Evening journal., 1898-06-20
THE ARMY DEMORALIZED
Marines Hold Their Own Against
Superior Numbers.
HOW SANTIAGO'S FORTSLOOK NOW
All Razed but MORO, Who're Hobson Is
Confned-Admiral Sampson Visits
Camp McCaiIa-spanish Spy
at Camp Merritt.

at Camp Merritt.
KINGSTON. Jamaica, June 20.-Cu-
ban scouts report today that the in
habitants Of Caimanera have strewn
the streets with straw and oil with the
intention OF destroying the city and
fleeing to the hills. Caimanera lies four
miles up the bay from Camp McCalla,
under the guns OF the American ships
and the situation Is desperate A starv-
ing and famine stricken people, con-
WINGED of the ultimate triumph Of the
American arms and without faith In the
protection OF the Spanish soldiery, the
people are believed to have determined
10 leave their houses in ashes behind
them and seek safety in the mountains
TO the north. The scouts declare that
the story Is accurate and say that every
building in the town Is being rapidly
prepared for the torch.
The situation OF the besieged is a fear
ful one The people are eating horses
and mules and are securing the hills for
fruits and herbs. Occasionally brief
bombardments by the American fleet
leave the helpless citizens terror striclS-
en-, no preparations for defense being
made.
IL Is also stated that the Spanish gun
boat at Caimanera has been loaded with
inhammables and VIII be burned with
the city, her commander declaring that
she Will never become an American
prize.
The scouts also say that the Spanish
soldiers are in almost as complete q
state Of panic as are the civilians and
that they could easily be induced to sur
render. Some of the prisoners taken by
the marines also say they believe the
Spanish troops are on the verge OF sur
render owing to the awful lack OF food.
Captain McCalla Of the cruiser Marble
head and Lieutenant Colonel Hunting
ton. IN command OF the marines, are not
50 sure, however, OF the reported Span
ish rout. They received information
Friday that a general attack by force
OF $500 Spanish soldiers and guerrillas
on Camp McCaua is contemplated. I1v-
cry preparation was made Friday night
for an expected assault
The Iowa Joined the feet here Satur-
day morning. and later the admiral
came over on the flagship 20 inspect the
fortihcations and confer with Captain
McCalla and Lieutenant Colonel Hunt
inRton.
namo is dotted with the bright hued
Cuban flag. Numerous camps Of the in
surgents which have been established
along the beach between Santiago and
this place are used by the admiral as a
means OF communication with the Gu
bans In the interior. The aid which
these men have given has proved high
~ valuable to the Americans. Their
stories OF the destitution and revolt
among the Spanish soldiery in this vi
cinity have been corroborated by inter
views with prisoners captured around
the camp.
General Perrejo, who IS IN command
OF the Spanish forces here, is undoubt.
edly in a bad way In regard 20 obtain.
ing food for his men. The prisoners who
have been captured appear to have beer
III fed and are apparently Indifferent
10 their fate.
Another body Of five Spanlards wa,
captured Friday by Ensign A. A. Pratt
of the Marbehead While cruising in
steam launch outside the bay he pickle,
up so foot sloop containing a Spanish
captain Of the name Of Lores and fou
sailors. They said they We're on thei
way to Guantanamo TO get a supply o
oil for the lighthouse at Cape Maysl
but papers found on the sloop prove,
that they had been sent to obtain in
formation relative TO the American
forces. The crew Of the sloop asserte
that they had been an fed and frightful
ly III treated by the Spanish commando
OF the Cape Maysi forces.
There was a brief bombardment OF
bloclShouse up the bay by the battle
ship Oregon. and Il is believed that dur
ing the firing at least a score Of Span
iards were killed. Scouting parties re
port that the hlockhouse was complete
ly destroyed. but that they were unabl
to discover any bodies, the remains Z
the soldiers who had been killed havln
probably been carried Off by their CON
rades.
Late this afternoon the flagship Ne,
York returned TO the fleet or santiag
de Cuba.
The marines are growing very rest
less owing to the delay in the arrlv,
OF the re-enforcements OF troops, but
is generally believed here that II
transports will reach Santiago de Cut
not later than tonight.
A rumor TO the effect that Lieutenal
HobsOn and his fellow heroes of u
collier Nerrimac had been seen on n
walls OF Morro castle under a SPANS
guard caused much excitement amor
the fleet off Santiago yesterday, but q
story is discredited on Commodo
schley's flagship. The officers there 50
that Spanish sentries were mistaken 4
the American prisoners.
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