Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-06-23
TO BURN THE TOWN.
Residents of Caimanera Ready to APP
ply the TOrch-Spanfsh Troops
Are Panic-Stricken.


that the inhabitants of Caimanera have
strewn the streets with straw and oil,
with the intention of destroying the
city and fleeing to the hills. Caimanera
lies four miles up the bay from Camp
McCalla, under the guns of the Amer
lean ships, and the situation is desper-
ate. Starving and famine stricken,
convinced of the ultimate triumph of
the American arms and without faith
in the protection of the Spanish sol
diery, the people are believed to have
determined to leave their houses in
ashes behind them and seek safety in
the mountains of the north. The scouts
declare that the story is accurate, and
say that every building of the town is
being rapidly prepared for the torch.
The situation of the besieged is fear
| full one. The people are eating horses
and mules, and are securing the hills
for fruits and herbs. Occasionally brief
commandments by the American fleet
leaves the helpless citizens terror
stricken, no preparations for defense
being made. 1t is also stated that the
Spanish gunboat at Caimanera has
been loaded with infammables, and
will be burned with the city, her COM
mander declaring that she will never
become an American prize.
The scouts also say that the Spanish
soldiers are in almost as complete n
state of panic as are the civilians, and
that they could easily be induced to
surrender. Some of the prisoners taken
by the marines also say they believe the
Spanish troops are on the verge of sur
render, owing to the lack of food.
Capt. McCalla, of the cruiser Marble
head, and Lieut.. Col. Huntington, in
command of the marines, are not so
sure, however, of the reported Spanish
rout. They have received information
that a general attack by force OF
$500 Spanish soldiers and guerrillas on
Camp McCalla is contemplated within
, a night or two. Every preparation Is
, made for the expected assault.
Gen. Perejo, who is in command Of
!, the Spanish forces, is undoubtedly des
perate in regard to obtaining food fol
his men. The prisoners who have beer
captured appear to have been ill fec
and are apparently Indifferent to thei1
I fate.
! There was a brief bombardment O
, a bloclxhouse up the bay by the battle
: ship Oregon Saturday, and it is believed
that during the firing at least scor
of Spaniards were killed. Scouting par
ties report that the blockhouse wa
. completely destroyed, but that the.
q were unable to discover any bodies, tn
ro,,o;,e ~ +ha colIierS who had beel
- killed probably having been carried OF
h by their comrades.
n The marines are growing very rest
II less owing to the delay in the arrival Q
- the reinforcements of troops, but it
~ generally believed here that the trans
- ports will reach Santiago not later tina
IS to-day.
~ On Board the Dispatch Boat Daunt
IN less, Off Santiago de Cuba, via Kings
q. ton, Jamaica, June 20.-Three large cal
q. goes of supplies are known 10 have ru
$ the blockade already and great quaint
ne ties of food are struggled to Havan
re by way of the Isle of Pines, Cienfuego
and other points on the southwest coas
having direct railroad communication
=. with the capital. 1t is believed, how
~ ever, that nothing reaches Santiag
- from any of those points. The auNiliar
80 cruisers Yankee and Yosemite are no
i scouting for the Spanish steamer Pur
sima Conception, which left Kingsto
a r. en- Thursday morning, flying the Spar
~. ish flag, with focd and ammunition ft
, Cuba.
T. Admiral Sampson has decided to +
10 CT o. Co n IN n
"a He has deferred attacking this forth
be cation, knowing that the Spaniart
nd were holding Hobson and his men the
be as shield. Sampson has learned TIL
~, the gallant band that sunk the Merl
Ct mae are no longer held in MORO castl
al and he has decided to lombard the fol
ba He thinks that one shell from the Yes
ba vius will tear it to shreds. During II
m firing on Santiago's land batteries ca
lie was taken not to hit MORO because
ba the knowledge that Hobson ard his INT
ulI were confined there.
he Key West, Fla, June 20.-Juan Sa
at tos, Cuban pilot who arrived here Su
til day morning on board an Americ
he warship, reports that he entered Sa
IA tiago de Cuba and found there Spa
led ish garrison of 5000 men. He adds tn
.nt the vessels of Admiral Cerveras fie
adj lying at that port are the armor
be- cruisers Cristobal Colon, Vizcaya a
ect Almirante Oquendo, two small cruise
he two torpedo boats and the Reina M
uid cedes, which had been stripped of h
re- guns for the purpose Of using them
did reinforce the land batteries.
of Madrid, June 20.-A private dispat
received here from New York sa
Gen. Skaters expedition has land
ing near Santiago de Cuba and will alta
ops the town Immediately.
OF London, June 20.-The Hong-Mo
ong correspondent of the Times says: |
lrd, rebels hold Manila at their mercy,
ned Admiral Dewey is anxious that
not American troops should have the hol
}, it of receiving the Spanish capitulati
the The steamer Yuen Sing reports pass
,or- the United States troopship City
the pekinp IN the morning of the 18th n