The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-08-02

Ponce, Puerto Rico Aug. 2.-No for
ward movement Of the army is expect
ed for several days. The troops with
Cen Brookes army corps and the re-
mainder of the First corps are arriving
slowly. Our troops will probably re
main here quietly until the bulk of the
army has disembarked. Gen. Wilson
pushed Gen. Ernst's brigade, consist
ing of the Second Connecticut, Second
and Third Wisconsin and the Twenty
third Pennsylvania regiments, out a
mile and a half on the military road
after dusk. leaving two companies of
the Sixth to act as a provost guard in
the city. Capt. Allison has been ap-
pointed provost marshal, and with the
aid Of the local constabulary, has pre-
served excellent order, although al
most the entire population Of the city
remained on the streets celebrating the
arrival of their American liberatOrS
Until long after midnight. All sorts of
wild rumors have been brought in to
Gen. Wilson, The first was that the
Spanish were to
Attack the City
in force In view of this a strong out
post was maintained by Gen. Ernst
and the men slept on their arms. This
rumOr, however, soon gave way to ru-
mors that the Spaniards were retreat
ing, putting entire villages, plantation
buildings and houses to the torch and
numbering and ravishing as they went.
Some of the wealthy plantation own
ers of the vicinity became horror
stricken and appealed wildly to Gen.
Wilson to dispatch troops to the res
cue. but it was manifestly impossible
to divide a small force. None of the
reports were confirmed when daylight
came except that the Spaniards were
in full retreat. Gen. Jose Gorcia, who
is in command of the Spanish regulars
believed not to number more than
5O0-was deserted by most Of the vol
unteers. who began struggling back to
the city with the dawn. They imme-
diately presented themselves to the
provost marshal and surrendered their
arms. The appearance of the vOlun-
teers aroused in the breasts of the ma
tives, who had suffered at their hands
in the past, and especially the political
prisoners who were released when we
took the city,
Desire for Revenge
and they began to ferrit out all the
Spaniards in the city who had ever
been in the volunteer service, and
dragged them to the plaza. Blood
hounds could have not been more saw
age. Most of the Spaniards in hiding
upon being discovered were hauled in
triumph by hooting, jeering mobs in
triumph to Gen. Wilson or the provost
marshafs office in the municipal build
ing. Some of the natives even began
l0oting the residences of the Spanish.
They mistook liberty for license and
were craZed with a thirst for ven
geance. Gen. Wilson, however, soon
taught them that revenge could not be
Wreaked under the protection of our
flag, and peremptOrily ordered that the
arrest of Spanish subjects should
cease Business in the city has en-
loved a great boom since the arrival Of
the Americans.
Takes a Few Cities.
Without seeing or hearing anything
Of the enemy, the advance guard of
Gen. Henrys division, which landed at I.
Guanca on Thursday, has arrived here,
taking Ell route the cities of Yauco,
Talubo, Sabana Grande and PonulaS.
Attempts by the Spanish to blow up
bridges and otherwise destroy the rail
way between Yaunco and Ponce
failed, only a few fiat cars being
burned. Our troops have fired up the
locomotives and are now operating the
road from end to end, carrying sup
plies, messages and men. At Yauco
the Americans were welcomed in an
address made by the alcalde. A pub
lie proclamation was issued, dated
''Yauco, Puerto Rico United States of
America, July 2S.' Maj. Webb Hayes,
of the Sixth Ohio, son of Former Pres
ident Hayes hauled up the flag on the
Palace amid cheers from the populace.
The people seemed really glad that the
Americans were here, but they fear an
Uprising of the natives in the interior,
who. it is asserted, will rob, kill and
destroy property in revenge for many
wears of Sn1OiSh miSrulo.