The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-07-09
CAUSE FOR Celebration.
The People Had Good Reason for
Enthusiasm on the Ma
toms Birthday.
GOOD NEWS BOTH FROM EAST AND WEST.
The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet, the
probable Speedy Surrender of santi-
and the Arrival of the Expedition
at Manila After Picking Up the La
drones by the wayside.

WASHINGTON, July 5.-1he COM
plete humiliation of the Spanish
squadron at Santiago and the capture
of the Spanish admiral, Cervera, with
1900 prisoners; the demand by Gen.
Shafter for the surrender of Santiago
by II o'clock to-day, on pain of bonn
bardment; word from Admiral Dewey
hat the Ladrone Islands had been
captured; that a Spanish gunboat had
surrendered; that a hundred or more
Spanish officers and men were taken
and that our first Philippine expedi-
ton had landed-this is in part the
thrilling record of such a Fourth of
July as has not been known since the
bells of lndepenence hall rang out the
tidings of American freedom.
A Day of Momentuous Events.
1t was a day when one momentous
event followed another in constant and
rapid succession, each hour bringing
forth some new feature more startling
than what had gone before. The eli
max came at one o'clock, when, amid
the widest cheering, which fairly
shook the great war, state and navy
building to it's foundation, Admiral
SIMPSONS dispatch announcing his
glorious vict Try and the entire destruc-
ton of the Spanish fleet, vas given to
the public.
The Focal Point of Enthusiasm.
The White House was naturally the
focal point of the enthusiasm and stir
ring activity which marked official
Washington. 1t was the busiest day
the president has had since the war be-
gan. Conference followed conference
with the heads of the military and
naval departments; high officers of the
several departments came and went in
a constant and steady stream, and as
each hour brought its added luster to
the American arms the crowd of Of
ficials increased.
The president had not a moments
respite. kilograms came and went
without cessation as the historic old
mansion presented a scene such has
not been seen since the nom entous
hours of the civil war.
Best Told by the Official Dispatches.
The stories of the day are best told
by the series of official dispatches, each
bearing date of July 4 from Sampson,
from Shafter and from Dewey. Stir
ring as they are, Sampson was ac-
corded the order of chief Importance,
not only for the immediate results
secured, but also from the effects of
this crushing defeat in weakening the
defenses of the city of Santiago and in
dealing Spain such a staggering blow
xl.A ,la - 1nff nroatiaal1u JrIfhnIt a
navy.
Sampson's Fourth of July Present to the
Nation.
The admirars dispatch is as follows:
A DEL ESTE, July 4.
The fleet under my command offers the ma
tion as a Fourth Of July present the deStruc-
ton of the whole of Cervera's feet. No one es-
capped.
It attempted to escape at $50 a. m. and at 2
D. M, the last, the Cristobal Colon, had run
ashore six miles west OF Santiago and had let
DOWN her cOlorS-
The Infanta Maria Teresa, Oquendo and Viz
caya were forced ashore. burned and blown up
within % miles OF Santiago. The FurOr and
Pluton were destroyed within four miles Of the
port
Our loss one killed and two wounded. Enc
my's loss probably several hundred from gun
fire, explosions aud drow
ABDUL LOW pTlSOuCLS SAOdln SOA
vera.
The man killed was George H. Ellis, chief
Teoman OF the Brooklyn. SAMPSON.
Tells the Story of Fearful Destruction.
Although brief, Admiral SIMPSONS
dispatch tells the story of fearful de-
struction. 1t not only disclosed the
tremendous prowess of the American
fleet, but 1t again displayed the strange
immunity which the American sailor
seems to nave in the midst of death
and carnage. That but n of our
sailors, a yoeman on the Brooklyn,
should have been killed in an engage
ment of this magnitude, is without a
parallel in naval annals, save in that
other unparalleled record which
Dewey made at Manila.
With the Spanish fleet destroyed, the
way is partly cleared for the advance
of the American squadron into the har-
Dor of Santiago. If Cervera's armored
cruisers could cross the mine field and
clear the Merrimac at the entrance to
the harbor, the American ships can fol-
low the same course.
The Fall of Santiago Assured.
1lSEC L I'LL lLuSI " blACdUlOuS anu
island forts still to be reduced, but
they have passed through a baptism of
Gre recently, and are little more than
ruins. Thus, with Skaters guns
laundering on Santiago from the land
and SIMPSONS from the harbor, the
fallsof the city is assured beyond fur
Their question.
The authorities here, military and
naval. say that Santiago has already
made its best fight, and hat its occu-
patton is only a question of time, and
very brief time.
Gen. Skaters Strong Position. !
Gen. Skaters strong position was
shown in "a series of dispatches. Most
convincing of all as to his feeling of
confidence and strength, was that dis
patch given out late IN the day in
which Gen. Shafter gives the text of
his demand for the surrender of the
city on pain of bombardment. This
dispatch is as follows:
Correspondence of Gen. Shafter De mand- |
Ing the Surrender of Santiago.