The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-24

Copyright. 1895. by the Associated Press)
On Board the Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Wanda Daiqulr. Haroor. Cuba.
Wednesday. June p, 5 u. m. VIA Kingston.
Jamaica. Thursday. June %. $50 a m
At O'Clock this afternoon 5000 trained
American soldiers are eacamped in the
hills in and around Daiquiri and 1000
more rest on their arms on board the
transports of shors. ready 90 Join those
who have debarked as soon as She avail
able launches and small boats can carry
them ashore.
Time and sea weather were propitious
for the army OF invasion. The navy and
the army co-operated splendidly and as
the big warships closed in or The shore 20
pave the way for the approach OF the
transports and then went back again,
three cheers for the navy went up from
the thousands on the transports and three
cheers for the army rose from the war
ships as the transports moved in 10 take
their snare in the hazardous game. 1t
was war and II was magnificent.
The Cuban insurgents. too bore their
share in the enterprise honorably and
well. 5000 Of them in mountain Businesses
and dark thickets of ravines, lay all last
night on their guns watching every road
and mountain path leading from Santiago
to Guantanamo. \ thousand OF them were
within sight of Baiquiri. making the ap-
proach of the Spaniards under cover OF
the darkness an impossibilty. At @ clock
this morning as the Associated Press dis
patch boat approached Daiqu!ri the en-
tire island OF Cuba seemed wrapped in
soft mists like that of the dog days in
northern ATTITUDES. Leaden clouds lay on
the eastern horizon and the color was re-
fiected in the gray waters Of the ocean.
which gently undulated in the may
breeze. Distant objects doomed dimly. but
il was seen that many OF the troops tina,
had been lying several miles IN the offing
had drawn in towards shore while three
or four warships lay menacingly near ne
harbo- approach All around transports.
steam launches and small boats were bob
bing about like corks. the first indication
of the true object OF the undertaking
anead.
An hour later the sun was rising in the
eastern sky. touching the mountain tops
with patches Of light green and reveal
ing the great semi-circle of troop ships.
some ClOSt 10 l-lt ttdSl AlliF rptAANlH a al4fiF
distant. with their decks crowded with
eager. expectant men. impatient 70 begin
the great movement Of destiny. to make
a new chapter in the history OF America,
the first invasion by our army of a for
eign country in half a century.
As the dispatch boat Of the Associated
Press ran close in, near where the New
Orleans was lying with her great Arm
strong guns trained on Daiquir tongues
of lurid flame and black smoke were seen
rising from the town. the Inevitable con-
sequence Of war and a sure sign that the
Spaniards had gone. leaving ruin behind.
The captain Of the New Orleans shouted
the news TO the Dispatch boat, adding:
you had better keep a little OF you
are in range; they have a rifle on the
eastern side Of Ddiquiri"
There Is a steep. rocky hill known az
Punta Baiquiri. rising almost perpendlc-
ularly at the place indicated. Il Is
veritable Gibraltar In possibilities Of de-
Tense From the staf az lis summit the
Spanish flag was dehantly floating a sun
set last night ;but il was gone this morn
ing and with II the small Spanish guard
which had maintained the signal station.
Between nightfau and dawn. the Span
iards had taken the alarm and fed from
the place. firing the town as they Jeff.
The flames were watched with interest
from the ships. TWO sharp explosions
were heard. AZ first they were thought 90
be the report OF guns from spanish
masked batteries. but they proved T. be
the explosion Of ammunition IN the burning
buildings.
Three hours waiting made the men or
the transports impatient 20 get ashore
and in action and every move Of The war
ships was closely watched by the sol .
diers.
\ Iit.Ie before O'Clock ths lombard F.
ment OF the batteries Of Ja-agua wss be- +.
gun by the ships u Rear Admiral SamD- i
sons fleet THIS Was evidently feint 10 .
cover the real point q attack. JaragBa be- .
ing about half way between Ba.qulri and .
Santiago. The bombardmcnt lasted about .
twenty minutes.
The scene then quickly SHRED back .
again 70 the great sm.-circle q transport /
feet before Baiquiu.
A. $40 O'Clock the New Orleans opened /
unEn zEHrR Hn 0nEENVT nF