The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1898-09-16
THE LADRONES.

The following is very Interesting ac-
count OF the l4adrone islands by viii
Merrill OF Co. /, in a letter 20 his mother
OF this city.
Through the gray light OF dawn on the
morning OF June 20. long line OF hills
could De dimly seen far away. IT'S the
Isle o: Guam and the fret land seen in
sixteen days. and destined in few
hours to be American territory. After
few moments spent in signalling, the
Charleston steamed ahead Tor the shore,
along which che ran until the harbor
was reached, The transports following
her at distance. At 8 o'clock the en-
trance was found and from our position
several miles out We watched with in.
terest the cruiser as she entered. Cheer
after cheer arose from the boys a few
minutes later when puff OF white SMOKE
from the Charleston announced that she
had opened fire. On what we did nn,
know, for all We could see VISA su.aIl
japanese vessel which quickly ran up a
white flag.
Thirteen sbots were fired and then NJ
a signal II was our turn 10 steam for
ward, and with t4ls Peking aere soon
anchored near our protector within the
hatbor, the SydueY being left outside as
a patrol boat.
There VAS considerable excitement
among the boys, ali being anxious TO
know the particulars Of the bonn bard
ment OF q little old fort and a small ship.
Probably so much iiung was done TO
"a AXE up" the Governor OF the Island.
At anv rate he WOKE up and was soon In
council with the :. officers He said
it would mean death 20 him 10 surren
er the Island without an attack being
made on il as he aud his so soldiers - ere
there To protect Spanish interests. Con.
sequently on ths following morning,
despite very stormy weather two COM
pAnies A and u from the Australia, q
body OF marines from the Charleston
and an unknown number OF boys irou
the Pekirg weTe started toward the
shore ia boats towed by the Charleston
launch. Each Doy carried q days ration
and 50 rounds Of ammunition, neither
OF which were used as the Gov. changed
hia mind and met the boys half a mile
. 4A-
He bad surrendered add With his brave
20. vas nos q prisoner OF war Il Nas
a disgusGed crowd Of soldiers that came
back over three miles Of stormy wAIe-, |
but 70 doubt il Was much better this !
cay fer certainly manv OF our BOYS
would have Lost their lives had the /
spAniArds made q stand. for open boat !
loads OF soldiers would have made 4 fair /.
Lsrget To . company OF men on shore.
Al .. N As "oid glory" wAs un.url- !
ed over the liigle tort. that once STOOD |
ior spanish power on the island, the
tired a salute oi p guns. No
one wAs given change OF affairs on the 1
Island. that TO be done later
The natives who brought us irui;, nuts !
aud eSeel potatoes IN Ihe evening said /
their people We're much pleAsezi xith the 1
change, Aisd after reading the following /
tax list ne thought they certainly should 4
be IS birth of child kll eyerr death,
81 so q year poll tax everyone, 25 cents
every time church is attended aud every
one aAs TO attend certain number Of /
times a week, 81 90 for killiag Goa and
. cents pig. BESIDES this a hall Of all !
crops goes 10 the Government 4 death
penaiif is put on natives carrying fire.
ATms.
When the excitement Of ali THIS had
passed ae began 10 try and learn some
thing OF our surroundings. Guam L.
land is the largest ia the LAdrone group.
Il is IN IS .35S north latitude and i4sS
East Longitude The leland is Of coral
formation and Of an l. saAp,- The en-
trance to Zoe hArbor Is formed hv .
chain o! hills on one side and a long
Coral reel uu she other In appearance
-. -.
Though small ia stature they are well
built an / intelligent. The population of
tire Islsnd l. SEQ. The 40x51 Zee, fort
II built OF coral on small island hall q
mile IRON shore. II EAs built IN lSel By
spanish soldiers ami is usea 6y them
Just as = retreat while the natives. ~Eo
AFe no, in sympathy with SpAia. are
having one OF their ireqnenG outbreaks
There is no machinery OF ans Eind on
The Island aud neither tuTuituFe nor
in the cay ha'ldtngs, which
are kept very clean. Only two persons
are known 10 have leprosy. end they
TO live with their families.
W Aier hutfAloes take the piase OF horses
on tie leland. The natives who came
out 10 the ship we're crazy for iark-
knives and many OF our boys traded
their knives Tor fruit. Il have given
lhess items ss learned them; all may
not be aulhenlic.)
Atsp. on June %. Se resumed our
conrse leaving behind a band oi people
thankful TO the L. ;. inT giving them
their freedom and land where man
with little capital msy ma &c s fortune
later the DENocRAT will give Mr.. |
Merriii's well wriit.p description oi !
Cavite and her people ]
From the Salem journal.
William II. Braddon tie driver oi the |
bread wagon which Wes,aeo:t K Irwin !
ST nd through the hop yards daily, drop
ped dead At Ben Hayden's hon yard, one
mile beyond Eolo. st 10 o'clock this
morning