The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1898-08-04
SH0ekING B#RLTAI.ITY.
Csmalaiive Evidence Of spanish
Earberlty m Porto Rico


Thomas % ST. d. Iuly s. The Span.
sh troops 6rmer stationed n this
part % Porto Rte7 are rapidly retrsat'
iuE % tbe interior leaving behind them
broad path % burning plantations
and des1i4ted villages
Porto Ra refugees who are coming
in .u great numbers, report that un-
parai cied 0ataKu have been perpe-
tatei by the Spanish soldiers 10 the
gi.iages oi Juan niaz, foamo and Adj
1nutils Wild with rage over the Amer
lean Invasion the spanian3s are re-
ported % 81 ~wrrakiug yeugenee upon
inOnensive n9ncombaant hring their
houses and maigrearnu the women and
children SOME of tae acts q brutality
reported here to-day are shocking be-
vond description,
The steady stream ~ terrarstriesen
refugees Chat began to pour into Ponce
last night Has continued today. They
are appealing e. She United States mill
Ltury AUTHORITIES Tor protection All
tell the same stories 81 brutality and
violence rs the g~etreatiug spaniards.
N seems probable that she situation
IS worse 80 Adiuut4s than at any other
point This IS q small but important
town, twenty miles ia The interior. a
messenger who arrived this morning
said that many women had been mall
treated and killed aud their bodies
cremated In the burning houses, lie
also reported that the spanish garri,on
at Adiantas comprising 200 men, had
abandoned the place after tweuty-iour
hours Of unbridled license.
IL is impossible 20 verify these re-
ports, but reputable merchants here
profess 70 know the messengers who
bring the news and declare that they
are worthy Of credit
Gen. Wilson, the American military
governor has questioned the refugees
closely bat be cannot send any aid to
the suffering Porto Ricans at present.
lie believes that it would be unwise to
scatter the troops at his command until
reiuforeeme6ts arrive here
Disposition Of Our Troops.
Gen. Erusts brigade now Is eneamped
two miles outside Of Ponce, along the
military road to san dunn. Gen. Henry's
troops today are al Yauco, six miles
from Guanica They will travel by
rail- from Yauco to this city tomorrow.
Con Greene yesterday took a recon
noitering party over the line Of the
railroad, and discovering that, while
the Spaniards had mined the track, tile
artillery am of which IS now at Guani-
en-. can be brought here BY rail, and
this will be done.
Additional endorsements on three
transports arrived late this afternoon
and will be landed tomorrow
Cen Wilson expects the remainder Of
the first division and probably the en-
tire second division Of the First Corps,
This will bring the total American
force in Porto Rico up 10 $4,000 men,
Gen. Wilson declares that $4,000 men
will be enough to take the island
Alarming reports that the Spaniards
intended TO attack this city last night
were circulated and two lines of piekets
were sent out But the night passed
without incident and the city still is
quiet and orderly
A great majority Of the citizens are
unfeignedly delighted with the Ameri-
can occupation Of the city, Spanish
sympathizcrs apparently are confined
to native Spaniards and a few German
and French residents. These are keep
ing very guiet.