The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-08-02

The Spanish Evacuation-Our Troop.
Pushing Forward-Welcomed by the
PEOPLE.

IOOD
Pushing Forward-Welcomed by b
People.
Ponce, Porto Rico. Thursday, July
%. (eveningl via st. Thomas, Friday.
July %, (morning 1.-THE American
conquest of Porto Rico has begun
auspiciously. The Spanish have aban-
doned Ponce, the principal port on
the southern coast of h island and
in many respects its most progressive
city. Last night General Miles land
ed and this morning took possession
and raised the stars and stripes. The
inhabitants received the Americans
with open arms and gave them the
come, indicating that the population
was ripe for revolt. which was pre-
dicted as soon as American troops
touched the shore.
A BRUSH WITH THE SPANISH.
h forces landed at Guanica on
Monday have been move and now
hold the terminus Of the railway con-
Meeting Yauco with Ponce. They en-
cOuntered no opposition. except on
Tuesday morning at daylight, when
the advance skirmishers paused before
q force OF SpanldrdS occupying a house
on the Yauco road. The skirimshers
under a hot fire fell back and then
again came CALAMITY forward driving
the enemy for a mile from the forti-
fications into the bush. In the en-
counter three Americans were wound
ed: Captain Edward J. Gibbons, Com
pany A. shot in the left leg. Captain
| u RnStuUjnk Cnnnapr ~, Tho
left arm, slightly, and Private James
Drummond,' Company X, in the neck.
The enemy lost three killed and foun-
teen Ounde
THE SURRENDER OF PONCE.
After the action it was believed tina
the enemy intended to contest the ad-
vance from Guanica- and General
Miles made preparations to send Cen
eral Wilson'S troops to Ponce, with
a view of throwing them between
Ponce and the enemy and closing in on
the latter from both directions. He
sent word to Captain HigginsOn. of the
battleship Massachusetts. yesterday to
be ready to cover the landing today.
An officer, accordingly, was sent
ashore yesterday afternoon to formally
demand the surrender of the port of
Ponce, three miles from the city of
Ponce. The officer was grealy sur
" lhdt " III II poi I,
but the city of Ponce, was ready to
capitulate. The Spanish c~ommandant,
Julison San Martin, with 1000 men,
without artillery, had been taken com-
pleteiy by surprise by the invasion oc-
curing in this quarter. On the advice
of the British consul he decided to
make no resistance. A force of marines
was Immediately landed from the An
napolis and the American flag was
hoisted over the customs house in the
port of Ponce.
During the night the Spanish troops
retired from the city along the mill
tary road toward San Juan, where it
is probable that Captain General Ma
cias will eventually concentrate all the
Spanish forces in the Stand.
In the morning General Miles estab-
{ liShed headquarters at the CUSTOM
house and raised the American flag.
THE PRIZES CAPTURED.
Among the prizes found in the har-
Dor were seventy lighters used in
loading sugar ships, n these were
used instead of cutters to convey the
troops ashore, during which operation
not a man or animal was injured.
CITIZENS REJOICING.
The scene when the soldiers reached
the wharves was remarkable. Thou
sands or residents of the city-Elcn,
women and c~hildren-lined the water
front, and shouts of joy and cries of
Viva Los A~mericanOs,' BuenOs Dias,"
Puerto Rico Libre" greeted them. The
soldiers were received like liberators
rather than intruders. The red shirted
bOmbereS (firemen) came down to the
wharf in a body and cheered Justify.
Captain Lyons, with Company K, of
the Sixteenth regiment, Immediately
marched to the city and established a
provost guard in the municipal build
ing. the soldiers being billeted in the
frescoed and gold decorated room of
the alcalde.
On every hand the greatest satisfac-
ton was evidenced. Women adorned
| themselves in their brightest gowns
and waved their hands and smiled as
the troops marched through the
streets. The doors of the merchant
houses were opened and the whole city
presented the appearance of celebrat-
ing a fete. The poor are especially re-
joiced.
All the approaches to the city are
carefully guarded tonight. General
Henry will effect a juncture with Cen
eral Wilson here as soon as possible
and their troops will await the arrival
of the other troops now on the way.
The military road to a Juan is
broad and we'll beaten and will offer
| no SUCH uliL1Cully " Tic pdSSdSe VI
artillery and supply trains as did the
soggy and almost unbrOken trails of
Cuba to the advance of General Shat
ter.
The Spanish made a stand at a small
town, resisting General Henry's ad-
vance, seven miles north of Ponce, to-
night. Artillery fire could be seen dis
tinctly as the dispatch bOat bearing
this news left at I o'clock in the ev-
enlng.
Information received by General
Miles indicates that there are less than
1000 regulars and 5000 volunteers in
the island.
GENERAL MILES CALLS ON THE
ALCALDE.
Generals Miles and Wilson. with
their STATS, accompanied by the Brit
ish, French. German and Danish on
suls, called upon the alcalde this af-
rho The latter gave them a gra-
cious welcome and asked TO he advis-
ed as TO General Miles desires with