The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-06-16
OLD GLORY IS. THERE.
Six Hundred Marines Landed at
Guantanamo, Cuba.
SMOKING RUINS GREET THEM.
Oregon Adds New Laurels to Her
Crown--A Hasty Departure by the
Spaniards.

An Associated Press dispatch via
Port Antonio, Jamaica, June II, says:
The invasion of Cuba by American
forces began today. Six hundred ma
rines have pitched their tents about the
smoking ruins of the outer fortl-
fications OF Guantanamo, and the
Stars and Stripes for the first time
float from flagstaff in Cuba. 10
CAPTAIN Clarke and the battleshlp Ore
CON belong the honor of accomplishing
the first successful landing of the war.
Forty marines from the battleshlp went
ashore this morning and occupied the
left entrance of the bay until the
troopship Panther arrived with 600 ma.
rines. The seq forces under command
of Lieutenant Colonel r. ". Hunting
ton arrived at 3 o'clock, and within half
an hour they had burned the buildings
of the Spanish camp and had set tire to
the miserable little village which
crouched on the beach under the hill top
of Guantanamo. The whole operation
of silencing the guns and landing the
forces was IS easy as placing Sunday
school picnic. The Marblehead, backed
by the Vixen and Dolphin, opened fire
on the earth works yesterday. The
shore to the right of the entrance was
lined with guns and rifle pits, but the
Spaniards stampeded after firing few
shots. The city of Guantanamo lies
four miles up the bay and little Span
ish gunboat came down to bel p the
shore batteries. But she stayed just
long enough to turn around.
The main fort lies within the city
limits and is still to be reduced, but 1T
is not in a difficult position and the
American officers say it>can be taken
in fifteen minutes when desired. The
Marblehead, Dolphin, Vixen and two
GOLFERS have been off the entrance of
the har6or for several days and yester-
day morning they sailed into the chan
mel, O mile further up, where they
opened fire, sending $50 shots at the
forts on the left. The hills on the right
of the entrance was deserted. There
are no defences on the right side OF the
harbor.
No attempt was made to land until
the Oregon steamed in early this morn
ing. Captain Clark Immediately sent
40 marines ashore, and 90 from the
Marblehead followed. They found evil
dence of a very hasty departure by the
Spaniards. Watches, hammocks and
ammunition were scattered about the
earthworks ard a Spanish flag was
found in one of the rife pits. The lit
tie detachment of marines held the
place until the Panther arrived, when
they were recalled and the work OF dis
embarkation began. The first boat
load had scarcely landed when Ns~ ~Eilsl
lase burst into flames. Company B,
under Lieutenant Hall, was the first
ashore, and without the loss of a mo-
ment, the column started up the steep
rocky hillside to the earthworks.
For an hour brown column of ma.
rines filed up the narrow path,
eventually taking up position
at the TOP of the hill. AS soon
us the American flag was swung out
10 the breeze from the flag staff OF the
captured Spanish camp, the Oregon
steamed away to rejoiu the fleet OF
santiago. The marines will hold the po-
sition until the arrival of ihe expected
troops, in the meantime scouting in the
vicinity with the Marblehead, Vixen
and Dolphin lying by to protect them.
Rear Admiral Sampson now has a
harbor and a base of supplies on the
south side OF the island, and troops can
be landed at will The troop ships
Panther reached the feet off Santiago
early today. On her way over the
Yosemite fired dozen shells into the
port of Daigunri (Baiquiri), but re.
ceiyed no response. Guantanamo is
but 40 miles cast of Santiago de Cuba,
and is a splendid location for base OF
supplies for the blockading feet.