Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-07-07
CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION.
The People Had Good Reason for
Enthusiasm on the Ma
TONS Birthday.
GOOD NEWS BOTH FROM EAST AND WEST.
The Destruction of Cervera's Fleet, the
Probable Speedy Surrender of Santi-
ago and the Arrival of the Expedition
at Manila After Picking Up the la
drones by the Wayside.

at Manila After Picking Up the La
drones by the Wayside.
WASHINGTON, July 5.-The 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 IL o'clock to-day, on pain of bonn
bardment; word from Admiral Dewey
that the Ladrone Islands had been
captured; that Spanish gunboat had
surrendered; that 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 Fourth of
July as has not been known since the
bells of Indepenence hall rang out the
tidings of American freedom.
Day of Momentuous Events.
It 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 victory and the entire destruc-
ton of the Spanish fleet, was 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 it's added luster to
the American arms the crowd of of
ficials increased.
The president had not 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 Oniclal Dispatches.
The stories of the day are best told
bearing date of July 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
that she is left practically without a
navy.
SIMPSONS Fourth of July Present to the
Nation.
The admiral's dispatch is as follows:
PLAYA DEL ESTE July L.
The feet under my command offers the ma
ton as Fourth of July present the destruc-
tion of the whole Of Cervera's fleet No one es-
capped.
1t attempted to escape at $50 a. m. and at 9
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 90 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 and drowning.
About 1880 prisoners, including Admiral Ger
vera.
The man killed was George H. Ellis chief
yeoman 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 proves of the American
fleet, but 1t again displayed the strange
immunity which the American sailor
seems to have in the midst of death
and carnage. That but one 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 feet 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.
There are the inner Notifications and
island forts still to be reduced, but
they have passed through baptism of
fire recently, and are little more than
ruins Thus, with Skaters guns
laundering on Santiago from the land
and SIMPSONS from the harbor, the
fall of the city is assured beyond fur
ther question.
The authorities here, military and
naval. say that Santiago has already
made it's best fight, and that it's occu-
patton is only question of time, and
very brief time
Gen. Skaters Strong Position.
Gen. Skaters strong position was
shown in series of dispatches. Most
convincing Of all as to his feeling of
confidence and strength, was that dis
match riveu ont late in the Iav in