Evening star., 1898-08-25
harbor, Were there before and knew chan
4 Great Surprise.

Great Surprise.
June 20-Up all night Charleston is
crawling into island expecting to meet
three gunboats, but found none. See small
village ahead. Charleston throws three
shots across bow of a vessel which proves
to be a Japanese trading ship. Her flag
went up, and she sent fiag-of-truce boat to
meet cruiser. Charleston sends thirteen
shots into Spanish fort and twenty-nine
minutes later Old Glory was flying from
what was left of the fort. Revenue col
lector came aboard and asked about nealth
Of crew and soldiers. They did not know
war was on between Spain and the United
states, no news being received since April ..
we intended to return salute" said the
doctor to Capt. Glass, but were unpre-
pared"
The captain replied: What salute, sirs?
This is a hostile vessel. War exists, sirs
between United States and Spain.'
Both were surprised and excited at this
reply.
Capt. Glass continued: Now, sirs, you
will surrender yourselves prisoners of
war. Where is your governor?"
AT Ayavio, six miles from here" was
the reply.
Il will parole you," said Capt Glass.
You must have your governor aboard
this ship at O'clock. You can now leave
and go ashore"
A small boat stin flying a Spanish flag
returned at 4 o'clock with note from gov
el nor refusing to come aboard, but stating
that he would meet Capt. Glass ashore at
10 o'clock in the morning. Capt. Glass OBJ
jected to this, and came aboard the Aus
udila to hold an interview with Gen. An
oerson. They decided to send forty marines
from the Charleston, ten men from the
City of Pekin, 120 Oregon volunteers and
four officers to go ashore and capture the
town. In the meantime the captain sent
a boat ashore to meet governor and his
aids. Lieutenant B. of the Charleston de-
mands final surrender of islands in thirty
minutes under the penalty Of the landing
of 900 troops and the bombardment of
the town by the war vessels.
The governor went away and returned in
twenty minutes. He held an interview
with his stad, and on his return handed
litter to Lieut.. B., which read as follows:
After considering the poor means l have
OF defense and the inadequate force and
arms. / realize it is Impossible to make a
stand, and therefore surrender to you all
the Ladrone Islands and all possessions
over which | have authority. l trust to
your justice and mercy.
Yours respec fully, JUAN MORINO."
Immediately after receiving the note
Lieut.. B. informed the governor and his
staff to consider themselves prisoners OF
war and to accompany him 10 the ship.
They protested claiming that the beuten-
ant came ashore under flag of truce. In
addition to this, the Spanish officials claim
ed that they had no clothes and had not
bade their families goodbye. The lieC:en-
ant informed them that the governor could
lies of the other officers, all of whom would
be permitted to come aboard the ship TO
see them The governor was also instruct
ed to order all of the troops under his COM
mand to assemble at a certain place by
clock.
Stars and Stripes Hoisted.
The Spanish official claimed that it was
impossible to do this in SO short a time but
he was given ten minutes in which to write
the order. The order was written and on
the journey to the ship the party mat the
troops going ashore. The stars and stripes
were hoisted over the fort and salute of
twenty-ole guns was fired, while the band
played the Star Spangled Banner" The
Spanish troops lined up ashore and the
Charleston trained all of her guns on them.
The officers and men walked up one By one
ard gave up their swords and guns. As
each one passed by he was told that he
was prisoner of war and could send word
others necks and weep ami kiss each 9TH
er. The paroled ones tear eff their buttons
in contempt for their governor. All we're
taken aboard the ship. The governor asked
privilege Of writing 10 his family; this was
granted After writing the letter ;he gov
ernor handed II to Capt. Glass to read, but
the latter refused to do SO, saying, No;
that is your sacIe ed affair" Tho official
wept like child.
In all We captured fifty-four men, six
officers, 800 rounds of ammunition, two
bushels Vt Remington cartridges and Jos
rifles The name of the fort was San Jing,
while thu name of the city was San Grande-
opta.