davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
WAR NEWS IN BRIEF.

Gov. Phi gree has offered to shoe Michi
gan soldiers.
| Gen Blanco has given notice to all cor
respondents to keep out of Cuba.
Mr. Knight, the London Times CORE
spondent, has been released from Ha
vana.
An auxiliary mortar fleet will probably
be organized to lombard Havana fortif
cations.
Advices from Gen. Garcia of the Cuban
army indicate that he has 10000 men in
his command.
Spain will issue a perpetual interval
debt on thousand million pesetas to Sc
cure creditors.
Forty Krupp guns have been smuggled
from Germany through France into Spain
as kitchen furniture.
The French cable running from Cuba tc
Hayti has been cut by the crew Of Unit
ed States naval vessel
Congress has passed bill providing fol
the establishment of postoffices at mill
tary posts and camps.
The commanders of Admiral Dewey
ships have been promoted for bravery al
the battle of Manila.
Owing to the difficulty in shipping
horses so far, it is likely that no cavalry
will be sent to the Philippines.
William A. Pinkerton, the famous de
tective, has been called into Government
service to hunt down Spanish spies.
Soldiers have a special mail service priv
ilege that most of them are not aware Of
When they mail letter without postage
prepaid the letter will be forwarded with
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
Notes of Current Events.

Snow is fourteen feet de- On top Of
Mount Washington.
French papers are now discussing the
probability Of French American com
pact.
Rubies have been found In large quan-
tieies In the Cowee Valley of North Car
olina.
A wild man entirely nude has been cap
tured after an exciting chase in the woods
near Valley Cottage. n. Y.
Texas will have no timber in fifteen
years IL the present rate Of cutting, 1900
600, 900 feet year, continue
After the rinderpest the locusts have
appeared in South Africa and railway
trains are being stopped by them.
Arthur Zimmerman, former champion
bicyclist of the world, is dying of Mexican
fever, at his home in Trenton, ". J.
Government crop reports show favora
bic condition of growing wheat, oats and
cotton. Corn is somewhat backward
For the eleven months ending May 81
the United States treasury receipts show
an increase over 1897 Of over $50, ,0O0, 600
Lieut.. Whitney of the Fourth artillery
arrived In New York Wednesday from
Porto Rico, where be recently inspected
the Spanish strenshoids,
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
FIRST LAND FIGHT.
Spaniards RepuIsed by American Ma.
riues at Guantanamo Rny

Lieut.. Col. Il. w. Jiuntington's bat
talian of marines. which landed from the
transport Panther on Friday and encamp-
ed on the hill guarding the abandoned
cable station at the entrance to the outer
harbor of Guantanamo, engaged In head
ing off rush attack by Spanish guerril-
las and regulars Saturday. The fighting
was almost continuous for thirteen hours,
when re-enforcements were landed from
the Marblehead. -Four of our men were
killed and one wounded. The Spanish
loss Is unknown, but it was probably con-
siderable
The engagement began with desultory
firing ut the pickets, thousand yards
inland from the camp. Captain Spicer's
company was doing guard duty and was
driven in, finally rallying on the camp and
repulsing the enemy. Each discovery Of
the enemy was greeted by the cracks Of
carbine fire along the edge Of the camp
ridge or by the long roll of the launch's
machine gun, searching the thickets with
a leaden stream.
Shortly after midnight came the main
| attack. The Spaniards made gallant
charge up the southwest slope, but were
| met by repeated voileys from the main
body and broke before they were one-third
of the way up the hill, but they came so
close that at points there was almost a
hand-to-hand struggle
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
postage due at the usual rate, to be col

postage due at the usual rate, to be col
lected on delivery.
1t is reported that large quantities Of
arms aud ammunition are being sept
across the Pyrenees from France to
Spain.
1t is reported that United States Am
bassador White is much pleased at evi-
dences Of strict neutrality on the part of
Germany.
Senior Polo de Bernabe, late Spanish
minister to the United States, has been
appointed under secretary in the foreign
office of the Spanish Government.
The United States hospital relief ship,
now undergoing transformation at the
Brooklyn navy yard, will, when finished,
be the first boat Of the kind ever put
aaoat.
Mrs. L. Y. Letter of Chicago has pur-
chased the Crawfsh Springs Hotel at
Chickamauga and will present it to the
Government to be used as military hos
pital.
President Love of the Philadelphia
branch Of the Universal Peace Union has
issued an explanation of the letter of
sympathy sent by him to the Queen Re
gent of Spain.
American war ships will not hesitate to
sever cable connections with Martinique
and Hayti. cutting off communica ton
with France. If Spanish agents in the
French possessions persist in using 1t for
the prosecution of business with Madrid.
Speaking of the wonderful accuracy Of
the gunners on our warships, Capt Hig-
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
UNDER A HOT FIRE.
Every Spanish Gun at Santiago Wa
Trained on the Merrimac.

EVERY spanish Gun at Santiago Was
Trained ON the Merrimac.
Commander Miller, who commanded the
collier Merrimac before she was turned
over to Lieut.. Hobson to be sunk, and sew
eral officers of the vessel came aboard
the Mayfower and told in detail the story
of the sinking of the ship.
When the Merrimac started toward the
harbor the flash of single gun on the
MORO was seen from the deck of the New
York, though the report could not be
heard. 1t was followed in few moments
by sheets of fire al, along the shore. The
Spaniards had evidently turned every gun
ON the ship. The Merrimac went straight
ON to point where the channel was only
4OO feet wide. Shot and shell were fall
ing all about her, but none seemed to hit
her. When this narrow point In the har-
Dor was reached Lieut.. Hobson headed
her In shore, and dropped an anchor only
few feet from the shore.
Before starting the life raft of the Mer-
rimac had been prepared, and torpedoes
were ready along the deck. The Merri-
mac had seven transverse bulkheads.
Torpedoes were arranged so that they
could be quickly anchored over the side
of the vessel ten feet below the water line,
and in such position that when they ex-
ploded they would tear out every bulk
head. This was to make it absolutely inn
possible ever to raise her again.
The moment the anchor was dropped
Lieut.. Hobson and her crew dropped these
torpedoes over the side and then opened
every seacock there was in the ship and
all the port holes. Meantime the guns
kept booming and the fash Of the burning
powder lit up the harbor, so rapid was the
firing. The fleet was SO far off shore that
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
State Items of Interest.

A valuable horse, buggy and harness
were stolen from Anton Eytes, who lives
at 81. George.
Mrs. August All of Fan Claire was
thrown from buggy and severely injur-
ed. As she s about 30 sears old her re
covery Is doubtful.
Charles Stulwell Of Dan Claire, aged
90, o mechanic, shot himself through the
head. Disappointment IN love was the
cause. He died In half an hour.
Richard sbipley, while driving logs at
Colburu dam, six miles north Of Boyd,
fell between the logs and was drowned.
lie leaves wife and five children.
Peter Mcfarland Of the town of EN-
nett was almost instantly killed 10 rum
away. He struck on his head with great
force and the wagon load PASSED over his
body. He was 81 years old.
3. A. Oliver, manager Of the Beloit
telephone exchange, and his brother.
George, started for Alaska. Their pres
ent destination is Rampant City. They
20 more to find place TO do Q mercantile
business than to prospect for gold.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15

bombarded and entirely silenced," which
would not have been the case had the
damage been unimportant, as asserted by
the Spanish admiral. 1t Is evident there
were no casualties on our side or any dam
age to the fleet, or he would have been
likely to mention them.
Other and unofficial reports state that
immense damage was inflicted upon the
enemy, that the cruiser Reina Mercedes
was badly crippled, and that the Moro,
Socapa and Punta Gorda forts were SUBJ
stantially demolished. The havoc wrought
by the fleet is further demonstrated by the
successful landing of the marines, which
appears to have been made at Aguadores,
q little to the east Of the entrance Of the
bay. The forts being silenced and the
Spanish fleet bottled up, it will be possi-
BILE to land the troops, which are already
on the sea, and make close attack upon
Santiago itself
Admiral Sampson does not seem to be
happy unless he can give his men daily
practice In gunnery at the expense of
Spanish Notifications. Nothing gratifies
him and his sailors more than to see ma
sonry and earthwores melting away be-
fore the irresistible impact of huge shells.
Having made dust heaps Of the defenses
Of ShD tlago harbor Monday and sunk the
cruiser Reina Mercedes, five of its sailors
and twenty-nine of its marines being kill
ed, as the Spaniards admit, he turned his
attention Tuesday to the defenses of
Guantanamo bay, the first important har-
Dor to the east of Santiago de Cuba.
Five American vessels paid their re-
spects to those defenscs 50 energetically
that they were nnnihilated. The demorai-
lied Spaniards are reported to have evac-
dated hurriedy the positions held by them
and to have given orders for the burning
Of the town of La Caimanera, which lies
near the entrance to the bay, in case the
Americans attempted to occupy it. The
sole object of Tuesdays operations, how
ever, was to cut the cable at Guantanamo
and thus complete the isolation Of Santi-
ago.
Wednesday Admiral Sampson resumed
operations at Santiago. After worrying
the Spaniards by heavy artillery fire he
landed some of his marines, and they, act
ing In conjunction with the insurgents,
threatened the Spanish at several points.
They succeeded in capturing fort which
controls the bay of Aguadores and hoisted
the Stars and Stripes there. Artillery
was landed and the captured position
strongly fortified. The Spanish troops
fought In half-hearted way, and if few
regiments of American soldiers had been
on the ground they would have made short
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
MANILA WILL FALL.
Philippine Captain General Notifies
Spoufsh Governments

The Spanish Government received dis
patch from the captain general of the
Philippine Islands in which he said that
the situation was very serious. almost des-
perate. Aguinaldo, the rebel leader, has
succeeded In raising the whole country.
The completeness of his plans Is such that
on a given day last week the entire prov
ince of Cavite was suddenly placed under
arms and all the chief villages were occu-
pied by the rebels, fighting preceding the
occupation in many instances. A Spanish
column is guarding the Zapote river for
the purpose of preventing an invasion Of
Manila province, but it is not thought
probable that it will be able to keep back
the insurgents who are pressing In from
all sides, coming from Bulucen, Morong
and Laguna.
Captain Genera Augusti concludes bis
dispatch thus The capital viii be be-
sieged by lapd and sea. | shall try to
resist to the last, but have no confidence
In the result Numbers OF volunteers and
native soldiers are deserting to the
rebels Captain General Augusti con-
firms the statement that the rebels have
captured Bacor and linus. 1t is stated
that Gen. Augusti has taken refuge in the
walled part of Manila, where he intends
to make last stand 10 the event of at
tack.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
SMASHED By OREGON's SHELL.
Sinking of the Spanish Destroyer
Terror Off SaufiaOn


The Spanish torpedo boat destroyer
Terror and her crew of sixty men lie at
the bottom of the sea, sent there by q
single s. ~ from u thirteen-ineh gun of
the battleship Oregon. Not sign of the
vessel has been seen since she tried to run
into Santiago Monday night. That she
was destroyed with all hands there is nc
practical doubt. That the destroyed YES
sci was the Terror, left behind at Martin.
iaue. since reported at Porto Rico. and
trying 70 reioin Admiral Cervera, is prob,
able.
She was first detected by the New Or
leans, which was on guard at The eastern
end of the blockading feet. The New
Orleans threw her searchlight on the
stranger, but the latter slipped from un.
der It's beams. The New York and the
Marblehead. which were next in line, were
signaled, and the alarm was passed to all
the feet. The thanking vessels were or
dered to close in and the New York,
Brooklyn and Oregon steamed toward the
shore in pursuit. The Spanard was still
crowding on all speed and hugging the
shore, and was now only mile from the
Cuban entrance. But the New York lay
full across her path, and escape was inn
possible. Then the Oregon got the range
after several efforts > 13-inch shell from
the Oregon struck the plucky Spanish
craft full amidships. The chase was end
ed, and the Spanish vessel was only a
tangled mass of steel on the seq bottom.
The searchlights showed only black wat
er where the fugitive had been. The guns,
which had walked the echoes of the cliffs
for nearly an hour, were silent. The mid
night tragedy of which some three score
Spanish sailors were victims was ended,
and the American warships moved out to
sea. The Maine had been remembered.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15

they did not hear the guns, but could tell
by the flashes of the holiness Of the fire.
The current was running out of the har-
Dor and as the Merrimac lay at anchor
she swung lazily around with it. Every
thing was open and she had begun to fll
before she was broadside ip the passage.
Hobson and his men waited patiently I'M
til they could drop another anchor, this
one from the stern, so that 1t would hold
her directly across the passage. She was
50 long that there was only thirty-one feet
of channel on each side that she did not
occupy.
Hobson and his men launched the life
raft and dropped down on board it, taking
with them the wires with which the torpe-
does were to be exploded. The thunder
of the shore batteries and the rattle and
clash of musketry continued. The water
was foaming with the commotion made by
the shells and bullets. Hobson and his
men foated down stream 150 yards, drag
ging the wires out after them. This Yves
the distance for the contact to be made
and it was then done. I'ha water about
the Merrimac was lifted up by the explo-
sion and when it had settled again the
ship was at the bottom of the passage.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15

ginson Of the battleship Massachusetts
recently stated that ''the Indiana put a
shell from her thirteen-inch gun through
target 1000 yards distant and then put
a second shell through the same hole"
The House Committee on Appropria-
tions has estimated that the cost Of the
war the first six months will be S350, 900,
coo. Mr.. Cannon, chairman Of the CON-
mittee. stated IN the House that the war
would cost approximately S600.Oo0,00
nroyided il snG& Ia continue one year.
The Senate has passed bill providing
for the appointment of two matrons for
every volunteer regiment to mend and
wash clothes.
Senator Harris has introduced bill TO
extend the franking privilege to officers
and enlisted men of the army and navy
during the war.
The Spaniards In San Juan, Porto Rico,
recently declared that they win burn the
city before surrendering il 10 the hated
Yankee invaders.
The War Department decided TO make
Chicksmauga Park the rendezvous for
the $4,000 troops asked for by President
McKinIey's second call.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15

SOCIETY DIRECTORY.

SNNNDN~N~N~|~~.N~~~r~< <N~~NoNN~~~~N~~N~N~ON~~
I A BELLE LODGE A. Y. 81 A. M. NO. 4.-
IL Meets the First and Third Wednesdays OF
zach month. Hall in Williams block
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
BIG LOSS OF LIFE
Belief that Scores of Spaniards Per-
ished al Santiago.

tsneu at santiago
There is scarcely any doubt that much
greater damage than was at first supposed
was inflicted upon the Spaniards In SAM
tiago harbor during SIMPSONS lombard
ment. Many shells are believed to have
tailen into the city itself, and when all
TIE facts are known after the port has
ff@len into Admiral SIMPSONS hands 1t
will probably be found that the loss of life
was very great.
Even with tho meager facts at hand 1T
can be stated that this is the result os the
bembardment: The formidable Estrella
and Cavo batteries were completely
wrecked. The Spanish cruiser Mercedes
was sunk. United States forces were
landed at DaiQuiri short distance east
Of Aquadores, where they are now in
trenched. These forces have formed a
junction with the insurgents under Gen.
Garcia. Several Spanish military and
naval officers were killed and wounded
The Spanish loss of soldiers and marines
was heavy. The city itself is at the mercy
of Admiral Sampson
The bombarding vessels formed in two
divisions, the one under Rear Admiral
Sampson being led by the flagship New
iofk. Ihis division turned eastward in
front of the harbor, the flagship being fol-
lowed by the battleships Oregon and
Iowa, the cruiser New Orleans, the Dol
phin and the Yankee The other division,
under Commodore Schley on the Brook
lyn, turned eastward with the battleships
Massachusetts and Texas. the cruiser
Marblehead. the Vixen and the Suwanee
following in the order named.
From all these vessels there was ter
rifle fire for nearly three hours. The bat
teries on the western entrance TO the har-
boz are on crest $50 feet above the wat
er. This high elevation made them diff
cult to hit, but the entire hill was plowed
up by the heavy shells. In many cases
the shells are known to have passed over
the bill and undoubtedly struck the city
itself, as we'll as the shipping ip the har-
Dor. Thi ty-four shells We're fired from
the Iowa's l2-incb guns and thirry-eight
shells from her S-iuch guns. There were
few shots from her secondary battery.
Other vessels engaged in the lombard
ment fired a proportionate number of
shots, and as every one was well aimed
the damage done must have been tremen-
dous
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
$GUI7G2I5D]l7.@
@'I0lE]F1|SE>][7] ;
We know where the Spanish fleet a

We know where the Spanish fleet at
Manila is anyhow.-Boston Globe
The new recruits are now to be used as
fillers-Havana filters, as it were.-Pitts.
burg Post.
Gen. Blanco's proclamations hereafter
viii circulate only in the home study ciP-
cie.-Milwauhee Sentinel.
If the board of strategy could operate
both sides OF the game it would soon wind
up this swar.-Philadelphia Ledger
The Jack Astor battsry will be mounted
on mules. This Gomez periIously close to
being a very bad pun.-Boston Herald.
This nation may be divided into parties
at ordinary elections, but not when II
comes to the flag philadelphia
Times.
II the President would issue call Cor
1900 colonels, the order would be filed
In an hour or two.-Memphis Commercial
Appeal.
According to the Spanish Government
privateering Is piracy only when it's the
other fellow who gets caught at it.Bos-
ton Globe.
We don't want the Philippines-th that is.
most OF us don't; but some of us are wait
ing to be coaxed to take them.-Philadel-
phia Ledger.
Mr.. Hobson's name will give the war
poets something to think about without
words to express their thoughts.-A Ailwau-
kee Sentinel.
One embarrassing problem has been
solved for Cervera. He will not have TO
worry any longer over how he is to OBJ
tain coal.-Kansas City Journal.
Germany's emperor is In that attitude
that with his hat off he doesn't know
whether to throw it up for America or be-
gin talking through it.-Philadelphia
Times.
II the war continues a year or so the
strategy board viii doubtless be able to
make fair showing in the way Of eff
ciency.-Kansas City Journal
The heroes whose names are conspicu-
GUS in the papers now should cut ont the
favorable notices and preserve them. They
may never appear again.-Phiadelphi
Ledger.
A study Of the war operations thus far
yields the conclusion that the strategy
board exists for the purpose of instructing
naval commanders TO use their own judg-
mept.- Kansas City Journal,
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
DEFENSES IN RUINS.
SAMPSON SHELLS FORTiFICA-
TONS OF SANTIAGO.
American Warships Throw a Furious
Torrent of Dead1y ProjectiIes-Spau-
iards Admit Serious Damage aud
I.oss-Landing of Troops Under Fire.
Spanish Guns siIenced,

Washington special:
The news from Santiago Tuesday was
Of stirring character. The lombard
ment of the Notifications at the mouth
of the harbor, which began on Saturday,
was resumed Monday morning at 7:30
and continued until IL O'clock. Evidently
the attack was intended to cover the land
ing, probably of marines, from the fleet,
whose purpose it was to establish depot,
land supplies and siege guns, comr1uni-
cate with the insurgents, and prepare the
way for the invasion by the army
The bottled-up Cervera, who would send
as roseate dispatch as possible, reported
to che Spanish Government that six
American vessels had bombarded the for
tifications and Santiago, but that the dam
age was "unimportant," though he con-
ceded that six men were killed and seven
teen wounded on the Reina Mercedes,
which would indicate that important dam
age was inflicted upon that cruiser and
that three officers were killed and eigh-
teen soldiers wounded, probably in the
engagement with the marines. Admiral
Sampson, on the other hand, notified the
Navy Department that the forts were
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
MANILA HAS FALLEN.
PHILIPPINE CAPITAL REPORTED
TAKEN.
Ambassador Hay Sends the News from
London, and the intelligence Is Ac-
cepted in Washington as rrue-Dew-
ey's Predictions Are Verified.
stars and stripes Raised,


Washington special;
The State Department Sunday night re-
ceived q ctnlegram from Ambassador
Hay saying: "Advices from Hong Kong
state that Manila has surrendered" Nc
details were given. and the State De-
partment did not know whether the sur
render was TO Admiral Dewey or to the
insurgents.
1t is believed that Captain General Au-
gusti, forced to yield by the activity of the
insurgents, put himself and the Spaniards
in Manila under the protection of Ad-
miral Dewey 1t Is surmised that Ambas-
sador Hay obtained his information from
dispatches to the British foreign office.
These would take precedence of all others
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-15
M'KINLEY's TERMS OFF PEACE.
Will Demand Possession of Puerto
Rico, Manila and CaYite,

VIII Demand Possession of Puerto
Rico, Manila and Cavite.
The terms upon which the President is
now reported to be willing to negotiate
peace with Spain, and which are said to
be generally acceptable to the Senators
who must ratify the treaty before it can
have effect, include, aside from the es-
tablshment of a stable and independent
government in Cuba, the possession of
Porto Rico as a war indemnity and full
payment for all claims for damages by
American citizens against Spain, naval
base in the Ladrone islands and one In
the Caroline islands.
The determination to secure naval
base and port in the Philippines means
that Cavite and Manila are to become
American possessions. Cavite Is the only
naval base worth having in the islands
and Manila Is the only port. 1t Is CON
sidered to mean the control and posses
sion of the entire island of Luzon, for
the control of the surrounding country is
regarded by the administration as essen
tial to the protection of Manila.