The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1898-08-03
SHOCKING BRUTALITY.
Cumulative Evidence Of Spanish
Barbarity In Porto Rico.
American Force on the Island Fully 5000
In Excess OF the Number Re-
QuIred to Take IL.

GONCE, Porto RICO, rTluayi VIA c@
Thomas, ID. w. l., July 9 The Span
ish troops formerly stationed in this
part of Porto Rico are rapidly retreat
ing to the interior, leaving behind them
a broad path of burning plantations
and desolated villages.
Porto Rican refugees, who are coming
in in great numbers, report that un-
paralleled outrages have been perpe-
trated by the Spanish soldiers in the
villages of Juan Diaz, Coamo and Ad-
juntas. Wild with rage over the Amer
lean invasion, the Spaniards are re-
ported to be wreaking vengence upon
inoffensive noncombatantS, firing their
houses and maltreating the women and
children. Some of the acts of brutality
reported here today are shocking be-
yond description.
The steady stream of terror-stricken
refugees that began to pour into Ponce
last night has continued today. They
are appealing to the United States mil
itary authorities for protection. All
tell the same stories of brutality and
violence by the retreating Spaniards.
1t seems probable that the situation
is worse at Adjuntas than at any other
point. This is small but important
town, twenty miles in the interior. A
messenger who arrived this morning
said that many women had been NAL
treated and killed and their bodies
cremated in the burning houses. He
also reported that the Spanish garri on
at Adjuntas, comprising 200 men, had
abandoned the place after twenty-four
hours of unbridled license.
1t is impossible to verify these re-
ports, but reputable merchants here
profess to know the messengers who
bring the news, and declare that they
are worthy of credit.
Gen. Wilson, the American military
governor, has questioned the refugees
closely, but he cannot send any aid to
the suffering Porto Ricans at present.
He believes that it would be unwise to
scatter the troops at his command until
reinforcements arrive here.
Disposition of Our Troops.
Gen. Ernst's brigade now is cncamped
two miles outside of Ponce, along the
military road to San Juan. Gen. Henry's
troops today are at Yauco, six miles
from Guanica. They will travel by
rail from Iauco to this city tomorrow.
Gen. Greene yesterday took a recon-
noitering party over the line of the
railroad, and discovering that, while
the Spaniards had mined the track, the
artillery, all of which is now at Guani-
ca, can be brought here by rail, and
this will be done.
Additional reinforcements on three
transports arrived late this afternoon
and will be landed tomorrow.
Gen. Wilson expects the remainder of
the first division, and probably the en-
tire second division of the First Corps.
This will bring the total American
force in Porto Rico up to %, 900 men.
Gen. Wilson declares that $4,000 men
will be enough to take the island
Alarming reports that the Spaniards
intended to attack this city last night
were circulated, and two lines of pickets
were sent out. But the night passed
without incident and the city still is
quiet and orderly.
A great majority of the citizens are
unfeignedly delighted with the Ameri-
can occupation of the city. Spanish
sympathizers apparently are confined
to native Spaniards and few German
and French residents. These are keep
ing very quiet.