Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-07-06

Thousands nave gone lnIo Tue Slale
from Oklahoma and Texas with teams
to swell the army of laborers from
northern aud eastern states which the
trains have unloaded during the last
week. Squads start from the railway
stations directly for the country. Hun
dreds line the streets, while farmers
pass among them, negotiating for their
services. Many complain that they
came on representations that they
would get as high as So day, and 81
for man and team. They are offered
S1.5O a day and So day with team.
Farmers have been victimized by
tramps boarding a week or two with
them and then disappearing before
harvesting time.
- Captive balloons were put to good
account during the battle of Santiago.
The balloons were attached to wagons
on the ground and allowed to ascend
to height of about $500 feet. They
carried six men each. These men
carefully secured the entire field OF
operations and reported to headquar-
ters below through telephones. Ihe
commanding generals were thus IN
close touch with the movements OF the
enemy and were enable to quickly ar
rive at the right thing to DO at the
right time. The Spaniards fired at
these balloons continually in the hope
of puncturing them and bringing them
down; but without success. In order
to confuse the fire of the Spaniards,
however, it was necessary to change
the position of the balloons often.
St. Louis Globe-Democrat: The
failures of the Spanish torpedo boats
and destroyers in the present war show
that the destructive power of those
craft had been greatly overestimated.
It is possible that these failures have
been due in a considerable degree to
the general incapability of the Span
iards but it is reasonable to assume
that even in the hands of more enter
prising and skillfull men than those
who have scored fiascos in the Gulf OF
Mexico and the Caribbean sea, these
boats would not be very formidable
against a vigilant enemy who knew
how to shoot. The Americans have
not had a chance to use these craft
themselves, for no Spanish fleet, ex'
cept in Manila bay, has been near
enough to run the risk Of being MT by
even the longest range cannon. New
ertheless, the experience of the pres,
ent war has deprived the "hornets'
and "cavalry" of the seas of much OF
their terrors.
- General Joseph Wheeler greatly
distinguished himself last Friday. He
was to have commanded the American
centre. He was too unwell, however,
to assume his post at the opening oi
the fight, and General Sumner COM
manded in his stead. Unable to rec
oncile himself to the idea of remaining
in his tent while serious work was
going on, at II o'clock the old general
cot into an ambulance and started to
the front. After a short distance the
ambulance met some wounded soldiers,
being borne to the rear on lltters.
Immediately General Wheeler got out
of the ambulance, and against the pro-
test of the surgeon in attendance, as
sisted the wounded men into the vehl-
Gle. Then he mounted his horse and
started again for the front. The men
who witnessed the incident burst into
frantic cheers, others took it up, and
all along the line there were hurrahs
for the old Confederate. By noon,
although still very i'll, General Wheel,
er had established his headquarters at
the extreme front and centre OF the
line, and he held his position during
the balance of the day.
Lieutenant Victor Blue has dis
tinguished himself again. AS a pre-.
limiuary to the successful progress Gt
the troops last Friday in the direction
of MORO, it was necessary for the fleet
to batter down a fort that was situated
in a rocky gully leading into Santiago,
After about an hour of firing, the fort
was knocked to pieces. The flag staff,
however, had fallen among the debris
in such manner as to leave the flag
still floating. Commander Delehantey,
of the Suwanee, asked for permission
to knock down the flag. Admiral
Sampson signalled that he might 20
ahead, provided he could do it in three
shots. The distance was about l,6OO
wards. Lieutenant Victor Blue aimed
a 4.inch gun and sent shell through
the flag, tearing it to tatters. The
next shot threw up shower of earth
and powdered stone at the base OF the
flagstaff, and the third Knocked the
staff down. The whole fleet was
watching the trial, and when the
flag was cut down, the jackies shouted
like schoolboys.
- The United States transport ships
China, Colon, Zealandia and Senator
arrived at Honolulu on June "a with
1000 troops bound for Manila. The
people of Honolulu were eagerly wait
ing for the ships. They were aware
that there would have to be stop of
at least three days, and they took
advantage of the opportunity TO show
the sailors and soldiers how they felt
toward Amariro There were num-