davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The record-union., 1898-05-06
NO WORD FROM DEWEY,
The Cable Company Asserts That
No Message Has Been Sent.

LONDON, May 5.-The officials of
the Eastern Telegraph Company, when
questioned to-day, said: Neither Pres
ident Mckinley nor anyone else has
received message from Commodore
Dewey
Such message must necessarily be
transmitted over the lines of the East
ern Telegraph Company from Manila
and Hongkong. The company knows
of no communication emanating from
Manila since the cable was cut. The
company has been watching all points
for Manila intelligence, being anxious
regarding the safety of it's staff and
property.
MAY TAKE SOME TINE TO RE-
PAIR THE CABLE.
CHICAGO, May 5.-Charles H. Sum-
mers, electrician of the Western Union
Telegraph Company, was interviewed
to-day concerning the interruption to
the cable between Hongkong and Man
ila Mr.. Sumner said that the Hong
kong Manila cable in a direct line
would be .62S miles long, but as there
is undoubtedly some slack it is doubt
less 700 miles long. With delicate in
struments, such as cable companies
The record-union., 1898-05-06

| land Solano. When all participants in
the ceremony were in their places the
Captain General saluted military fash
ion and read his message to Congress.
When he had finished reading his
message Captain General Blanco
shouted: ''Vive Esoano." which cheer
was responded to with considerable en-
thusiasm The Captain-G General then
declared the Cuban Congress open, and
administered the oath to the Deputies.
He asked all of them if they swore to
always defend Spain, and was answered
with a spontaneous Yes
AT the palace the Captain General,
from a balcony. witnessed a march past
of the troops. The Captain General was
cheered all the way to and from the
hall of Congress, and from the balconies
ladies threw flowers upon the process
sion and liberated doves as a sign of re-
joicing.
The members of the Cuban Congress,
previous to the formal opening of that
body, held a meeting for the purpose of
organization.
DR.. Jose De Cuto presided. Thirty
seven Deputies of whom ten are Con-
servatives, presented to the Secretary of
Justice, Senor GOWN, their certificates of
election.
HAVANA, May SIS D. m.-The In
sular Congress held it's first session at
noon to-day. Former Civil Governor
Bruzon was elected President of the
Senate and Senior Jose Manuel Del Cuel-
10, President of the lower house.
The French steamer Lafayette has
been all the evening in sight of Havana,
and it is believed she will enter the har-
Dor tomorrow morning
-Four American warshios were seen
this afternoon a considerable distance
out.
The record-union., 1898-05-06
STEAMER ST. PAUL.
Captain Sigsbee's Auxiliary Cruiser
Sails From Cramps Shipyard.

PHILADELPHIA May 5.-The big
auxiliary cruiser st. Paul, with Cap
tain Sigsbee on the bridge, left the
Cramps shipyard at 500 o'clock this
morning and steamed down the Della
ware River.
Contrary to the announcement at
Cramps ship yard, that the St. Paul
would stop at League Island navy yard
for ammunition, the big cruiser pro-
ceeded straight down the Delaware
River and anchored at Deep Water
Point, near New Castle, Del. 1t is pre-
sumed that the st. Paul will take on her
ammunition in the Delaware Bay off
Bombay Hook at the same time she re-
ceives her coal.
AS to the ST. PauPs destination moth
ing is known here, but it is believed
that she is to do scout duty along the
middle Atlantic coast.
The alleged Spanish spy who was
caught on the ST. Paul late Tuesday
night was put ashore at Cramps ship
yard just before the cruiser sailed. The
evidence against him was not deemed
sufficient, and he was released.
The record-union., 1898-05-06

| Iinforcements. They paid no attention
to the insurgents, but began a sharp
fusilade at the tug. Bullets flew around
the tug so fast that the lookout aft
came down. The Leyden, seeing no
chance to land the ammunition just
then, picked up the men she had land
ed and steamed back to the flagship
off Havana, reporting that it would be
impossible to land the cargo unless
protected. The gunboat Wilmington
was Immediately ordered to help the
Leyden.
On returning to the landing point the
Wilmington held off shore about a mile
and half, the Leyden going close into
the beach. The tug was signaled by the
insurgents that the coast was clear.
Manned by four men, boat then left
the Leyden with ammunition and two
large boxes of dynamite. When short
distance from the beach a man aloft
on the Leyden sang out that the cav
airy were coming down to the beach
again in strong force.
The Leyden signaled the Whining
ton and the latter came a trifle closer
to shore, and with her stern facing the
beach, fired four shots from her four
inch rapid-f1re guns. The cavalrymen
|retreated, and the boats cargo was
then landed.
While waiting to take the cavalrymen
the Wilmington fired at a block house
further down the beach. There were
some fifty Spanish regulars sitting on
top of this blOck-house, watching the
Leyden and the insurgents. The Will
mington'S first shots went wild. The
twelfth and last shot hit the bulls eye
When the smoke cleared away the
block house, the men and all had disap-
peared as though swallowed up. The
Spanish birds that had flown from the
house were seen high up in a tree, where
a shot had driven them.
The Leyden and Wilmington returned
to the flagship, and the former then
came here. There are dozens of holes
in the tugs smokestack from the bull
let's of the cavalrymen.
NAVAL BATTLE EXPECTED.
NEW YORK, May 5.-A Key West
special to the Evening Post" dated to-
day, says:
Four Spanish warships are reported
to be off Barbados, presumed to in
tercept the battleship Oregon. A naval
battle is expected
The Prize Court to-day is investigat-
ing the Panama case. Testimony has
been concluded on the Buenaventura
and Catlina District Attorney Strip
ling says that there is no doubt about
the Catalina and Panama being con-
demned.
The record-union., 1898-05-06
SIMPSONS FLEET.
Officials Refuse to Make Known It's
Movements.

WASHINGTON,M May 5.-No confirma-
ton is obtainable of the various reports
concerning movements of Admiral
SIMPSONS fleet. Persons who by their
political position might be supposed to
share the confidence of the Administra-
ton make the statement that the Ad-
mira1 has gone to seize Porto Rico, and
this statement is made after conference
it is asserted with almost equal posi-
tiveness that the fleet has gone to meet
the Oregon and bring her in safely to
the north. Still another report is to the
effect that the Admiral has sone to
seize Matanzas. to use as a base of
operations.
The officials refuse absolutely % make
public the plan of the strategy board,
and thus give aid to the enemy. There
fore these conflicting rumors as 10 the
plans of the fleet can only be judged
in the light of their probability when
viewed in connection with the usual
methods of warfare. Thus to lombard
Matanzas without at the Same time
being able to land a sufficient force to
seize and hold the place would seem to
be very bad strategy, and the fact that
SIMPSONS fleet was accompanied by
no troops or transports would seem to
negative the idea that he could have
gone TO attack Matanzas or seize Porto
Rico. To ATTEMPT the latter would re-
quire strong landing force in view of
the unanimous opposition of the troops
on the island and in addition it may be
suggested that Admiral Sampson would
be very loath to run the risk of having
one or more of his best ships completely
disabled by attacking forts needlessly
and thus leave his fleet inferior to the
Spanish force.
A significant movement is the adding
of the warship New Orleans to Comrno-
dore Schley's squadron in place of the
Columbia. This seems to indicate a
complete change in the character of the
squadron, which, instead of being fly
ing squadron, in the ordinary sense
has now assumed the character of a
battle fleet Without being as speedy
as at first organized, Commodore
Schley's squadron is probably now able
to meet on even terms, at least, the
formidable Spanish armored cruisers
which sailed from Cape Verde for an
unknown destination. In view of this
action of the department and partfcu-
larly if Schley should be reinforced by
some torpedo vessels, it may be as
sumed that he is about to start in quest
of the Spanish squadron.
Chief Engineer Harris Webster
member of the Naval Recruiting Board
which has been gathering material for
the personnel of the navy in the West
and South, arrived at the Navy De-
nartment this morning He iS lust
from the Norfolk navy yard, where he
landed 104 good men who had been
enlisted by the board Commander
Hawley and DR.. Pearsons, the other
members of the board, with Boatswain
Larkin, late of the Maine an attend
Continued on Seventh Page)
The record-union., 1898-05-06

have, the break in the cable could be
located within half a mile. The test
would undoubtedly be made from
Hongkong, where the English Govern
ment is supposed to have all the ia
cilties for building and repairing ca
bles.
To illustrate how close these tests
can be made by delicate instruments,
Mr.. Sumner referred to a test made on
the cable in the Straits of Mackinaw
This cable is about five miles long. From
the southern shore a test was made
some time ago, and a break was locat-
ed within three feet.
1t is Mr.. Summers opinion that tests
have been made correctly locating
within fifty miles of Manila the break
in the HOngkong cable. The delay in
repair may be caused by not having
the necessary graphing machinery for
pulling up the cable, which may be laid
at a very great depth at the particular
point. Once the fault is brought to the
surface, it is comparatively an easy
matter to make a new splice and cut
out any injuries that may have been
made to the cable.
Whether there has been a cable
steamer at Hongkong prepared for
such work has not been definitely as
certained. If not, it may be necessary
to bring a steamer from some point dis
tant, delaying for some time the repair
of the cable.
DEWEY MAY BE BOTTLED UP.
CHICAGO, May "a special to
journal from Washington says the
fear that Dewey may be bottled up in
Manila Harbor is gaining ground. 1t
is recollected that the entrance to
Manila Bay is through a channel plant
ed with mines. Dewey passed over
these silently in the night, and no op-
portunity was given the Spaniards to
fire them. Now if he has not forced
a surrender of the city and gained con-
troll of the switchboard used in firing
the submerged explosives, an attempt
to leave the harbor by any one of the
ships composing the Asiatic squadron
would be met by an attack from the
mines
The record-union., 1898-05-06
FORTIFYING THE ISLAND.
Great Activity Throughout West
ern Coast of Cuba

KEY WEST, May 5.-The censorship
of dispatches here continues very strict
Captain Lyons of the gunboat Dolphin,
which has been cruising for eleven days
along the western coast of Cuba, says
there is great activity on shore
throughout that section, and especially
in Bahia Honda. Groups of Spaniards
can be seen working on improvised for
tifications of all kinds. Earthworks
have been thrown up all along the coast
and apparent preparations against in
vasion are being made.
During her cruise the Dolphin held
up eighteen vessels, all of which were
released except the Spanish fishing
schooner Leolo, which was sent in here
the other day. The Dolphin had pre-
viously taken the Leolo, but had re-
leased her on the Captains promise to
go inshore and remain there. Not long
afterward the Dolphin again found the
Leolo cruising and apparently signaling
information to some one on shore. The
Spaniard was then captured, despite
the Captains protestations that he was
not signaling.
News reached here to-day of the ar
rival at Havana yesterday of the Brit
ish cruiser Talbot to take off British
subjects who desired to leave the city.
The Talbot was held up by the block
aiding vessels, but finally asked permis-
sion of the flagship to go in, which
Rear Admiral Sampson readily grant
ed. Admiral John Richardson, COM
manding the West Indian naval station,
was on board the Talbot.
Further information from the be-
sieged island is to the effect that Blanco
is urging the provincial authorities in
every locality to stir up the patriotism
Of the people, which is said to be rapid
ly waning under the influence of hunger
and disease.
INSURGENTS IN HAVANA PROV
INCE.
KEY WEST (Fla.), May "a dis
patch boat which arrived here to-day
brought intelligence of an engagement
between Spanish troops and insurgents
in Havana Province, in which Colonel
Juan Delgado, the insurgent leader and
four men were killed and the Spanish
lost tWenty-one.
The record-union., 1898-05-06

regulations require them to be under
West Point, newspaper men and
-ers with political influence back of
them.
The Navy Department will ship 200,-
OO0 pounds of powder to Commodore
Dewey, to add to the stock he now has
left. This will be made up of about
10000 pounds of the grade used for
the big eight-inch guns, 10000 pounds
for the six-inch guns, 10000 pounds for
the five-inch guns, and lesser amounts
for other classes of guns. This, with
the large amount of eight-inch armor-
piercing projectiles, shells and six-inch
and five-inch rifle balls, will make the
shipment of ammunition a very large
one. The powder and shot together
will give 500 rounds for the big guns,
and several thousand rounds for the
rapidfire rifles.
Mr.. Hatch the Hawaiian Minister,
was among the callers on Assistant
Secretary of State Cridler, who received
the diplomatic visitors to-day in the
absence of Assistant Secretaries Moore
and Adee Mr.. Hatch has so far
heard nothing from Honolulu in con-
firmation of the press dispatches Of
yesterday relating to the transfer of
the Hawaiian Islands to the United
States. 1t was plain to be seen, how
ever that the Minister would be very
much gratifed to receive an official
confirmation, but, in his opinion, any
negotiations of the character described
would be conducted directly between
President Dole and United States Min
lister SewaIl at Honolulu, and the lat
ter would be expected to communicate
with his Government on this subject.
The record-union., 1898-05-06
AUTONOMIsT CONGRESS.
Formally Opened at Havana by
Captain-Gcneral Blanco.

| HAVANA, May 4 Delayed) Copy
right. 1898, by the Associated Press y
With great ceremony the opening of the
first Cuban Congress under the Au-
tonomous Government was formally
accomplished to-day by General Blan-
CO. Every effort was made by the
Spanish officials to give brilliancy to
the occasion. There was a procession
an imposing military display, the
streets were decorated with flags and
banners, and the Captain General
made what was intended to be an i'm
pressive speech, in the course of which
he said that if the declarations of the
United States had been sincere it's guns
to-day ought to be saluting the first
Cuban Parliament, instead of threaten
ing the lives of it's members.
The volunteers at 1890 p. m. We're
drawn up on both sides of the streets
leading from the Palaca to the Hall of
Congress, located in the building for
merly known as the Casino Espanol.
From the time the Autonomist Govern
ment was established the Casino was
devoted to it's purpose.
At . D. m. a salute of fifteen guns
from the Cabanas battery announced
the departure of the Captain General
from the palace. First came detach-
ment of cavalry, and then in a landau
were General Pafriado, the military
commander of Havana; General Solano,
chief of staff, and two adjutants, after
which was a carriage in which were
seated Captain General Blanco, General
Pando. the commander of the Spanish
forces on the field; DR.. Congosto, Sec
retary-General of the Government, and
General Blanco's adjutant.
Following the Captain car
riage were many officers on horseback.
and after them came a detachment of
the civil guard. A force of cavalry
wound up the procession, which passed
through Obispo street to the Parque
Isabella Catolica, to the Dragones thor
oughfare and to the halls of Congress.
At the hall the members of the Au-
tonomous Government were awaiting
the Cantain General and on his arrival
there at 2:15 D. m. another salute of
fifteen guns was fired from the fortress.
Assembled in the hall. in addition to
the members of Congress, the Colonial
Secretaries, etc.. were Admiral Mantle
rola. General Losado. the civil and mill
tary authorities, the Bishop, the foreign
officers of the British cruiser Talbot.
and the French cruiser Fulton. both of
whom are in port. Besides the officers
and officials there were present many
representatives of the Spanish nobility,
the leading politicians of Havana and
the representatives of the local and
some of the foreign newspapers. There
were also many ladies present.
with the greatest respect as he entered
the hall, which was finely decorated In
the center of the hall on a platform was
a big presidential table. under a canopy,
and right and left of it were portraits
of the little King of Spain and his
mother, the Queen Regent.
General Blanco took I'D a position be-
hind this table. At his right were the
members Of the Colonial Government
and the Secretary General of Cuba. On
his left stood Generals Parade, Pando
The record-union., 1898-05-06
THE OLIVETTE.
Sails Suddenly From Tampa for
Kew West.

TAMPA (Fla), May 5.-The steamer
Olivette, which has been lying at the
docks at Port Tampa with banked fire
for several days, sailed suddenly to-day
for Key West. On board were Lieuten-
ant-Colonel w. H. Lawton of General
Skaters staff, Inspector-G General of
the Southwestern District, and Commo-
dore Watson. On account of the near
approach of the time when the United
States troops will be called upon to
effect landing in Cuba, and the fact
that Colonel Lawton is on General
Skaters staff, good deal of signifi-
canoe is attached to the departure. 1t
is supposed that Colonel Lawton's trip
is for the purpose of gathering all the
information possible as to the move
ments of the Spanish fleet and the dis
position of the forces in Cuba. A
Continued on Sixth Page.l
The record-union., 1898-05-06
SPANISH FLEET COMING.
Now It Is Said California Ports Are
to be Bombarded.

MADRID (via Paris, May 5.-It is
alleged that the Governments of Porto
Rico and Cuba have cabled that there
is mo need to fear landing of Amer
lean troops in those islands; that two
ironclads, two cruisers and three trans
ports will leave Cadiz forthwith to
chase the Yankees in the Philippines,
and then lombard California ports.
LONDON, May Ga dispatch to the
Daily Chronicle from Cadiz dated
Tuesday says:
The battleship Pelayo and the cruiser
Alfonso XIII. have left their anchor
age in the bay, and gone to the dock
yards The cruisers Patricia and Ra-
pido are preparing with all speed, and
all are expecting to sail together. Cadiz
is overwhelmed by the news of the
Philippine disaster, the lost crews num-
bering many Cadizians.
The record-union., 1898-05-06
IN HAVANA PROV
INCE.
FLYING SQUADRON.
The Report That It Was Put Under
Action Untrue.

OLD POINT COMFORT Wa), May
5.-(On board the Flagship Brooklyn,
off Fort Monroe.) )-The report that the
flying squadron was put under action
last night at midnight, is absolutely
without foundation. After o'clock,
when the retiring gun was sounded,
there was no action whatever. No gun
was fired and no call for quarters
sounded. Commodore Schley has pa
troll boat out near the Capes, and relies
implicitly on it for information.
The times., 1898-05-23
623 18th St. N. w.

terday morning and furnished more fun
for the other boys than they viii ever get
over.
Mascots are at present at a premium
in the camp. Company B, Sixth Illinois,
has a bull terrier. which is gaudy with
scarlet stripes and has the name of his
company stamped on both sides Of his
sleek body. Company c, Sixth Massachu-
setts, has n prize rooster, while the
Eighth Ohio has a pckaninny who is at
present under the weather in the hospital
tent
The Pennsylvania boys stay up ap
night to play jokes on one another. They
are rapidly becoming famous.
The Sixty-ffth New York, and First
New jersey regiments are so far away
from the rest of the troops that they
are miserable, vet they manage to dig up
a little excitement by hunting drinking
water.
The Eighth Ohio Regiment was on
dress parade yesterday afternoon and
made splendid appearance. This is the
only regiment aside from the Sixth Mas
sachusetts which is fully equipped with
uniforms. The boys were applauded for
their fine work and enjoyed showing
their ability.
No changes have been made as yet in
the division officers. All is snug and
quiet ut the old Manor House and things
look as though no Immediate change
would be made.
The Third and Fourth Infantry regi-
ments will arrive some time today, also
a regiment of Kansas volunteers. The
two troops of cavalry expected from New
York have not yet arrived, but are ex-
pected at any hour. -4f
The times., 1898-05-23
The Little Imp.

From the Bangor Commercially
The facts that are being brought out in
most of the States by examination for mil
itary duty reveals the fact that there is
being developed in this country a class
that may be called a third sex-or that,
in addition to females and strong men
adapted for war, there is being developed
a rae, so weak as tn e untitled for war
ments in time of peace
Medical men have been surprised at the
large number of reflections made by ex-
amining experts in the volunteer force;
and the fact that such ''throwouts" are
in the class of habitual tobacco users has
caused much comment among physicians
Examining boards say that while outside
the ranks of cigarette smokers there are
even fewer reflections now than at the
time of the civil war, among habitual
users of cigarettes the reflections are very
nearly 80 per cent
Some interesting facts bearing upon
this subject are given upon authority of
Dr.. Benjamin King, of Philadelphia, who
acted as an examining surgeon during
the years of 1S61-63 in the States of
New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and In
diana. He has stated that the average
reflections of volunteers during those
years did not exceed 13 per cent. He is
very positive in attributing our now
large increase of nearly 90 per cent al
most wholly to the cigarette habit on
the part of young men who are of an
! age to require them to bear arms.
! In statement published in a recent
number of the Washington Dispatch, DR..
| King has made a statement which is
really quite alarming in its tone: 81 have
| been" says DIR. King in the article to
! which reference has been made, inspect
! ing the papers in a number of cases
| under the present recruiting act" and I
! observe that most of the men who failed
to pass the medical examination have
weak hearts or lack the vitality necessary
/ to make good soldier. 1 had expected
! that the percentage of reflections would
| be greater now than in 1861, but did not
/ dream for moment that it would be
almost three times as great. The ex-
amining physicians with whom l have
/ talked have generally told me that the
( excess of reflections is due to the large
| number of young men applying for en-
| listment who have become victims of the
cigarette habit"
1t would be useless to attempt to COM
! bat the facts in the case. They go fal
! toward supporting the theory long helo
by physicians arguing from isolated in
dividual cases, that the cigarette habit Is
the greatest factor-indeed the little imi
i-now undermining the physical stamina
/ of American youth. They should heed tn'
warning and escape the doom.