Evening star., 1898-08-01
Miles Men Take Porto Rican Towns
Without Trouble.
YAUC0 RAILROAD IN OPERATION
San Juan to Be Captured Pending
Orders From the President.
NATIVES WANT REVENGE

ion. which landed at Guanica on Tuesday,
arrived here today, taking en- route the
cities Of Yauco, Talaboa, Sabana Grande
and Penuclas. Attempts by the Spaniards
to blow up bridges and otherwise destroy
the railroad between Yauco and Ponce
failed, only few fiat cars being burned.
Our troops have fired up the locomotives
and are now operating the road from end
to end, carrying supplies, messages and
men.
At Yaaco the Americans were welcomed
in an address made by the alcalde, and a
public proclamation was issued, dated
"Yauco. Porto Rico, United States of
America, July 27.''
Maj. Webb Hayes of the 9th Ohio son of
former President Hayes hauled up the flag
on the palace amid cheers from the popu-
lace. The people seemed really glad that
the Americans were here; but they fear an
uprising of the natives in the interior, who,
it is asserted, will rob, kill and destroy
property in revenge for many years of
Spanish misrule.
Gen. Henry has made a report to this ef
feet to Gen. Miles, and advises that a
guard be left to protect the captured cities.
The empty transports have left for Tampa.
Peace News Told Miles.
delegation of nurses of the Red Cross
Society, from the hospital ship Lampasas,
waited on Gen. Henry at Guanica yester-
day, and asked to be allowed to return
home with the sick. They said their sup
plies had given out, and that the condition
or board their ship. which was crowded
with patients, was terrible. They are wild
to go back at once.
The news that Spain had consented to
sue for peace was received here in a dis
Pa tch to the Associated Press and was at
once taken to Gen. Miles. The general
wrinkled his grave brow when he read 1t
and said he did not know what effect it
would have on his expedition, but he pur-
posed to push on ahead and take San Juan
pending orders from the President.
The Associated Press dispatch boat car
ried the information out to the fleet, and
there was celebration at the first indica-
ton of weakening on Spain's part
Outside of the typhoid fever on the trans
ports and in Guanica the general health of
the army continues excellent, and there las
been no trace of yellow fever thus far.
No forward movement of the army is eX-
pected for several days. The transports,
with Gen. Brooke's Army Corps and the
remainder of the 1st Corps are arriving
slowly. Our troops will probably remain
here quietly until the bulk of the army has
disembarked Only three transports have
arrived since yesterday. They have just
appeared in the offing, and only one has
been made out. 1t has on board the 5th
Ohio Cavalry. I.7
Pushing Forward.
Gen. Miles will retain his headquarters
at the custom house at the port of Ponce,
while Gen. Wilson will be in Immediate
command of the troops in the city. Gen.
Wilson pushed Gen. Ernst's brigade, con-
sisting of the I'd and Sd Wisconsin and the
10th Pennsylvania Regiments, out mile
and a half on the military road after dusk
last night, retaining two companies of the
10th to act as a provost guard in the city.
Capt. Allison has been appointed provost
arshal, and with the aid of the local con-
Stabulary has preserved excellent order,
although the entire population of the city
remained in the streets celebrating the ar
rival OF their American liberators until
long after midnight.
During the night all sorts of wild rumorS
were brought in to Gen. Wilson. The first
was that the Spanish were to attack the
city in force. In view of this strong line
of outpostS was maintained by Gen. Ernst,
and the men slept on their arms. This re-
port, however, soon gave way to runners
that the Spanish were retreating, putting
entire villages, plantation buildings and
houses to the torch, and numbering and
ravishing as they went. Some of the
wealthy plantation owners of the vicinity
became horror-stricken and appealed wildly
to Gen. Wilson to dispatch troops to the
rescue, but it was manifest1y Impossible to
divide so small force. None of the reports
were confirmed when daylight came, eX-
cept that the Spaniards were in full re-
treat. That they iBdulged in excesses of a
true. but the town of Juana Dias which
was reported to have been burned last
night, is known to be standing this morn
ing.
Ferreted Out spaniards.
Gen. Jose Garcia, who is in immediate
command of the Spanish regulars-nct be-
neved to number more than 5go-vyoa de-
serted by most of the Spanish volunteers
in his command during the night, and they
began struggling back TO the city with the
dawn. They Immediately presented them
selves to the provost marshal and surren-
dered their arms.
The appearance cf the volunteers aroused
in the breasts OF the natives who had suf-
fered at their hands in the past, especially
the political prisoners who were released
| when we took the city, a desire for re-
venge. and they began to ferret out all the
Span:ards IN the city who had ever been in
the volunteer service, and dragged them to
the plaza. Bloodhounds could not have
been more savage. Most of the Spaniards
in hiding, upon being discovered, were
hauled In triumph by, hooting, jeering
mobs to Gen. Wilson's headquarters or to
the provost marsbaPs Office, in the munich
pal building. Some of the natives even be-
gan looting the residences Of the. Span
iards. They mistook liberty for license,
and were crazed with thirst for ven
geance.
Gen Wilson soon taught them that re-
venge could not be wreaked under the pro-
dered that the arrest OF Spanish suspects
should cease. Such volunteers as present
ed themselves were, however, received ard
released after their names had been taken.
They will all report tomorrow and be for
mally parcled. Many of them had been
forced into the service Of Spain 10 escape
persecution.
The Business Room.
Business In the city has enjoyed great
Loom since the arrival of the Americans.
The merchants, who closed their places
yesterday, opened them today, and are
eagerly engaged In competition for the
American dollars. american gold is at a
premium of 100 per cent. Yesterday prices
ere cheap; today they are enormous. Yes
terday the price of 4 breakfast at the Ho-
tel Francois was 25 centavos: this morning
ls is one peso. Everything else has risen
in proportion. The-neyspaper correspon-
dents have difficulty In obtaining horses
even at 500 gold. The natives imagine
that the pockets Of the Americans can
emit a coualless flow of eagles and double
eagles. There Is plenty of provisions in
the city, except rice, ore OF the staples
which is quoted at a very high figure for
this country.
Our army will not lack for fresh meat in
the march across the island The broad