Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-08-01
PORTO RICO IS GLAD.
Rousing Cheers and Free Cigars For
Our Boys.
PONCE IN GALA ATTIRE.
Standards Given Half nh Hour to Sur
render the C!ty-General Wilson
to Serve as Military Govern.
or of the Section.

Ponce, Porto RICO, July
>. American conquest Of Porto Rico ma
o begun auspiciously. The Spanish nav
n abandoned Ponce, the principal port o
e the southern coast of the island, ana ]
many respects it's most progressive cit!
> The inhabitants received the American
with open arms and gave them tn
, widest and most exaggerated welcome
indicating that the population was rip
for revolt, which was predicted as 500
, as American troops touched the shores
The forces landed at Guanica on Mon
day have been moved and now hold tn
terminus of the railway connecting
Yauco with Ponce. They encountered
no opposition except on Tuesday morn
ing at daylight, when the advance Skin
mishers pushed into a force of Span
iards occupying house on the Yauc'
road. The skirmishers, under hot fire
fell back and then again came valiantlJ
forward, driving the enemy for a mile
from the fortihcations into the bush
In the encounter three Americans were
wounded-Captain Edward j. Gibbons
Company A, shot in the left leg; Cap
tain b. A. Bostwick, Company L, in the
left arm slightly, and Private James
Drummond, Company X, in the neck
The enemy lost three killed and IA
wounded.
Welcomed the Invaders.
The scenes in the city yesterday were
the most remarkable that have taken
place in the course of the war. The day
was observed as a public holiday, and
he whole population turned out to well
come the Americans. Everybody was In
| Holiday attire and bent on celebrating
he advent of the American army, whom
they had been told to regard as enc
| MES.
Last night our bands We're playing In
the public square and wildly cheering
crowd was surging through the streets
shouting VIVIAN los Americanos,"
viva Porto Rico Libre" and similar
cries.
The capture of the city began on
Wednesday. Late this afternoon the
| Wasp, Annapolis and Dixie started for
Ponce from Guanica bay The Wasp
was the first to arrive, and the people of
Port of Ponce were waiting for her.
When the Wasp came into the port
she saw a great crowd instead of Span
ish troops. She steamed up close to
shore with all her guns bearing on the
port. Lieutenant Ward and Executive
Officer Wells finally sent Ensign Row.
land Curtin with four men ashore bear
ing a flag of truce.
Loaded With Gifts.
AS the boat approached the shore the
people crowded down to the waters edge
with their hands filled with cigars, to-
bacco, cigarettes, bananas and other ar
ticles, which they threw at the Ameri-
cans when the boat came within range
AS the ensign stepped out of the boat
upon the beach the people crowded
around him, those nearest to him fore
ing cigars and other things upon him
and his men, while others further away
threw their offerings to the sailors. Then
they gave three routing cheers.
Some one in the crowd told the ensign
that the commanding officer of the mill
tary force was in the city and that he
must go and See him if he Wanted him
to surrender. Ensign Curtin said: I've
will not go to the military. They must
come to us"
Some of the people insisted that he
shouid go and see the general, as thew
designated Colonel San Marin hut
curtin said he would not do anything of [
the Kind. He asked how long it would
take to send word to the general. The
people said about half hour, but add
ell that there was a telephone in the
custom house. Ensign Curtin nullad
his watch from his pocket and said to
one of the spokesmep
An UItimatum.
Go to the telephone and tell the gen.
efal that l say to him that if he is NOT
acre ana does not surrender within a
nalt hour l will lombard the CITY If
Ponce"
Ensign curtin, after sending his tele-
'hone message to the Spanish command
'r' entered his boat and returned TO
ne wasp for Instructions On RECEIVING
ne news Commander Davis rowaS
'shore. soon after he landed he re. ,
elVed note from the Spanish genera, 4
skiing him on what terms he demanded t
ne surre:ier of the town. The rom, |
'aIoer replied that the surrender must s
re unconditional. The Spanish command
then sent another note Offering to :
urrender upon condition that the GOV :
.soh snould be permitted to retire that
nc clVli government remain in foroa
VA. the ponce and fire brigade be nov,
li'eeo TO patrol without arms and that
NC captain OF the port should not be
iaoe prisoner. He also asked that
&c american army should not advanco
eyond Ponce within As hours.
commander Davis, who was ro,u..
ot anxious to receive the SURRENDER h.
IRE the battleship Massachusetts 49,
yea with Captain Higginson. ranL
g o1flcer on board, accepted these onn
tlons and the armor plate so,dion-
len ned to the hills. They Left hahi.s
em lao rifles and $4,000 rounds of an
unition. vi am
Miles In the City. n
When the troopships arr,vos ~
- VINO could get small boats rowed
.Ien ana offered to pilot them =,
ueneral wilson came in to learn tha j.
MUTTON OF affairs. General Wilson ans
eneral Miles agreed that the conai m
,ns vi the surrender relating to N. h,
Jvemeht or troops We're rot bindipe n
la ''le AFTERNOON General Miles 80 i"
s.aH We're invited to the citv han ~
'ie cry ofilcials. The CITY han wy III
.o',.ueu ny vast crowd ana M
,hte n'nu was stationed in the ror,.
men me carriages of General Miia. M
ms seal1 appeared the band Me-
~ 'ne Conquering Hero Comssu t;c
aia. Nilles appeared upon the ha,
ny oi the city hall and tool. Off b.
:, Inc crowd cheered him wi,dI,' 81
n nanna- 10y prayed The Star Span. .
, . Banner nnn Marching Through csor 0
= ana other patriotic airs, ''''-
ilson ,,t, MES has appointed Genera,