The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-05

WASHINGTON, July 4-The COM
plete annihilation of the Spanish
squadron at Santiago and the capture
of the Spanish admiral, Cervera, with
1,S0O prisoners: the demand by Gen.
Shafter for the surrender of Santiago
by II O'Clock tomorrow noon, on pain
or bombardment; word from Admiral
Dewey that the Ladrone islands had
been captured, that a Spanish gunboat
mad surrendered, that a hundred or
more Spanish officers and men were
taken, and that our first Philippine ex-
pedition had landed-this is, In part,
the thrilling record of such a Fourth of
July as has not been known since the
bells of Independence hall rang out
the tidings of American freedom.
1t was a day when one momentous
event followed another In constant and
rapid succession, each hour bringing
forth some Eew feature more startling
than what had gone before. The cli-
max came at O'Clock when, amidst the
widest cheering which fairly shook
the great war, state and navy building
to its foundation, Admiral SIMPSONS
dispatch announcing his glorious vic
tory and the entire destruction Of the
Spanish fleet was given to the public.
The White house was naturally the
local point Of the enthusiasm and STIR
ring activity which marked official
washington. 1t was the busiest day
the president has had since the war be-
gan. Conference followed conference
with the heads Of the military and
naval departments, high officers Of the
service came and went in a constant
and steady stream, and as each hour
brought its added luster to the Amerl-
can arms, the crowd of officials increas-
ed. The president had not a moments
respite kilograms came and went
without cessation and the historic old
mansion presented a sceue such as has
not been paralleled since the hours of
the Civil war.
STORY OF THE DAY.
This story of the day is best told in
the series OF official dispatches, each
hearing date of July 4, from Sampson.
from Shafter and from Dewey. Stir
ring as they all are, that Of Sampson
was accorded the honor of chief i'm
portance, not only for the immediate
results secured, but also from the eff
fects of his crushing defeat in weaken
Ing the defences of the city of Santia-
60 and in dealing Spain such a stag
Eering blow that she is left practically
without a navy. The telegram is as
follows:
Playa (via Haytf-To Secretary of NAVY
S:15 a. M. Siboney, July 3.-The fleet under
my command offers the nation as a Fourth
lu ant
OF Cervera's fleet. No one escaped. It at
tempted to escape at $50 a. M. and at 2
p. m. the last the Cristobal Colon, had run
ashore six miles west of Santiago, and had
let down her colors.
The Infanta Maria Teresa, Oquendo and
Vizcaya were forced ashore burned and
blown up within twenty miles of Santiago;
the Furor and Pluton were destroyed within
four miles of the port Loss one killed and
two wounded. Enemy's loss probably several
hundred from gun fire. explosions and drown
ing. About 1900 prisoners, including Ad-
miral Cereva. The man killed was George
II. Ellis, chief yeoman Of the Brooklyn.
Sampson.
Although brief, Admiral SIMPSONS
dispatch tells the story of fearful de-
struction. 1t not only discloses the
tremendous prowess of the American
fleet, but it again displayed the
strange immunity which the Amer
lean sailor seems to have in the midst
of death and carnage. That but one
of our sailors, a yeoman on the Brook
lyn, should have been killed in an en-
gagement of this magnitude, it with
out parallel in naval annals, save in
that other unparalleled record which
Dewey made at Manila.
VICTORY CLEARS THE WAY.
With the Spanish fleet destroyed the
way is partly cleared for the advance
of the American squadron into the
harbor of Santiago. If Cervera's ar
mored cruisers could cross the mine
field and clear the Merrimac at the en-
trance to the harbor, the American
ships could follow the same course
There are entrance Notifications and
island forts still to be reduced, but
they have passed through a baptism
of fire recently and are little more
than ruins Thus with Skaters guns
laundering on Santiago from the land
and SIMPSONS from the harbor, the
fall of the city is assured beyond fur
ther question The authorities here