The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-11
OUR CAPTURE OF PONCE.
HOW THE LOCAL SPANISH NEWS
PAPER DESCRIBES 1T.

an interpreter, and "a soon as he could get nm
audience he asked through tho interpreter
whether his presses and type were to be confs-
Gated.
"of course not" answered Gen. Wilson
bluf1y.
Shall we be allowed to continue the publ
cation OF our pnper2"
Certainly" said Gen. Wilson. I'VE In
America believe In newspapers. and tho moro
there are printed the hettcr We like IT,"
This seemed to crafty the proprietor Of the
newspaper very much. but he was evidently
still uneasy in his mind.
What do you wish us to say about tho com-
ing OF the Americans p he asked; "or would
you prefer that ne say nothing Mt all about It?
Shall you have a member of your staff to tell us
Just what we shall say about your coming? ?"
"Nom the General answered testify. Il shall
not have any one tell you what to say. You can
tell the story OF our coming, and tell 1t In any
way that you like. so long as you tell the truth.
/ don't care how you toll 1t. only don't say any
thing which will tend to stir up the people to
committing disorders or to hostility to the
United States"
Very good. We will follow your directions,
and you have my thanks. We will have q proof
OF the paper here for you at -
Damn IT," shouted the General. Il don't
want to see your proofs. Go ahead and tell the
story inst as IL is. We don't censor our news
papers, and we believe in a free press"
The newspaper proprietor got out an an
nouncement that night that the publication Of
his newspaper would be suspended after that
date. but that II would DO succeeded by q new
paper to be known as La Nuerd Era. and to-
night Numero 1. Ano l OF this made its appear
ance. In this appears the following account Of
the landing Of our troops at Port Ponce and
the occupation Of the port and city. printed In
both Spanish and English:
THE RECENT EVENTS.
FIRST PART.
On the 9th inst; at 2 p, M. a feet approach;
and truly from all the. roofs and points OF van
tage Of the city could be seen three ships near
ing our harbour at great speed OF which, two
were. apparently Transports and the other a tug.
1t did not take them long to com into port
After a while a boat was seen to leave the side
9 tfS one Of the shiPs bearing az a white m;eh flag z re eas6sS
who on landing bent his steps to the Captain OF
the Ports Office In search OF the Military Com
mander OF the town for whom he had a de-
The Captain Of the Port answered him that
he had no military, jurisdiction and sent, for the
Military Commander residing up town here. to
take delivery Of the despatch brought by said
At about this time a small volunteer force got
into position near the Custom House and the
two companies Of the regulars. which OF, the
feeett had been orderesdf to the = port. were eehe-
loned on the road leading from here to the har-
i R9qT' oo Ml1n 1nSs let IF t I4sce dis sa%ite 6 t6G lSe9 SAM %iI-
On the latter being informed that, there was
an American officer bearing, under flag OF
truce, a despatch for him he replied that with:
out direct authority from the Governor General
on getting this rSPly the AMERICAN Hns. officer in;
give half an hours grace for the Military Com
mander to come and take delivery of the de-
spatch.
and had a Conference with the GoSernor.Gen
eEal by wire. laying before him the state OF
But as the hour fixed by the American officer
was drawing to its close. and he threatened to
return on board with the despatch undelivered.
Vice N; fSf CONSUL srlI'e Of E fRes S SSfssri a aaS I; "; no down
Coi6mEand, one, OF our eitizens-Mr. 1. J. Four
nier-with the object OF requesting an extern
s seply {" II 5f9 the 5i aoye azsa q &e fns Sfh'er' to await the
It seems that the latter's answer to the Mill
tary Commander was that he should do his
duty: by which,. we suppose, he implied that
resistance should be made. in spite Of the i'm
mense superi0rity Of the invading forces and OF
the arrival OF several vessels more.
AS the American commander grew impatient
at the non-return Of the first boat sent ashore.
they sent another. bringing two officers and a
SQUAD OF soldiers who pore with them the
we presume. in case of need.
Said, officers with the squad and nag; ad:
X tSa PSrt Is d iE as b 5he the ESerY B1 d : q 1i SsptS1n Of
requested that the soldiers should Withdraw to
the seashore. the officer with Old Glory, &c.
The Consular and other officers entered the
building They were there received by the
in q soiled white drill suit without any insignia
The German Vice Consul-Mr. H. c.. Fritze-
joined his colleagues of England and the Meth
erlands in their good offices In. the matter. to-
gether with the American merchant. Mr.. Lucas
a5 Said tS Sop sS4ssD5 Reea N tho 10 t TSTk ,H to bb1bIR RS
been demanded ut discretionI in their desire
to avoid bloodshed aud damage to the town, as
the spanish forces were insiGniticant, com
Spaniards having no defensive works or artil-
lery TO answer the fire OF the fleet.
mistice had been arranged. in virtue Of which.
the Spanish forces would %evacuate the town
Within a stipulated time to allow the former
forces to get we'll on their way to Aibonito.
1t was, reported that this arrangement was
firm and the people began to treat more freely
about the peaceful solution Of the conflict. But.
unhSppily their ioEt vas OF short duration as.
that the Governor General had deposcd the
Military COMMANDER Sanmartin. ordering him
OF the Civil Guards instructing the latter To
offer resistance 70 the invading forces.
On this becoming known the alarm was great
among all classes. and the exodus TO the neigh
bouring country. which had already begun in
the afternoon and evening. was immense. ap-
But. the Vice Consuls continued their labours
70 obtain that the armistice arranged with Col
Sanmartin BY them, should be respected and
kept in good faith, and the representatives q
being broken and brought to bear on the nego-
tiations all the weight that their nations rep
resent.
The Lieut. Col. OF the Civil Guard on his
part seeing thS impossLbility OF resistance tC
been REINFORCED by several ships more with
the means he had at his disposal, decided a
the forces under his command. by the roac
leading to the Interior OF the island.
AS soon as this decision was arrived at the re-,
treet began but not before attempting to SCI
:. fire to the railroad station which they only
succeeded In burning a few cars.
But, oven after the retreat there was anxiety
among the inhabitants as it was reported tina
the powder magazine Of the barracks would b.
blown up before the Spaniards left the town
delnitively-we are happy to say that this die
not happen.
The town was left In charge OF the local Fir,
Brigade who undertook the duty OF keeping
order but their services were not called upoI
that night nor. has been since. as not Thu