Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-07-30

Santiago in the face OF almost lnsur-
mountable difficulties, this letter, writ
ten by Captain H. L. Bailey to his
father, in Burlington, Mo-, before
General Toral's surrender, is of no
little interest: 81 imagine you are
anxious about US here in Cuba. Those
at home suffer the most. We have
hardships before us, but we are in
good condition to bear much. Yet we
most dread disease. We are very
hopeful, and it will take good deal
to depress US. God takes care of chill
dren, drunken men and the United
States"
- Through the French ambassador
in Washington, Mr.. Cambon, Spain on
last Tuesday asked President McKin-
ley if he would open negotiations look
ing to peace. The president referred
the matter to the cabinet. No
serious importance is attached to the
overture, however. 1t may have been
merely piece Of diplomacy, for the
purpose of bringing about an armis-
tice and delaying the occupation of
Porto Rico. But it was too late for
that. General Miles had already
landed and the United States will no
doubt continue the war on until every
thing that was intended to be done is
accomplished.
- The people in this country will
learn with surprise and disgust that
only one newspaper in Venezuela
favors the United States against Spain.
That one paper is edited by an Eng
lishman, a man who comes from a
country against which he took the
part of Venezuela less than three
years ago. The general tenor of the
Venezuelan press is exemplifed in the
assertion of the leading newspaper of
Caracas, that after this war is over
"the naval policy of Washington will
be felt in its utmost rigor in the whole
of Latin America, and especially in
those republics that coast the caribbean
sea. The Americans are engaged in
war of foreign cupidity and we do not
hesitate to declare that all our opin-
ions, convictions and good wishes are
on the side of SPAIN" Was there ever
a more disgraceful exhibition of ma
tional ingratitude.
- 1t now develops beyond shadow
of doubt that Joe Wheeler was the
real hero of Santiago. During the
first days fighting, Shafter was sick in
his tent and Wheeler had command.
Before the day was over, it was quite
clear that the problem of driving the
Spaniards was knotty one. Many
of the officers, generals, colonies and
captains felt that to 60 on would only
be to invite disaster and they advised
a retreat. General Wheeler said no !;
it would never do to give an inch of
ground. This would ruin the prestige
that had already been won by the
Americans. The Spaniards, he said,
were in still worse fix, and he order
ed that this word be passed along the
American lines. Then he wrote to
General Shafter and begged him not
to listen to advice to fall back. BY
his frmness the Confederate inspired
more confidence, and when the boys
were again ordered to advance they
kept advancing.
- New York Journal: When the
Vizcaya tried to ram the Brooklyn at
Santiago it was not only rain of steel
and death that Schley's flagship pour
ed into the Spaniards, but rain of
gold. In five minutes the Brooklyn
fred Sal, $3.50 worth of ammunition
into the Vizcaya. At the end of that
time the latter was hopeless wreck.
Gunner Applegate, of the Brooklyn,
saws that during those five minutes his
ship fired al S-inch shells, IS 6-inch
shells, II 6-pounders and 400 1-pound-
ers. 1t is probable that no such heavy
and fearful fire was ever before deliv-
cred by warship. The air was filled
with shells the whole time. Assuming
that Schley used his best quality shells,
the S-inch cost S24O.57, the 6-inch
$1O4.61, the 6-pounders SIS and the
1-pounders SO. Thus you get the total
of 1850. 1t is large bill, but it
will he a satisfaction to pay it. One
shell Tdhtu luc NlLCuyd iOiO ouN oie
and killed so Spaniards in its passage.
Most of the remaining 14O S.inch
shells struck the Spaniard somewhere.
- 1t was reported in the papers that
supply ships putting in at Santiago
have been turned away, and it became
necessary for General Shafter to report
on the matter. His report is as fol-
lows: "Press reports not true. l
only know of three ships having ar
rived, one from Kingston, the others
from the United States. The Briton
has sold Its cargo; one of the others,
a ship from New Orleans, has sold
only a part of it, and tells me he is
going away tonight. l think he will
sell before he leaves. The trouble is
they did not expect to pay any duty,
and arrived here without money. The
Spanish customs, as applied to Spanish
subjects, has only been collected, and
the 20 cents per ton, as ordered by the
secretary. 1 discovered this morning
an attempt on the part Of the munich
pal authorities to collect local tax of
40 cents per 900 kilos, in this instance