The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-04-13
Charleston Safe.

Charleston is absolutely safe in case
of war with Spain, and there is no nc
casion for the least alarm.
AS the time draws near for the de-
claration of hostilitics the fear of
many people increases when there is
no occasion for it. The Erening Post
has received the most positive assur-
ances Of Major Ruffncr and Captain
llubbell that Charleston is imprcg-
nable. These officers, v~aluing their
regulations aud being kcenly alive to
the gravity OF the situation, would not
have given the assurances that they
have, unless the harbor defence war
rantcd it. They stand too high in the
service of the government and they are
not men who talk idly. The positive
character Of their assurances should
be accepted by all patriotic citizens.
The %ncighboring islands may not be
safe, but the city is and no alarm
should be felt.
In some quarters there is Il feeling
of excitement which tends to develop
into actual fear. This should not be.
Should war be declared the fighting
will nearly all be done at sea. An Of
Gccr of the monitor, Puritan, stated
several days ago to the Ercning Pos.
that he thought Il short and sharp ma
val engagement would end the war.
All that will be necessary for the
United States to take Cuba will be to
destroy Moro Castle. Once Havana is
taken Cuba belongs to the United
States. The entire fleet Of Spain will
be conferred around Cuba. Spain can
not afford to scatter her fleet. The
officer in question doubted whether
Spain would make an attempt to shell
any Of the ports along tic Atlantic or
gulf coasts. To do this, he said,
Spain would have to employ Il number
Of vessels which she can-ill afford to
send here from Cuban waters. She
will need every available vessel about
the Florida coast.
An army of invasion is entirely out
Of the question. Spain has. no army
which she can apply to this purpose.
If Pensacola should fall before the
Spanish ~gunboats, an army Of United
States soldiers will be ready to wipe
off the face Of the earth any troops
that the vessels may land. Spain will
hardly be SO foolharGy as to attempt a
landing anywhere in the United States.
Charleston can not be shcllcd.
There is not Il vessel in the Spanish
navy which could throw IL she'll the
distance OF six miles. On an arsenal
ground, the proicctilc could be thrown
a distance of eleven miles, but the
rifles arc mounted OIL ship board so.
that they can get an elevation of only
about eight degrees, which will per
NIT the throwing of IL shell only about
five or six miles. The approaches to
for torredocs and mines, which can
be laid in a few hours. These will
blow up any vessel which attempts to
enter the harbor. The rife and NOR
tar batteries while not yet completed
are prepared to give any vessel which
dares to take a position near the ap-
pr0aches to the channe! q warm re-
ception. A floating battery could not
enter the harbor on account Of the
mines and torpcdocs and unless the
harbor is entered the city can not be
shelled.
ii war comes, business will 60 on as
usual. There will be no suspension.
No runs will be made on the banks
FOR banks are the safest places to de-
posit money and valuables in such
times. To take moneys out Of the
banks would be to invite the entrance
Of burglars into private dwellings,.
Spanish troops will never effect q
landing in Charleston and the banks
are the safest places to keep money,
for tie burglars and thieves which in
fest the community can never get at it
when securely locked in the vaults.
Charleston will be as safe as Au-
gusta, Columbia OF any inland town
and an exodus Of people out Of Charl-
eston would be entirely unwarrantcd.
Capt. John White, cf the United
States army, who has been in the city
for the past several days. stated yes
terday that he had visited the island
Notifications and found them to be
the best ON the Atlantic coast. His
visit was not al official one and he
was only allowed to inspect the de-
fences from q distance the same as
any ordinary citizen.
The fort, he said, was not equalled
by any hal he had ever heard Of, and
it would be simply a matter Of impos-
sibility for it to be penetrated by shells
and projcctiles from the enemy.
In speaking of the protection Of the
harbor by submarine mines he said
they could be used effectively in this
harbor. With the harbor properly
mined. in his opinion, it would be out
of the question for a Spanish warship
to enter the harbor.- Charleston f1st.