The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-27

IN A,~ "a " -
The grand Gordon of naval merit has
been conferred upon Captain Des-
champs OF the Spanish steamer Mont
serrat, which recently arrived at Cor
unna from Cienfuegos. The queen
regent personally presented the cap
tain with the insignia.
CUBANS FIGHTING THEIR WAY
TO THE COAST.
New York, May pa Key West
special says: The Cubans are fighting
their way to the coast where they will
join with u forces of invasion. Three
hundred Cubans engaged a squad of
Spanish cavalry on Thursday fifteen
miles west of Matanzas. The battle
was fiercely waged in sight of the
ships on the blockade station. The
firing continued after dark and Friday
morning the Spanish cavalry, which
had been reinforced during the night
by a battalion of infantry, were seen
~retreating along the beach in the di-
rectiOn of havana.
A TERRIBLE EXPULSION.
Key West, Fla, May 23.-The officers
of one of the United States cruisers,
which arrived here today say that
while off Cape San Antonio, the wes-
tern extremity Of Cuba, yesterday af-
ternoon a terrific explosion was heard
from the direction of the shore, but ap-
parently many miles away. There was
an upheaVel of water all about the
ship and the cruiser herself vibrated
with the shock from stem to stern.
Many are inclined to think that the
phenomenon was an earthquake. There
are no batteries nea enough to Cape
san Antonio to account for d detOna-
ton of such volume, and it is thought
that if any naval disaster had occurred
news of it would have reached here.
Judge Locke, in the United States
district court today heard arguments
in three of the most important cases,
those of the Buena Ventura, Miguel
JOyer and Catalina. A number of
counsel made extended citation of au-
thorities, that all three vessels should
be condemned as awful prizes. Argu-
ments against this contention were
made by array of counsel representing
the various interests, including the
owners of the vessels and their car
goes. Judge Locke reserved decision.
ANOTHER PRIZE CAPTURED.
(Capyright by Associated Press.)
ST. Thomas, Danish West Indies,
May 23.-The British steamer Aldebor-
Ough, Captain Farrant which arrived
at Porto Rico on May 9Th from Mothil,
Scotland, reached this port from a
Juan de Porto Rico yesterday morn
ing. She reports that an American
cruiser captured a Spanish bark six
miles north of San Juan on Saturday
morning last. The capture of the YES
sci was observed from San Juan. The
prize was tOWed north.
Mr.. Freeman Halstead, the news
paper correspondent, who has been
sentenced to nine years Imprisonment
for taking photographs of the fortifi-
cations of San Juan de Porto Rico, has
been conveyed to a convict camp to
undergo his sentence.
THE EXPEDITION TO MANILA.
San Francisco, May 23.-The work
of coaling n provisioning the United
States ship Monterey is progressing
rapidly and when this has been COM
pleted the vessel will go to Mare island
to take on ammunition and to undergo
a thorough examination before she
puts to sea. 1t is very probable she
will go to Honolulu, there to take on
another supply of coal. From Homo
lulu she will steam as far as possible
when she will be either AXE in tow
by a collier, which is to accompany
her, or refill her bunkers from the col
lier at sea. 1t is generally understood
that she will make fact time between
here and Honolulu to catch the trans
ports which leave this port before her.
The preparations for the first expedi-
ton to Manila are almost complete.
The city of Pekin. which will probably
SAIL lOIIlOIIO", Will SdllS ID ~ olio
1.O44 men, the city of Sydney "a officers
and go men, The Australia 81 officers
and 676 men.
The troops assigned to depart on
the Austria and the City of Sydney
have been ordered to report at the
docks of their respective vessels to-
morrow morning. The organization of
the second expedition to the Philippines
will not be determined until after the
arrival of General Wesley Merritt who
is in command of the whole expedition
and will reach this city at the end of
the week. 4,
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM CUBA.
Madrid, May %. Midnight.-The be-
lief is prevalent in all circles and in all
sections of the press that the govern
ment is in possession of important news
from Cuba. Its character has not been
made public.
The report that General Britain had
sent a note to Spain asking an expla-
nation of the concentration Of troops
in the neighborhood of Gibraltar is Of
fcially denied.
London May PA dispatch to The
Daily Chronicle from Barcelona, dated
Sunday says: A steamer took one
thousand soldiers from Cadiz yester-
day Saturday for the Canaries or the
Philippines and there are two trans
Atlantic liners now in port here
ANOTHER SPANISH CRISIS
London. May 24.-The Madrid CORE
spondent of The Daily Mail says:
1T is safe to predict another caplnet
crisis. Senior Puigcerver, minister OF
finance. who in the cortes, has abso-
lutely declined to adopt an income tax,
being expected to resign soon.
When q man "a surerfng with an