davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23

used as a weapon. The conflict was waged for fully twenty-five minutes. When the breakfast bell rang and the cells were unlocked the men were cov- cred with blood. The fight was stopped and the convicts made to emerge.
 As they stepped upon the balcony De- vine picked up a piece of heavy hoop iron, and, gripping it with both hands, struck Edwards a crushing blow on the head. The heavy iron inflicted a gash four inches long and felled Edwards to his knees. Rising quickly Edwards sprang at Devine, grasped him by the throat and threw him half way over the railing surrounding the balcony, at the same time endeavoring to kick the struggling convict's hands loose from their hold on the railing. The fall would surely have killed Devine, but at this juncture the guards seized both men and placed them in straight jack cts. After their wounds had been dressed the combatants were taken to the dungeon and shackeled to their cells, where they will remain at least thirty days and then be punished fur ther after the next meeting of the Prison Directors.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
DID NOT WAIT
 FOR ORDERS Cervera Sailed on His Own Responsibility. OFFICIALS WERE IGNORED. NOTIFIED ONLY AFTER HE LEFT
 CAPE VERDE. 'The State of My Country Compels Me to Go to Meet the
 Enemy" Was His
 Message.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

CADIZ. May 22.-It Is stated here very positively that the Pelayo, the Carlos V, three of the trans Atlantic steamers and two torpedo-boats are about to sail for the Philippines. The Pelayo Is we'll armored and manned. The Carlos V is we'll armed and manned and has good guns, tut her heavy ones forward will not swing, owing to a de- feet In the machinery and can be fired only directly ahead
 The captains of these boats are good men and experienced, but Admiral Ca mara Is regarded by naval men as diff ficult to work with, giving orders and contradicting them almost in the same breath. He is from Malaga.
 It is said here that there are mines In Manila ha rbor that were not ex- ploded when the American fleet en- tered, electric communication being out of order. This has, 1t is reported, now been rectified and preparations are complete to give Admiral Dewey a warm good-by should he attempt to leave. The rumor will bear a big lumr of salt
 l hear that the Spanish fleet left St, Vincent without instructions from the Government at Madrid, and that Ad- miral Cervera wired:
 The state of my country compels me to go to meet the enemy"
 The captains of the Vizcaya. Almi- rante Oquendo and Maria Teresa are excellent commanders. The ships are all in good shape and powerful being heavily armored and well handled. The Cristobal Colon has no heavy guns, and therefore Is not formidable, but all four of them are of 1000 tons each and can steam twenty to twenty-one knots. They are the ships our navy has most to fear
 The Spaniards are preparing two steamers, the -.ormannfa and Colum- bia, now the Rapido and Unatria, to take on heavy guns. If they strengthen the ships properly the work will require several months.
 The cruiser Alfonso XIII will remain in Cadiz as a guardship, but as her boilers are insufficient she cannot steam more than six to seven knots. and therefore is not of much use. I feel certain that there are fifty mines well laid in the Bay of Cadiz.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
War Department Sees No Cause for Further
 Delay.
President Mckinley Eager to Has ten the Attack on BlanCO'S
 Army.

NEW YORK, May 22.-The Wash ington correspondent of the Herald sends the following: No possible con- tingency can now arise, according to the War Department officials, to pre- vent an invasion of Cuba during the present week. Those in direct control of affairs insist that climatic conditions will have to be ignored and they can see no other reason for further delay.
 Owing to a change in the plans re- garding the number of troops that were to constitute the invading army, the administration was obliged to put off @ combined attack on Havana until the volunteer army could be thoroughly or ganized, equipped and provided with ammunition. These preparations have now nearly reached the point of com pletion, and it is confidently expected that some important army movements will be made before the end of the week I am told that a few weeks ago the entire army which is to go to Cuba had only 10000 900 rounds of cartridges at it's disposal This amount of am- munition, considering the size of the army, would be insufficient to carry on a long campaign. At the present time, however, the army is well supplied with both arms and ammunition.
 It is believed in the Navy Depart ment that Admiral Cervera's fleet will be either completely destroyed or driven away from Cuban waters within the next week. Secretary Alger, going on this theory, is making every prepara- tion to have about 10000 men ready to leave Key West for Cuba upon short notice. I understand on the best au
 thority that if the American fleets do
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
THE OREGON
 NEAR KEY WEST Expected to Put In for
 Coal To-Day. WILL REPLENlSH STORES. POWERFUL ADDITION TO sAMP-
 SONS SHIPS.
WILL REPLENlSH STORES.
His Squadron Is Now Sufficiently Formidable to Defeat Spain's Entire Atlantic
 Force.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, May PA Washington dispatch to the Herald says: Admiral Ceryera's action in permitting the bat tleship Oregon to reinforce Rear Ad- miraI Sampon's squadron without at tempting her destruction has aroused great deal of curiosity and not little anxiety as to what his plan of cam paign really is. Such a great prize does the Oregon constitute, such great weight will she have when the oppos- ing navies are placed in the balance scales. that it should be apprehended in official circles that the policy Of the Cape Verde fleet would be to lie in wait for the vessel and destroy her by su- periority of numbers In fact, this ap- prehension was so generally felt that the Naval War Board seriously con- templated the dispatching ofa squadron to Captain Clarke's support, one of the strongest advocates of such action be- ing Read Admiral J. G. Walker, re- tired, who at the time was acting In an advisory capacity to the board.
 But there is no longer fear regarding the Oregon. She is out of danger and will put into Key West within the next tWenty-four hours for coal, when she will hasten to join Rear Admiral Samp- sons fleet. The last heard of the Ore gon was on Wednesday last, when cablegram was received at the State Department from the American Consul at Barbadoes, reporting that she had been sighted on Tuesday afternoon off that port. The Oregon's rate of speed since she left the Marietta and the Nictheroy has been more than thirteen knots an hour and naval experts have estimated that she is now within a few hundred miles of Key West.
 In anticipation of her arrival large amount of stores have been held at Key West so that by Tuesday evening at the latest she will be ready to join Rear Admiral Samspon.
 With the Oregon attached to the North Atlantic squadron we have on hand a force which can defeat the en- tire Spanish naval force in the Atlantic Ocean.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
STAINS TWO
 NEW FLEETS Reserve Squadrons to
 Be Utilized. BOTH MAY DEPART SOON. SOME DOUBT AS TO THEIR DEs-
 TAXATION. Despite the Spanish Press Asser- tions, It Is Not Likely They
 Will Go to the Phil
 ippines.
SOME DOUBT AS TO THEIR DES-
 TAXATION.
Copyrighted, 1898, by James Gordon Bennett

Copyrighted. 1898, by James Gordon Bennett.
 MADRID, May 22.-With the incom- ing of the new government the greatest impetus has been given to activity in the navy yards, and, it may be added. to home defenses. Torpedoes have been laid at the entrance of all important harbors. The new Ministry has deter mined to send out at once what is known as a reserve squadron-that Is to say, the armed warship Pelayo, the protected cruisers Carlos and Alfonso XIII, the coast defense ship Victoria. the torpedo destroyers Audaz, Pro- serpina and Destructor. the dispatch boat Giraldi, the dispatch boats Rapido and Patria and the armed trans Atlantic liners Joaquin de Pelago, All fonso XII, Antonio Lopez, Ciudad de Cadiz and Buenos Ayres. To these will be added the Reina Cristina, which IS being armed in Ferrol, and the Leon XIII, which has already started from Barcelona for CadiZ.
 This fleet is likely to start at once, and it is publicly stated that it is go- ing to Manila. Significant suggestions are made as to the possibility ot the PeIayo getting through the Suez Canal, owing to her draught, but IL may De readily understood that the Admiralty is not giving it's secrets away and that the fleet will sail under sealed orders, and that it is quite as likely to go west as east.
 GIBRALTAR, May 22.-The Governor here will not allow war vessels pass ing the straits to be reported.
 The Spaniards are preparing what they call their third squadron, which will consist of the Princesa de Asturias, of 1000 tons, and with speed of twenty knots. now at Cadiz; the Cardinal C1s- neros at Ferrol, of the same size and speed; the Lehanto at Cartagena, Of 5000 tons and a speed of twenty knots, and the Numancia and Victoria, the latter of which is being newly armored and engined. There are also at Ferrol the torpedo gunboats Dona Maria de Molina. Marquis de la Victoria and Don Alvaro de Bazan, each of 800 tons and twenty knots speed
 Unless the American Government moves quickly it will have the foregoine to contend with in addition to Admiral Cervera's and Admiral Camara souadrons. The latter Is expected to leave Cadiz within a few days. His destination is unknown. but is probably the Antilles. notwithstanding that newspapers say it is the Philippines.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
TWO CONNECTS
 IN 4 COMBAT Desperate Fight at San
 Quentin. EACH IS BADLY WOUNDED. GUARDS SAVE THE LIFE OF ONE
 OF THE MEN. Prevent His Antagonist From Hurl- ing Him From Balcony
 to the Flagstones
 Below.
EACH IS BADLY WOUNDED
GUARDS SAVE THE LIFE OF ONE
 OF THE MEN.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN QUENTIN, May 22.-Within the walls of the prison to-day there oc- cured a combat in which two convicts fought each other until the floor of their cell was rendered slippery with blood. Interference by the guards at a critical moment saved the life ofone of the combatants, just as his infuriated opponent was in the act of hurling him over the balcony to the stone Tagging below.
 The convicts were F. Devine, alias Liverpool, a burglar, committed from Los Angeles, and J. Edwards, doing seven years, from San Francisco. Both men occupied cell II. The fight began at 6:30 o'clock this morning over the possession of pillow.
 The men went at it tooth and nail Any article that could be grasped was
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23

not meet the fleet of Admiral Cervera within the next seven days the admin istration will not any longer delay the invasion.
 The greatest secrecy Is to be matn- tained in the War Department when 1t is decided to make a move against Cuba. The Government wishes to feel assured that the first intimation that Spain will have of troops leaving Key West will be when General Blanco sees Americans on Cuban soil. 1 know that Secretary Alger and Secretary Long have agreed in regard to the conveys that will accompany the transports carrying troops.
 The advocates of delay are still using all their powers to get President Me Kinley to put off the invasion until fall, but with very little success. I was told by a prominent army officer who has spent several years in Cuba that the fright in regard to yellow fever has been greatly exaggerated. He says that with the arrangements made by the medical department there will be very little danger of yellow fever be- coming epidemic among the troops.
 The principal difficulty in delaying the invasion until late in June would be the impassability of roads for cav out by Lieutenant Rowan in his report to the Secretary of War. The Presi- dent would undoubtedly put off army movements in Cuba until fall if 1t was not impossible on account of the starv- ing condition of the reconcentrados. Food must be taken to these people be- fore the autumn months or the United States will be directly responsible for deaths that occur in the meantime. The President, realizing that fact, will do all in his power to hasten the attack on General Blanco's army
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
WOULD PAY BURGLARS
 THE VALUE OF LOOT.
Senator Mason Issues an Appeal to Crooks Who Robbed His
 House of Keepsakes.

WASHINGTON, May 22.-Last night the residence of Senator William Mason of Illinois, 1432 Chapin street, this city, was entered bv burglars, and jewelry to the value of nearly s4000 was stolen. Not a clew to either the burglars or to the jewelry has been obtained. This evening Senator Mason issued to the burglars a characteristic appeal, which he hopes will be needed. It is as fol- lows:
 To the gentleman who robbed my house last night: I will pay in cash more than any one else for the watch and pin you took last night, and give you my word of honor that you shall not be prosecuted nortrait of my little son, who died years ago. and it was as was also the watch, a present You can communicate with rely absolutely on my promise not to orcsacute WILLIAM E. MASON.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
B'NAl BIRTH DELEGATES
 MEET AT FORT WAYNE.
Annual Session of the Second Dis trict, Comprising Middle and
 Western States

FORT WAYNE, Ind, May 22-The In dependent Order of B'nai B'rith of the second district, began it's annual session here to-day. Nearly 100 delegates are present from the district, which com prises Ohio, Indiana. Kentucky, Missouri Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico The report of the asylum in Cleveland in which 800 or 600 orphans are cared for shows that there has not been death in the institution for three years
 The committee on propaganda reported new lodges in St. Louis, Louisville, Den yer and other places, Bernard Freeman of Cincinnati was elected trustee of the endowment fund for five years, and Louis Levy of St. Louis was elected trus- tee of the Orphans Home at Cleveland.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
SINKING A SHAFT TO
 REACH THE BODIES.
Heroic Efforts of Miners to Recover the Victims of the Mayors
 vile. Pa.. Disaster,

ALLENTOWN, Pa., May 22.-The four men crushed to death yesterday by the cave-in at Harbell & Swatz' hematile ore mines near Mayorsville were Jacob Reinhard, aged 40 having wife and two children Oscar Reinard his brother, aged 34, having wife and three children; Morris Dry, single. aged 21, and Morris Engel. single, aged 20.
 A shaft was sunk near the place where the bodies lay and men have been work ing in shifts ever since the accident in the effort to reach the bodies. At , o'clock this evening three bodies were within view under a broken mass of tim bers It may require constant work all night to remove the bodies-
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
TWO REPUBI CAN CLUBS.
Bakersfield and Kern City Join the
 State League.

BAKERSFIELD, May 22.-The Repub- Iicans of this city met last night and completed the organization of a club in accordance with the State League. J. w. Wiley was elected president and c. L. McGee secretary. It was named the Kern County Republican Club. A. c. Maude was chosen to attend the meeting of the State League in San Francisco.
 Kern City Republicans organized club Friday night, with James Curran presi- dent and W. " Mattlack secretary. It was christened the Dewey Republican Club of Kern. Both clubs start with a strong membership.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
THOUSANDS OF ACRES
 OF WHEAT SUBMERGED.
Break in Levee on the Mississippi Causes Immense Loss to
 Farmers.

QUINCY, H., May 22.-The break in the levee in the Indian district has caused the spreading waters to cover an area of nearly 1500O acres of farming lands and on part of them the water is three feet deep. It Is estimated that 5000 or 4000 acres of wheat Is submerged and 1t will probably be total loss. The streams are out of their banks on the Missouri
 side of the river opposite this city and the farmers have not been able to cross the bottoms since Thursday evening. Much damage has been done by wash outs and in the carrying away of bridges.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
$ 2 2 UQUu Q UonUUUUUo

NEW YORK, May z2-The Her aids Washington correspondent tele- graphs: While the Monterey has been ordered to proceed to Manila, 1t does not necessarily follow that the author ities have confrmatory information of representations that a Spanish fleet is bound for the Philippines. As matter of fact the dispatch of the Monterey was in the nature of a precaution.. With her in the Philippines, supported by five protected cruisers and three gunboats. Rear Admiral Dewey will be able to de feat any force that Spain may send against him. The authorities do not believe that Spain will send her home squadron to the Philippines The sail ing orders, which 1t is said 1t received, require 1t to come west, 1t IS believed, and join forces with Admiral Cervera' s feet
 II this be true, then the officials eX- pect that Admiral Cervera will carry on a waiting policy, avoiding battle with armorclads of this Government. as he can do in view of the speed Of his ships, preventing the dispatch of any army of invasion by menacing the troop ships. appearing at points where necessity will compel the dispatch of armorclads, and playing in general hide and seek game until he Is re-enforced.
 So far as the officials can learn the only effective reinforcement he can ex- pect are the battle-ship Pelayo, the ar mored cruiser Carlos V, the protected cruiser Alfonso XIII. and the torpedo boat destroyers Audaz, Fulton and Proserpina.
 On account of the inconvenience in conveying torpedo boats those In Span ish waters will probably be retained with the second class batt1e-ships Vic toria and Numancia, for the protection of the coast When his re-enforcements arrive Admiral Cervera will have for midable squadron under his command. There will be the battle-ship Pelayo, the armored cruisers Carlos V, Infanta Maria Teresa, Cristobal Colon, Vizcaya and Almirante Oquendo. the protected cruiser Alfonso XIII and six torpedo boat destroyers.
 Against this force Rear Admiral Sampson can oppose the battle-ships Iowa, Indiana, Massachusetts and Ore gon, the second class battle-ship Texas and armored cruisers Brooklyn and New York, besides some protected cruisers, auxiliary cruisers and torpedo boats. Rear Admiral Sampson will therefore have at his disposal seven armor-clads, superior to those of the Spaniards both in number and formid- abeness, and his protected cruisers will, it is hoped, be able to take care of the destroyers.
 But the great advantage which Ad- miral Cervera's vessels will have will be their speed, even the battle-ship Pelayo being able to steam at a greater rate than that of the American battle ships.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
SECRETARY LONG GIVES
 OUT NO INFORMATION.
Says He Has Not Kept in Touch With the Fleets Since Leaving
 Washin oton

BOSTON, May 22-Secretary John D. Long, when asked by a reporter to- day about the location of the fleets, re- piled:
 Since leaving Washington on Sat urday I have not been in touch with the department and know no. more about 1t than do the newspapers. This is my day off"
 The reporter told MT. Long of re- ported battle near Santiago de Cuba, and asked if 1t were probable, to which the Secretary replied:
 Tt is possible; that is all"
 MT. Long returns directly to Wash ington tomorrow
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
WOULD EXTERMINATE
 THE CUBAN PEOPLE
Spaniards Intent on Awful Revenge for the Certain Loss of
 the Island

KEY WEST. May 22-The destitu- tion in Havana is frightful and is in- creasing. The grocers, all of whom are Spaniards, refuse absolutely to sell food to the Cubans, as if determined to starve them. The Cubans say the Spaniards hate them more than they do Americans.
 Senor Arangueren's correspondents declare that the Spaniards realize that Cuba is lost but that before yielding the islands they will endeavor to ex- terminate the Cubans.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
Monitor Jason in Service.

PHILADELPHIA, May 22-The old single turret monitor Jason, which has been undergoing repairs and refitting at League Island Navy Yard, left for New York this morning in tow of the tug Pioneer. Good time was made down the river. and at 7:30 o'clock to- night she passed out by the Delaware Capes. The Jason's crew is made up of former New York naval reserves from Rochester and Brooklyn, but now regu- larly enlisted in the navy, and is com manded by Lieutenant Fickbohn.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
GREAT BRITAIN MAKES
 OVERTURES TO JAPAN.
Contemplates Scheme to Establish a Sort of Asiatic Balance
 of Power

LONDON. May 23.-The Vienna corre- spondent of the Daily Telegraph says: Confirmation is given in well-informed n,arters In Vienna to the rumor that friendly advances made by England to Japan have already attained a tangible result. It is believed that an Anglo-Jap- anese understanding has been reached, which not only comprehends all eventual ities which can occur in the East. but also contempIates all the consequences that might result in the. course of the Hispano-American war The understand ing establishes a sort of Asiatic balance of power.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
Denied by the Turks.

WASHINGTON, May 22.-The imperial Ottoman legation in Washington declares that the dispatch of May 21 from. Con- stantinople. published by the American papers. concerning the refusal by the citizens to travel in the interior of the empire. is absolutely and entirely with out foundation.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
Probably a Slander.

LONDON, May 23. The Brussels correspondent of the Daily Mail says: United States Consul General George w. Roosevelt, when asked why he did not take active part in the war, de- clined saving: "I was wounded in the war of secession a dozen times, and have paid my debt to my country. An American never pays the same debt tIx,ioa''
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
Michael Dwyer's Remains.

SYDNEY, N. S. w., May 22.-The cen tenary of the Irish rebellion of 179S was celebrated here to-day. The remains of Michael Dwyer, who died in 1925, and the remains of his wife, were taken up and ceremony was witnessed by thousands. The foundation stone of the monument was also laid.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
Pitching Tents at Jacksonville.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, May 22.-The first of the troops to be encamped here arrived tonight, the Second Regiment of Illinois reaching here first, followed bv the Second Wisconsin. Both num- Der about 1000 men each. The camp is in command of Brigadier General Law ton. The North Carolina regiments will reach here tomorrow and others will follow later on.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
Rain in Monterey County.

MONTEREY. May 22.-Heavy rain fell throughout this entire section last night. commencing before midnight. The precipitation was g of an inch. Present conditions indicate more rain tonight. Fruits and vegetables are reported greatly benefited by the down nOIlr
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
Baseball at San Rafael.

SAN RAFAEL, May PA close and exciting game of ball was played at the new baseball grounds near the broad gauge depot to-day between the San Ra- fael Baseball Club and the Kohlberg Strauss & Frohmans of San Francisco. The latter team carried off the honors with score of IA to 6.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
Corpse Cast Ashore.

sPANISHTOWN, May 22.-The body of another of the men lost from the Can- adian schooner Mermaid, which was wrecked near here three weeks ago. came ashore this morning. It was so badly de- composed that Identification has been impossible.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
HAS CERVERA BEEN
 DRAWN INTO A TRAP?

NEW YORK May dispatch Sunday 
 
 
 
   Cerv in Americans, has fallen into
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-23
Rieht Hon. Spencer Walpole Dead.

LONDON, May 22.-The Right Hon. Spencer Horatio Walpole, Secretary of State for the Home Department in Lord SaIisbury's second and third administra- tions is dead.