davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27

posed 20 consist In defensive rather
than In aggressive warfare. But the in
ventor OF the Holland claims the ability
10 destroy an entire feet with his boat.
and these under the water vessels
may be the advance guard OF a new era.
warning floating castles OF steel hat
their days are numbered for insnorc
hGhtine. Then there are our dynamite
cruisers, the Vesuvlus and the Buffalo.
and the protected cruisers Philadelphia,
Chicago n Newark, that have been
undergoing extensive alterations and
are now ready for active service. IT is
like piling a mountain on an ant hill.
The discrepancy Is pitiful.
A half dozen OF our larger ships would
be an overwhelming match Cor the
~Spaniards. even II they were as expert
as our American sesmen In handling the
great cannon. but Spain has always
mad a fiasco al the guns. In tho wa
with Chile and Peru "a years ago they
ut one lime fred three broadsides
from the frigate Allemancia against a
Peruvian brick fort at Cailao. and not a
shot tool effect. ana yet then, with the
Numancia. that carried So guns. their
fleet was regarded as ono OF the most
powerful even assembled. Their prac-
tice hos always been wretched. their
execution ludicrous. IL has ever,been
the laughing stock of the world.
All SPANS sea exploits have been at
tempted with "arnadas.' They have
sailed forth in splendor and returned
In shreds and patches. Spain has had
strangely bad luck with her ships.
When the news from Trafalgar In
1906 reached Madrid. a pious patriot
ascribed the disaster to heavens wrath
at the iniqulty OF the French alliance.
o else exclaimed the poet Loriila,
'the spirits OF the ocean have taken this
opportunity to avenge the betrayal OF
their secrets" which was regarded as
a clever allusion TO the discovery OF the
new world.
"Oh, that's all right. admiral. I can-
not blame you for the OF
a gale" said Philip ii when the Duke
OF Media y Sidonia returned with u lot
of wrecks and excuses from hat bonn
bastic attempt to invade and destroy
England i'm 1888, the fair weather fail
ures being left unmentioned between
them by mutual consent.
There are some deficiencies In our
navy, as is unreservedly acknowledged
The speed OF our vessels generally is
less than 10 knots an hour, and the
normal coal supply is none too large
We are still weak in torpedo boats. In
which speed and ''invisibility'' are the
prime factors. Life on them is. OF
course. a burden TO officers and crew
but the boats are a necessary evil
Spain had quite a formidable fiotilla oil
this kind. but h has had her proverbiaI
III luck with them, as with everything
else. At least six OF them were each oil
200 tonnage. with a speed of rs knots.
In point OF merchant tonnage SPAR
has ranked seventh among the nations
of the world up to the beginning Of this
war. What IL will be later is a moo,
question. She has had little d~ifficult,
in obtaining seamen. In the marltim,
provinces service afoat for a number o
! years, usually from 20 to 80. is obliga
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27
The Cities Of San Juan.

San Juan. the last word being pro-
nounced ''ouawn." preceded by an all
most u~nexplainable nasal ~intonation
and meaning In Spanish st. John. Is
a favorite name for towns in the West
Indies and Central and south America.
San Juan de Baptista is the capital Of
Puerto Rico, but is not on the island
itself. as is generally supposed. being To-
Gated on a small isiet off the north
coast. 1t has a population OF 30,00e.
with we'll lighted streets that are regu-
larry laid out and kept In good order.
The public buildings are h old gov
eminent house. the royal military bos-
pital. an arsenal, a city hail, q custom
house. a large cathedral. a bishops
palace and a seminary. Several fine
castles are now used az Barracks. AMI
there are in addition many benevolent
institutions. primary schools n a coI-
lege said to contain u superior library.
The port. though one OF the most I'M
portant In the Antilles. is difficult CT ac-
| cess. and a fleet inside its harbor would
have especial difficulty In gaining egress
to the open sea II It's passage was dis
! puted. There is no better place to blot
! tie up an enemy's f1otiila. for the en-
trance In a marine Thermopyla.
San Juan de Nicaragua, also known
as San Juan del Norte est. John of tho
North). in contradistinction to San
Juan del Sur. across the country ON
the Pacific coast. and Familiarity called
Greytown. is the principal port of Mica
ragua on the eastern side. 1t 10 located
on n promontory near the mouth OF the
river San Juan. In the Caribbeaii sea.
| The houses. which are almost univcr-
sally two stories I'm height. are In a
|! state Of decay. for the harbor within the
| past 40 years has become nearly chokcd
Up with sand. and the former
cial prestige OF the place has passed
away
In 1S4s II was occupied by a British
force, as belonging to the Mosquito
Coast. a territory claimed by Great Brit
ain. It became prominent as thr ter
minus OF the Nicaragua transit in 1856.
when it's Inhabitants organized anrin-
dependent government. and the section
was secured TO Great Britain ly treaty
in 1869. Six years previous. In 1854. a
naval force OF the United States born
barded the city. charging that the In
habitanis had :rfringed upon the rights
az tis transit company.
SO Tic two leading San Juans IN t>s
y estern helnlsrhcre have fell the p0,s1r
OK Cec!s s2m's naval runs.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27

toria runs. she Is a full rugged three
masted ship OF Anticipated model. with
one short smokestack just forward OF
the malnmast. In reality she is on old
cruiser which her people have vainly
endeavored to transform into a modern
war vessel. Her speed is only eight
knots an hour. though Il has been often
alleged that she could make ~ knots.
Her coal supply IS i.10O tons.
From VI standpoint the Lepanto
need not even be considered In esti-
mating the strength OF the Cadiz feet.
The Lepanto is a cruising ship of 1926
tons displacement, with no armor belt
and only a steel covering OF AIS riches
along her decks. She can make 20 knots
an our and has a normal Goa supply OF
LOO tons. Her length is 3l3h feet. Her
armament Is four rs inch Hontoria, six
AZ inch rapid fire. six 6 FOUNDERS. four
3 Founders and three Maxim gun She
has two masts. with signal yards and
nshting tops. two large smokestacks a
bridge elevated above the main struc-
turc and carries two guns forward I'M
der the bridge behind shields. 1t is said
that while the Lepanto is able to get
about she would. barring accident. fall
an easy victim TO the least formidable
OF our cruisers. as she has never been
thoroughly completed.
The Dona Maria de Molina is a tor
pedo gunboat 235 feet long. with a dis
placement of $50 tons. She carries two
Al inch Hontoria rapid fire. four LIS inch
and two Maxim guns. With a normal
coal supply or 100 tons she can make 20
knots an hour. She has W signal
masts. two tail and slender smoke
stacks amidships Rnd a bridge-a
formidable vessel surely for a %gunboat.
Her companion Is the Destructor, with
a displacement OF AS tons, a length Of
1924 feet. a speed of 22h knots an hour
and a coal supply OF 104 tons. She car
ries IS men. while the Molina has just
twice as many. She has an additional
equipment OF three masts. no yards, a
high bridge and two smokestacks. He
armament is one 3.5 inch. four 6 pound
er rapid nre and four Maxim guns.
This vessel was built by the house OF
Gilotero Of Ferrol, which constructed
other gunboats that have been de-
clared inefficient.
Ard ooafnat fbfa noef w.o ho,,o.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27
wARsHIPS OF THE c.ADlZ FLEET.

would make such a fight q most inter-
esting one.
B~attlcships are built for The purpose
OF lighting hostile war vessels. and con-
scoucntly tho highest talents OF con-
structors inc designers arc called into
requisltion 10 make the type as nearly
lmrregnabic rs possible. But the many
different classes OF battleships show
that there Is n wide divergence of opin-
Ion as 20 the method By which this SUI
pcr1ority should be insured. Armor.
-emplacement. size OF armament. distri-
Dution. speed and coal supply are points
I'm ~-santroversv. and until two aniago-
nists uf supposed equal power shall
lnref aud ngnt rr mn fvuth TIM 7urrrr-
tons at issue Hil. ,npyer be sotisfacto-
rilv determined.
A rbrag" weasel ot the Cadiz feet IL
the srmorcd cruiser Empefalor carlos
v. the second largest ship IN the span.
;sh navy. with n displacement % 1926
tons. a length ~ ESQ feet and a belt OF
arinor o. an extreme thickness OF ten
inchfs. She can steam. on paper at
least. 81 the Kate OF 20 knots an hour.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27

Besides these VIC have our heavy
monitors and n number OF less effective
nghting vessels in Cuban waters. many
of which would be matches for the
lighter ships OF the Cadiz squadron.
In ether wordc. we have four or Ave
times the force necessary 10 utterly ex-
tinguish this last remnant OF SPANS
display. The remainder OF u war
ships. cruisers, gunboats. monitors, tor
pedo boats and auxiliary cruisers IL is
not necessary 90 mention. We have
those enumerated in the preceding table
TO spare for the reception OF the Cad
Izefs whenever the fleet desires to come
our way. or II they are inclined TO In
trude into the bay OF Manila there IN
awaiting them I'm those historic waters
q naval force superior TO their boosted
squadron. We even have a third Sec
ton, consisting OF the Holland SUBJ
marine vessel. the Baltimore Plunger
and other diving conundrums that
might I'm themselves be sufficient to cope
with what u left Of SPANS naval force.
Like mines and anchored or dirigible
tsrpsdosss Dhsil Ehis ssry1ce % aunp
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27

Pelayo. like all the other vessels OF the
Spanish fleets except tho1e which are
rusting away at the bottom of Manila
bay, has so far demonstrated her ter
ribleness only on paper. but in the
hands OF Americans or E~nglishmen or
men Of any virile. n~ondecadent ma
ton 10 Is probable that the pride Of
the Spanish navy would really prove
To be a formidable fighting machine.
Technically tho Pclayo is a barbeste
battlcship of the first class. Admiral
Cervera. who will 20 down I'm history
as the man who did less lighting In a
given time than any, naval commander
the world has over known. Vas resp0n-
afbie Tor the building ~ the vc1seL lie.
declared that the day had arrived when.
heavy ships were necessary ~ with-
stand the rapid advance made IN gdug.
end In this naval experts declared that
he was correct. He succeeded finally In
getting the appropriation. and tho con-
struction % the Pclayo was begun about
l. years ago under his immediate ru-
pnrvlsion. The bribery which seems TO
os an essential eleInen. Of everything
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27

side. IL they ever do. they will have az
many ships as they may start with.
for there are those or a cynical turn
OF mind who declare that every ves-
sci lit to fight was sent with Cervera,
the self bother. These cynics further
aver that If by any possibility camara
should ever allow his valor TO get the
better OF his judgment to the extent
Of attempting to measure strength with
either the Schley or Sampson squadron
his fleet will quickly ascertain the depth
OF the Atlantic at the point where the
engagement may take place. But OF
one fact there can be no doubt. and that
is that Camara's fleet has been adver-
,tised better than any group OF vessels
ever assembled at any time In the
world. and there is such a delicious va
riety in the news sent out from Spain
with regard to these shadowy vessels
that the matter concerning them is al
ways readable.
From the best information at hand.
assuming thai the fleet really does
exist and is seaworthy and able TO
fight, Ii would seem that the star vessel
OF the squadron would be the Pelayo,
which. by the way. is the only modern
battlcship Spain has ever owned. The
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27

tory. The Spanish government has al
ways maintained a trained organized
naval reserve force OF nearly 10000 men
armed with the Aiauser magazine rife
available for service aioat 10 supple
ment the active navy and OF shore to
man the coast dcfenscs. and yet OF all
maritime peoples today the Spanish are
the most 'incapable. as has been sagely
suspected for half q century and thor
oushly demonstrated during the past
two months.
In writing upon any Spanish subject
IL In always dangerous TO make positive
statements. especially when, as In the
present case. the sources OF informa-
ton are sil Spanish. The dons nation
ally are not celebrated FOR being sg-
gr~essively truthful and In 4 matter
like the announcement OF the strength
OF a more or less problematical feet 1t
Is excessively improbable that they
would even suggest the real facts.
They declare that the Nitoria Is also
attached TO the terrible Cadiz squad
ron. Even though this be true. there
is nothing in the announcement to
cause Sampson and Schley to fear Tor
the safety of the vessels under their
command. The vitoria II almost . sis
ter ship Of the Numancia. In this coun-
try she would be used Q q ~schoolship
or something OF the sort. bat the Span
iards estsntatiously duh Der . broad
sids' vessel and calmly wait for their
enemies to trembls q the vagusneD
and the suggested possibilities of the
designation. In reality 10 simply means
that the vitora'e Ions suit u broad
sidea ana n she should eve b ca1ls4
pnoD n Hyo et An approaching foa fyoND
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27

o. Spaln's ministry over our cabinet OF
Washington In everything that relates
II announcements. No matter what
fleet she may be e%du!pping or Intending
to aquip, no announcement goes forth
that 4 will be the most formidable
squadron that the world has ever seen.
Prior 10 the outbreak Of hostilities.
when II was suggested that our Asiatic
squadron would make things very in
terestins for the Spanish vessels in tho
Philippine islands, Sagusta regarded the
suggestion as so absurd as 20 be un-
worth. of comment.
Sui Dewey went 20 Manila. and now
there is no Spanish Asia;ic squadron.
When what - popularity. Or rather
u~npopularly now, known az the Cape
Verde flee. was about 10 sai,, II was
stated that It's sole purpose was to hunt
dowa the Americans N teach them a
'essoit In naval warfare. Cervera was
narsldcd rs a second Lord Nelson. and
the impression was sent abroad gcne.,-
ally IN spoin hat e the Ysnkees would
only SOP running away long enough to
permit rcrvera 20 get n crack at
taen; 'hcfe wonlJ be another ale Of
Manila To .cll. with the conditions re-
sc:ssc. As eve-y ore knows. Cervera
''' wa .IVi FeFn "hu WIS WI
tod III. d.
S;n sro,ncr scuai,on has Spain. or
.. lea,t he rays she has. 40 IA known
a. 80 "adiz aset. Tho vessels ~ this
(. o.p are. az tornl. once more an
,onn ed a. the most powerful OF thelr
.t-s IN the woifi and dnnihila.ion Is
a~s'n promised 10 iiamrfor and Hchley
a. sorn rs the doughty Adni.ai Ca
isars s1A.i cast mis- eagle eye upon
thcm. u - Impossible 10 cay what
vcsSe's .cally constitute tho Cadiz
feet and whether when they Get 10 tbs
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27

Senior sagasta is q civfl en11neoP. 60
most vehement epnoQonfa os
obells III.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27

These queries and the answers there
10 compel q contemplation of the be
fore" and after Of what by courtesy
is called ''statesmanship" In the land OF
CASTLE and Aragon.
In the first place. IL is universally
conceded that IL bombast were trumps
there would be M game in the world
which Spain could not win without diff
Guilty. and the keen observer cannot
.ail TO be impressed by the superiority
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-27
The Pelayo, Her Only Real BattIeship,
Was Constructed at the ~Instigation
and Under Supervision of "The
.Artful D0dger," Cervera.
Downright. tsos.l

Copyright, 1851
WHEN THE HlSPANO. AMERICAN
WAR BEGAN, THE DEcADENT D0NS
HAD
The Aslatic fleet,
The Cape Verde fleet.
The Cadix fleet.
WHAT HAS BECOME OF THEM?
The Asiatic fleet was smashed
by Dewey.
The Cape Verde fleet was bot.
lied by SchIey and Sampson.
The Cadiz fIeet-1-?--p
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-02
CHAPTER VI.
The Sheriff.

SECTION l. The Sheriff shall be elected by the people, and he shall hold office for two years. He shall receive an annual salary of eight thousand dol lars, which shall be in full compensa tion for all official services required Of him by law; but said salary shall be exclusive of the compensation received by him from the State for the delivery of prisoners to the State prisons, and insane persons to the State aSylums for the insane. He. shall have all the pow CTS conferred and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon, the Sheriffs of counties by the general laws of this State.
 Sec. 2. He may appoint the follow ing deputies and employees, who shall each respectively receive the following annual salaries:
 One Under Sheriff, twenty-four hun dred dollars; one Attorney, eighteen hundred dollars; one Chief Bookkeeper, eighteen hundred dollars; two Assistant BCokkeepers, fifteen hundred dollars; ten Office Deputies, fifteen hundred dol- lars: fourteen Bailiffs, twelve hundred dollars; one Chief Jailer at Branch Jail Number One, eighteen hundred dollars; ten Jailers at Branch Jail Number One, twelve hundred dollars; one Superin- tendent of Branch Jails Numbers Two and Three, eighteen hundred dollars; sixteen Guards at Branch Jail Number Two, six hundred dollars; one Matron at Branch Jail Number Three, nine hundred dollars; six Guards at Branch Jail Number Three, six hundred dol lars; one Commissary to act for all jails, fifteen hundred dollars; one Driver of Van, nine hundred dollars; and one Bookkeeper, for all said Branch Jails, fifteen hundred dollars.
 Sec. 8. The Sheriff may designate the services to be performed by his depu- ties.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-02
.-,oo,ec.t,ons and drawings shall be

s,ao;fications and drawings shall be de1ivered to the contractor:
 Al tba same time with the execution of 4be Contract the contractor shall ex- ecute to the City and county gnu ue- liver to the Secretary or the Podlu d bond in the sum named III oro otlu 4iU.eSe S,.e, for proposals, with two .or IlolS W suiii- cient si1reties to be approVeu p5 the Poard or shall deposit with tne oecre- +oyv a certified check upon some SOL Want hank for said amount TOT tne faithful performance of the contract No surety on any bond, othel ie.laa;os sIo.l .1 fully authorized surety cplipdhlles' Il h sboil he taken unless he shall De naWer of taxes on real property. the ppSSessad yaIile of whichj over anu ahove all incumbrances, IS equal III amount to his liabilities on all poiius 1, on which he may be seculibhS ab eI,retv etiv Citv and County. and each s9Eety Isay. sbaiI iustify aild make an afndavlt lIor 3,,hicb 2: form shall be printed upon: said bond(. signed by him, that he, IS assessed upon the last: AssessIileHl s. 1li ,. Rock of the City. and County III III ms o,',n,,nt omii greater tllan his liability on all bonds on which he is surety to the Cily and County: and that the taxes on such property so assessed are not: l. ue =. linquent. =: .,,,e3, +ba .fiIne wi menced. and when. to" be complete!, as was specified in the notice inviting pIo-: nosa1s therefor Upon the reco1lIll ll5t. Gefinn of the Board, the Supervisors nav extend said. time; but Tn no eNeiis lis shall the time for the perfornaIlcee VI said contract be extended py lne S In pervisors more than ninety qays ue e- yond. the time originally fixed for us :. completion;. but, on; the ;unanlmous recommendation of the Board of. RuDiic: :: Works. a further extension may De: granted by vote of fourteen IleIifpels ls of the Board: of Supervisors; In case U failure on the part of the contractor to complete his contract within the time fixed fin the contract, or WltniIl such extension of said. time as is hereln provided, his contract shall De Vola, and the Supervisors shall. not. pay or allow to him. any compensation TOT any work done by him under said contract and, in the case of the improvement or streets, no assessment shall be made, for the work done under said contracC+
 Sec. 22. The work in this Article pro- yided for must be done under. the Ql- rection and to the satisfaction of the Board of Public Works; and the mater iaIs used must be. in accordance with the specifications and be to the SatlS- faction of said Board, and all contracts. provided for in. this Article must con- tain provision to that .eIect, ana also, that 1n no case, eAcGpe Wtlol Wi-14. e-te is otherwise provided in. this Charter, will the City and County, or any de- partment or officer thereof, be liable for any portion of the expense, or in the case of improvement. of. streets, for any delinquency of. persons " or property assessed. -;:-.
 When said. work shall have been completed to the satisfaction and ac- ceptance of the Board, it shall so de clare by resolution, and :thereupon the Board shall deliver to the contractor certificate to that effect.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-02
CHAPTER Tx.
The San Francisco Law Library.

SECTION 1. The Supervisors must provide, lit up and furnish, with fuel, lights, stationery, and all necessary convenlences, attendants and care
 rooms convenient and accessible to the judges and officers of the courts and of the municipal government sufficient for the use and accommodation of the San Francisco Law Library, established under an Act of the Legislature of this State entitled: "An Act to provide for increasing the Law Library of the cor poratlon known as the San Francisco Law Library, and to secure the use of the same to the Courts held at San Francisco, the Bar, the City and Coun- ty Government and the People of the City and County of San Francisco" ap- proved March 9th, 1S70 The Supervis- ors must appropriate, allow, and order paid out of the proper fund such sums as may be necessary for the purposes aforesaid; and all sums lawfully ap- propriated and expended pursuant hereto shall be paid out of the proper fund on demands duly audited, in the mode prescribed by this Charter for auditing other demands upon the treas ury. The County Clerk must pay monthly to the Treasurer of the San Francisco Law Library such moneys as he shall collect under the Act referred to for the benefit of said Law Library.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-02
CHAPTER V.
The County Clerk.

SECTION 1. The County Clerk shall be elected by the people and shall hold office for two years. He shall have all the powers conferred, and shall dis charge all the duties imposed upon, the County Clerks ot counties by the gen. eral laws of this Staze, and in addition thereto shall attend and act as Clerk of the Police Court, keep the dockets and registers thereof, and take charge Of and safely keep all books, papers and records which may be filed or deposited in his office pertaining to the Police Court He shall receive an annual sal ary of four thousand dollars.
 Sec. 2. To aid him in the discharge of his official duties, the County Clerk may appoint a Chief Register Clerk. who shall receive an annual salary of twenty-four hundred dollars; a Cash fer, who shall receive an annual salary of eighteen hundred dollars; twelve Courtroom Clerks for the Superior Court who shall each receive an an- nual salary of fifteen hundred dol lars; five Register Clerks, who shall each receive an annual salary of eighteen hundred dollars; ten As sistant Register Clerks, who shall each receive an annual salary of fifteen hundred dollars; sixteen Copy ists, who shall each receive an annual salary. of twelve hundred dollars; and four Clerks for the Pollce court, Wno shall each receive an annual salary of fifteen hundred dollars.
 Sec. g. For copies of papers furnish ed and certified by him, he shall charge not more than eight cents for each one hundred words. For certifying copies, which are not prepared by him, he shall be entitled to charge twenty five cents, and also forty cents an hour for the time exceeding one hour necessarily .,,-i,, a1, onrAin a must certify all papers presented to him which are copies of any document, paper or record, or portions thereof, in his custody.