The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-17

tbat was being spread over the 1roht
~ tho nawspaper office Downstairs the
bnoe nresses were laundering around
and round at terrific speed. but they
could not turn out papers fast enough
10 feed the mob that surged about the
front of the building, and swallowed UP
the damn sheets as Il hurricane does the
leaves of autumn Meanwhile every teie-
yronh instrument in the city was buSliY
clicking with messages TO all parts ~
the country and the excitement seen III
New York on that memorable afternoon
was reproduced on lesser scale III
thousands of other places.
The news that the swift little ocean
messenger had brought and which Gre
atpa such an uproar was the most start
ling that the great city had ever heard.
IT WAS nothing less than the announce
ment that the combined French and
Spanish fleet were even then proceed
ing across the Atlantic, not to Cuba,
but with the object of capturing New
York city. and that within the space ef
another day or two they would be at
the gates of the metropolis.
Such was the astounding report that
set the country in tumult on that
quiet July day. 1t caused the people 10
leave their shops. their fields and Their
homes to gather in excited and GEES
ticulating groups: it caused President
hlckinIey and his cabinet at Washing
ton to hurry into secret conference ana
Governor Black at Albany 70 issue 4
special proclamation to the State militia
directing its members to report TO their
commanding officers and to be ready
for marching orders at any moment.
AT first il was thought that the news
could not be true it was such "a high
handed step. and there had been no
whisper of il beforehand. But no sooner
had one man raised this objection than
ii dozen others were ready TO explain i
away.
Thus If was argued back and forth
until almost every one was conYlncei
before the sun Went down that one of
the strongest fleets ever gathered WAS
planning 10 seize the greatest city in the
country-that Incompatible city which
lay apparently aS defenseless as n rich
field Of grain before the hurricane.
The people were convinced. They
knew that these nations had resented
wat they considered the interference
of the United Stats in their affairs, and
had been burning with the desire for
vengeance. 1t was all true. They had
planned TO make their revenge serve
| also as the occasion of the most bitter
humiliation Of the great western repub-
| lie The plan was such an unexpected
| and yet such simple and natural one.
| All through the night Of the first men
held their breaths as in the presepsae OF
! a great calamity. Morning brought lii
/ tie change. kilograms from the capital
reported that the President and his cab
! met had been in session all night long
[ discussing the situation, but that they
/ had made no announcement of any pro
/ posed action for the defense Of the city.
1 Throughout the ID all eyes were turned
toward Washington. and the movements
:, OF the government officials were watched
with the intenest interest. The news
papers printed extras every half-honr
hiled Tor the most part with Washing
ton dispatches. and every word was
eagerly devoured The first important
news was the publications. an official
proclamation by the President Of the