Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-08-10
THE BADGERS At PONCE.
Incidents of the Occupation Of a
Porto Rico City.
WISCONSIN ON GUARD.
Saved Many Spanish Soldiers from
the Fury of the Excited
Populace.

very much at home on Porto Rican soil.
While future, and even present, military
operations are very uncertain, the soldiers
are familiarizing themselves with the
country on the principle that while you
are in Rome you do as the Romans do.
The Second and Third Wisconsin regi-
mentS are now encamped close together
couple of miles north of Ponce, and re-
lieve each other on outpost duty. The
Sixteenth Pennsylvania is to the eastward
of their position. Gen. Ernst has estab-
1shed headquarters near the Wisconsin
regiments; Gen. Wilson is in the city of
Ponce, and Gen. Miles will establish him
self Ill the field as soon as the plan of oD-
erations is laid out.
The base of operations is in as pretty a
spot as can be imagined though the rain
storms transform the fields into mire
When the troops disembarked from the
transports the Third Wisconsin was in
the van. They were preceded into the
harbor by the Massachusetts. the Cincin-
matt and the Yankee with the auxiliary
cruisers. The warships took up position,
but as already told, there was no opposi-
ton to the landing.
"GIad Hand" from Natives.
The natives received the troops with
enthusiasm. The glad hand" was con-
stantly outstretched from the time the
soldiers We're helped off the lighters until
the guard lines were eSta blished. AS soon
as the troops had formed, Cos | and II
OF the Third were sent into the country
10 seize the city of Ponce, two miles in
iand and within easy range of the guns of
the battleships. The companies took the
barracks vacated by the Spanish soldiers
rev hours before, which they still hold
ana the public square, while Co. Z seized
the railway station. Soon the brigade
ON and +OO1-
outpost and picket work was at once
established. The remainder of the troops
camped III their shelter tents out in the
open held. Soon the rain came down and
soaked them and made them uncomforta-
pie as they never were before
The troops had taken two DAYS rations
with them Ill their hayersacks. That is
they were ordered to do so and it was
supposed that they had. But the men
VINO landed from the vessels had thor
0ughly expected to fight their way into
the country and had made their loads as
light as possible, not taking the necessi-
ties OF lite with them. The blanket bags
were left aboard ship where they still
are, three days afterwards. No arrange
mentS beng made to feed the troops, the
aNaHabI supply was soon exhausted
Ine men We're hungry, but were ordered
not to buy Of the natives, while they were
AFRAID the retreating Spanish had pois-
oned the water so that reliance was
placed upon the canteens for water.
Inc stringency has now been relieved
by the men being allowed to drink the
water aid purchase Of the natives-ex-
cept certain kinds of fruit-thOugh any
thing saYoring Of differing is strictly pro-
hibited.
Reminds One of Quo Vadis.
The scenes being enacted before the
eyes OF the American soldiers will proba-
Oily never be repeated to them. The
reader Of Quo Fadis'' can see for linn
self re=enactment of those scenes in
part The popUlace is wild with excite
ment. The natives, for years trodden
under foot by the Spanish, see their way
TO get even. The excitabIe natives are
aroused and they are doing everything 10
show their loyalty to the United States.
IIctureS Of Premier SagaSta and others
are paraded upside down and spat uDun:
Spanish cOats-Of-armS and ornaments are
trodden under foot and crowds besieoe
the quarters of the invading army
The people have undertaken the arrest
Of the Spaniards. The troops which were
here were composed partly of regulars
and partly Of volunteers, about 1000 IN
all The volunteers are now secretly re-
turning to the city and as fast rs they
can be ferreted out are arrested. In
some Instances armed Intervention by the
guards has been necessary to prevent
massacre Of a squad Of prisoners by the
mob, composed of men and women anX-
lOuS 10 SHOW C0ClG friendship. lOQaY tGeE
caught Il "grandee" and were taking him
to the prison. A native rushed at the
Spanard with a matchete and but for
interference by the Wisconsin boys he
would have been murdered. Doubtless
the populace would be tickle enough 20
show the same JOY over return Of the
Spanish. The soldiers feel this and don't
trust themselves where they might get
knife IN the back.
At first the natives gladly gave their
fruits to the invaders, but the prompt
payment OF money has caused them 10
get wise and they now want the coin. \
50 United States gold piece will get so
in Porto Rico or Spanish silver. United
States bills bring less, about $S for 50.
Advantage is being taken of the ma
tiYes in their ignorance of money. The
soldiers are floating hundreds of Confed-
crate bills on the tradesmen and getting
their deprecated silver currency in eX-
change.
The natives are bright-looking lot
who "yiyo Americanos on all occasions.
They are also doing their best to teach
Spanish to about $500 men. and incident
ally pick up a little English. Their first
lessons are usually in profanity caused by
the wrath of the troops when they first
find that the fellows won't understand.
Cos l and II. of the Third Wisconsin
have one of the most responsible posi-
lions. though not dangerous at this time.
They are holding the armory vacated by
the Spanish troops. The retreat of the
aforesaid forces must have been almost a
rout. as the fellows took very little with
them Ali their personal effects. their
armory property, cots, etc, with the mag
azine intact, several months of provisions
and the spare rifles fell into our hands
Capt. Ohmstead of Co. Fl is in command,
assisted by Lieut.. Smith of Co. |. The
entire company at a time stands guard,
and it is necessary.
Tried to Burn the Barracks.
Before evacuating. the Spanish attempt
ed to burn the barracks, Il fine new struc-
t1re. better than most of the militia armo-
ries of the United States, and set off the
magazine. Why they failed is a mystery
eXplainable only by the haste of their de-
parture They also tried to burn the
town. bat were frustrated by the native
firemen.
BY Gen Wilson'S orders, the beds and
other property of the missing Spaniards
We're mol used. The men. however, had
fine equipments, said to be the result of
pilIage of the stores, they buying by
force. The average Spanish infantryman
was better fitted out with clothing than
is the average officer of the United States