The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-03

last report received from Commodore
Schley, dated Saturday night said
nothing about the reported capture Of
the Spanish auxiliary cruiser Al
IJl.oTso XIII 10y the United States-k -kuxl
iary cruiser ST. Paul or any other ves-
sci. The officers OF the St Paul have
heard nothing OF the affair.
SPANIARDS THREATEN TO CUT
CABLES.
Copyright by Associated Press)
Cape Haytien. June l.-l:l5 y. M
The Spanish government, according to
advices received here from Havana,
intends 10 cut the cables which con-
meet that city with Key West, IL tho
other Cuban cables are cut by the
Americans.
The Havana papers, the same ad-
vices say, publish dispatch from
Madrid, declaring that the Americans
intend to attack Santiago by sea
while the insurgents are making an
attack by land and also TO land REIN
forcements at Guantanamo, east OF
Santiago.
A dispatch from Santiago says:
The American squadron. which
bombarded Santiago yesterday. was
composed OF fourteen vessels, among
which were recognized the Iowa,
Brooklyn, Massa aChusetts Texas and
Amazonas (New Orleans), besides n
gunboat and an auxiliary cruiser be-
lieved TO be the Columbia. The five
vessels which are recognized opened
fire on the batteries at Punta Gorda,
|. FL Morro and Socapa and also on the
cruiser Cristobal Colon, which had ad-
vanced toward the entrance OF the
harbor and was visible from the high
sea.
The Americans fired projectiles OF
32 centimetres and the batteries, as
we'll as the Cristobal Colon, kept up
an incessant responsive fire. Two shots
landed on the afterpart OF the Iowa,
causing damage. On the Spanish side
the damage was insignificant The
American squadron withdrew at @
o'clock last evening.
This morning the American squad
ron reappeared off Santiago, but con-
tented itself with firing two shots
which are believed to have been sig
nails agreed upon with the insurgents,
who, numbering 1000 or 1900. are said
| to have concentrated three or four
miles from Santiago.
Great events are expected hourly at
Santiago. The Spanish authoritie.
have taken extraordinary precautions
ana have placed in the narrow pass at
the entrance OF the harbor special con
trivances which permit the closing
ana opening Of the port at Will"
SPANIARDS NOT AFRAID. /.
CFrom a Spanish Correspondent
Havana. June II =. m.-AdmlraI
Cervera,it is reported here. was not at
Santiago de Cuba yesterday during
the bombardment by the American
squdron. Had he been there the Span
ish warships would have entered the
combat against the Americans. conf
dent OF a VICTORIOUS outcome
The Spanish troops have orders TO
make an energetic, q slight or no re
sistence, according to circumstances.
with a view of facilitating the landing
Of American forces 50 that the latter
| may go into the interior Of the coun-
try, where the Spanish are convinced
that they will be able to defeat them.
The Spanish army and navy are anx-
lous 10 measure arms with the Ameri-
cans and desirious that a propitious
occasion may soon present itself, trust
ing for the result TO the courage Of the
Spanish soldiers and sailors, TO their
better organization and TO the greater
skill or their commanding officers.
Tampa, Fla, June Hon s. NJ.
Parkman was today re-nominated for
congress by the democrats OF the First
congressional district
THE SITUATION IN SANTIAGO.
Cape Haytien, Hayti, June 1.-The
4
since the beginning Of the blockade
| mas grown rapidly worse, and il is
| now said to be nearly desperate. Food
| IS very scarce and the poor peole are
hnding IL almost impossible TO obtain
| any because OF the enormous prices
Inc expectation is general that San
tlago must soon fall into the hands of
| the Americans.
| CRISTCBAL COLON DRIVEN BACK
Port An Prince, HaytI, June l-I5:l
y. m. According. to the latest adylces
| from Santiago dc Cuba when tho
| Spanish Cristobal Colon emerged from
the harEbor yesterday 10 the entrano..
or the channel she was welcomed nv
such furious fire, az soon as the
American squadron sighted her. that
she was compelled To return into the
| bay.
The American squadron, which left
santiago waters at O'Clock yesterday
| a9ternoon returned On front OF the en-
| trance Of the bay this morning and
fired two cannon shots, which are be-
| heved to have been a signal arranged
| With the Cuban troops, rrasSed 5000
| strong, five Kilometres (about three
| niles) from the city. Everybody ex-
poets grave events.