The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-20
CAIMANERA TO Be BURNED
STREETS FILLED WITH STRAW
SATURATED WITH OIL
Spanish GunbOat to BE BlOwn Up
Rather Than Let 1t Be Captured
by Americans-Terrib State of
Affairs In the Cuban C1ty-Na-
tfves and Soldiers Starving
Spanish Ready to Surrender.

Spanish Ready to Surrender.
Copyright, 1885, by the Associated Press.
OFF GUANTANAMO, June 18 (via
Kingston, Jamaica, June 19).-Cuban
scouts report today that the inhabitants
of Caimanera have stIewn the streets
with straw and oil; with the intention
of destroying the city and fleeing to the
hills.
Caimanera lies four miles up the bay
from Camp McCalla, under the guns of
the American ships, and the situation
Is desperate. Starving and famine
stricken, convinced of the ultimate
triumph of the American arms, the
people are believed to have determined
to leave their houses in ashes behind
them, and seek safety in the mountains
of the north. The scouts declare that
the story is accurate, and say that
every building of the town is being
rapidly prepared for the torch
The situation of the besieged is a
fearful one. The people are eating
horses and mules and are securing the
hills for fruits and herbs. Occasionally
brief bombardments by the American
fleet leave the helpless citizens terror
stricken, no preparations for defense
being made.
1t is also stated that the Spanish
gunboat at Caimanera has been loaded
with inf1amma bles and will be burned
with the city, her commander declar-
ing that she will never become an
American prize.
The scouts also say that the Spanish
soldiers are in almost as complete
state Of panic as are the civilians, and
that they could easily be induced to
surrender. Some of the prisoners taken
by the marines also say they believe
the Spanish troops are on the verge
of surrender, owing to the lack of food.
READY FOR ATTACK.
Capt. McCalla, Of the cruiser Marble
head, and Lieut.. Col. Huntington, in
command of the marines, are not SO
sure, however, of the reported Spanish
rOut. They received information yes
terday that general attack by a force
of $500 Spanish soldiers and guerrillas
on Camp McCalla is contemplated with
in a-night or two. Every preparation
Wa made last night for an expected as
sault. Last night the hills about the
marine camp were brilliant under the
rays Of the searchlights of the Marble
head, Dolphin and Scorpion, and the
marines were lying in the rifle pits at
the guns, rea ly and anxious for battle,
but the night passed without the fir
ing of a shot.
The same careful watch was exer-
cised today, as Commander McCalla is
convinced that an attack is likely to
occur at any moment.
The Iowa, Capt. Evans, joined the
fleet here this morning, and later Ad-
miral Sampson came on in the flag
ship to inspect the Notifications and
confer with Commander McCalla and
Lieut.. Col. Huntington.
The coast in the vicinity of Guanta-
namo is dotted with bright-hued Gu
ban flags. Numerous camps Of the in
srrgents, which have been established
along the beach between Santiago and
this place, are used by the admiral as
a means of communication with the
Cubans in the interior.
FORT SHELLED.
There was a brief bombardment of
the blockhouse up the bay by the bat
tleship Oregon during the afternoon,
and it IS thought during the fight that
at least a score of Spaniards were
killed. Scouting parties report that the
blockhouse was completely destroyed
but that they were unable to discover
any bodies, the remains of the soldiers
who had been killed probably having
been carried off by their comrades.
Late this afternoon the flagship New
York returned to the fleet off Santiago
de Cuba.
The marines are growing very rest
less, owing to the delay in the arrival
of the reinforcements of troops, but
it is generally believed here today that
the transports will reach Santiago not
later than Monday.
Gen. PerejoI, who is in command of
the Spanish forces here, is undoubtedly
desperate in regard to obtaining food
for his men. The prisoners who have
been captured appear to have been ILL
fed and are apparently Indifferent to
their fate.
MORE SPANIARDS CAPTURED.
Another body of Spaniards was cap
tured yesterday by Ensign A. A. Pratt,
of the Marblehead. While cruising in
8 steam launch outside the bay, he
picked up a fifty-foot sloop containing
a Spanish captain, by the name Of
Torres, and four sailors.