St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-06-22
WAR NEWS.
Caimanera's Forts Demolished.

| The brick tort and carthWorkS at
Caimanera, at the end of the railroad
leading to the city Of Guantanamo, were
demolished Wednesday, June is, under
bombardment by the Texas, Marbehead
and Suwanee.
The warships opened fire at 2 p. m
and the bombardment lasted one hour
and 80 minutes.
The Texas steamed slowly up the chan
mel leading to the Notifications, followed
closely by the Marblehead. The Texas
fred two shots as range finders, both
falling short and to the right.
The Marblehead stood off to the west
side of the channel and opened with her
FIVE inch guns on the fort, knocking down
part of the wall.
The Texas then threw in some 12-inch
shells. tearing down the wall, throwing
the bricks and mortar 80 feet in the air.
After badly damaging the fort, the Mar
blehead stood further in to shell the earth
works and barracks at the west end Of
the harbor. She knocked them into the
air and when the Spaniards fled from the
fort they were shelled by the st. Paul
and driven into the bushes.
The Spaniards fired only FIVE shots,
which did no damage.
After the ships stood out into the har-
Dor the Spaniards in the bush opened fire
on the Marblehead's launch, which re-
piled vigorously.
The Suwanee then turned back and
shelled the bushes, driving the Spaniards
inland.
Hobson's Advance.
Naval Constructor Hobson is advanced
10 points, putting him at the head of the
construction corps in 1908 1t is equiv
alent to advance OF $50 points in line.
Interesting War Gossip.
What the Chicago Tribune calls "a
typical American regiment" is the I'd
Illinois volunteers, which is made up of
792 American-born men, II natives Of
Germany, % of Canada, 81 of Norway,
"a each OF Sweden and England, Is Of
Ireland, eight each OF Scotland and Den.
mark. and one or more each of Russia,
Austria, Hungary. Switzerland. Italy,
Mexico, Bohemia, India, Palestine, Po-
land, South Africa Belgium, Servia and
| Cuba.
The New York Herald, having observed
|
the Philippines is named Farragut, re-
minds us that David Glasgow Farragut,
Americas greatest naval hero, was de-
scended from Don Pedro Farragut, who
served under James 1, king OF Aragon.
Jorge Farragut, Spanard born in Mi
norca, emigrated to America in 1776,
and fought on the revolutionary side in
the war for independence. His son, born
in Knoxville, Tenn, was the hero of
Mobile bay. This is a triAe startling to
those of us who were ignorant OF Admir-
al Farragut's lineage. 1t is also most
curious fact that so great a seaman as
the naval genius of our civil war should
have had in so large degree the blood
OF race whose prestige on the sea had
sunk to the lowest terms.
A train that recently went through a
southern city had on its rear platform,
standing arm in arm, Gen. Lee, an ex-
Confederate who will probably command
the United States forces that invade
Porto Rico, Gen. o. o. Howard brave
Union soldier on his way to show the
troopers the ways OF a Christian life, and
Gen. Joe Wheeler, brave x.Confederate
who will lead the cavalry into Cuba.
They were cheered long and loud by the
people OF that southern city.
Hobson's Choice.
The great majority of newspapers,
with rare display of selfcontrol, re-
Trained from observations on "Hobson's
Choice" after the recent Merrimac ex-
plot at Santiago. But great shower
OF letters from newspaper readers on hat
entertaining topic has fallen on the news
paper Offices. Most OF these punning
correspondents call attention to the
origin of the phrase "Hobsons Choice"
Lest we have been derelict in not discus.
sing this question before, let us now OBJ.
serve that many years ago one Tobias
, Hobson kept stabein Cambridge, Eng
On days or nights when there was a
great demand Tor horses Tobias, to avoid
favortism among his patrons, estab
lished the rule that a customer should
take the horse next to the stable door
. instead OF running down the stalls tc
: make his own choice. In short, it wa.
Hobson's choice not the mans who
: wanted horse. So it has come to NEAR
| that you have no choice at all when it i:
Hobson's choice. Just how this bears OF
5 the Santiago episode is not so clear as il
might be, yet there are lots of peopl,
who see close connection.
Admiral Dewey's Religion.
1t will take Admiral Dewey the rest O
his life to catch up with his own reputa
j ton and inform himself of what ha
come to be known about him at hom
= since that May morning when he becam
; famous before breakfast. Every possible
r theory about his ancestry, habits, ant
state of mind seems to have been Offered
!. during the past month to the acceptanc
of his countrymen. His religious prefer
G ences, for one thing, have been the sub
ject Of several dissertations and hypothe
: SEES 1t has been averred that his mothe
!. was .Jewess, aud that the best mater
ials in him were Jewish. Ithas also BEEF
y confidently asserted that he is Roma,
: Catholic. The Buffalo Commercial ha
S printed letter which seems conclusiv
: as to his religious affiliations. 1t is fron
Mr.. Lewis. rector of Christ Church il