The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-31

cations into the bush. In the encounter
three Americans were wounded:
Capt. Edward j. Gibbons. Company A.
shot In left leg.
Capt. B. A. Bostwick, Company L. in the
left arm, slightly.
Private James ]. Drummond, Company
K, in the neck.
The enemy lost three killed and fourteen
wounded.
Surrender at Ponce
After the action 1t was believed that the
enemy intended to contest the advance
from Guanica, and Gen. Miles made prep
arations to send Gen. Wilson's troops to
Ponce with a view of throwing them be-
tween Ponce and the enemy and closing in
on the latter with both divisions. He sent
word to Capt. Higginson of the battleship
Massachusetts, yesterday to be ready to
cover the landing today. An officer &C.
cordingly was sent ashore yesterday to
formally demand the surrender of the port
of Ponce. Three miles from the city Of
Ponce the officer was greatly surprised to
learn that not only the port but the city of
Ponce was ready to capitulate. The Span
ish commandant, Julian San Martin. with
1000 men. without artillery, had been taken
completely by surprise by the invasion oc-
curing in this quarter On advice OF the
British consul, he decided to make no re.
sistance A force of marines was 1mmed'-
ately sent from the Annapolis and the
American flag was hoisted over the GUS
toms house in the port of Ponce During
the night the Spanish troops retired from
the city along the military road towards
San Juan, where 1t is probable that Capt.
Gen. Marcias will eventually concentrate
all the Spanish forces in the island.
In the morning Gen. Miles established
headquarters at the custom house and
raised the American flag.
Among the prizes found in the harbor
were seventy lighters used in loading sugar
Ahips, and these were used instead of cut
tiers to convey troops ashore, during which
operation not a man or animal was in
jured.
Welcomed by Thousands
The scene when the soldiers reached the
wharves along the water front was re-
markable. Thousands of residents of the
city, men, women and children, lined the
water front, and shouts of Joy and cries
of "Viva, los Americanos," "Buenos dos"
puerto Rico llbre," greeted them. The
soldiers were received like hberators. rath-
err than intruders. The red-shirted firemen
came down to the wharf in body and
cheered Justify. Capt. Lyons Of Company
X of the Seventeenth regiment. immedi-
ately marched to the city and established
a provisional guard in the municipal build
ing, the soldiers being billeted' in the fres-
coed and gold-decorated room of the al
calde. On every hand the greatest salts
faction was evidenced. Women adorned
themselves in their brightest gowns and
waved their hands and smiled as the troops
marched through the streets. Public We
hicles did a thriving business in conveying
the curious to the harbor to view the
American ships. The doors of the mer-
chants houses were opened and the whole
city presented the appearance of fete.
Tho poor are especially rejoiced.
The city Of Ponce Is romantic and pic
turesque with buildings Of old Moorish and
Spanish architecture. Its broad plazas
and blue, pink and green tinted houses pre-
sent pleasing appearance and IT'S streets
are clean and well paved. The inhabitants
are mostly Porto Rcans, a well defined
race resulting from a blending of Span
ish and original Caribs, with a sprinkling
Of foreigners. mostly French and Germans,
and few English and Americans.
Guarding the City
All the approaches to the city are care
fully guarded tonight. Gen. Henry will
effect u juncture with Gen. Wilson here as
soon as possible and our troops will await
the arrival of other troops now on the
way. The military road to San Juan is
difficulty to the passage of artillery and
supply trains. as did the soggy and almost
unbroken trails of Cuba to the advance of
Gen. Shafter.
The Spanish made stand at a small
town, resisting Gen. Henry's advance, sew
en- miles north of Ponce, tonight. Artillery
fire can be seen distinctly as the dispatch
boat bearing this news left at Z o'clock in
the evening.
Information received by Gen. Miles in
dicates that there are less than 1000 regulars
and 5000 volunteers In the island. Gen.
Miles and Gen. Wilson, with their STATS,
accompanied by the British, French, Ger
man and Danish consus, called upon the
alcalde this afternoon. The latter gave
them a gracious welcome and asked to be
advised as to Gen. Miles desires with re-
Sdrp 10 the government or the city.
Alcalde to Govern
Gen. Miles informed him that it was not
his purpose to interfere in any way with
the local government and advised the alcalde
to conduct his administration as usual
He said, however, that all persons having
arms given by the Spanish must give them
up or be treated as enemies. The alcalde
said this should be done.
At the conclusion of the conference
which was brief, the American officers
stepped to the balcony of the municipal
building overlooking the plaza, where sew
eral thousand people, including the fire de-
partment and a number of bands We're as
sembled. The crowd cheered Gen. Miles
and the American bands played national
airs.
Surgeon Greenleaf said today that there
was no yellow fever in Ponce or its vicn-
ity, but there are few cases of smallpox
United States Consul Hanna, who is a
personal friend of Capt. Gen. Macias, tele-
graphed to the latter today, advising him
to wire the Madrid government to sur
render in the name of humanity, as the
Americans are certain of victory.
YOUNG LADIES INSTITUTE