Rensselaer Democrat, Volume 1, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1898 — STARTS FOR MANILA. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STARTS FOR MANILA.

CRUISER CHARLESTON OFF TO >, JOIN DEWEY. Expedition Leaves fan Francisco to Support Admiral Dewey in the Philippine Islands. 7,000 Troops on the Way—Monitor Monterey Is Delayed. Go to Dewey's Aid. The cruiser Charleston is well ,on her way to Manila. She will call at Honolulu for coal and then proceed direct to the Philippines, and in less than thirty days at the outside she ought to report to Admiral Dewey. Though the monitor Monterey has been ordered to Manila, it will be several weeks, probably, before she can get away from San Francisco. Her executive officer, Lieut. Carlin, said the ship must wait for certain kinds of ammunition desired by Dewey. Fully 7,(MX) troops will soon be started for Manila. Those who did not go on the three steamers will go later on the China, Centennial, Colon and Zealandia. Three steamers—the Pekin, Australia and City of Sydney—started together. A fleet of transports will be met at Honolulu by the Bennington and thence convoyed to Manila. Every steam vessel in the harbor blew an revolr to Capt. Glass and his crew as the Charleston steamed out of the Gohlen Gate. None of the.forts in the harbor saluted the vessel, but the demonstration made by the (1,000 soldiers gathered at the Presidio was tremendous. When the vessel was sighted coming down the bay the soldiers gathered on the beach and cheer upon cheer rang out from the men

who were to soon follow the Charleston to the scene of Admiral Dewey's triumph. It was expected that the trip would occupy about twenty days. This allows for a somewhat lower rate of speed than is usually mode by steamers like the Pekin, Sydney and Australia, the authorities recognizing the necessity of economizing the coal supplies when eurrying heavy cargoes. The War Department is still negotiating for other steamers to be used for transport purposes between San Francisco and Manila. The Government at present has the services of five ships. It is believed, and. in case Congress shall decide to give American register to vessels of the Northern Pacific Steamship Company. the whole fleet of that company will be placed at the disposal of the Government on reasonable terms. *“ TO FORCE SIXAIN TO SUBMIT. Powers Sail to Be Resolved to Enter the War Soon. A dispatch from Madrid says that Senor. Castillo's reason for not joining the ministry is that Senor Sagasta is determined to carry on a vigorous war, while Senor , Castillo is aware that Spain’s friends in Europe, especially France, are resolved to insist upon her suing for peace at the first favorable moment. It is hoped that

Spain will be able to retain the Philippine Islands, which will be utilized in making political combinations later on. The disjtatch adds that the time is very near when Spain will be asked to propose pourparlers for peace. Friendly efforts will be made by the powers to induce the United States to rest satisfied with the independence or annexation of Cuba, and to abandon the scheme of retaining permanently or occupying temporarily the Philippines.

CARDENAS ALMOST WRECKED. Town Suffered f ev?rely in Recent American Attack. Ernest Castro, a Cuban refugee, who was in Cardenas on the day that the Winslow was injured in trying to capture a Spanish gunboat, arrived in Key West, having been picked up off Cardenas. It will be remembered that the motive for the attack was a desire to capture three little gunboats which had been trying for several days to lure the American ships into the mined channels of Cardenas harbor. The fire that riddled the Winslow did not come from a masked battery, as was supposed, but from a gunboat. According to Castro, the other two gunl>oats were on the other side of the point, with their guns trained through the trees, which concealed them from the sight of the approaching Americans. These two boats, he says, were destroyed by the Wilmington’s fire. Most of their crews were killed or wounded. Castro snys that the port of Cardenas along the water is almost totally wrecked. All the wharves are burned, and the Spanish casino, a large building used as the headquarters of the infantry, was also destroyed. The troops and citizens all fled from town. Thirteen soldiers were killed- by one shell as they fled along the street. The* supposition was that the Americans were attempting a landing, and after the ships ceased tiring the soldiers returned to stand them off.

PANIC REIGNED IN CIENFUEGOS. Bombardment by the American Ships Terrified the People. Information has been received at Key West from Cienfuegos giving a graphicaccount of the excitement in that city when the encounter occurred between Spanish soldiers on shore and the cable-cutting expedition which resulted in the death of two and the wounding of five Americans. Cuban city was panic-stricken, the church bells were rung and the alarms were sounded on all sides. At the Hotel Siervo de Oro there was a riot and fight between Spanish volunteers, who refused to serve on patrol duty for the defense of the city, and the Spanish authorities, who were trying to force them to serve. When the Marblehead began shooting and knocked the lighthouse to splinters men, women and children fled to the country," many families leaving their houses open and abandoned in the haste of their flight. Since then many families have moved to Santo Quintera and Rodas, small towns near Cienfuegos. The Spanish government is unable to control the exodus. Shot Down Without Mercy. It appears from information brought by the Empress of India that the Spanish did a little bombarding on their own account in the Philippines about a fortnight before Admiral Dewey silenced their fleet. About the middle of April, says a Manila report, Spanish troops met no opposition on landing, the rebels having absconded before a shot was fired, taking with them, it is said, $200,000 in cash. About thirty natives were killed in the bombardment, but no European casualties are reported. Cebu, which ranks third in the cities in the Philippines, was wrecked by the bombardment. A massacre of rebels by the Spanish also preceded Admiral Dewey’s arrival.

Sixty Killed at Cartagena. Advices from Cartagena, Spain, say the explosion nt Castle San Julian caused a panic in the city. Arms and legs were picked up at a great distance from the scene of the explosion. The castle contained thirty-eight privates belonging to the artillery and infantry and 123 workmen, not one of whom escaped uninjured. The dead numbered sixty-tvTo, including the governor of the port. Dewey’s Blockade Is Effective. It is reported, via Hong Kong, that Dewey has captured a numl»er of Spanish steamers and several coasting vessels at the Philippines. No vessel has yet succeeded in running bis blockade.

CRUISER CHARLESTON.

MAT. GENERAL MERRITT.