Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-06-11

send a special message to congress re-
cognizing the heroism displayed, not
only by Hobson, but by the men who
accompanied him on the -Merrimac,
says a Washington dispatch of We'd
nesday. The order for full report is
already on the way, the president feel
ing it best to wait for official advices
before taking the action he now con-
templates. What will be recommend
ed for Hobson and his crew is not now
certain, but there will probably be a
recommendation of thanks specifically
naming Hobson, though probably not
naming the men. Medals of honor, it
is expected by those who have talked
with the president on the subject, will
be struck off for the little band of men,
and promotion of some sort is in store
for all Of them. 1t will take some
days for Admiral Sampson to get his
report here, but probably some time
next week message signalling the
Merrimac incident will be sent to con-
gress.
"A bill providing for taking the
twelfth census was passed by the
senate on Wednesday after debate
which occupied the greater part of
three days. Several weeks ago Gen.
sus bill was presented by the commit
tee having the matter in charge, but
the measure was so unsatisfactory that
it was recommitted to the committee.
The bill passed Wednesday was intro
duced in lieu of that which was re-
committed, and, as slightly amended,
received the unanimous support of the
senate. Under it, if it should become
a law, a director of census and an as
sistant director and FIVE expert statis-
ticians will be appointed Immediately
to make preliminary arrangements for
taking the census of 1900. A deter
mined effort was made to provide that
the employees of the census bureau
should be examined and certified by
the civil service commission, but it
failed by vote of As to 81. A pro-
vision was inserted that not more than
two-thirds of the supervisors and
erumerators should belong to one
political party.
- Cabling from Kingston, Jamaica,
under date of June s, the correspond
ent of the London Morning Post sends
his paper, among other things, in re-
gard to the bombardment of Santiago
last Monday, the following: During
the BON mbardment a shell exploded on
the port quarter of the Vizcaya. 1t
dismounted one of her guns, damaged
the rudder and injured several seamen.
The destroyer Furor, which was cruis-
ing about Cayo Smith in the harbor,
made several rushes out from her post.
In one of those a shell exploded over
her bow, tore open the forward deck,
damaged her turtleback and compelled
her to take refuge further up in the
harbor. Very little damage was done
to the American ships. 1t is reported
that the Suwanee was struck by a
shell, which burst and wounded sea
man in the leg slightly. Some of the
vessels suffered somewhat from the re-
coil of the heavy guns. The shells did
such execution that Moro Castle has
the appearance of a picturesque ruin.
From the Premier we could see the
shells striking the hills, tearing the
trees down and scattering the rocks
and earth in all directions. Indeed,
the skyline near the Moro, from our
view point, is quite changed, and now
shows great gaps. Vegetation is ex-
terminated and all the buildings are
demolished where the shells fell. All
the Spanish guns on the sea front with
the exception of the smooth bores in
Moro were silenced and many were
ruined"
- From a private letter received in
Savannah, says a dispatch of Thurs
day, from a soldier at Tampa, it is
learned that during riot among the
United States regulars and volunteers
at Tampa on Monday night four men
were killed and several wounded.
The news censorship at that place is
very strict and has up to this time
kept the news out of the papers. The
facts are, however, that on Monday
evening the Negro regulars went to
the city and began drinking whisky.
In a short time they were hilarious
and attempted to take the town.
While at the height of their drunken
revelry a body Of southern volunteers
came along and fight was precipita-
ted. Some of the white soldiers from
the north, it is said, joined in with the
colored regulars against the southern
boys, and free fight was waged.
Blows fell thick and fast. 1t is also
said that firearms were used. When
the fight had somewhat abated it was
found that four Of the Negro regulars
were dead and that several were dan
gerously wounded. On Tuesday morn
ing business was at a standstill. The
residents of Tampa and Ibor City
were frantic with fear and remained