toward Santiago. Just about midway +between the American and Spanish lines of rifle pits stands a +lordly ceiba, 125 feet high to the crown, nearly 10 feet in +diameter at the trunk and spreading 50 feet each way from the +polished tree shaft. Under this tree General Toral and a score of +his officers awaited the Americans. As General Shafter came down +the slope toward the tree General Toral advanced a few feet and +raised his hat. General Shafter returned the salute, and then the +quick notes of a Spanish bugle, marking the cadence of a march, +sounded on the other side of the hedge which bordered the road, +and the king's guard, in column of twos, came into view. Before +they arrived on the scene the American cavalrymen had lined up +with drawn sabers at a carry, each man and horse motionless. + +The Spanish soldiers came through a gap in the hedge in quick +time, the Spanish flag leading the column and two trumpeters +sounding the advance. The soldiers marched in excellent order, but +as they passed General Shafter their eyes moved to the left and +they glanced curiously at the men who had served as their targets +only a few days before. About 200 soldiers and officers were in +the king's guard, and the little command, after moving down the +entire front of the detachment of cavalry, countermarched, and, +swinging into line, halted facing the Americans, about ten yards +distant. + +For a few minutes Americans and Spaniards faced each other, silent +and motionless. Then the two trumpeters gave tongue to their horns +again; a Spanish officer shouted a command; the Spanish colors +dipped in a salute; the Spanish soldiers presented arms and the +Spanish officers removed their hats. Captain Brett's quick, terse +command, "Present sabers," rang over the hillside, and American +swords flashed as the sabers swept downward. General Shafter +removed his hat, and his officers followed his example. For half a +minute--and it seemed longer--the two little groups of armed men, +each representing an army, remained at "the salute." The Spanish +officer in command of the king's guard was the first to break the +silence. His commands put the Spaniards in motion, and they again +passed before the Americans, who remained at "present arms" until +the last of the guard had marched by. The Spaniards marched back +toward Santiago a few hundred feet, halted, stacked their Mauser +rifles and then, without arms or flags, filed back of the American +lines and went into camp on the hill just west of San Juan hill. + +The formal part of the proceedings came to an end with this little +ceremony, then Spanish and American officers mingled, shook hands +and exchanged compliments. While the king's guard and the American +cavalrymen were saluting each other the 5th army corps stood on +the crest of the parapet of the rifle pits, forming a thin line +nearly seven miles long. Only a small part of the army could see +the groups of Spanish and American soldiers under the ceiba tree, +but every one of the men who had been fighting and living in our +trenches strained his eyes to catch a glimpse, if possible, of the +proceedings which put an end to hostilities in this part of Cuba. + +ON THE WAY TO SANTIAGO. + +After a few minutes of informal talk General Toral and his +officers escorted General Shafter and his military family to +Santiago. + +General Shafter's entrance was hardly the triumphant march of a victor, +for the procession of Americans and Spaniards ambled quietly and +unostentatiously over the cobble and blue flag stones, around the little +public circles and squares, past ancient churches and picturesque ruins +of what once were the homes of wealthy Spaniards, through narrow, +alleylike streets to the Plaza de Armas, with the cathedral, the Cafe de +Venus, the governor-general's palace and San Carlos club facing the +square. + +General Toral was the first to spring from his horse, and he held out +his hand and welcomed General Shafter to the "palace." This was a few +minutes after 10 o'clock. + +Here General Shafter received the local council and other civic +officials, and the governor, seeking to do the honors properly, +gave a luncheon to the general and his principal officers. + +By this time the 9th infantry had marched into the square and formed two +lines, facing the palace, and the band had taken its station in the +center of the broad walk, with the American officers grouped in front. +Just five minutes before noon General Shafter, General Wheeler, General +Lawton and General Kent came from the palace and joined the officers, +and Lieutenant Miley, General Shafter's chief aid-de-camp; Captain +McKittrick and Lieutenant Wheeler, General Wheeler's son, swarmed over +the red roof tiles to the flagstaff. Then followed five long, expectant, +silent minutes. Some of the officers held watches in their hands, but +most of them kept their eyes on the little ball of bunting which cuddled +at the foot of the flagstaff. General McKibben, his long, slim figure +erect, stood before the 9th regiment, and when the first stroke of the +cathedral clock bell sounded from the tower he whirled around and gave +the command "Present arms." The final word was spoken just as the flag +fluttered up toward the tip of the staff, and the crash of hands meeting +rifle butts and the swish of sweeping sabers came with the opening notes +of the "Star-Spangled Banner," and every American there saluted our flag +as the wind caught the folds and flung the red, white and blue bunting +out under the Cuban sun and over a conquered Spanish city. + +And when the last notes of the national air died away and the +rifle butts had come to an "order" on the pavement, and the sabers +had been slipped into their sheaths, men whose faces and throats +were deep brown, whose cheeks were thin, whose limbs trembled with +fatigue and Cuban fever, whose heads wore bandages covering wounds +made by Spanish bullets, but who stood straight, with heads erect, +were not ashamed to wipe from their eyes the tears which came when +"old glory" spread its protecting folds over Santiago. + +YELLOW FEVER IN SHAFTER'S ARMY. + +Yellow fever broke out in the army on July 11, spreading with +frightful rapidity among the men, but it fortunately proved to be +of a mild type, and in comparatively few instances was the dreaded +disease attended with fatal results. + +When the landings at Baiquiri and Juragua were made there were +many men to be handled, the facilities were limited and the +landings were made in great haste. No building was burned, no well +was filled, no sink was dug. Several of the enthusiastic young +aids seized pretty vineclad cottages as headquarters for their +respective generals. Cubans and Americans filed into the empty +houses of the town without inquiry as to their antecedents. + +Major LeGarde, in charge of the beach hospital, recommended +earnestly on landing that every building be burned. Major Wood and +Colonel Pope indorsed this, but the recommendation went by +default. The camp was established in the heart of the Spanish town +and the first yellow-fever case was that of Burr McIntosh, the +actor and newspaper man, who had been sleeping at General Bates' +headquarters in one of the pretty vine-covered cottages mentioned. + +Dr. Lesser and his wife, "Sister Bettina," the New York workers of +the Red Cross, were among the first victims, and Katherine White, +another Red Cross nurse, was also sent to the yellow-fever camp. + +After the fever was discovered every effort was made to check it +and stamp it out, but the camp had already been pitted with it. +Cases were taken out of the surgical wards of the hospital tents +and out of the officers' tents, General Duffield being one of the +victims. + +Owing to the unhealthful climate and the lack of proper food, +medicines, clothing, and shelter, the army was soon threatened +with an epidemic of disease, and it was evident that the detention +of the troops in Cuba would result in loss of life to thousands of +brave men. In order that the authorities at Washington might have +a thorough understanding of the situation, the officers of the 5th +army corps united in the following letter which was addressed to +General Shafter, and which was transmitted by him to the war +department in Washington: + +We, the undersigned officers commanding the various brigades, +divisions, etc., of the army of occupation in Cuba, are of the +unanimous opinion that this army should be at once taken out of +the island of Cuba and sent to some point on the northern seacoast +of the United States; that it can be done without danger to the +people of the United States; that yellow fever in the army at +present is not epidemic; that there are only a few sporadic cases; +but that the army is disabled by malarial fever to the extent that +its efficiency is destroyed, and that it is in a condition to be +practically destroyed by an epidemic of yellow fever which is sure +to come in the near future. + +We know from the reports of competent officers and from personal +observation that the army is unable to move into the interior and +that there are no facilities for such a move if attempted, and +that it could not be attempted until too late. Moreover, the best +medical authorities of the island say that with our present +equipment we could not live in the interior during the rainy +season without losses from malarial fever, which is almost as +deadly as yellow fever. + +This army must be moved at once or perish. As the army can be +safely moved now the persons responsible for preventing such a +move will be responsible for the unnecessary loss of many +thousands of lives. + +Our opinions are the result of careful personal observation, and +they are also based on the unanimous opinion of our medical +officers with the army, who understand the situation absolutely. + +J. FORD KENT, Major-General Volunteers, Commanding First Division +Fifth Corps. + +J. C. BATES, Major-General Volunteers, Commanding Provisional +Division. + +ADNA R. CHAFFEE, Major-General Commanding Third Brigade, Second +Division. + +SAMUEL S. SUMNER, Brigadier-General Volunteers, Commanding First +Brigade Cavalry. + +WILL LUDLOW, Brigadier-General Volunteers, Commanding First +Brigade, Second Division. + +ADELBERT AMES, Brigadier-General Volunteers, Commanding Third +Brigade, First Division. + +LEONARD WOOD, Brigadier-General Volunteers, Commanding the City of +Santiago. + +THEODORE ROOSEVELT, Colonel, Commanding Second Cavalry Brigade. + +As a result arrangements were completed as quickly as possible for +the transportation of the troops to the United States, and immunes +were sent to Santiago for garrison duty in their places. + +ANOTHER NAVAL ENGAGEMENT. + +On the morning of July 18 the vessels on blockade duty in the +vicinity of Manzanillo approached the harbor of that city from the +westward. The Wilmington and Helena entered the northern channel +towards the town, the Scorpion and Osceola the mid-channel, and +the Hist, Hornet and Wampatuck the south channel, the movement of +the vessels being so timed as to bring them within effective range +of the shipping at about the same moment. An attack was made on +the Spanish vessels in the harbor, and after a deliberate fire +lasting about two and a half hours, three transports, El Gloria, +Jose Garcia and La Purrissima Concepcion, were burned and +destroyed. + +The Pontoon, which was the harbor guard and storeship for +ammunition, was burned and blown up. Three gunboats were +destroyed, one other was driven ashore and sunk, and another was +entirely disabled. No casualties occurred on board any of the +American vessels. The Spanish loss was over 100 in killed and +wounded, and the Delgado, Guantanamo, Ostralia, Continola and +Guardian, gunboats of the Spanish navy, were sent to join +Cervera's fleet. + + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + +THE INVASION OF PUERTO RICO. + +General Miles' Landing at Ponce--The American Army Received with +Cheers and Open Arms by the Native Puerto Ricans--News of Peace +Stops a Battle and Brings Hostilities to a Close. + + +The United States military expedition, under command of Major-General +Nelson A. Miles, commanding the army of the United States, left +Guantanamo bay on the evening of Thursday, July 21, and was successfully +landed at the port of Guanica, island of Puerto Rico, on July 25. + +The ships left Guantanamo bay suddenly Thursday evening with the +Massachusetts, commanded by Capt. F. J. Higginson, leading. +Captain Higginson was in charge of the naval expedition, which +consisted of the Columbia, Dixie, Gloucester and Yale. General +Miles was on board the last-named vessel. The troops were on board +the transports Nueces, Lampasas, Comanche, Rita, Unionist, +Stillwater, City of Macon and Specialist. + +As soon as the expedition was well under way General Miles called +for a consultation, announcing that he was determined not to go by +San Juan cape, but by the Mona passage instead, land there, +surprise the Spaniards and deceive their military authorities. The +course was then changed, and the Dixie was sent to warn General +Brooke, who was on his way with his army from the United States, +with instructions to meet General Miles at Cape San Juan. + +Early on the morning of July 25 the Gloucester, in charge of +Lieutenant-Commander Wainwright, steamed into Guanica harbor in +order to reconnoiter the place. With the fleet waiting outside, +the gallant little fighting yacht braved the mines which were +supposed to be in the harbor, and found that there were five +fathoms of water close in shore. + +The Spaniards were taken completely by surprise. Almost the first +they knew of the approach of the army of invasion was in the +announcement contained in the firing of a gun from the Gloucester, +demanding that the Spaniards haul down their flag, which was +floating from a flagstaff in front of a blockhouse standing to the +east of the village. + +The first couple of three-pounders was fired into the hills right +and left of the bay, purposely avoiding the town, lest the +projectiles should hurt women and children. The Gloucester then +hove to within about 600 yards of the shore, and lowered a launch +having on board a Colt rapid-fire gun and thirty men under the +command of Lieutenant Huse, which was sent ashore without +encountering opposition. + +Quartermaster Beck thereupon told Yoeman Lacy to haul down the +Spanish flag, which was done, and they then raised on the +flagstaff the first United States flag to float over Puerto Rican +soil. + +SPANIARDS OPEN FIRE. + +Suddenly about thirty Spaniards opened fire with Mauser rifles on +the American party. Lieutenant Huse and his men responded with +great gallantry, the Colt gun doing effective work. + +Almost immediately after the Spaniards fired on the Americans the +Gloucester opened fire on the enemy with all her three and six +pounders which could be brought to bear, shelling the town and +also dropping shells into the hills to the west of Guanica, where +a number of Spanish cavalry were to be seen hastening toward the +spot where the Americans had landed. + +Lieutenant Huse then threw up a little fort, which he named Fort +Wainwright, and laid barbed wire in the street in front of it in +order to repel the expected cavalry attack. The lieutenant also +mounted the Colt gun and signaled for re-enforcements, which were +sent from the Gloucester. + +Presently a few of the Spanish cavalry joined those who were +fighting in the street of Guanica, but the Colt killed four of +them. By that time the Gloucester had the range of the town and of +the blockhouse and all her guns were spitting fire, the doctor and +the paymaster helping to serve the guns. + +Soon afterward white-coated galloping cavalrymen were seen +climbing the hills to the westward and the foot soldiers were +scurrying along the fences from the town. + +By 9:45, with the exception of a few guerrilla shots, the town was +won and the enemy was driven out of its neighborhood. The Red +Cross nurses on the Lampasas and a detachment of regulars were the +first to land from the transports. + +After Lieutenant Huse had captured the place he deployed his small +force into the suburbs. But he was soon re-enforced by the +regulars, who were followed by Company C of the 6th Illinois and +then by other troops in quick succession. All the boats of the +men-of-war and transports were used in the work of landing the +troops, each steam launch towing four or five boats loaded with +soldiers. But everything progressed in an orderly manner and +according to the plans of General Miles. The latter went ashore +about noon, after stopping to board the Gloucester and thank +Lieutenant-Commander Wainwright for his gallant action. + +On Wednesday, July 27, the Wasp, Annapolis, and Dixie steamed from +the port of Guanica to Ponce, prepared, if necessary, to shell the +town. The Wasp was the first to arrive, and she found the people +of the town waiting, as the news of her coming had preceded her. +The Spanish garrison, 350 strong, was paralyzed with fear and +wished to surrender or leave, but Colonel San Martin, who was in +command, declared that he could not surrender. + +The Wasp steamed up close to the shore, with all her guns bearing +on the town, and found, instead of an enemy prepared to give +battle, a great congregation of people awaiting their arrival. +Lieutenant Ward and Executive Officer Wells sent Ensign Rowland +Curtin with four men ashore, bearing a flag of truce. They +suspected treachery on the part of the Spaniards, and the gunners +of the Wasp stood ready to fire at a second's warning. Ensign +Curtin put for the beach as though he had no suspicion of +treachery, and as he stepped from the boat the people crowded +around him, forcing presents upon him and his men, and welcoming +them with rousing cheers. + +A message was sent to the Spanish commander, demanding the +immediate and unconditional surrender of the city, and Ensign +Curtin returned to the Wasp for instructions. In a short time a +reply was received from Colonel San Martin, offering to surrender +upon the conditions that the garrison should be permitted to +retire; that the civil government remain in force; that the police +and fire brigade be permitted to patrol without arms, and that the +captain of the port should not be made a prisoner. He also imposed +the condition that the American soldiers should not advance from +the town within forty-eight hours. + +Commander Davis, who was anxious to complete the surrender, +accepted these conditions and the armor-plated soldiers and +policemen then fled to the hills. The Spaniards left 150 rifles +and 14,000 rounds of ammunition behind them. + +Lieutenant Haines, commanding the marines of the Dixie, went +ashore and hoisted the American flag over the custom-house at Port +of Ponce amid the cheers of the people. After this Lieutenant +Murdoch and Surgeon Heiskell got into a carriage and drove to the +city proper, two miles distant, where they received a tremendous +ovation. The streets were lined with men, women and children, +white and black. Everybody was dancing up and down and yelling: +"Viva los Americanos!" "Viva Puerto Rico Libre!" + +The storekeepers offered their whole stock to the officers, and +declared that they would take no pay for anything. In the Plaza of +Justice the people tore down the wooden-gilded crown and would +have trampled upon it if the officers had not interfered and saved +it as a souvenir. + +When General Wilson landed, the firemen lined up to receive him, +and the local band played "The Star-Spangled Banner." Everybody +took off his hat and cheered. The custom-house was taken for the +American headquarters. The troops landed during the day were the +Second and Third Wisconsin and the Sixteenth Pennsylvania +regiments. + +When the ships arrived all the people who could get small boats +rowed out to them and offered to pilot them in. General Wilson at +once started in to learn the condition of affairs. He sent men +into the town immediately and put a sentry at each foreign +consulate. He also detailed a detachment of soldiers to the work +of guarding the roads. + +General Wilson and General Miles agreed that the conditions of the +surrender relating to the movement of troops were not binding. + +Despite the arrival of the troops the celebration in the town went +on. All the Spanish stores were closed, but the Puerto Ricans and +the foreigners kept open house. Women and men alike were all +dressed in their finest attire. + +MILES ISSUES HIS PROCLAMATION. + +At 10 o'clock General Miles issued his proclamation to the +inhabitants, which was as follows: + +In the prosecution of the war against the kingdom of Spain by the +people of the United States, in the cause of liberty, justice and +humanity, its military forces have come to occupy the island of +Puerto Rico. They come bearing the banners of freedom, inspired by +a noble purpose, to seek the enemies of our government and of +yours and to destroy or capture all in armed resistance. They +bring you the fostering arms of a free people, whose greatest +power is justice and humanity to all living within their fold. +Hence, they release you from your former political relations, and +it is hoped this will be followed by your cheerful acceptance of +the government of the United States. + +The chief object of the American military forces will be to +overthrow the armed authorities of Spain and give the people of +your beautiful island the largest measure of liberty consistent +with this military occupation. They have not come to make war on +the people of the country, who for centuries have been oppressed, +but, on the contrary, they bring protection not only to yourselves +but to your property, promote your prosperity and bestow the +immunities and blessings of our enlightenment and liberal +institutions and government. + +It is not their purpose to interfere with the existing laws and +customs which are wholesome and beneficial to the people so long +as they conform to the rules of the military administration, order +and justice. This is not a war of devastation and desolation, but +one to give all within the control of the military and naval +forces the advantages and blessings of enlightened civilization. + +In the afternoon General Miles and his staff were invited to the city +hall to see the city officials. The city hall was surrounded by a vast +crowd of people, and a band was stationed in the park. When the +carriages of General Miles and his staff appeared the band played "Lo, +the Conquering Hero Comes." General Miles appeared upon the balcony of +the city hall and took off his hat. The crowd cheered him wildly, and +the band played "The Star-Spangled Banner," "Marching Through Georgia," +and other patriotic airs. + +General Miles talked to the officials and told them to remain in +office. He said he wanted things to go on just as before, but +there must be no oppression. He repeated the words of his +proclamation, and said that Spaniards who had arms must give them +up; if not, they would be regarded as bandits, and not as +soldiers, and treated accordingly. + +On August 5 the city of Guayama, the principal port on the +southeastern coast, was captured after a sharp skirmish with 400 +Spaniards. The 4th Ohio, Colonel Coit, and the 3rd Illinois, +Colonel Bennitt, with two dynamite guns, all under command of +General Haynes, composed the expedition which marched against the +town from headquarters at Arroyo. When the Americans had reached a +point about three miles from the latter place they were viciously +attacked on both their right and left flanks. Colonel Coit's Ohio +troops, who were leading the advance, were splendidly handled and +did telling work against the enemy. + +The Spaniards for a time managed to conceal themselves behind +barricades, but the Americans soon got at them and poured a +terrific fire in their direction. It was impossible for the +Spaniards long to withstand this fire, and they soon retreated. + +As the American troops entered the town they found it practically +deserted. All of the houses had been closed, and the Ohio regiment +raised its colors over the town hall. + +A crowd of citizens soon gathered about the invading troops and +welcomed them with enthusiasm. While this demonstration was under +way the Spaniards returned, making a heavy attack on the town from +the north. + +The Fourth Ohio was sent out to engage the enemy and a hot fight +between the two bodies of troops took place during the next two +hours. + +Two dynamite guns finally were put in position by the Americans +and five shots were fired. These completely silenced the enemy and +they withdrew, leaving the town in possession of our forces. + +Coamo was captured on August 9, after a dashing fight, in which +the 16th Pennsylvania volunteers won honors, holding the lead in +General Wilson's advance on the town. The skirmishing with the +enemy's outposts began at 8:30 o'clock in the morning. The +American troops were armed with Krag-Jorgensen rifles and were +supported by artillery. They went into the fight with spirit under +the eye of General Ernst, and routed the enemy, killing twelve of +them, including the Spanish commander, Colonel Illeroa, capturing +the town, and taking 200 prisoners. No Americans lost their lives, +but six were wounded, one seriously. + +General Wilson's troops destroyed the Spanish batteries on the +heights facing Aibonito, on Friday, August 12, after a brilliant +advance of the artillery. The first firing by the battery was at a +range of 2,300 yards, which silenced the Spanish guns. Then a +portion of the battery, under Lieutenant John P. Haines, of the +4th artillery, was moved forward within 1,000 yards of the enemy's +rifle pits and there drove them out and captured a blockhouse. + +The firing of the Spanish riflemen and artillerists was very wild, +reaching the American infantry in the hills instead of the +attacking battery. Corporal Swanson of the 3rd Wisconsin +volunteers was killed by a shell which fell in the midst of the +Wisconsin men, and the same missile wounded three others. + +NEWS OF PEACE STOPS A BATTLE. + +The news that peace was at hand reached Guayama on August 13 +just in time to interrupt a battle. General Brooke's force, in three +strong columns, had begun an advance toward Cayey to form a +junction there with General Wilson's division, which had been +making its way along the main road from Ponce to San Juan. + +Three miles out General Brooke's troops came upon a force of +Spanish occupying strong intrenchments on the top of a mountain. +Light battery B, Pennsylvania artillery, unlimbered its guns, +loaded them with shells and had just received the order to +commence firing when a message from General Miles announcing peace +was received on the field over a military telegraph wire. The +battery immediately was signaled to cease action, to the surprise +of all the men, who were keyed up for battle. The news that the +war was over spread rapidly among the soldiers, causing general +disappointment, for the officers could do nothing but leave the +battle unfought and withdraw their troops. All returned to their +former camp at Guayama. + +The signing of the treaty of peace by the United States and Spain +came too soon to suit the commanders of the invading army in +Puerto Rico. Their plans had been perfectly formed and were almost +executed. The simultaneous advance of the four divisions toward +San Juan was interrupted in the very midst of the successful +movement. If it could have been carried out as contemplated it +would have been an invaluable lesson to the Puerto Ricans, +quelling such pro-Spanish sentiment as existed and rendering +American occupation and government of the island a comparatively +simple matter. + +General Miles felt this and regretted that he was not permitted to +complete the masterly military movement so carefully begun and so +successfully carried forward. The occupation of Puerto Rico was +made with a loss to the Americans of two killed and thirty-seven +wounded. + + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + +THE SURRENDER OF MANILA. + +Landing of General Merritt at Manila--The German Fleet Warned by +Admiral Dewey--The Ladrone Islands--Fierce Battle in Darkness and +Storm--Foreign Warships Notified of the Attack--Combined Assault +by Dewey and Merritt--The City Surrenders. + + +In the meantime, far away in the Philippines, Admiral Dewey was +sustaining the reputation he made at the outbreak of hostilities. +After the battle of Manila there remained but three Spanish +warships in Pacific waters. One of them was in dry dock at +Hongkong and the two others were in hiding in the waters of the +Philippine group. The admiral dispatched the gunboat Concord and a +cruiser to locate and destroy the two Spanish vessels. The Concord +soon discovered the Argos, and after a lively battle lasting +thirty minutes the Spanish ship was sunk with all on board and her +colors flying. Not a man was lost or injured on the Concord, nor +did the ship sustain any damage. + +The first American army to sail for foreign shores left San +Francisco May 25. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon Brigadier-General +Anderson signaled from the Australia for the City of Pekin and the +City of Sydney to get under way. The signal was seen from the +shore, and the waiting crowds cheered wildly. No time was lost on +board the transports. The crews worked with a will and in a short +time the anchors were up and the vessels were under way. Then the +2,500 soldiers who had been impatiently awaiting the signal to +start climbed to the rigging and swarmed all over the big ships, +shouting and cheering like mad. + +The big transports steamed slowly along the water front, and the +crowd on shore raced along to keep them in sight. The noise made +by the patriotic citizens on sea and shore was something terrible. +Every steam whistle in the city appeared to be blowing, cannon +were fired, and the din lasted fully an hour. + +The three transports carried close on to 2,500 men. The +expedition, which was under the command of Brigadier-General +Anderson, consisted of four companies of regulars, under command +of Major Robe; the First Regiment California Volunteers, Colonel +Smith; the First Regiment Oregon Volunteers, Colonel Summers; a +battalion of fifty heavy artillery, Major Gary; about 100 sailors, +and eleven naval officers. The fleet was loaded with supplies to +last a year, and carried a big cargo of ammunition and naval +stores for Admiral Dewey's fleet. + +Four transports bearing about 4,000 men passed through the Golden +Gate shortly after 1 o'clock on the 15th of June, amid scenes of +great enthusiasm and patriotism unequaled in the history of San +Francisco. The four vessels which carried the troops were the +China, Colon, Zealandia and Senator. The fleet was accompanied +down the bay by a large number of tugboats and bay steamers. + +It was a few minutes past 1 o'clock when the China hoisted the +blue Peter and warned the fleet to get under way. The Senator had +slipped into the stream and straightened out for the run to +Manila. When she reached the stream the China swung away from her +anchorage and started down the bay, followed by the Colon and +Zealandia and a long line of tugboats and steamers. + +At 1:30 p.m. the fleet was off Lombard street and a few minutes +later it was steaming past Meiggs' wharf. Thousands of people, +attracted by the blowing of whistles, rushed to points of vantage +on the city front and cheered the departing boats. Soldiers +crowded the fort at the point and shouted and waved their hats as +the squadron passed out through the Golden Gate. A heavy fog lay +outside the bar, and before 2 o'clock the transports were lost in +the mists. + +Assigned to the China, General Greene's flagship, and the largest, +finest and fastest vessel of the fleet, was the First Regiment +Colorado Volunteer Infantry, 1,022 men; half a battalion of the +Eighteenth United States Infantry, 150 men, and a detachment of +United States engineers, 20 men. + +The Colon took four companies of the Twenty-third Infantry and two +companies of the Eighteenth Infantry, both of the regular army, +and Battery A of the Utah Artillery. In the battery were twelve +men and in each of the infantry companies seventy-five men, +besides the officers, making less than 600 military passengers. +The control of the ship was given to Lieutenant-Colonel Clarence +W. Bailey, of the Eighteenth Infantry. + +On the Zealandia were the Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers and part +of Battery B of the Utah Volunteer Artillery. With the gunners +went two Maxim fighting machines, which as a precautionary measure +were placed ready for action in the bow of the vessel. In all +there were 640 privates and 60 officers on board. + +On the steamer Senator was the First Regiment of Nebraska +Volunteers, numbering 1,023 men and officers. + +TOOK THE LADRONES. + +The United States cruiser Charleston, with the troopships City of +Sydney, City of Pekin and Australia, arrived off Cavite on the +30th of June. They left Honolulu, June 4, with sealed orders from +Washington to capture the island of Guam, chief of the Ladrone +Islands, and the seat of Spanish government. + +The American cruiser and the transports arrived at Guam on the +morning of June 20. They passed the unoccupied Fort Santiago and +advanced opposite Fort Santa Cruz. The Charleston then fired +twelve shots, but, receiving no response from the fort, it steamed +on to Port Luis de Appa, where Agana, the capital of the Ladrone +Islands, is situated. + +That afternoon the captain of the port and the health officer came +aboard the Charleston and were informed to their astonishment that +they were prisoners of war. They had not heard that war existed +between the United States and Spain, and they had thought the +firing by the Charleston was a salute of courtesy. They said +Governor Marina regretted that he had no powder for his cannon +with which to return the salute. Those surprised Spaniards were +thereupon sent ashore to request the Governor of the islands to +come on board the Charleston. In reply the Governor sent his +official interpreter and secretary to say to the Americans that +the Spanish laws forbade him to leave the shore during his term of +office. However, he invited Captain Glass of the Charleston to a +conference on shore the next morning and guaranteed his safety. +Captain Glass sent Lieutenant Braunersreuther to meet the Governor +and deliver an ultimatum demanding the surrender of the Ladrones, +giving the Governor thirty minutes in which to consider the +matter. Lieutenant Braunersreuther was accompanied by two +companies of Oregon Volunteers. + +The governor surrendered gracefully within the allotted time. +Thereupon forty-six marines from the Charleston landed and +disarmed the 108 Spanish soldiers, confiscated their 116 rifles +and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. The natives were allowed to +retain their weapons. They all showed delight in renouncing +Spanish authority, and tore off the Spanish regalia from their +uniforms with many expressions of satisfaction. + +General Merritt arrived in Manila bay on July 25, and after +reporting to Admiral Dewey assumed command of the American troops +in the Philippines. He lost no time in making himself familiar +with the situation, and established headquarters at the Cavite +arsenal. + +THE GERMAN FLEET AT MANILA. + +As soon as the American blockade of Manila was declared, Germany +began to enlarge her fleet in those waters until all but three of +the German men-of-war on the Asiatic station were either in Manila +bay or its vicinity. The German naval officers took pains to show +particular friendliness towards the Spaniards, as for example in +saluting the Spanish flag at Manila on the arrival of every +additional ship. The German officers visited the Spanish +fortifications and trenches, and the Manila newspapers asserted +that the presence before the city of so many German ships enabled +the Spanish authorities and the people of Manila to regard the +American fleet with complacency. + +On June 27 the McCulloch met the Irene, one of the German fleet, +at Corregidor island, preparing to enter the bay, and signaled to +her: "We wish to communicate with you." The Irene paid no +attention to the signal, and proceeded on her way until a small +boat was sent out to her from the McCulloch. The captain of the +Irene explained the matter by saying that he had misunderstood the +signal. The action of the Irene in interfering with the attack by +the insurgent vessel, Filipinas, on the Spanish garrison at Isla +Grande, in Subig bay, was in line with the attitude adopted by the +German naval officers. + +The Filipinas, a steamer of about 700 tons, loaded with a half +cargo of tobacco, was in hiding in the coves around Subig bay. She +was owned and officered by Spaniards, but her crew was a native +one. The crew mutinied and killed the twelve officers. They then +took charge of the ship and hoisted the insurgent flag. On the +shore of Subig bay, and chiefly in the town of Subig, were 400 +Spanish soldiers. As the insurgent forces on the land began to +close in on them they fled in a body to the Isla de Grande, near +the mouth of Subig bay, taking with them 100 sick and about 100 +women. They retained their small arms and had only one Maxim gun. +The insurgents hoped to starve them into submission. About this +time the Filipinas incident occurred, whereby she passed from the +Spanish to the insurgents. Two hundred insurgent soldiers took the +ship and approached the island and fired on the Spaniards. Their +firing was ineffective, but after awhile the Spaniards, probably +realizing the ultimate hopelessness of their position, hoisted the +white flag. At almost the same time the German cruiser approached +from within the bay and the Spaniards hauled down the white flag, +for they evidently had reason to hope for interference by the +Germans. The German ship at once advanced to the Filipinas and +said that the flag she flew was not recognized, and if it were not +at once hauled down and a white one substituted she would be taken +with her crew to Manila as prisoners. The Filipinas at once hauled +down the insurgent flag, hoisted the white one and started +immediately south to Manila bay. All this happened July 6. She +arrived off the American flagship late in the evening and the +insurgents at once reported the matter to the admiral. + +DEWEY PROTECTS THE INSURGENTS. + +Admiral Dewey sent the insurgent ship into a safe anchorage. At 12 +o'clock midnight the Raleigh and Concord quietly drew up their +anchors and left the bay. They proceeded at once to Subig bay, +fired several times on the island, where the Spaniards were, and +the latter promptly surrendered. The Irene had disappeared when +they arrived, although she had been in Subig bay for several days +for the expressed purpose of protecting German interests. The +Concord then returned to report to Admiral Dewey and find out what +should be done with the 600 Spaniards captured. The Raleigh +remained at Subig on guard. During the 7th the insurgent leader, +Mr. Seyba, came out to the flagship for permission to take the +Filipinas and go to Subig for the purpose of capturing the island. +The admiral told him that it had already been done. Seyba went +aboard the Filipinas with a strong force of men and left the +harbor. + +The Concord, when she returned to report the matter to the +admiral, bore a letter from Captain Coghlan of the Raleigh begging +that the Spaniards captured be made American prisoners, and that +they be not turned over to the insurgents, as Admiral Dewey's +original orders demanded. The Concord was sent back with +instructions to turn the prisoners over to Aguinaldo, but he +exacted an ironclad promise that they should be well and carefully +cared for. + +Finally Admiral Dewey sent an officer to the German flagship with +a request that Admiral Diederichs make a statement of the German +attitude in the matter of the blockade of Manila. The German +admiral sent an immediate explanation. Two days later, however, he +sent a protest to Admiral Dewey against the action of American +officers in boarding German ships coming to Manila from Marivles. +He cited the incident of the McCulloch and the Irene at +Corregidor. + +Admiral Dewey replied to this very courteously but very firmly. He +pointed out to the German admiral that international law gave to +the commander of a blockading fleet authority to communicate with +all ships entering a blockaded port. As international law +permitted warships to fly any flag they chose in order to deceive +the enemy, the nationality of vessels entering the bay could not +be absolutely determined without communicating with them. For the +German admiral's further information Admiral Dewey told him that +if Germany was at peace with the United States the German naval +officers would have to change their methods, and that if Germany +was at war with his nation he desired to know it at once in order +that he might act accordingly. + +The Philippine insurgents under Aguinaldo continued their savage +attacks, and gradually closed in on the city of Manila. They were +working independently of the American forces under General +Merritt, and it was apparent that they did not intend to recognize +American authority. The Spanish residents of Manila, fearing that +the capture of the city by Aguinaldo would be followed by pillage +and slaughter, appealed to the captain-general to surrender to the +American forces, but that official was determined to resist, in +the face of the fact that resistance could only delay defeat. + +BATTLE IN A STORM. + +On the night of July 31 the soil of the Philippines was drenched +with American blood. Our troops were strengthening their position +near the Spanish fort guarding the southern approach to Manila, in +the suburbs of that city. The Spanish, knowing their situation to +be growing every day more hopeless, made a concerted sortie on the +American right flank, held by the 10th Pennsylvania troops. The +scene of the battle was at a place called Malate, which is located +half way between Cavite and the city of Manila. Here General +Greene was in command of 4,000 men. The arrival of the third +expedition filled the Spaniards with rage, and they determined to +give battle before Camp Dewey could be re-enforced. In the midst +of a raging typhoon, with a tremendous downpour of rain, 3,000 +Spanish soldiers attempted to surprise the camp. The American +pickets were driven in and the trenches assaulted. The +Pennsylvania troops did not flinch, but stood their ground under a +withering fire. The alarm spread and the 1st California regiment, +with two companies of the 3rd artillery, who fought with rifles, +were sent up to re-enforce the Pennsylvanians. The enemy was on +top of the trenches when these re-enforcements arrived, and never +was the discipline of the regulars better demonstrated than by the +work of the 3rd artillery under Captain O'Hara. Nothing could be +seen but the flash of Mauser rifles. The Utah battery, under +Captain Young, covered itself with glory. The men pulled their +guns through mud axle deep, and poured in a destructive enfilading +fire. + +The enemy was repulsed and retreated in disorder. Our infantry had +exhausted its ammunition and did not follow. Not an inch of ground +was lost, but the scene in the trenches was one never to be +forgotten. During the flashes of lightning the dead and wounded +could be seen lying in blood-red water, but neither the elements +of heaven nor the destructive power of man could wring a cry of +protest from the wounded. They encouraged their comrades to fight +and handed over their cartridge belts. + +The fighting was renewed on the night of August 1, and again the +following evening, but the enemy had been taught a lesson, and +made the attacks at long range with heavy artillery. The total +American loss was fourteen killed and forty-four wounded. The +Spaniards had 350 killed and over 900 wounded. + +On August 5 the Spaniards again attacked the American outworks. +The trenches were occupied by a battalion each of the 14th and +23rd regulars and Nebraska volunteers, the latter holding the +extreme right and a company of regulars the extreme left. They +returned the Spanish fire and the battle lasted for a half an +hour. Three Americans were killed, and eleven wounded, four of +them seriously. + +THE CITY SURRENDERS. + +Admiral Dewey and General Merritt sent an ultimatum to the authorities +in Manila on Monday, August 8, notifying them that at the expiration of +forty-eight hours the land and naval forces of the American army would +attack the city, unless they surrendered before that time. When this +time had expired the Spaniards asked an extension of one day more, in +order that they might remove their sick and wounded and the women and +children and non-combatants. This request was granted. + +The foreign warships in the bay were notified of the attack, all of them +withdrawing out of range. The English and Japanese warships joined the +American fleet off Cavite, and the French and German warships steamed to +the north of the city, where they were out of range. + +The attack was arranged for the 9th inst, but at the last minute +General Merritt requested that the fleet postpone the bombardment +until his lines could be extended farther around the city. Then +Admiral Dewey informed the Spaniards that the attack would be made +on Saturday; that he would destroy Fort Malate and shell the +trenches, thus destroying the opposition to the land forces +entering the city; that he would not fire on Manila unless their +guns opened on his ships, in which case he would destroy the city. + +At 9 o'clock on the morning of Saturday the American fleet, with +battle flags flying at every masthead, left Cavite, the band on +the British warship Immortalite playing "El Capitan" at the +departure. + +The agreement between Dewey and Merritt was to get under way with +the fleet standing toward the city at the same time the troops +pressed forward ready to force an entrance when the ships had +destroyed the forts. + +With the fleet the Olympia led the way, attended by the Raleigh +and the Petrel, while the Calloa under Lieutenant Tappan and the +launch Barcolo crept close inshore in the heavy breakers. + +Perfect quiet prevailed in the lines on both sides as the great +ships, cleared for action, silently advanced, sometimes hidden by +rain squalls. The Monterey, with the Baltimore, Charleston and +Boston, formed the reserve. + +At 9:35 a sudden cloud of smoke, green and white against the +stormy sky, completely hid the Olympia, a shell screamed across +two miles of turbulent water and burst near the Spanish fort at +Milate San Antonio de Abad. Then the Petrel and Raleigh and the +active little Calloa opened a rapid fire directed toward the shore +end of the intrenchments. In the heavy rain it was difficult to +judge the range, and the shots at first fell short, but the fire +soon became accurate and shells rendered the fort untenable, while +the four guns of the Utah battery made excellent practice of the +earthworks and swamp to the east of the fort. The Spaniards +replied with a few shells. + +Less than half an hour after the bombardment began General Greene +decided that it was possible to advance, although the signals to +cease firing were disregarded by the fleet, being invisible on +account of the rain. Thereupon six companies of the Colorado +regiment leaped over their breastworks, dashed into the swamp and +began volley firing from the partial shelter of low hedges within +300 yards of the Spanish lines. A few moments later the remaining +six companies moved along the seashore, somewhat covered by a sand +ridge formed by an inlet under the outworks of the fort, and at 11 +o'clock occupied this formidable stronghold without loss. + +Meanwhile the fleet, observing the movement of the troops along +the beach, withheld its fire. The bombardment had lasted exactly +an hour and a half. An hour later General Greene and his staff +proceeded along the beach, still under a hot infantry fire from +the right, where the Eighteenth regulars and the Third regular +artillery were engaging the enemy, and directed the movement for +an advance into Malate. The vicinity of the fort was uncomfortable +on account of numbers of sharpshooters in the buildings on both +sides, 200 yards distant. The forward movement was therefore +hastened, and in a few minutes the outskirts of the suburb were +well occupied and the sharpshooters were driven away. + +As the Californians under Colonel Smith came up the beach their +band played the national air, accompanied by the whistling of +Mauser bullets, and during the sharpshooting continued to +encourage the men with inspiring music. Each regiment carried its +colors into action. There was considerable street fighting in the +suburbs of Malate and Ermita, but the battalion of Californians +pushed into the Luneta, a popular promenade within two hundred +yards of the moat of the citadel. Then the white flag was hoisted +at the southwest corner of the walled town. General Greene, with a +few members of his staff, galloped along the Luneta, under a sharp +scattering fire from the houses near the beach, and parleyed with +an officer who directed him along to the gate, further east. + +At this moment the Spanish forces, retreating from Santa Ana, came +into view, fully 2,000 strong, followed by insurgents who had +eluded General McArthur's troops, and now opened fire for a brief +period. The situation was awkward if not critical, both sides +being slightly suspicious of treachery. The Spanish troops lining +the citadel ramparts, observing the insurgents' action, opened +fire on the Californians, killing one and wounding three. The +confusion, however, soon ceased by the advance of the retreating +Spaniards to the esplanade, when General Greene ordered them to +enter the citadel. + +Soon a letter was brought from the captain general requesting the +commander of the troops to meet him for consultation. + +General Greene immediately entered with Adjutant General Bates. +Meanwhile, according to arrangement, the moment the white flag was +shown, General Merritt, who occupied the steamer Zafiro as +temporary corps headquarters, sent General Whittier, with Flag +Lieutenant Brumby, ashore to meet the captain general and discuss +first a plan of capitulation. General Whittier found the officials +much startled by the news that the attack was still vigorously +continuing along the whole line, the American troops even +threatening the citadel. + +SPANISH TROOPS MASSED. + +All available Spanish troops were immediately massed in the +vicinity of the palace, awaiting the succession of events, +concerning which a certain degree of anxiety was evident. + +General Merritt entered with his staff at 3 o'clock. The situation +was then better understood, and a conference with General Jaudenes +was held. The terms agreed on were as follows: + +An agreement for the capitulation of the Philippines. + +A provision for disarming the men who remain organized under the +command of their officers, no parole being exacted. + +Necessary supplies to be furnished from the captured treasury +funds, any possible deficiency being made good by the Americans. + +The safety of life and property of the Spanish soldiers and +citizens to be guaranteed as far as possible. + +The question of transporting the troops to Spain to be referred to +the decision of the Washington government, and that of returning +their arms to the soldiers to be left to the discretion of General +Merritt. + +Banks and similar institutions to continue operations under +existing regulations, unless these are changed by the United +States authorities. + +Lieutenant Brumby, immediately after the terms of capitulation had +been signed, hurried off to lower the Spanish flag--in reality to +lower all Spain's flags in the Philippines by taking down one. He +was accompanied by two signal men from the Olympia. + +This little party found its way after great difficulty into Fort +Santiago in the northern portion of the walled city. + +There a large Spanish flag was flying. Grouped about it were many +Spanish officers. Brumby's presence there in the victorious +uniform attracted a crowd from the streets. + +RAISES THE STARS AND STRIPES. + +They hissed as he approached to haul down the flag. Then the stars +and stripes rose in place of the other. + +Many of those present wept bitterly as the flag of the victorious +stranger climbed into place above the fort. + +Fearing that the crowd might lower "old glory," Lieutenant Brumby +asked an American infantry officer to move up a detachment to +guard it. Fortunately, he met a company coming up with a band. + +The infantrymen presented arms and the band played "The Star-Spangled +Banner," accompanied by the cheers of the soldiers, in which many of the +residents of the city joined. + +The total American loss in the day's battle was eight killed and +thirty-four wounded. The Spaniards had 150 killed and over 300 +wounded. + +The Americans took 11,000 prisoners, 7,000 being Spanish regulars; +20,000 Mauser rifles, 3,000 Remingtons, eighteen modern cannon and +many of the obsolete pattern. + +Great credit was given to General Merritt for his plan of attack, +which was successfully carried out in every detail under unusually +complicated conditions. Nor was commendation withheld from Chief +of Staff General Babcock for his expert co-operation in the +admirably conceived strategy. Prompt action and strictly following +fully detailed orders resulted in every case in the immediate +settlement of every difficulty, however threatening. The conduct +of the Spanish was in a few cases reprehensible, such as their +setting fire to the gunboat Cebu and the destruction of several +armed launches and boats after the capitulation had been agreed +upon. + +It fell to the lot of Admiral Dewey to open and to close the +active operations of the war. His destruction of the Spanish fleet +was the first engagement of the war. After fighting had ceased in +the western hemisphere, under instructions from the President in +accordance with the peace agreement, Admiral Dewey forced Manila +to surrender under fire of the guns of his fleet. + + + + + +CHAPTER LIII + +VICTORIOUS CLOSE OF THE WAR + +Spain Sues for Peace--President McKinley's Ultimatum--French +Ambassador Cambon Acts on Behalf of Spain--The President's +Proclamation--The Protocol--Spanish Losses in Men, Ships and +Territory--Appointment of the Evacuation Committees and the Peace +Commission. + + +On Tuesday, July 26, the Spanish government took the first well +defined step to bring about a cessation of hostilities. The French +ambassador, accompanied by his secretary of embassy, called on +President McKinley, and under instructions from his government and +at the request of the Spanish minister of foreign affairs, opened +peace negotiations by declaring that Spain was ready to consider +terms. The proposition submitted by the ambassador acting for the +Spanish government was in general terms, and was confined to the +one essential point of an earnest plea that negotiations be opened +for the purpose of terminating the war. + +Owing to the importance of the communication the ambassador +adopted the usual diplomatic procedure of reading the +communication from the original, in French, the translation being +submitted by M. Thiebaut. In the conversation which followed the +reading of the proposition neither the president nor the +ambassador entered upon the question of the terms of peace. The +instructions of the ambassador had confined him to the opening of +peace negotiations, and it was evident that the President desired +to consider the proposition before giving any definite reply. It +was finally determined that the President would consult the +members of his cabinet, and after a decision had been arrived at +M. Cambon would then be invited to the white house for a further +conference and for a final answer from the United States +government. Before the call closed a brief official memorandum was +agreed upon in order to set at rest misleading conjecture and to +give to the public information on a subject which had advanced +beyond the point where diplomatic reserve was essential. + +After cabinet discussions on Friday and Saturday regarding the +concessions which should be demanded from Spain a definite +agreement was reached, and the French ambassador was notified that +the President was prepared to deliver his ultimatum. The demands +made by the President were briefly as follows: + +1. That Spain will relinquish all claims of sovereignty over and +title to Cuba. + +2. That Puerto Rico and other Spanish islands in the West Indies, +and an island in the Ladrones, to be selected by the United +States, shall be ceded to the latter. + +3. That the United States will occupy and hold the city, bay and +harbor of Manila pending the conclusion of a treaty of peace, +which shall determine the control, disposition and government of +the Philippines. + +4. That Cuba, Puerto Rico and other Spanish islands in the West +Indies shall be immediately evacuated, and that commissioners, to +be appointed within ten days, shall within thirty days from the +signing of the protocol meet at Havana and San Juan, respectively, +to arrange and execute the details of the evacuation. + +5. That the United States and Spain will each appoint not more +than five commissioners to negotiate and conclude a treaty of +peace. The commissioners to meet at Paris not later than October +1. + +6. On the signing of the protocol hostilities will be suspended, +and notice to that effect will be given as soon as possible by +each government to the commanders of its military and naval +forces. + +Spanish diplomacy was as usual in evidence, and attempts were made +by the Madrid administration to modify the terms, so as to relieve +the Spanish government of at least a portion of the Cuban debt, +but the authorities in Washington were firm and insisted that no +such suggestion could be considered, and that there could be no +further discussion until the Spanish flag had been withdrawn from +the West Indies. + +On August 12 Ambassador Cambon received official notice from the +administration at Madrid that his action in agreeing to the terms +of the protocol was approved, and he was authorized to sign it, as +the representative of the Spanish government. Accordingly, at four +o'clock on the afternoon of that day, he presented himself at the +President's mansion, in company with his first secretary, M. +Thiebaut, where he was met by President McKinley, Secretary of +State Day, and Assistant Secretaries of State Moore, Adee and +Cridler. + +Two copies of the protocol had been prepared, one in English for +preservation by this government, and the other in French for the +Spanish government. The signatures and seals were formally +attached, Secretary Day signing one copy in advance of M. Cambon, +the order being reversed on the other. + +The President then congratulated the French ambassador upon the +part he had taken in securing a suspension of hostilities and +thanked him for the earnest efforts he had made to facilitate a +speedy conclusion. M. Cambon then bowed himself out of the room +and left the white house with the copy of the protocol, which he +will forward to Spain. The seal used by the French ambassador was +that of Spain, which had been left with him when the Spanish +minister withdrew from Washington. + +FULL TEXT OF THE PROTOCOL. + +His Excellency, M. Cambon, Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister +Plenipotentiary of the French Republic at Washington, and Mr. +William Day, Secretary of State of the United States, having +received respectively to that effect plenary powers from the +Spanish Government and the Government of the United States, have +established and signed the following articles which define the +terms on which the two governments have agreed with regard to the +questions enumerated below and of which the object is the +establishment of peace between the two countries--namely: + +Article 1. Spain will renounce all claim to all sovereignty over +and all her rights over the Island of Cuba. + +Article 2. Spain will cede to the United States the Island of +Puerto Rico and the other islands which are at present under the +sovereignty of Spain in the Antilles, as well as an island in +Ladrona Archipelago, to be chosen by the United States. + +Article 3. The United States will occupy and retain the City and +Bay of San Juan de Puerto Rico and the Port of Manila and Bay of +Manila pending the conclusion of a treaty of peace which shall +determine the control and form of government of the Philippines. + +Article 4. Spain will immediately evacuate Cuba, Puerto Rico, and +the other islands now under Spanish sovereignty in the Antilles. +To this effect each of the two governments will appoint +commissioners within ten days after the signing of this protocol, +and these commissioners shall meet at Havana within thirty days +after the signing of this protocol with the object of coming to an +agreement regarding the carrying out of the details of the +aforesaid evacuation of Cuba and other adjacent Spanish islands; +and each of the two governments shall likewise appoint within ten +days after the signature of this protocol other commissioners, who +shall meet at San Juan de Puerto Rico within thirty days after the +signature of this protocol, to agree upon the details of the +evacuation of Puerto Rico and other islands now under Spanish +sovereignty in the Antilles. + +Article 5. Spain and the United States shall appoint to treat for +peace five commissioners at the most for either country. The +commissioners shall meet in Paris on Oct. 1 at the latest to +proceed to negotiations and to the conclusion of a treaty of +peace. This treaty shall be ratified in conformity with the +constitutional laws of each of the two countries. + +Article 6. Once this protocol is concluded and signed hostilities +shall be suspended, and to that effect in the two countries orders +shall be given by either government to the commanders of its land +and sea forces as speedily as possible. + +Done in duplicate at Washington, read in French and in English by +the undersigned, who affix at the foot of the document their +signatures and seals, Aug. 12, 1898 + +JULES CAMBON. + +WILLIAM R. DAY. + +The President immediately issued the following proclamation: + +By the President of the United States of America--A Proclamation. + +Whereas, By a protocol concluded and signed Aug. 12, 1898, by +William R. Day, Secretary of State of the United States, and His +Excellency Jules Cambon, Ambassador Extraordinary and +Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France at Washington, +respectively representing for this purpose the Government of the +United States and the Government of Spain, the United States and +Spain have formally agreed upon the terms on which negotiations +for the establishment of peace between the two countries shall be +undertaken; and, + +Whereas, It is in said protocol agreed that upon its conclusion +and signature hostilities between the two countries shall be +suspended, and that notice to that effect shall be given as soon +as possible by each government to the commanders of its military +and naval forces: + +Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United +States, do, in accordance with the stipulations of the protocol, +declare and proclaim on the part of the United States a suspension +of hostilities, and do hereby command that orders be immediately +given through the proper channels to the commanders of the +military and naval forces of the United States to abstain from all +acts inconsistent with this proclamation. + +In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal +of the United States to be affixed. + +Done at the city of Washington, this 12th day of August, in the +year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety-Eight, and +of the independence of the United States the one hundred and +twenty-third. + +WILLIAM McKINLEY. + +By the President: WILLIAM R. DAY, Secretary of State. + +In accordance with the proclamation issued by the President orders +were issued to the naval commanders at the several stations in the +United States, Cuba and the Philippines carrying into effect the +directions of the proclamation. The navy department not only +transmitted the President's proclamation in full to the several +commanders in chief, but also directions as to the disposition of +their vessels. + +Navy Department, Washington, D. C., Aug. 12.--Sampson, Santiago: +Suspend all hostilities. Blockade of Cuba and Puerto Rico is +raised. Howell ordered to assemble vessels at Key West. Proceed +with New York, Brooklyn, Indiana, Oregon, Iowa and Massachusetts +to Tompkinsville. Place monitors in safe harbor in Puerto Rico. +Watson transfers his flag to Newark and will remain at Guantanamo. +Assemble all cruisers in safe harbors. Order marines north in +Resolute. + +ALLEN, Acting Secretary. + +Navy Department, Washington, D. C., Aug. 12.--Remey, Key West: In +accordance with the President's proclamation telegraphed you, +suspend immediately all hostilities. Commence withdrawal of +vessels from blockade. Order blockading vessels in Cuban waters to +assemble at Key West. + +ALLEN, Acting Secretary. + +Similar notification was sent to Admiral Dewey, with instructions +to cease hostilities and raise the blockade at Manila. + +The orders to General Merritt to suspend were as follows: + +Adjutant-General's Office, Washington, D. C., Aug. 12, 1898.-- +Merritt, Manila: The President directs all military operations +against the enemy be suspended. Peace negotiations are nearing +completion, a protocol having just been signed by representatives +of the two countries. You will inform the commanders of the +Spanish forces in the Philippines of these instructions. Further +orders will follow. Acknowledge receipt. By order of the Secretary +of War. + +H. C. CORBIN, Adjutant-General. + +The orders sent to General Miles and General Shafter were +identical with the above save as to names. + +Senor Palma, the head of the Cuban Junta, sent the following cable +by way of Santiago: + +Bartolome Maso, President Cuban Republic, Santiago, Cuba; I have +this 13th day of August, 1898, accepted, in the name of the Cuban +provisional government, the armistice proclaimed by the United +States. You should give immediate orders to the army throughout +Cuba suspending all hostilities. Preliminary terms of peace, +signed by representatives of Spain and the United States, provide +that Spain will relinquish all claim over and title to Cuba. + +T. ESTRADA PALMA. + +On August 16 the President appointed as military commissioners +Major-General James F. Wade, Rear-Admiral William T. Sampson, and +Major-General Matthew C. Butler for Cuba, and Major-General John +E. Brooke, Rear-Admiral Winfield S. Schley, and Brigadier-General +William W. Gordon for Puerto Rico. + +As soon as General Shafter received the President's proclamation +for the cessation of hostilities he took steps for the immediate +notification of the Spanish commanders in the vicinity, and also +the insurgent leaders. + +The proclamation was received in Santiago with the greatest +enthusiasm, the officers and men of the army being alike supremely +satisfied with the definite declaration of peace. After the fall +of Santiago a period of uncertainty and inactivity had had its +effect upon the soldiers stationed there. The weary waiting for +new developments, weakened by the enervating climate, watching the +insidious ravages of disease, sapped the spirits of all, and the +news that brought to them a near prospect of home was like a +bracing breeze that swept through the camp, giving new courage to +all. + +THE END OF THE WAR. + +Thus came to a close our war with Spain for Cuba's freedom. +Commenced in a spirit of vengeance for the destruction of a +battleship, the war was conducted with singular freedom, all the +circumstances considered, from vindictiveness. We struck hard, but +quickly. We compelled victories, destroyed fleets, but were +merciful and considerate towards the captured. There was +singularly little revilement of the Spanish enemy and the bravery +of the Spanish soldier and sailor was freely admitted. But mere +personal valor could not supply the place of skill and discipline. + +In all history there is not an instance of such unchecked +successes as attended our military operations. For us the +encounters were not bloody, the victories were not dearly +purchased. At sea we destroyed squadrons without the loss of a man +or a ship; on land we compelled the surrender of garrisons +strongly intrenched. In Puerto Rico our march was a triumphal +procession. + +Spain, for the sake of false pride, bigotry, politics and a child king, +buried in the depths of the sea thirty-five vessels of her navy, valued +at $36,500,000. By their rusting hulks lie the bodies of more than a +thousand gallant tars. She surrendered in territory to the United States +directly Cuba, with a population of 1,500,000 and an area of 45,000 +square miles, and Puerto Rico, with a population of 810,000 and an area +of 3,670 square miles. Her total direct loss of territory in square +miles was 48,670, and loss in population 2,310,000. She also +jeopardized, probably beyond all future control by her, the Philippine +islands, with a population of 8,000,000 and an area of 114,326 square +miles. So that in the end it appears the Spanish kingdom for the sake of +the wrong gave up 163,000 square miles of territory and over 10,000,000 +of tax-paying population. + +This loss was the gain of the United States, which, to bring it about, +placed in service a first-class navy, with 10,000 men and fifty +effective vessels, and a volunteer and regular army of 278,500 men, of +which New York gave the largest number, Pennsylvania next and Illinois +the third. + +When the present century began Spain was mistress over nearly all +of the southern continent of America and over a good share of the +northern continent. With the exception of Brazil, to which the +Portuguese held title, practically all of South America was +Spanish. So was Central America, the present Mexico, and nearly a +million square miles of the southwestern part of the United +States. The revolutions of the early decades of the century +stripped off much of that domain, and now the last shreds of it +are also gone. The same policy of persistent greed and of deadly +disregard to the interests of the governed that caused the early +revolutions has also caused the later ones, for the sake of which +the United States began its interference in the Antilles. + +Now nothing is left to the former queen of all the empires and +kingdoms which once were subject to her and brought her glory and +power among the nations. Her own sons have read to her the lesson +that exploitation cannot continue forever, and that unless the +conqueror has regard for the interests of the conquered the seeds +of disruption will surely be sown. + + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + +PERSONAL REMINISCENCES. + +Telling How Our Soldiers Lived--What They, Saw--How They +Fought--Hardships Endured--Bravery Shown in the Face of the Deadly +Mauser Bullets as Well as Fever-Stricken Camps, Etc., Etc. + + +Charles E. Hands, writing from Santiago to the London Mail, says +of the wounded after the battle of July 1 and 2: + +There was one man on the road whose left foot was heavily bandaged +and drawn up from the ground. He had provided himself with a sort +of rough crutch made of the forked limb of a tree, which he had +padded with a bundle of clothes. With the assistance of this and a +short stick he was paddling briskly along when I overtook him. + +"Where did they get you, neighbor?" I asked him. + +"Oh, durn their skins," he said in the cheerfulest way, turning to +me with a smile, "they got me twice--a splinter of a shell in the +foot and a bullet through the calf of the same leg when I was +being carried back from the firing line." + +"A sharpshooter?" + +"The son of a mongrel was up in a tree." + +"And you're walking back to Siboney. Wasn't there room for you to +ride?" I expected an angry outburst of indignation in reply to +this question. But I was mistaken. In a plain, matter-of-fact way +he said: + +"Guess not. They wanted all the riding room for worse cases 'n +mine. Thank God, my two wounds are both in the same leg, so I can +walk quite good and spry. They told me I'd be better off down at +the landing yonder, so I got these crutches and made a break." + +"And how are you getting along?" I asked. + +"Good and well," he said, as cheerfully as might be, "just good +and easy." And with his one sound leg and hist two sticks he went +cheerfully paddling along. + +It was just the same with other walking wounded men. They were all +beautifully cheerful. And not merely cheerful. They were all +absolutely unconscious that they were undergoing any unnecessary +hardships or sufferings. They knew now that war was no picnic, and +they were not complaining at the absence of picnic fare. Some of +them had lain out all the night, with the dew falling on them +where the bullets had dropped them, before their turn came with +the overworked field surgeons. + +CAPTAIN PADDOCK TELLS OF THE FIGHTING BEFORE SANTIAGO. + +On the Battlefield, One Mile East of Santiago, Sunday, July 3. + +My Dear "Jim": I have passed safely through the most horrible +three days imaginable. We marched nearly all night Thursday (June +30), to a point about one and a half miles east from here, and +then waited for morning. About 5 o'clock we started again, and at +6 A. M. our extreme right opened, the fight. The center (our +front) and the left moved into position, and at 8 o'clock the +Spanish artillery opened on us from the position we now hold. We +deployed as skirmishers and advanced through woods and brush, a +perfect thicket; our artillery was hard at work behind us, but we +with our small arms could not do much, as the Spanish were +perfectly intrenched for a mile or more along our front. + +We kept pushing along, although their fire, both shrapnel and +small arms, was murdering us; but on we came, through the tropical +underbrush, and wading a stream up to our chests, firing when we +could see the enemy. + +We reached the first line along a hillcrest and drove them out; +then the next line, and they then started back to the city. The +fighting was fast and fearful and never slackened until dark. The +second day (Saturday) was a continuous fight again till dark; but +our loss was small, as we simply held our position, having driven +them all in; at night, however, they made a furious attack and +attempted to retake the place. We were not surprised, and drove +them back, with small loss on our side. + +To-day was like the second day up to 12:30 o'clock, when a truce +was made. Up to now (5 o'clock P. M.) there has been no firing +since then, but I don't yet know what the result of the conference +was. We offered the truce after the naval battle. I only give a +brief outline, as the papers have told everything. I am unhurt and +perfectly well. + +TOLD FROM THE TRENCHES-COUNCIL BLUFFS BOY DESCRIBES THE FIGHTING +BEFORE SANTIAGO. + +The following letter was written in the trenches before Santiago +the morning after the attack: + +Heights Before Santiago, July 8. + +Dear Father: I have not been hurt and am fully convinced that +Providential protection alone took me through it. Contrary to all +principles of tactics, but unavoidably, the Twenty-fourth infantry +was marched for three miles in a flanking fire from artillery, and +when we were within about one and a half miles from the first +Spanish position we were hemmed in a narrow road and subjected to +a hail of fire from two blockhouses and intrenchiments on the +hills on our right. + +We waded about 400 yards down a stream up to our shoulders under +protection of its banks and charged across a field of bull grass +as high as our heads for about 600 yards, and then up the hill +about 200 feet and drove the Spaniards out of their fort. The one +we took is called San Juan. We lost terribly. Lieutenants Gurney +and Augustine are dead. Colonel Liscum, Captains Ducat, Brett and +Burton and Lieutenants Lyon and Laws are wounded. We lost about +100 men, but the fight is virtually won. + +During the engagement I threw away my sword. I saw the colonel +fall and I gave him my canteen and he soon revived. We occupied +the hill by the blockhouse. We are within about 400 yards of the +city and they have put up a flag of truce. They want until 10 A. +M. July 9 to hear from Havana. We have them sewed up tight. I have +a piece of an eight-inch shell which tried to get me, but struck +the parapet of my trench. Will try to send it home. + +No one except those thoroughly acquainted with this country will +ever know how dreadfully desperate the fight and charge were. It +is a mistake that the Spaniards won't fight. The Spaniards have +their barracks and other buildings covered with the Red Cross and +abuse all the established principles of 'warfare. They put their +men in trees hidden with leaves and bark and they pick off +officers, surgeons and men of the hospital corps. + +Finally it became necessary to systematically hunt these down, and +this has been done with considerable success. The night of the 4th +Sampson began countermining, and the dynamite made such a racket +that the Spanish officers ran out under a flag of truce about +11:30 P. M. and wanted to know what we meant by firing under a +flag of truce. It did not take us long to tell them that our flag +of truce did not include the navy. Now, about 9 am, I hear the +guns of the navy and Morro castle exchanging compliments. + +Of all the precautions advised before we started for Cuba I could +follow but few. I wear my woolen bandages, but in wading the +stream I was unable to put on dry clothes again. In fact, for +seventy-two hours we were under fire without sleep and thirty-six +hours without water or food of any kind. + +Bacon and hard bread are fine. I sleep on the side of San Juan +hill in a ditch, so I won't roll out. I have a raincoat, blanket +and shelter half. + +This is the most beautiful country I have ever seen, and if we +should have peace I know of no place I would rather live in. I +have seen enough of the horrors of the war, but am proud of the +gallant boys of the Twenty fourth. The fighting is practically +over, so have no fear. Your son, + +WILL. + +COLONEL WOOD WRITES OF HIS BATTLE--ROUGH RIDERS' LEADER DESCRIBES +THE AMERICAN ATTACK AT LA QUASINA. + +Camp First United States Volunteer Cavalry, Six Miles Out of +Santiago, June 27, 1898. + +Dear General: Thinking that a line about our fight and general +condition would interest you, I take this opportunity to drop you +a line. We are all getting along very comfortably thus far and +find the climate much better than we expected; also the country, +which, aside from being awfully rough and full of undergrowth, is +rather picturesque and attractive. + +We commenced our advance from our first landing place on the 23d, +and that night General Young and I, as second in command of the +Second Cavalry brigade, had a long war talk about taking the very +strong Spanish position about five miles up the road to Santiago. +He decided that he would make a feint on their front and hold on +hard, while I was to make a detour by trail under a couple of +Cuban guides and take them in flank and try to get them out of +their strong position, which was in the wildest and roughest part +of the trail toward the town. Our little plan worked. I located +the Spanish outpost and deployed silently and when in position +fired on them. Shortly after I opened I could hear Young on the +right, down in the valley. + +FOUGHT TWO HOURS AT CLOSE RANGE. + +The fight lasted over two hours and was very hot and at rather +close range. The Spanish used the volley a great deal, while my +men fired as individuals. We soon found that instead of 1,500 men +we had struck a very heavy outpost of several thousand. However, +to cut a long story short, we drove them steadily but slowly, and +finally threw them into flight. Their losses must have been heavy, +for all reports coming out of Santiago show a great many dead and +wounded and that they, the Spanish, had 4,000 men and two machine +guns (these we saw) and were under two general officers, and that +the Spanish dead and wounded were being brought in for six hours; +also that the garrison was expecting an assault that night; that +the defeated troops reported they had fought the entire American +army for four hours, but, compelled by greatly superior numbers, +had retreated and that the army was coming. + +My men conducted themselves splendidly and behaved like veterans, +going up against the heavy Spanish lines as though they had the +greatest contempt for them. Yours sincerely, LEONARD WOOD. + +To General B. A. Alger, Secretary of War. + +WIRT W. YOUNG OF CHICAGO TELLS OF THE DESTRUCTION OF CERVERA'S +FLEET JULY 3. + +We have seen some hot times since the Harvard left Newport News +with the Ninth Massachusetts and the Thirty-fourth Michigan on +board. We landed them about six miles from Santiago at a little +town called Siboney, or Altares, and laid there four days +unloading stores. On the morning of the 3d I was lucky enough to +row in the boat that the officers took to the shore. The ship was +lying about one and a half miles from shore, and you can bet it is +no Sunday-school picnic affair to pull a twenty-foot oar back and +forth all day. When we landed the officers one of them said: "Wait +for me." We waited three hours. Then we saw the New York come on +the line. We made for the boat, so as to reach it before the +lieutenant. Just as he got in the Harvard flew the recall signal. +When we reached her we heard that the New York had said that the +Spanish ships had left the harbor and that the Harvard was to join +the Iowa. We cleared for action and went up past Morro castle. + +Away up on the coast we could see great columns of smoke. The +Spaniards had come out and started to run, but the Indiana, Iowa, +Massachusetts, Gloucester and the rest of the fleet were waiting, +and in an hour the two Spanish torpedo-boats were blown out of the +water. The Infanta Maria Theresa and Oquendo were beached and on +fire close together, and the Vizcaya the same about a mile farther +down. It was about 3 o'clock when the Iowa signaled the Harvard to +take the Spanish sailors from the burning ships and from the +shore. Before the first boat was lowered it had grown quite dark +and the sea was running high. + +THE SIGHT OF A LIFETIME. + +The sight of those magnificent battleships burning and the +magazines exploding one by one as the flames reached them, made an +impression upon me I will never forget. They called for volunteers +to man the boats, as it was dangerous work. We did not know +whether the Spanish sailors on shore would show fight or not. +There is a cadet on board named Hannigan, from Chicago, who will +always show his boat's crew any fun there is going on. Arling +Hanson and I determined to get in his boat, and we did. + +We made for the Vizcaya, and as we neared her we could see men +hanging to ropes down the sides. The ship was on fire from stem to +stern, and any moment the magazines were likely to explode. If +they had while we were pulling the Spaniards off, there would have +been several Chicago naval recruits missing. The surf was running +high and made the work dangerous and difficult, but we made +connections and brought off over 600 men. They were all naked and +almost dead. + +The only light we had was from the burning ships, and the scene +was one of great confusion. Officers shouted orders, Spaniards +running up and down the beach and the magazines exploding one by +one as the fire reached them. And to crown all a party of Cubans +came down from the hills and announced their intention of "making +angels" of all the helpless Spaniards. Whereupon the American +naval officers said if they tried anything like that "there would +be some strange Cuban faces in hades." The Cubans thought better +of it and stood and watched us. + +I have got the dagger and sheath of the Spanish officer Francisco +Silvia. He was pretty near gone, and when he had almost reached +the boat he let go of the line. I swam out, held to the line, and +just as he swept by me, caught him by the belt and got him up to +the boat. He got me around the neck in the struggle, and once I +was so full of salt water I thought I should never see Chicago +again. He wanted to give me anything he had. He had only his belt +and cap, so I chose his dagger. + +MUTINY AMONG THE PRISONERS. + +I suppose you have by this time got the report of the mutiny on the +Harvard and the killing of eight and wounding of twenty-five of the +Spaniards. Jones from Auburn Park, Hanson and I were on guard with some +marines and soldiers. We heard the signal, a long-drawn hiss, and in an +instant the "push" was up and at us. They had about ten feet to come, +however, and not one of them ever reached us. There was a hot time for a +few minutes. It was shoot as fast as you could throw up your gun. We did +not stop to pick our men, but fired at the crowd; and when a Winchester +or a Springfield bullet hits a man at ten or twelve feet he is going to +stop and go the other way. + +There has been a burial at sea for the last five days. When the +bugle sounds "taps" over the place where the bodies are thrown +into the sea it seems to make your blood come to your face with a +rush. There is something solemn in it, and a man who dies and is +buried with his country's flag around him and the bugle and guns +to do him honor is lucky. + +TOWN OF SANTIAGO DESCRIBED BY ONE OF OUR BOYS. + +Santiago, August 6. + +A peculiarity of the climate here is that it is the hottest in the +morning. The sun rises hot; in fact, the heat is most severe from +sunrise to 10 am, when the sea breezes set in and make the +situation more endurable. If it remained as hot all day as it is +at 9 A. M. our condition would be unbearable indeed. The ocean +helps us out, however, and by noon we have a very refreshing and +cooling air stirring. + +The sickness in the company is on the decrease. On some days only +about half the men were fit for duty, but they are all doing +nicely now. The same proportion obtained throughout the whole +regiment. Not all of the disabled were sick, but some were +recovering, while others were sick and thus we had from 25 to 40 +per cent. of the men under the weather, and it took those who were +well to care for the sick. + +I was at Santiago the other day with Colonel Dick. We called on +General Shafter and had a very nice chat with him. He showed us a +message from the Secretary of War directing that the Eighth Ohio +be closely isolated for a period of ten days and if at the end of +that time no yellow fever appears in our ranks we are to be put on +transports and sent away from here. + +Santiago is a queer place. We approached the city along the road +that passes by our camp. The street was narrow--not more than +twenty-five or thirty feet wide--not wider than the paved portion +of the street in front of our house. Many are much narrower--mere +alleys in fact--but people living all along them. Across the +streets trenches had been dug by the Spanish troops and barbed +wire netting in front of the trenches. There were many trenches, +showing what preparation they had made for a desperate resistance +to our advance. The houses are nearly all one-story and have brick +or stone floors. Few have wood floors and all seem dirty. No glass +is used in the windows, and very little window glass is seen in +the city. The window openings are grated on the outside and have a +sort of portiere or wooden shutters on the inside. The streets are +not straight, but wind and turn until one loses the points of the +compass. The houses are built out even with the streets, no front +yards and no spaces between the houses. Houses are mostly covered +on the outside walls with plaster and roofs of red tile. The city +is very old and the houses show it. We went into the cathedral, an +old building. They rang the bells and rang them again, but so far +as we could see no one came to worship. The janitors and priests +lounged about--the latter saluted us. We strolled all about the +interior of the structure with our spurs on our boots and wearing +cartridge belts and revolvers. The American soldier goes about +where he pleases in the city. Of course we recognized the +character of the building and removed our hats when we went in. +The interior was adorned like most Catholic churches, with +pictures and altars and other regalia of the Catholic service. +Quite a nice picture of the Virgin appears in the ceiling, and a +number of good pictures are found about the walls. We also went +into the "palace," now used as General Shafter's headquarters. It +is one of the best buildings in the city, but doesn't compare with +the more ordinary public buildings in our country. There are no +street cars--few, if any electric lights, and the surface of many +streets is so rough and uneven that you can have no conception of +them. The few that are better than others are paved with +cobblestones, but these are few. Most streets are full of loose +stones and not paved, and little, if any, pretense at grading. The +dirt lies in the streets and side streets are filthy. In fact, it +looked to me like the greater the stink the better the people like +it. My sense of smell was too acute to relish it. Our troops have +gathered up large numbers of Cubans and put them to work cleaning +up the streets, and the prospects for cleanliness are better. I +don't believe, however, that the Cuban and Spanish residents will +profit by it unless they are absolutely compelled to avoid +throwing rubbish in the streets. They have no cellars and no +sewers. The people themselves have very little regard for the +ordinary proprieties of civilized life and children run stark +naked on the streets. + +The following letter has been received from Claude Neis of Company +G, First District of Columbia volunteers: + +Santiago de Cuba, Aug. 9, 1898. + +You said that Mr. Balcke's son was killed in Santiago. If so, I +must say that I saw his ghost on the wayside in a cluster of +woods. I remember seeing the name. His first name was Charley, if +I am not mistaken. I feel very sorry to have heard of his death, +but I know that he perished for a noble cause and fought gallantly +as any soldier could. + +Lon White is all right, and this trip is doing him a great deal of +good, only he has had an attack of malarial fever lately. It seems +to affect all the boys, and if they do not take us out of this +place, since peace is virtually declared, we all will have a +harder fight to contend with the yellow fever than we had with the +Spaniards. It has already broken out among several regiments and +we have lost two men already. + +Last Friday the First battalion was ordered to guard the Spanish +prisoners, 7,000 in number, and my four days' expedition with them +has made me conceive very readily that they are superior to what I +expected. I made friends with Captain Garcia, a very fine-looking +man and a very gentle sort of a fellow. We were forbidden to talk, +receive or give anything from or to them, but a soldier in these +circumstances disobeys a minor order like that, I was invited to +take dinner with the captain and his two lieutenants, Menez and +Hernandez, two very nice sort of Spaniards. Though prisoners, they +are more cordial than our own officers. The bill of fare and +manner of eating was as follows: + +1. Bean soup with rice, well seasoned with pepper a la Mexicano. +2. Fish, with the best sauce ever tasted since I left home. 3. +Fried eggs and potatoes. (Eggs in the market here are 10 cents +apiece.) After each intermission a glass of claret wine. 4. Rice +and roast meat a la Francaise. 5. Rice pudding. 6. Coffee +(Francaise), bread and butter. 7. Fruit. Glass of good Spanish rum +a la rhum. + +I have quite a few souvenirs from them and some Spanish buttons +for sister. + +We are situated on top of a mountain while the Spaniards are down +in the valley. They bring quite a number of sick people out every +morning. I have even become so acquainted with the men of the-- +battalion, Captain Garcia commanding, that they call me Senor +Neis. I have named one, who is the real picture of an Irishman of +the Mick type, "Mickey," and his comrades call him such. They +carry my water for me and seem to be willing to do anything I ask +them. The majority of them are very illiterate, very few +intelligent privates, comparatively speaking. I have a young +fellow about my age to teach English, and I am attempting Spanish. +Both of us are getting along fairly well. I can make myself +understood. + +While I was dining with Captain Garcia his orderly was fanning the +flies away from me. The country is beautiful, nothing but +mountains and valleys. With American people here it will be worthy +to have the island called the Gem of the Antilles. I can thank God +that I have had the best of health and only two of us in the +company have not had the fever. I seem to have gained in weight +and full flushed in the face. + +This letter was written just before the battle of Santiago: + +Ten Miles North of Baiquiri, June 29, 1898. + +Dear Jim: I am writing this on picket. My troop was sent to the +front and we are bivouacked in the woods. Oranges, lemons and +cocoanuts are plentiful, and every trooper has his canteen full of +lemonade all the time. We were seventeen days on the transport, +but did not suffer. Every one is in good spirits and anxious to +get at the dons. DICK. + +The following breezy letter was written by a Washington lad in the +trenches around Santiago: + +Siboney, July 7. + +My Dear General: Have really been too busy to write. Have been in +a real nice, lively battle, and wasn't a bit scared and didn't +run. The poor old Twenty-fourth. Markley commands the regiment +now, and temporarily the brigade. He is a daisy. He really ought +to get something. So ought every one. It was glorious. Only so +many were killed and wounded. Poor old Shafter. Everybody is +roasting him because he was lying on his back in the rear having +his head rubbed, which isn't my idea of what a commander should +do. + +About myself: I was upset by a shell back of Grimes' battery July +1, which killed some people. Very miraculous. Only I didn't get a +scratch to show for it, and, although I most conscientiously +wished for a bullethole, didn't get one the rest of the fight. I +overdid the business a little, rode to the rear twice that day and +back, and then walked after they shot my mule. Well, anyway, July +2 I was with Blank when he was forced back from San Juan hill. He +told me it was the hottest fire any artillery has had to stand in +modern times. Then he pulled out. Well, the fever came on the 3d, +and I have been sort of half crazy and delirious the last four +days. It isn't yellow fever, though, although it probably will be. +I'll cable if it gets serious. Really, I have distinguished +myself, and, if I pull out, may lead a fairly decent life and be +rather a credit. If anything does happen to me I'll feel like such +an ass for not being bowled over like a gentleman in the battle +last week. Love to all. CHARLIE. + +P. S.--This is a little disconnected on account of forty grains of +quinine to-day. + +MEMBER OF THE HOUSTON POST RIFLES PAINTS A ROSEATE PICTURE. + +Santiago de Cuba, August 6, 1898. + +Dear Mother: I am now in Cuba. I like Santiago; it is much cooler +here than at Camp Caffery. + +The Cubans all talk Spanish and I am learning to talk Spanish +fast. We are now camped at the city park on the harbor. I saw the +smokestack of the Merrimac when we came through the neck of the +harbor. The Merrimac was sunk right near Morro castle. Morro +castle is almost at the top of a mountain and is made of white +stone. Santiago is surrounded by water and mountains. There is not +a case of yellow fever here at all. The only kind of sickness here +is malarial fever and wounded soldiers. The fever was caused by +laying in trenches for seventeen days during battle on light +rations. + +I like Cuba better than Texas. I can sit right here and see where +all the fighting was done. The Rough Riders are here. General +Shafter is here also. There are enough rations in the city to feed +the volunteer soldiers for one year, and our money is worth twice +as much as Spanish money. We do not want for anything. We get more +to eat here than at Camp Caffery and have less sickness, and the +weather is not as hot here as it was there. We have pretty brown +duck and also blue flannel suits. It is fun to see us buy from the +Cubans and get the right change back. The sailors that were +captured off of Cervera's fleet are here. They can go anywhere +they want to in the city, and the rest of the Spanish prisoners +are here also, and we have charge of them. There are about fifty +or seventy-five men in the guardhouse at present for drinking rum +and eating fruit. We can buy anything we want except liquors and +fruit. I have seen a number of Spanish war vessels that are half +sunk, and there are lots more out of sight. On our trip to Cuba we +crossed the Caribbean sea. Tell Ernest that there is a fellow here +by the name of Parsons that he knows. This man Parsons was on +guard duty at the warehouse and a fellow came prowling around and +Parsons told him to leave, but he would not and he charged +bayonets on him and run him out. The next day he found out that +this man was his brother that he had not seen for five years. + +The poor class of people are almost starved. They come around and +beg scraps to eat. Cuba has the richest land I have ever seen; +pretty shade trees and everything that it takes to make a country +look fine. The city of Santiago is laid off like an old Mexican +town. It does not rain here as often as at Camp Caffery and not so +hard. There are lots of cocoanut groves around here and no +monkeys. There were only five or six houses that were hit by the +bombshells during the war. I have a Cuban sweetheart already. It +is nothing to see the poor class half naked. Cuban children sleep +wherever night overtakes them and eat where they can find scraps. +The Red Cross ladies that stay in the hospitals are so good and +kind to us. We only have to drill one hour a day here. A few of +the boys on the trip got seasick. Colonel Hood has water boiled +every night and next morning we put ice in it to drink. We have +fresh meat packed in ice shipped by the Armour Packing Company. +Fried steak every morning, roast or stew for dinner and bacon for +supper. We eat lightbread and not hardtack now. There are a good +many transports laying in the harbor here. There is a basin here +in the park like the one in the market house there at home, which +we use to bathe our face and hands in. This letter might be a long +time in coming, as the boat does not run regularly. Well, I will +close for this time. With much love for you and the rest, I remain +your affectionate son, + +PAGE LIGON. + +BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL NICHOLAS SENN, U. S. V., CHIEF OF OPERATING +STAFF WITH THE ARMY IN THE FIELD AT SANTIAGO. + +Headquarters Fifth Army Corps, Before Santiago, July 12. + +As the hospital ship Relief came in sight of the seat of war every +one of its passengers watched with interest and anxiety the +indications of the present status of the conflict. When we sailed +from Fortress Monroe Sunday, July 3, fighting was in progress, +and, not having received information of any kind since that time, +we were impatient for news. + +On reaching Guantanamo we came in sight of a number of warships +floating lazily on the placid ocean like silent sentinels some six +to eight miles from the shore. The little bay was crowded with +empty transports, all of which indicated that we were not as yet +in possession of Santiago. The pilot of a patrol boat finally, in +a voice like that of a foghorn, communicated to us the news that +the greater part of the Spanish fleet had been destroyed and that +the Spanish loss in dead, wounded and prisoners was great. Among +the most important prizes of the naval battle was the heroic +admiral of the Spanish fleet, who was then a prisoner on board of +one of the men-of-war. The land forces were near the city making +preparations for the first attack. A partial if not a complete +victory had been won, and we had the consolation of knowing that +we had not come in vain. + +RED CROSS FLAG FLYING. + +Our captain was directed to bring his ship to anchor near Siboney. +When we came in sight of this little mining town we saw on shore +rows of tents over which floated the Red Cross flag, showing us +that we had reached the place for which we had been intended. + +The little engine of a narrow-gauge mining railroad was puffing +and screeching up and down along the coast, conveying supplies +from the landing to the camp. On the side of a hill were the +shelter tents of a company of infantry on detail for guard duty. +On the crest of a number of high hills which fringe the coast +could be seen blockhouses recently vacated by the Spaniards. A +grove of palm trees in a near valley reminded us that we had +reached the tropical climate. + +The steamer Olivette, floating the Red Cross flag, anchored near +the shore. Major Appel, surgeon in charge of this hospital ship, +was the first person to board our vessel, and gave us the first +reliable account of the recent battle. His appearance was enough +to give us an insight into his experiences of the last few days. +He was worn out by hard work and his anxiety for the many wounded +under his charge. + +The camp is on the shore in a limited plateau at the base of the +mountain rising behind the little mining village. The condition of +the wounded men furnished satisfactory proof that good work had +been done here, as well as at the front. On my arrival many of the +wounded had already been placed on board a transport ship, but +more than 400 remained in the general hospital. + +On the whole the treatment to which the wounded were subjected was +characterized by conservatism. Only a very small number of primary +amputations were performed. Bullets that were found lodged in the +body were allowed to remain unmolested unless they could be +removed readily and without additional risk. A number of cases of +penetrating wounds of the abdomen and chest were doing well +without operative interference. Penetrating gunshot wounds of the +skull were treated by enlarging the wound of entrance, removal of +detached fragments of bone and drainage. Several cases in which a +bullet passed through the skull, injuring only the surface of the +brain, were doing well. With a few exceptions wounds of the large +joints were on a fine way to recovery under the most conservative +treatment. + +BULLET WOUNDS RAPIDLY HEAL. + +A study of the immense material collected at the station convinced +the surgeons that the explosive effect of the small-caliber bullet +has been greatly overestimated. The subsequent employment of the X +ray in many of these cases will undoubtedly confirm the results of +these observations. The battle at Santiago resulted in 157 killed +and over 1,300 wounded. Nearly all wounds of the soft parts heal +rapidly--suppuration in these cases was the exception, primary +healing the rule. + +The day after my arrival I went to the front, about ten miles from +Siboney. A colored orderly was my only companion. He rode at a +respectful distance to the rear. The whole distance the road was +crowded with mule teams, soldiers and refugees. The latter made a +seething mass of humanity from start to finish. At a low estimate +I must have passed on that day 2,000 souls, including men, women +and children and naked infants. + +The day was hot and the suffering of the fleeing inhabitants of +Santiago, the besieged city, and adjacent villages, can be better +imagined than described. Indian fashion, the women walked, while +some of the men enjoyed the pleasure of a mule or donkey ride. +Most of them were barefoot and dressed in rags; children and +infants naked; dudes with high collars, white neckties and straw +hats were few and far between. An occasional old umbrella and a +well-worn recently washed white dress marked the ladies of +distinction. Their earthly possessions usually consisted of a +small bundle carried on the head of the women or a wornout basket +loaded with mangoes or cocoanuts. The color of the skin of the +passing crowd presented many tints from white to jet black. The +women were noted for their ugliness, the men for their eagerness +to get beyond the reach of guns. + +VIEW ON CUBAN SOLDIERS. + +Little squads of Cuban soldiers were encountered from time to +time, apparently anxious to get only as far as the rear of our +advancing army. These men display an appearance of courage just +now that is marvelous. Before the bluecoats came here they +infested the inaccessible jungles at a safe distance from the +Spanish guns, making an occasional midnight raid to keep the +Spaniards on the lookout. Now they can be seen on the roads in +small groups relating to each, other how they cut down the Spanish +marines with their national weapon on reaching the shore after +their vessels were demolished by our navy. + +The ragged refugees, fleeing in all directions and mingling freely +with our troops, as they do, carry with them the filth of many +generations and a rich supply of yellow fever germs which will +ultimately kill more of our men than will the Spanish soldiers. + +On reaching General Shafter's headquarters I reported to +Lieutenant Colonel Pope, chief surgeon of the Fifth army corps, +for duty. At head quarters is the principal field hospital, in +charge of Major Wood, a graduate of Rush Medical College, ably +assisted by Major Johnson and a corps of acting assisting +surgeons. At the time of my arrival sixty-eight wounded officers +and men were under treatment. Lieutenant Pope has worked night and +day since the troops landed here. He has done all in his, power to +make his limited supplies meet the enormous demands. + +PERFORMS AN AMPUTATION. + +At this hospital Major Wood kindly invited me to perform an +amputation of the thigh for gangrene caused by a gunshot injury +which had fractured the lower portion of the femur, and cut the +popliteal artery. Here I found many interesting cases on the way +to recovery in which the nature of the injury would have been +ample excuse for rendering a very grave prognosis, among them a +number of cases of penetrating wounds of the chest and abdomen. + +In the afternoon I was accompanied to Canea by Acting Assistant +Surgeon Goodfellow. The trip was made for the purpose of taking +charge of sixteen wounded Spaniards we were to transfer to the +Spanish army. On the way to Canea we found many recent graves and +numerous dead horses, covered only with a few inches of dirt. The +stench from this source was almost unbearable. + +The little village of Canea is located on the summit of a hill, +with an old, dilapidated church as its center. The public square +and the few streets are thronged with refugees--from 8,000 to +10,000 in number. Crowds of refugees were also seen in the woods +around the village gathering mangoes and cocoanuts, about the only +food supply at the time. In the only room of the church we found a +representative of the Red Cross Association dealing out hardtack +and flour to the hungry multitude. + +The wounded Spaniards were lying in a row on the floor of the +church--one of them in a dying condition. All that could be +transported were conveyed in four ambulances under a small +detachment of troops to our fighting line. Here a flag of truce +was secured, which was carried by an orderly. The detachment was +left behind and we passed our line. + +IN SPANISH LINES. + +As soon as the Spanish intrenchment came in sight the signal was +given and was promptly answered by the enemy. Two officers with a +flag of truce advanced toward us, and we were halted at a little +bridge very near Santiago and below the first intrenchment. We +were received very courteously by the officers and asked to a seat +upon the grass in the shade of a clump of trees. Rum, beer and +cigarettes were furnished for the entertainment of the callers. +The object of our visit was explained, whereupon a hospital corps +of about thirty men with sixteen litters in charge of a captain of +the line and a medical officer made their appearance. The wounded +were unloaded from the ambulances and conveyed in litters to +within the Spanish line. + +The visit was such a cordial and pleasant one that we found it +very difficult to part from our newly made friends. After bidding +the officers a hearty adieu and mounting my horse I was urged to +dismount and say another farewell--a request which was responded +to with pleasure. The two little parties then separated and made +their way in a slow and dignified manner in the direction of the +respective breastworks. + +TELLS OF BOMBARDMENT. + +The first armistice expired at noon July 11. In the afternoon a +heavy cannonading commenced and was kept up until late in the +evening. Next morning it was resumed, however, with less vigor. +During this bombardment the Spaniards renewed their recently gained +reputation as effective marksmen. One of our best cannon was hit +and literally lifted into the air. An officer was killed and a-- +number of men injured. + +During the afternoon, while cannonading was still going on, I went +to the front, but on reaching our line the bombardment was +discontinued, and under a flag of truce the commanding generals +met and held a conference. The result of this interview remains a +secret at this hour. + +Major-General Miles and staff reached Siboney yesterday on the +steamer Yale, and to-day he proceeded to headquarters. + +The appearance of yellow fever at different places occupied by our +army has made our troops more anxious than ever to complete their +task. The frequent drenching rains and inadequate equipments have +also done much to render the men restless and anxious to fight. + +W. B. Collier of the Second United States cavalry, in a letter +dated August 3, describes his part in the fight on San Juan hill +and the scene when the American flag was flung to the breeze in +captured Santiago. He says: + +We have our 2 o'clock rains each day and then the sun comes out +and just burns. This is a good climate for snakes, lizards, etc. +Many of the boys have died, but, thank God, I am still in the land +of the living. Words are inadequate to express the feeling of pain +and sickness when one has the fever. For about a week every bone +in my body ached and I did not care much whether I lived or not. +The doctor shoved quinine into me by the spoonful until my head +felt as if all the bells in Chicago were ringing in it. I could +hear them, even when delirious. The news that we are to go back to +the United States in a few weeks has saved many a boy's life. + +FEAR YELLOW FEVER. + +I was scared at first when I was ordered to the yellow fever +hospital I thought my time had come, but they examined me and +pronounced my case some other than yellow fever. The boys fear +yellow jack like a rattlesnake. When I return I will know how to +appreciate my country. I am very weak and sick, but I think I will +be well in a short time after I get home. With all I have suffered +I am ready for more if Uncle Sam wants me. + +As to the fight, our four troops of the Second United States +cavalry were the only mounted troops in Cuba. We were the staff +escort. I tell you, it is worth all the trials, and hardships, and +sickness which I underwent, when I contemplated the scene of the +surrender of Santiago. When Old Glory went up I cried and felt +ashamed and looked around to see if any of my comrades had noticed +me. I found they were all crying. Then we began to laugh and yell +again so we would not be babies. I tell you, it was the proudest +moment of my life. + +PICKS OFF SPANIARDS. + +I was in the San Juan hill fight. We were used mostly as scouts. I +know there are two or three poor Spaniards killed or in hospitals. +I took it coolly and just shot at every Spaniard I could see, far +or near. I aim sure I dropped three. It is quite ticklish at first +to be under fire, but the novelty soon wears off. + +JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE AT MANILA. + +A. J. Luther, second lieutenant of the First Colorado volunteers, +writes as follows, dated Camp Dewey, July 27: + +You may talk about your Cuban war and all other wars, but you may +rest assured that the Philippine war is no snap, either. All the +land around us for miles and miles is nothing but deep jungles and +swampy ground. On our west lies Manila bay, 100 yards from our +camp. On the north, for four miles, to Manila, in fact, a jungle +and swamp, while on the east it is swamp and on the south more +swamp. Our camp is on a long strip of land between a heavy jungle +on all sides. It is a good camp, considering the location which is +made necessary by the position of the Spaniards. + +I am reliably informed that the natives of these islands are no +farther advanced in civilization than they were 300 years ago. +They live in old boats on the water, in palm trees, in bark huts, +or wherever they can hold on long enough to live. Their life is +one of degradation and four-fifths of them have noxious diseases. +You can imagine what a nasty mess we have got into. + +They wear for dress very thin cheesecloth and they keep that +scanty raiment as clean as any class of people on earth, but their +bodies do not seem to amount to that much trouble in their eyes. +From the way they take care of themselves I imagine that they +consider their clothes the only essential part of their exterior +that ought to be kept clean. + +We have not gone into Manila yet and I cannot say just when we +will, but you will know through the papers when we do. I want you +to send me all the papers you get hold of which contain anything +relating to the Manila troops. We have a lot of correspondents +with us and between them you can glean all the news of importance. + +We have only been called out once since our arrival here and +nothing happened then. I have been under the enemy's fire three +times, shot landing all around me. Major Moses, Captain Taylor, +Captain Grove and Lieutenant Lister, with an interpreter, were +detailed to make a special reconnaissance of the country and the +position of the enemy. They went within 300 yards of the Spanish +intrenchments and were sighted by the enemy's patrol. Captain +Taylor was standing on the top of a brick wall when they let fly +at the party and one bullet hit about ten inches under his feet. + +The other day I was put in charge of the company to repair roads +along behind the insurgents' line, and we were only 300 yards from +the enemy's line all the time, so you can see how near to the jaws +of danger we work. Our camp is under the range of their big guns, +but they have never thrown any shells into us yet. + +While working on the road they kept up a fire at us, however, and +one large cannonball plowed up the road not twenty-five feet away. +It whistled through the air like a nail when thrown from the hand. +At the same time you could hear Mauser balls whistling around us. +This is a warm country. One especially feels that way when the +bullets come zipping around as they did when we were on the road. + +The insurgents and Spaniards keep up continual volley firing all +day and night. Neither side knows as much about a gun as a baby. +They fire into the air and expect the balls to light on the heads +of the enemy. When the Spaniards run up against us, I think they +will find a different game. We won't play horse with them nor +shoot up into the air, but will get right into direct aiming +distance and make them dance. + +DIGGING GRAVES IN CUBA--WALTER ZIMMER OF FIRST ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS +WRITES FROM SIBONEY. + +Siboney, Cuba, Aug. 17. + +Dear Sister and Brother: Received your kind and welcome letter +last evening and was glad to hear from you. We are expecting to +get back to the States any day, as they are shipping the army as +fast as possible. I am now on a detail at the yellow fever +hospital. This is tough work, digging graves and planting the +dead. The men are dying at the rate of about ten a day. A lot of +the boys in my company died of yellow jack. I am all right at +present. + +We had a lot of fun chasing Spaniards. Some of them got after a +crowd of Cubans and killed them. We scoured the woods and located +the Spaniards and fired a few volleys at them, killing and +wounding a number of them. + +Jimmy Edgar is dying. He has been out of his head for a week. I +saw him last night and he did not know me. Out of the regiment +there are about 400 in the hospital. We have a little graveyard on +the hill they call the Chicago cemetery. It is only three weeks +old and there are about 100 graves. + +Santiago is a dirty place. All the sewers are on top of the +ground. This is Siboney, the town we burned about five weeks ago +to keep out the fever. I have a few souvenirs I hope to take back +to the States with me--two Spanish gold pieces, one machete, a +Krag gun, a set of prayer beads, and a piece of shell that struck +me in the hip. I was laid up only two days. The shell struck a +tree and bounded off, hitting me. The tree broke the force. If I +ever get out of Cuba I do not want to see it again, even on the +map. By the time you get this I expect to be on Long Island, New +York. Hinton went back to the States a few days ago. Edgar was too +weak to go. About 500 convalescents went home, and there are about +1,000 of the boys here too weak to go. It is pretty tough to see +the boys dying here. Our detail has to dig graves. My back is +nearly broke from digging and using the pick. If you do not dig +fast the major orders your arrest and off to the guardhouse you +go. YOUR BROTHER. + +James Purcell, Company G, Eleventh Infantry, writes the following +interesting letter: + +Camp Ponce, Between Town of Ponce and Shipping Port, August 6. + +Dear Ones and All: I hope you received my letter from Samono Bay +and that you are all well. I am fine, as well as ever I have been. +We arrived here last Monday and landed on Tuesday. We were on the +water eleven days and it was a grand trip and all enjoyed it +greatly, but if would have been much better if we had good food. +What we ate consisted of canned beef, hardtack, canned beans and +tomatoes with coffee twice a day. + +Well, now to tell you something about this place. It is without +exception the prettiest place I ever saw. We have about five +hundred Spanish prisoners here in this camp and leave to-night by +train to cross the mountains and clear the road for the main body +of troops, which will advance on San Juan. You will probably know +the outcome long before this letter reaches you. We are camped on +the roadside. The thoroughfare is macadamized from one end of the +island to the other, and as fine a road as one ever saw. It would +be a grand place to have a bicycle. Our camp is always crowded +with hungry, starving Cuban men, women and children, some of them +naked and the rest only partially clothed. They will do almost +anything for our hardtack, for some of them never had any flour, +and when we purchase we have to pay two cents for a small roll, +but while we are in camp we make our own bread and they go crazy +for some of it. + +There is plenty of tobacco here and the way we get it is to give +one hardtack for a cigar. The men and women are all cigarmakers, +and, as our commissary is not yet open, we have to make native +cigars. All the people here seem glad to have the Americans take +the island. + +Wine and rum costs two cents a drink and an American dollar is +worth $1.80 in Spanish money. Our regiment and the Nineteenth are +the only regiments of regular infantry on the island. All others +are volunteers excepting one or two regiments of cavalry and +artillery, so we are likely to get the brunt of all the battles. +We had a little scrimmage yesterday, but it did not amount to +much. Now I will try to tell you a little about the island before +I run out of paper. Cocoanuts grow in abundance here, with all +other kinds of tropical fruit. As yet we have not been near the +banana or pineapple district. The roads are all shaded with trees, +and if I could get at a desk for a short time I would write a +better letter. This one is only to let you know I am alive and +well and as soon as the affair is over I think I'll buy a farm +here,--etc. + +LETTERS FROM JOE BOHON. + +Ponce, Porto Rico, Aug. 4, 1898. + +I suppose you know by this time where we are. I have written +several times to the folks and different ones, but have received +no mail for twenty days. + +We landed at Guanica July 25 and were the first troops on the +island. We had considerable music from our gunboat escorts there. +You could see them going over the hills in droves. We stayed there +three days, then Company H and one company from Massachusetts +Regiment marched to Yauco. We looked for trouble there but were +disappointed. We stayed there three days, then started to march +for Ponce. It took us two days to come a distance of thirty-five +miles. We were in heavy marching order with an extra 100 rounds of +ammunition. Its weight was between 80 and 100 pounds. + +This is a town of 35,000; they have banks, electric lights, +telephones and an ice plant. There are some English-speaking +people here. I was down town yesterday. The hotels and restaurants +are all run by French people. It's a wonderful sight how the +natives respect us. They take off their hats and say Viva +Americana (long live America). If one of them can get hold of a +blue shirt or pants or a small flag they are the envy of every one +of their people. Our company have four with us since we landed. +They wash our dishes, carry water and make themselves useful. + +There are all kinds of reptiles and varmints. Hamilton and I have +killed three centipedes in our tent. The natives say their bite +will kill, but our doctors say not; several of our boys have been +bitten; none died so far. A soldier of the Third Wisconsin shot +and killed one of the regulars. The wealthy class of people here +dress like us; have fine carriages, but their horses are all small +and pace. They raise hogs and their cattle are Jerseys. They do +all their work with oxen and large two-wheeled carts. The oxen +pull with their horns and you would wonder at the load they pull. +The poorer class of people are nothing better than slaves. From +ten to thirty will live in one small house. I have not seen a +window glass or chimney on a house since being on the island. They +build their fires in small stoves and cook their grub in kettles. +They raise bananas, oranges, limes, the same as lemons, cocoanuts, +pomegranates, mangoes, etc. They also raise melons, tomatoes, +cucumbers and such vegetables. Think of getting those things fresh +the year round. + +They wear as few clothes as possible. You see children as old as +four years without a stitch of clothes on. I mean the poor, and +none of the older wear shoes; their endurance is wonderful, and +they don't perspire like us. They all smoke either cigars or +cigarettes. We see children four years old smoking cigars. You can +buy as good a cigar here for 1 cent in their money as we can buy +at home for 5 cents. One dollar in our money is equal to two +dollars in theirs. So we get our smoking pretty cheap. Fruits are +sold accordingly. We are to turn our Springfield guns in this +morning and get the Krag-Jorgensen; they are much lighter and +their bullets are not near so heavy. Hope this will be of interest +to you. Don't forget to send the Times as we have not seen a paper +since leaving Charleston. Regards to all. + +In the course of an interesting letter written by James Burns of +the Twenty-seventh battery, Indiana volunteers, to his mother, and +dated August 15, at Guayama, Puerto Rico, he said that the news +of the cessation of hostilities was received by courier only a +short time before the battery expected to get actively into +battle. Most of the boys, he said, were anxious to return home. +For himself, he expressed a desire to remain for the reason that +the country there is very rich, the climate healthful and the +possibilities to make money in the future, through American push +and energy, the best in the world. Speaking of the daily routine +of the battery boys he said: + +Every man cooks his own meals and we get plenty of good food, such +as bacon, potatoes, beans, onions, hard-tack, canned corn beef, +canned roast beef, canned tomatoes and the like. The climate is +the finest I ever experienced. While the temperature is very high, +still the strong trade winds render it always agreeable, the +hottest day being far more pleasant than at home. Water is pure +and plentiful. The country is cut up every quarter mile or so by +limpid mountain streams and the beach on this, the south side of +the island, is as fine as any in the world. Palms abound in +profusion and the most beautiful flowers and ferns cluster and +grow delightfully everywhere. The cocoanut, mango, bread-fruit, +banana, lemon, lime, sago, prickly pear, mangrove and bay trees +grow luxuriantly about our camp. + +The natives here are of small stature. They are black-haired and +have bright, sparkling eyes. They are all of a mixture of either +the French or Spanish with the negro. There is a large population +of French and Portuguese, the pure Spanish being but little more +than one-sixth of the entire population. The natives are a bright, +intelligent class. There are few public schools, education being +given to children at their homes by traveling teachers and +governesses. There are but few Protestants or Protestant churches, +the Catholic being the prevailing religion, and their churches +being much more magnificent than any you have at home. The priests +constitute the ruling force among the people. Children run naked +until they are six years old. Every one wears white linen clothing +and most, of the people go bare-footed. The men wear straw hats +and the women go with their heads uncovered. There are not a few +English and Americans here, and they scrupulously maintain the +Anglo-American costumes. News does not reach us for ten days or +more after you read it in the newspapers in the States. We are +just reading the Indianapolis papers of July 31 and August 1, and +the news is perfectly fresh to us. The marriage rite here is a +very loose affair. A man may have one or two families, as he may +elect. One of these may include the progeny of a wife of his own +class and the other by a negro woman or half-breed. All he has to +do is to pay the prescribed duty. + +There are no bad fevers here, but small-pox sometimes is prevalent in +certain localities, although they have not had the scourge for three +years. Leprosy, elephantiasis and diseases arising from a bad condition +of the blood prevail to some extent. Ruins of sugar mills and +plantations abound on every side, once great money-producing +establishments, but destroyed by Spanish avarice and the American +tariff. Cattle-raising, fruit-growing, coffee, and rice culture furnish +the principal money-making vocations in Porto Rico. There are no +railroads that amount to anything. The wagon roads are all military +roads and the freighting is carried on with pack mules and bull-carts. +The latter are of the clumsiest character, the yoke resting on the horns +of the animals instead of upon their necks, as in the old farm districts +in the United States. They carry from two to three tons or more at a +load. The horses and mules are small, but willing and patient animals. +The natives are sharp traders and boys of from six to ten years of age +can drive close bargains. One of our American dollars will purchase +exactly twice as much as a Spanish dollar. The one particularly cheap +product is the cigars. "Smokes" of a good quality sell for one cent +each. Bananas and lemons are cheap, and of the latter fruit we partake +plentifully. Cocoanuts sell for five cents each; milk, five cents; +bread, twenty cents, and sugar, four cents. These prices are on a basis +of the Spanish money. + +This letter was written by one of the soldiers of the Sixteenth +infantry, five captains of which led the particular charge in +which this regiment participated: + +July 24, 1898. + +We are in bivouac near our trenches, within half a mile of +Santiago. The fighting is all over and we are just waiting for +something to happen. The latest newspaper we have seen was that of +July 3, so you see I write like a person of the past generation. + +We have had a hot time. The Spanish got drunk and put up a pretty +good fight. At least I have heard they were all drunk in the +battle of the 1st. I don't know whether it is true or not, but I +do know that they did not run as quickly as we wished them to do. + +FIRING BEGUN. + +We left camp on the 1st about daybreak, but we did not know we +were going into battle. We got into the jungle, after marching for +a while, and then heard firing, apparently all around us. Then our +men began to fall, and we realized we were in it. We kept +struggling through the dense underbrush, first to the right, then +to the left, and then to the front, as fast as we could find +openings. Everything was confusion. Orders could not be given or +obeyed. Companies, battalions, regiments and brigades were all +jumbled up. + +We did not fire, for we could not see ten feet in any direction on +account of the dense thickets in the jungle. Finally I found +myself with my company and part of the regiment in a trail or road +by a broad, open field, across which, about 700 yards on a steep +bluff, were the Spaniards, strongly entrenched. + +We opened fire and kept it up for a while, but the road rapidly +filled up with our soldiers, and it became too crowded to do +anything. There was a six-strand barbed-wire fence along the hedge +between the road and the open. All at once we began to try to tear +it down and get at the enemy. Captain Leven C. Alien, Captain W. +C. McFarland, Captain Charles Noble, Captain George Palmer and +Captain William Lassiter were close together with their companies +(all of the Sixteenth infantry). I was in the front, just behind +my captain. Officers and men dashed savagely at the fence, tore it +down and leaped into the open field, the captains calling to their +companies to "come on!" "Now we have a chance at them! Come on!" + +A HAIL OF BULLETS. + +The companies, or so much of them as heard the call, sprang into +the field, the men following the five brave captains, and away we +went in a terrible and most desperate charge. The bullets hailed +upon us, but when the old Sixteenth gets its "mad up" there is no +use trying to stop it. We had about two hundred men with us, five +captains in the front line. But soon others began to follow us, +and the field was full of soldiers, all moving to the front, +firing as they went. We saw the enemy jump and run just before we +reached the foot of the steep slope leading up to the crest. Then +one of our batteries began firing over our heads, and when we got +near the top the shells began striking the ground between us and +the crest, but we did not stop. On we went, climbing on our hands +and knees, when suddenly there arose a great shout down on the +plain behind us, "Come back! Come back!" The trumpets sounded +"recall," and our men, who had followed their captains so bravely, +hesitated, stopped and began drifting back down the slope. + +In vain our brave leaders swore at the loud-mouthed skulkers +below. They had suddenly become fearful for our safety--they were +afraid we would be hit by our own shells. We settled reluctantly +back near the foot of the slope. + +ALLEN LEADS HIS MEN ON. + +Captain Allen told his men to lie down and get their breath. Then +he called our attention to Captain McFarland, who was with some +men about thirty yards to our right and up on the slope. He was +waving his hat and the shells were bursting around him. + +Captain Allen called out to us: "Look at Captain McFarland and E +company! Who of C company will go with me to the top of the hill +in spite of danger?" We who were near him sprang to our feet and +up we went. + +MCFARLAND WOUNDED. + +But Captain McFarland had been wounded and his men were going +down. Our little group became too small for a further attack. +"Come back! Come back!" was shouted from below. Captain Allen +stood alone for a minute and then we went back to the foot of the +slope and waited until our battery stopped firing. Then we all +went forward again, and the Sixteenth infantry colors passed up to +the works and were planted there. + +COLOR-BEARER SHOT. + +The color-bearer was shot, but Corporal Van Horn took the flag and +carried it forward. Hundreds of officers and soldiers of other +regiments came across the field while we were waiting, and they +went up with us. And now they all claim that they were in that +charge. We men and those five captains I have named know who were +in it, and that our captains began it without orders, and we are +entitled to all the credit. + +The fight was led by captains, and no one else of higher rank had +anything to do with it. Our colonel and major now say that they +did not see the charge, and therefore can make no recommendations +for distinguished gallantry. Well, it is proposed to fight it out +and to have our claims heard. + +A TERRIBLE FIGHT. + +The position we took was San Juan and was the key to the Spanish +position. We have heard that there were 3,000 Spaniards in the +works. I do not know what the loss was. I know that as I jumped +over their trench I noticed that it was level full of dead and +dying Spanish soldiers. It was a terrible sight. We had more +fighting that afternoon, and that night we moved forward, and the +Sixteenth entrenched 475 yards from the main works. We held this +under heavy infantry fire and a terrible enfilade artillery fire +all day of the 2d and 3d, while our right wing was swinging around +to envelop the city. + +MOVED TO THE RIGHT. + +On the 10th we were moved to the right wing and I think it was +intended for us to make an assault on the city and wind up the +business. We could have done it in fine shape, and all were +anxious for a chance. + +Our artillery got into place on the 11th at 4 pm, and we opened up +along the whole line and soon silenced every gun and rifle they +had. + +THE SPANISH WEAKENED. + +Next morning at daylight we resumed our work and the Spanish +weakened. They did not wait for the assault--the jig was up. + +Nearly half the command is sick. We have only short rations of +hard bread, bacon and coffee. We have no shelter except dog tents, +and they are no good in such a climate as this. We have no +vegetables, and of course we will all be sick. We are living +miserably. There are thousands of supplies of all sorts in the +harbor and on the landing, but they are not sent to us. The army +is in a disabled condition for want of food and shelter. A box of +hardtack and a piece of fat bacon thrown on the ground has been +considered enough for the soldiers and officers who are in the +trenches. Somebody will hear from this. Our government intends its +soldiers to be well treated, but our supply department here in the +field lack experience. Day before yesterday Clara Barton sent each +company twenty-five pounds of corn meal and seventeen pounds of +rice. It was a blessing, I tell you. We all got a spoonful of +mush, and it was the best thing I ever tasted in my life. + +If we could only get our rations, just the regular ration and our +tents, we would be willing to take our chances with the climate. +There will be enough go by the board, even if we get our supplies. +The soldiers have fought bravely and won the victory. + +Keep out of the war. Whole armies will be lost by disease and +mismanagement. If we stay here under the present layout not one in +four will ever see the United States again. We could not go into +another campaign now, and unless matters improve very much we may +as well be counted out for the summer. + +HOW A WAR BALLOON CAME DOWN AFTER BEING PIERCED MORE THAN TWO +HUNDRED TIMES. + +Sergeant Thomas C. Boone of company K, Second regiment, wrote a +thrilling letter. Mr. Boone's letter in part says: + +I have not told you of my accidents before while in Cuba, because +I did not care to arouse the anxiety of my friends at home, and, +although I have been unable to walk for some time, still I did not +consider my condition as serious as the surgeons here claim it to +be. I will tell you how I got hurt. It was a streak of continuous +bad luck. On the 1st of July I went up in the balloon on the +battlefield at 7 am, and the balloon was being moved all over the +field when shot to pieces eighty yards from the Spanish line at 1 +p.m. We thought our height, together with their bad marksmanship, +afforded us protection. We were badly mistaken. + +At least 200 bullets and four shrapnel shots went through the +inflated bag, allowing the gas to escape, and we came down with a +rush, striking the top of a tree alongside of a creek, throwing us +out. In falling I was caught in the abdomen by a point of the +anchor of the balloon, was suspended for a moment--it seemed a +lifetime--then dropped into the creek, with the water up to my +shoulders. I was badly bruised and shaken up, but, owing to the +excitement of the time, I did not notice the pain. + +Three of our detachment were killed and four wounded out of +twenty-one men, which shows that we were in a pretty warm place. +Well, I did not go to the hospital about my injury until July 14, +and I was then so weak I could scarcely walk. The surgeons at the +field hospital placed me in an old army wagon without springs at 9 +o'clock one night to be taken to another hospital seven miles +away, over the worst road in the world, without doubt. We had gone +about half a mile when the wagon turned completely over, the wagon +body catching my neck under its side and the corner of a box +striking me in the abdomen. + +I was unconscious for two hours. My neck is still very sore. When +I regained consciousness I was placed in the wagon, but the +bumping over ruts and rocks fairly drove me mad, and I said I +could not stand it. I was told that I could walk, which I did. The +wagon went on. I reached the hospital at 7 o'clock the next +morning after a night of agony. At this hospital I was told that I +was injured internally and that they could do nothing for me, that +I would have to go to the United States for an operation, and here +I am. + +I hope to be in Springfield soon, but I am as weak as a child and +cannot walk fifty yards. On top of my accidents I had a case of +bilious fever and was shoved into the yellow fever hospital for +several days. Bilious fever is a nasty thing, although not +dangerous. There are thousands of cases of it in our Cuban army. +It arises, I believe, from sleeping on the rain-soaked ground and +in wet clothing night after night. There was not a day while I was +in Cuba, with the exception of time spent in the hospital, that I +was not soaked through from rain. Mosquitoes at night and flies +during day make life unbearable here. They are a thousand times +worse than any I ever saw. I am bitten from head to foot. They +bite clear through the clothing. + +When Captain Capron was killed at the battle of La Quasima +Lieutenant Thomas became the commander of the troop. He was on the +point of leading the fierce charge against the Spaniards when shot +down by a Mauser bullet passing through his right leg below the +knee. He gives the following interesting account of his personal +experience and observations: + +Our trip from the point of landing to Siboney, a distance of about +eleven miles, took about three hours, and was over a trail that +was very muddy in parts and crossed a number of streams. +Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt on this trip had his mount, but as we +were not mounted he walked over the trail with us, leading his +horse along. That was a simple act, but it indicated a feeling of +comradeship he had for the members of the regiment and it touched +a tender place in the men's hearts. + +NO GLIMPSE OF SPANIARDS. + +Lawton's command had gone over this trail before us and the +Spaniards had retreated so that we did not get a glimpse of the +Spaniards on that march. A few men who had been ill on shipboard +with measles, and had recovered only a short time before, were +still weak and had to drop out of the line, but they reached +Siboney a little while after the main body of our regiment got +there. We got to Siboney on the evening of June 23, and with our +shelter tents were very comfortable until the next morning, +although it rained. + +We were up at 4 o'clock, had breakfast at 6, and then, on the +morning of June 24th started from Siboney across a high hill +leading to La Quasina, where the regiment had its first fight. The +battle lasted two hours and forty minutes, though to those who +took part in it it appeared a very much shorter time. As we were +advancing we were constantly expecting a fire from the Spaniards. +We were not ambushed at all. + +After we had gone about two miles on that trail we came across the +body of a Cuban, and after that we kept an especially sharp +lookout. Troop L formed the advance guard, and we had skirmishers +out ahead of us and to both the right and left. The skirmishers +ahead of us were about 250 yards from the main body of our men, +and it was one of these advanced skirmishers who discovered the +Spaniards. Thomas E. Isbell, a Cherokee from Vinita, I. T., was +the one to make the discovery of the Spanish force. He fired the +first shot in that battle and dropped a Spaniard. Isbell was +wounded seven times and then managed to walk back to the field +hospital, two and a half or three miles away, to get his wounds +dressed. + +HARD FIGHTING AHEAD. + +As soon as we learned that the Spanish were in advance of us we +deployed the men six feet apart, advancing into the firing line. +The Spaniards had some machine guns ahead of us, and our men +received the full force of this fire. There was also firing from +the right and the left. We were at this time upon the knoll of a +hill, the Spaniards being about us at lower elevations. Before +Isbell discovered the Spaniards a blockhouse had been seen, and we +knew what was ahead of us. + +It was probably half or three-quarters of an hour after the firing +began that Captain Capron was killed, and perhaps twenty minutes +after that I was struck as we were about to make a charge. Our men +had been instructed to save their ammunition and not shoot unless +they saw something to shoot at. Our men and the Tenth infantry +afterwards buried about 100 Spaniards, and great numbers of their +killed and wounded among them were carried to the rear, so that +the fire on our side must have been pretty accurate. + +When asked to relate some of the scenes taking place about him +before he was struck, he replied: + +One of the worst things I saw was a man shot while loading his +gun. The Spanish Mauser bullet struck the magazine of his carbine, +and going through the magazine the bullet was split, a part of it +going through his scalp and a part through his neck. This was +Private Whitney, and from his neck down he was a mass of blood. He +was taken back of the firing line, and had recovered before we +left Siboney and was again back in the ranks. + +Captain Capron showed great pluck on the field of battle, and +refused to leave even when he was mortally wounded. We were at +that moment deploying and lying down. He was struck in the left +shoulder, the ball coming out of his abdomen. He lived one hour +and fifteen minutes after being shot. He was taken back to the +field hospital by some of our men. About twenty minutes after that +a Mauser ball struck me in the leg. + +SENSATION OF BEING WOUNDED. + +When asked what the sensation was at the time of being wounded he +replied: + +My leg felt as if it had been struck by some heavy body. It felt +paralyzed, and then I fell to the ground. There was no great pain +experienced at the time, but fifteen minutes later the pain was +very great. + +A very touching incident happened during the fight. Captain +McClintock was struck in the left leg, two Mauser bullets entering +his leg just above the ankle. A private who had been sick for some +days, seeing Captain McClintock lying on the field, crawled up to +him, and lying beside the captain between the latter and the +firing line, said: "Never mind, Captain, I am between you and the +firing line. They can't hurt you now." + +Ed Culver, a Cherokee Indian, showed himself particularly brave +during the fight. He was alongside of Hamilton Fish when the +latter was shot. When Fish was hit he said: "I am wounded." Culver +called back: "And I am killed." + +Culver was shot through the left lung, the ball coming out of the +muscles of the back. He believed he was dying, but said if he was +to die he would do the Spaniards as much damage as possible before +leaving this world. He continued to fire, and sent forty-five +bullets at the enemy before being taken away. At first, after +receiving his wound, he was in a dazed condition, but after he +recovered somewhat he shot straight. + +Hamilton Fish died a few minutes after receiving his wound. I +passed him just after he was shot, and directed some of the +skirmishers where to move. He thought I was speaking to him, and, +raising himself on his elbow, said: "I am wounded; I am wounded!" +and died a few minutes after that. + +We thought at first that the Spaniards were using explosive +bullets, but we found they were merely brass-covered bullets. + +A detailed description of the Santiago fight is told by the +Gloucester crew, which was first to sight Cervera's fleet as it +steamed out of the harbor on the morning of Sunday, July 3. Ensign +Sawyer's letter reads: + +Last evening we went into Guantanamo and saw the camp where our +marines had so gallantly held their own. The Marblehead, with +McCalla, was there, also the New York, the Iowa and that hero of +the battle, the Oregon. The Gloucester also was there. + +The greatest desire naturally possessed us to hear the details of +the wonderful battle in which the Cape Verde fleet was destroyed. +The Gloucester's story, though we had but a few moments, was most +interesting so far as we have heard. She was lying closest to the +entrance, and had just finished Sunday morning inspection when the +lookout hailed: "They're coming out!" + +ORDER OF THE EXIT. + +Instantly all eyes were directed on the familiar harbor mouth, and +they could hardly believe their eyes to see those magnificent +ships standing out in broad daylight. The Maria Teresa, Vizcaya, +Oquendo and Colon swung to the windward, and not a shot was fired +at the Gloucester. Evidently she was too small to waste shell on, +or else all eyes were on the larger vessels. Following those grand +ships came the destroyers Pluton and Furor, which have been so +much dreaded. The Gloucester immediately stood for them full speed +and opened fire, the Pluton and Furor firing rapidly, but not +striking. The Gloucester finally got in between them and rained +shell upon them from her rapid-fire guns. The Iowa also let go her +battery, and one of her large shells literally tore the stern out +of the Furor. The Gloucester simply overwhelmed the Pluton with +her shells, and a white flag was shown, whereupon Lieutenant Wood +went over as quickly as possible to save the lives of the crew. +She was a perfect hell on board. On fire below, one engine was +still going, and there were only eight men not killed. He put +these in the boat, tried to go below to save the vessel if +possible, but could not on account of the fire. The boat shoved +off to transfer the men to his vessel, when the Pluton blew up +with a terrible explosion and sank. The boat was just a few feet +clear when the magazine or boilers exploded. + +Meantime the armored cruisers of the enemy stood to the west and +were engaged by the Brooklyn, Oregon, Texas, Indiana and Iowa. The +Maria Teresa and Oquendo were run ashore, burning fiercely, five +and one-half or six miles west of the harbor. The Vizcaya and +Colon engaged in a running fight with the Oregon, Texas and +Brooklyn, but the first was practically destroyed and run ashore +thirty-four miles west, and the latter surrendered sixty miles +west of Santiago. + +It was a terrible battle, and our escape from terrible loss is +nothing short of miraculous. The Spaniards were really fighting +four ships against five, and the superiority of the Americans was +due more to their skill than material. If the Americans had manned +Cervera's fleet the victory would have been ours just the same. + +The Massachusetts and Newark were at Guantanamo coaling. The New +York had gone five miles farther to the east than her usual +station to allow the admiral to communicate with Shafter. The +Oregon distinguished herself by overhauling and passing the +Brooklyn and forced the Colon's surrender. We have not yet seen +any of the fellows on the vessels that took part in the pursuit. + +Our heavy work now commences in landing troops. The First +Illinois, under Colonel Turner, is among our convoy, and if the +boys fight the way they cheer there will be no question of the +result. + +THE PEACE COMMISSION + +President McKinley appointed William K. Day, Secretary of State; +George Gray, United States Senator from Delaware; Cushman K. +Davis, United States Senator from Minnesota; William P. Frye, +United States Senator from Maine, and Whitelaw Reid, formerly +United States Minister to France, to represent the United States +at the Paris conference. The Spanish commissioners being Senor +Montero Rios, President; Leon Castillo, representing the political +side; Senor Villarrutia, diplomacy; Senor Montero the judicial, +and General Cerero the military. + +The United States commissioners do not have to be confirmed by the +Senate, as is usually the case with presidential appointments. + +PEACE REIGNS. + +Nearly a quarter of a million soldiers again resume civil life--a +nation of fighters when called upon to protect the Stars and +Stripes, yet as kind and considerate as a brother when strife +ceases. Many of our brave soldiers left our shores never to +return--some were killed in battle; some were stricken down with +fever; others who were at the front and saw Old Glory proudly +afloat over the once helpless and downtrodden subjects of Spain +started homeward but failed to reach their loved ones through +disease contracted while performing their duties on the field of +battle. Such is War. The whole nation will cherish the memory of +the dead and ever extend gratitude to those who safely returned. + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom, by +Trumbull White + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUR WAR WITH SPAIN FOR CUBA'S FREEDOM *** + +***** This file should be named 4210.txt or 4210.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/1/4210/ + +Produced by Robert Rowe, Charles Franks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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