Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-02

me andac8tin great victory hor IN =
american squadron the enthusiasm, of
me people was let loose, and the et reets
OF the city have runs with cheers
throu ghout the night
The first news Of the batY,e raoe;x,od
IN Washington came in a brief car,,e-
gram from Madrid about 8 o'clocI, tbia
evening: As the night wore on the IN ;.
PIE con unued to sing the news OF vic
rory Tor the squadron Of Admiral Dew.
ana the interest grew into tremeu-
deus excitement.
ordinarily Washington is the ouietes,
or cities ON Sunday. but as bulletin afte,
ouilstln was posted in front Of the news
paper offices. each successive one con-
neying information more gratifying
than lss predecessor. the crowds in the
streets became uprorous. Good as we'll
as pad news spread rapidly. and by 10
o o'clock the streets were crowded with
people. all discussing the one existing
topic of the hour. Hundreds ga the1-eG
IN front OF the bulletin boards and ev-
cry scant1lla OF newS-and DIT was all
s!orious-was received with enthusiast
NC cheers. While victory had been ex-
Eected. the news of it-coming as 1T did
from Spanish solrces-geve vent to the
Patriotism of the people which has been
pent up for days. 1t was a spontaneous
cut burst OF patriotic feeling that scarce
~ knew bounds. Admiral Dewey's
name was on every lip and his praises
were sung in the rejoicings of the neo-
Pile.
Thus far no official advces had been
received by the government; but the
associated Press dispatches were trans
mltted to the President and officials OF
the administration as rapidly as they
were received. The President, in com
pany with several of his advisers, read
the bulletins in the library Of the White
House early in the evening, but later in
the night he vent to his office on the
second floor of the executive mansion,
where. until a late hour, he continued to
peruse every dispatch with deepest in
terest The news was evidently OF THE
most gratifying character to him, but
no statement could be obtained at the
executive mansion concerning the battle
or its possible consequences.
Officials of the navy department were
reticent in discussing the conflict, in the
absence of official informa ton, but they
made no pretenSe of conceaMng their
qualification Secretary Long declined
to comment upon the subject, but it was,
evident that he felt relieved. It has
been known for days at the Navy
Depa rtment that a conflict at Manila
was inevitable. and while no great fear
of the result was expressed. there was
yet a deep concern in the heart OF every
oflclai. Tonight5 news removes a
great weight froh the minds of all.
When Secretary Bliss was shown the
first dispatch briefly recounting the
victory of the American squa dron, he
unheSitat!ngly expressed his gratifica-
tion at the result, and gave utterance
to the hope that Admiral Dewey's fleet
had not suffered greatly. Senator Han
ma and !Mr. Chauncey NJ. Depew, of
New York. who were with Secretary
Bliss at the time. were delighted with
the adviceS and made no concealnlent
"f their pleasure.
Secretary Alger declared that it was
a glorious victory. but in common with
other officials of the administration, de-
cined TO make extended comment upon
it.
Navy and army circles. after mani
Testing Throughout the day great eager
ness for news from the Philippines re-
ceived with intense Joy the advices tell
ing of the victory of Admiral Dewey's
fleet. Their satisfaction that the defeat
(of the Spa nish had been Overwhelming
was strengthened by reason of the
news coming almost wholly from Mad
rid. and they We're unreserved in ex-
pressing their qualification upon the
signal triumph of the American forces
tAt the Army and Navy Club large
company was gathered and read and
commented upon the story Of the en-
gageTnent as it was presented in the
bulletins OF THE Associated Press. AT
the club, down town, at their homes,
and wherever seen the officers were free
in giving vent to the pleasure they felt
at the news and in declaring the conf
dence which they entertained through
out that the American ships, their Off
GERS and men would demonstrate their
superiority over the Spanish fleet in the
Philippine waters.
The absence of any statement OF
specific INJURY to the American vessels
in the Madrid advices was construed as