The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-09

Fort Antonio. July s.-One secret OF
the determination of the Spanish SOL
diers In Santiago to fight to the death
was the belief which prevailed gen.
orally among them that prisoners taken
by the Americans would be put to the
sword. 1t is known that after the fall
OF ia Caney on July / the Spanish SOL
diers who escaped along the foothills
marched directly into General Garcia s
men, posted to the north Of Santiago.
They fought desperately, but were
shown no mercy by the Cubans. and
were macheted to the last man. Gen.
eral Dolrine. who was In command, was
brutalIy mutilated. The knowledge of
this massacre found its way into San
l-tiaSo and prompted the Spanish resolu-
ton to die rather than surrender. The
,>untary surrender of some OF the
wounded Spanish officers and men has
dispelled the delusion and Is helping to
induce General Toral to consider the
proposition to capitulate.
After the fall OF FL Caney the Cubans
sacked the town. Information of two
outrages was promptly conveyed to Gen
feral Shafter, who issued orders that any
Cuban found rifiing the bodies Of dead
or wounded persons would be promptly
dealt WITH To prevent the possibility
of the Ctyans plundering Santiago
when II ca ti;lates It has been decided
TO forbid the Cubans from entering the
town. Owing to the danger Of yellow
fever, none of the soldiers will be al
lowed to 60 In. Just what arrangements
will be made remains for the future to
disclose.
Lieutenant Brooke saysthat during
the assault on Santiago 1900, 900 rounds
of ammunition were used. OF course
thousands Of rounds were lost. and it
can be safely assumed that 5000 shots
were wasted to every one that fairly
found the mark.
1t was Sergeant Mckinney Of COM
pany b. Ninth infantry who shot and
disabled General Linares. the command
er of the Spanish forces. The general
was hit about an hour after San Juan
hill was taken, during the first days
fighting. Our men saw a Spanish off,
Ger. evidently a general officer. followed
by his staff, riding frantically about the
Spanish position. rallying his men. Ser
geant Mckinney asked Lieutenant
Wiser's permission to try a shot at the
officer. and greatly regretted to find the
request was refused. Major Bole was
consulted. He acquiesced, with the in
junction that no one else should fire.
Sergeant Mckinney went for a shell. |
slipped Ii into a rife. adjusted the light |
for 1000 yards and fired. The shell fell |
short. Then he put in another. raised |
the sight for another thousand yards, |
took careful aim and let her go. The |
officer on the white horse threw up his |
arms and fell forward. THAT is for
Corporal Joyce" said Mckinney as he I
saw that his ball had reached the mark. |
The officer on the white horse was Gen.
eral Linares himself. 1t was after
wards learned that he was shot in the |
left shoulder. He Immediately relin-
quished the command to General ToraL
When Hobson was seated once more
among his messmates, he told the story
Of his experience. his marvellous escape
and his Imprisonment in Moro castle, /
watching the shells explode
outside his cell under a murderous fire.
Il did not miss the entrance to the
harbor," he said, "as Ensign Powell in
the launch supposed. headed east un-
Ill got my bearings. and then made for
L straight In. Then came the firing.
Il was grand, flashing out first from one
side OF the harbor and then from the
,ther, from those big guns on the hills.
he Vizcaya. lying inside the harbor,
dining in. Troops from Santiago had
'ushed down when the news OF the
coming was telegraphed,
Ind soldiers lined the foot of the cliffs,
iring wildly across and killing each
'ther with the cross fire. The Merri-
macs steering gear broke as she got to
point. Only three OF the tor
,edoes on her side exploded when I
ouched the button. A huge submarine
nine caught her full amidships, hurting
he water high in the air and tearing
great rent in the Merrimac's side. Her
tern ran upon Estrella point Chiefly
wing to the work done by the mine she
egan TO sink slowly. At that time she
ras across the channel. but before she
ettled the tide drifted her around.
We were all aft. lying on the deck.
hells and bullets whistied around Six
nch shells from the vlzcaya came tear
Nc into the Merrimac, crashing into
rood and iron and passing clear
trough. while the plunging shots from
he fort broke through her decks. Not