The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-31

Ponce, Porto Rico, Thursday, July rs
(via St. Thomas, D. w. L, July 29).-
The conquest of Porto Rico has begun.
The Spanish have abandoned Ponce,
the principal port on the southern coast
of the island, and in many respects its
most progressive city. Last night Cen
eraI Miles landed, and this morning
took possession and raised the stars
and stripes. The inhabitants received
the Americans with open arms, and
gave them the widest and most exag-
gerated welcome, indicating that the
population was ripe for the revolt
which was predicted as soon as Amer
lean troops touched the shore.
The forces landed at Guanica on
Monday have been moved, and now
hold the terminus of the railway con-
Meeting Yauco with Ponce. They en-
countered no opposition except on
Tuesday morning at daylight, when the
advance skirmishers pushed into a
force of Spaniards occupying a house
on the Yauco road. The skirmishers,
under hot fire, fell back, and then
again came CALAMITY forward, driving
the enemy for a mile from the fortifi-
cations into the bush.
In the encounter three Americans
were wounded: Captain Edward ]. Glib
bons, company a, shot in the left leg;
Captain B. \. Bostwick, company J., in
the left arm, slightly; Private James
Drummond, company K, in the neck.
The enemy lost three killed and IA
wounded. After the action it was be-
lieVed that the enemy intended to con-
test the advance from Guanica. and
General Miles made preparations to
send General Wilson's troops to Ponce
with a view of throwing them between
Ponce and the enemy and closing in on
the latter with both divisions. He sent
word to Captain Higginson of the bat
tleship Massachusetts yesterday to be
ready to cover the landing today.
READY TO CAPITULATE.
An officer was sent ashore yesterday
afternoon TO formally demand the sur
render of the port of Ponce, three miles
from the city of Ponce. The officer was
crafty surprised to learn that not only
the port, but the city of Ponce. was
ready to capitulate. The Spanish COM
mander, Julison San Martin. with 1000
men, without artillery. had been taken
completely by surprise by the invasion
occurring in this quarter. On advice
of the British consul he decided to
make no resistance. A force of ma
rines was Immediately sent from the
Annapolis and the American flag was
hoisted over the customs house in the
port of Ponce. During the night the
Spanish troops retired from the city
along the military road. towards San
Juan, where il is probable that Captain
General Macias will eventually concen-
trate all the Spanish forces in the is
land.
In the morning General Miles estab-
lished headquarters at the custom
house and raised the American flag.
Among the prizes found in the har-
Dor were 20 lighters used in loading
sugar ships, and these were used in
stead of cutters TO convey the troops
ashore, during which operation not a
man or animal was injured.
REMARKABLE SCENE.
The scene when the soldiers reached
the wharves along the water front was
Thousands of residents OF
the city men, women and children,
lined the water front and shouts of
10Y and cries of viva los Americanos,'
.'Buenos dias," Puerto Rico libre.'
greeted them. The soldiers were re-
ceived like liberators, rather than in
truders. The red-shirted firemen came
down to the wharf in body and cheer
ed Justify. Captain Lyons, with COM
pany K, of the Sixteenth regiment. i'm
rnediately marched to the city and es-
tablished a provisional guard in the
building, the soldiers being
ated room of the alcalde. On every
ienced Women adorned themselves in