The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-08-25


again the following morning-for the
same rules will be enforced on Satur-
day as on Friday.
The two railway companies, both of
whose stations are near the fated dock,
are not permitted TO receive nor dis
charge passengers nearer than quar-
ter Of a mile OF the town.
The aspect of the city itself is i'm
pressive beyond measure. Especially
within the radius OF danger not a
soul is seen in the deserted and silent
streets. Doors and windows of shops
and dwelling houses alike, through
all the streets, are closed, and the
blinds are shut, and the stiffness Of
death peryades the avenues that in
the morning were swarming with
life. 1t Is not the silence of a city
long ago destroyed, or abandoned TO
its fate, and that is crumbling in ruins.
1t Is the stiffness of a robust and beau
tiful person, in the full tide of life and
strength, suddenly struck into the si-
lence of death, but still standing as
erect and as perfect and beautiful as
when the currents coursed in strong
life through its veins.
Every street opening upon the dan
ger-Zone is guarded by two, four or
six Civil Guards in their bright and
picturesque costumes, and no one is
allowed to cross those limits who does
not hold a pass.
The members of the fire department,
with additional engines and material
loaned for the occasion from neighbOr-
ing towns; companies of sappers and
miners, under military command,
with their picks and axes and shovels;
and ambulances perfectly equipped
for serious work, are strategically
placed, and are ready to answer at
moments notice, and companies of
infantry and cavalry guard the city at
all points.
The authorities, both civil and mill
tary, are quartered on the wharf just
beyond the danger limit, and in full
view of the site of the wreck. With
them are representatives of the press,
delegates from neighbOring cities, rep
representatives. of the trade and indus
tries of the city, and few other
prominent citizens.
These headquarters have telephone
connections with the corps of experts
who, from bOmb-prOOf shed near
the wreck, conduct the operations of
the day and direct Geographic con-
nection with the office of the Minister
of the Interior at Madrid. Buglers
are stationed at intervals on the main
streets of the city, who are to give
before the explosion, and this will be
repeated from bugler to bugler out to
the suburbs.
Mounted messengers are also on
hand to carry the news of the results
of the explosion to given points in the !
from which it will be quickly |
given to the anxious watchers and |
walters ON all the hill sides.
At last the hour strikes. Two tor |
pedoes, each charged with fifty |
pounds of dynamite, are placed in the |
a report is heard like the boom of a |
distant cannon, the ground trembles |
slightly and a large white dome of !
water rises with a central jet about |
thirty feet in height, With which is |
pieces of timer and iron |
which, however, fall again into the !
water 1t is plain TO the nearest OBJ |
server that even the dock is without |
injury, and telephone reports are in |
a moment received from the districts !
where the houses were most exposed !
to damage from the concusssiOn of air |
within which Is our mission house, |
them intact The swift |
riders take the news to the people on !
the suburban hills, and the Governor !
it to the Minister of the
Interior at Madrid.
In less than half an hour the Minis
.er replies, cOngratulating the Gov
ernOr and the city, saying that Ma
irid and all Spain follow the course of
events with avid interest, and eXhOrt-
ng the Governor not to stay his hand
until every vestige of danger has dis
The first explosion was made at $50
n the morning, and they were contin-
led at 1920, 1910, 11:4O, 12:4o, 4:1o,
lbs. a few minutes after the last
.orpedO was fired the bugle sounded
attention, and home again!" and all
he bells, led by that of the Cathedral,
Dealed the "GlOria," the signal that
Ill who wanted to might return to
heir homes for the night. AS the
hight was clear and mild, besides the
hundreds of well-tO do citizens who
preferred to spend the night in the
Sardinero hotels thousands of the
poorer classes camped out in the tents
md the extern pOriZed sheds.
| took n room on the third floor of
IN hotel facing the bay, about 500
Yards from the wreck, and command
ng perfect view of the scene of ac-
ion-but the hotel was just within
he radius of danger as marked by the
There are but few guests here, and
.mOng them the three members of the
government commission of experts,
uperintending the operations of de-
troying the wreck, and though the
riders for yesterday were to hold
,ood for today, the commissioners in
Ormed me that, on their responsible
ty, ! might remain In the hotel dur
ng the day, if l wished so TO do. So
lere | have sat at the large window
writing this letter. ] raise my eyes
rom the paper and see my friends,
he engineers on the dock and in the
team launch, sinking the torpedoes 1
nto the wreck. When the bugIe
alls, look, and see them withdraw
ne from the spot, and the next mo-
nent a blllOwy mass of foam rises
rom ten to fifteen feet into the air,
Ollowed sometimes by sharp report,
5 of a cannon fired nearby, and at