The record-union., 1898-08-01

posted General Ernst's brigade. con-
sisting Of the Second and Third Wis
consin and the Sixteenth Pennsylvania
Regiments, out a mile and half on
the military road after dusk last night,
retaining two companies of the Six
teenth to act as provost guard in the
city,
Captain Allison has been appointed
Provost Marshal and with the aid of
the local constabulary has preserved
excellent order, although almost the
entire population of the city remained
in the streets celebrating the arrival
Of their American liberators, until long
after midnight
During the night all sorts of wild ru-
mors were brought in to General Will
son. The first was that the Spanish
We're to attack the city in force. In
view of this a strong line of outposts
was maintained by General Ernst, and
the men slept on their arms. This re-
port, however, soon gave way to ru-
mors that the Spanish were retreating,
putting entire villages, plantation
buildings and houses to the torch muir
dering and ravaging as they went.
Some of the wealthy plantation own
ers of the city became horror-stricken,
and appealed wildly to General Wilson
to dispatch troops to the rescue but it
was manifestly impossible to divide SO
small a force. None of the reports
were confirmed when daylight came,
except that the Spaniards we're in full
retreat That they INDUCED in ex-
cesses of a cruel vindictive character
is doubtless true. but the town of
GUIANA Diaz, which was reported to
h hao 10 CT mic c
to be standing this morning. General
Jose Garcia, who is in command of the
Spanish regulars. not believed to mum.
Der more than 500, was deserted by
most of the Spanish volunteers in his
command during the night, and they
began struggling back to the city with
the dawn. They Immediately present
ed themselves to the Provost Marshal
and surrendered their arms.
The appearance of the volunteers
aroused in the breasts of the natives
who had suffered at their hands in the
past, especially the political prisoners
who were released when we took the
city, desire for revenge, and they be-
gan to ferret out all the Spaniards in
the city who had ever been in the vol
unteer service. and dragged them to the
plaza. Bloodhounds could not have
been more savage. Most OF the Span
iards in hiding, upon being discovered,
We're hauled in triumph in hooting,
jeering mobs to General Wilson's head
quarters, or TO the Provost MarshaPs
Office in the municipal building. Some
of the natives even began looting the
residences of the Spaniards. They mis-
took liberty for license, and were crazed
with a thirst for revenge
General Wilson, however, soon taught
that revenge could not be wreaked un-
der the protection of our flag, and
peremptorily ordered that the persecu-
tion of Spanish suspects should cease.
Such volunteers as presented them
selves We're, however, released after
their names had been taken. They will
all report tomorrow and be formally
paroled. Many Of them had been
forced into the service of Spain to es-
cape persecution.
Business in the city has enjoyed a
great boom since the arrival of the
Americans. The merchants, who closed
their places yesterday, opened them to-
day, and are eagerly engaged in COM
petition for the American dollars.
American gold is at a premium of 100
per cent. Yesterday prices were cheap;
the price of a beefsteaK at the Hotel
Franchise was % centavos: this morn
ing it is l peso. Everything else has
risen in proportion.
The newspaper correspondents have
difficulty in obtaining horses, even at
$500 in gold. The natives imagine the
pockets of the Americans can emit
a countless flow of eagles and double
eagles. There are plenty of provisions
in the city except rice, one of the sta
Piles, which is quoted at very high
figure for this couptry.
Our army will not lack for fresh
meat on the march across the island.
The broad savannah which lies be-
tween the undulating hills swarms with
cattle, at reasonable prices and of ex-
celent quality General Garretson's
brigade is massed at Yauco. the ter
minus of the railroad, fifteen miles off,
and will probably remain there until
the army is ready to move; but it is
thought the artillery will be brought
here Immediately The railroad is in
good order, but much of the rolling
stock has been destroyed.
The Spaniards will probably retire
as far back as Albonito. about thirty
five miles on the road to San Juan,
where they are likely to make a stand
if they receive reinforcements. They
left here entirely without artillery,
which makes it even more obvious that
an attack at this point was never
dreamed of by them. Not a gun was
mounted. The garrison was small and
poorly armed. All the .guns, with one
exception. that We're abandoned in the
arsenal when they beat their hasty re-
treat Wednesday were Remingtons and
Mausers.
There was not mine in the harbor
Of Ponce, although two ancient affairs.
covered with barnacles. were found at
Puerto de Guanica. These had been
placed there years ago. and resisted
every effort to explode them. 1t is ev
ident from the wholesale desertion on
the part of the Spanish volunteers, that
Captain General Macias must depend
as the last resort upon the regulars.
These do not number over 5000 in the
whole island, and everything thus far
indicates an easy conquest
General Wilson thinks he could take
the island with his own troops unaided,
and he predicts that if the troops now
expected arrive, Porto Rico will be
ours in less than three weeks.
GOOD WORD FROM GENERAL
MILES
WASHINGTON, July 31.-General
Miles. in command Of the Porto Rican
expedition, sent the following dispatch
to Secretary Alger, which was made
public at 10 O'Clock tonight:
Ponce, July 31st, 3:35 p. m.