The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-24

gunboats that lured the United States
torpedo boat Winslow into the death
trap were the Antonio Lopez, Lealand
and Ligera. During the fight the two
former retreated behind the wharves
and the Ligera behind the key. 1t was
the Antonio Lopez that opened fire on
the WinslOw and decoyed her into the
channel. The Spanish troops formed
on the public square, not daring to go
to the wharves; all the Spanish flags
were lowered, as they furnished tar
gets, and the families all fled to Jo-
Vellanos. Senior Castro says an Amer
lean shell exploded in the very en-
trance to the Spanish casino, shatter-
ing the building and setting it on fire.
The casino, which had been used as
military headquarters and infantry
barracks, and which was the largest
structure in the town, was utterly de-
strOyed Other buildings were wrecked.
Some of the shots went SO far as the
Triente sugar plantation, two miles in
the interior. The Spanish loss Of life,
Senior Castro believes, to have been
very heavy. 1t was so reported. At
ter the bombardment ceased, the mill
tary commander pressed all able
bodied men into the work of carrying
sand to build new batteries, and the
next day 1900 men were brought from
Matanzas and Havana to continue the
work.
Senior Castro, after passing four
days on the Piedras key, signalled the
United States gunboat Wilmington
and was taken off. He says famine
prevails everywhere in Cuba. In Car
denas rice is 25 cents a pound, con-
densed milk sells at $1.50 per can and
horse flesh brings IS cents pound.
There is no beef or bread. The insur-
gents are in dire distress. Formerly
lod ho
cities, but that relief is now impossible
since the cities themselves are starv
ing. The insurgents are trying to
suhsist on peppery wood and palm
buds. Senior Castro tasted meat to-
day for the first time in five weeks.
Gostavo Aranguren's brother Of the
late Cuban insurgent general, Nestor
Aranguren, today received letters
from Havana, via Vera Cruz, dated
May 7th, stating that General Blan-
cos orders impressng all Cubans into
the Spanish army has had the effect of
driving many into insurgents ranks
A. BetancOurt, an American citizen
and Gonzales Arrange, the letters state,
have been arrested and confined in the
Cabanas fortress on charges Of aiding
the insurgents.
The destitutiOn in Havana is fright
full and is increasing. The grocers, all
of whom are Spaniards, refuse abso-
lutely to sell food to the Cubans as il
determined to starve them. The Gu
bans say the Spaniards hate them
more than they do the Americans.
Senior Aranguren's correspondents
declare that the Spaniards realize that
Cuba is lost, but before yielding the
island they will endeavor to extermi-
nate the Cubans.
SPANISH VESSELS TO COAL AT
copyrighted by Associated Press)
Pierre, Martinique, May 22.-Admiral
Cervera's squadron, it is reported on
good authority, will return to these
waters to coal 1t is known that a
number Of Spanish colliers are on their
way to Fort de France. The British
steamer Twickenham having been re-
fused the privilege of coaling the Span
ish torpedo boat destroyer Terror and
the hospital ship Alicante in the Fort
de France harbor, it is thought these
vessels will coal from her at sea and
that she WIFI then go to meet Admiral
Cervera's squadron for the same pur-
pose. The Twickenham carries 1000
tons of coal.
Late this afternoon an unknown
man-of-war was sighted off the south
west coast of Martinique. The Ali
| cante has again changed her moorings
Il
the Alicante is momentarily expected.
| London, May -23.-The Madrid corre-
spondent of the Daily Mail says: The
government waits for results from Ad-
miral Cervera before deciding as to the
orders for the second squadron"
VAIN ROASTING OF THE SPAN
IARDS.
Lon don. May pa dispatch to the
Daily Mail from Hong Kong says:
Spa uiardS in Hong Kong and az
Manila openly boast that a fleet Of
warshipS is on the way cut to the
Philippi1 les, and the bishops have is
sued pas ,toraas to the effect -tlat Spain
and God are preparing to cut out these
social excl ,escenses from America. The
pastorals urge the people to give no
quarter and they aScribe Ldmlral
Dewey's hur. 1aniry in refusing to bonn
bard Manila as due to fear. at the
same time money is being spent in
bribing the inferior leaders among the
insurgents.
There is so1ue anxiety here because
of the non-arriVa1 Of American troops
and the American consulate is crowd
ed with volunteers. United States
Consul Wiidam is on duty night anS
day. An American miner from ManilS
by name of Occur, has arrived here.
For several years he managed coal
mine near Cebu, and the Spanish au-
thorities, fearing he would supply the
American fleet expelled him. He re-
ports that food IS scarce at Cebu.
Flour is very high and potatoes cannot
the city are responsible for the revolt
nf hA later