Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-07
A GRAND
FOURTH
Military Events Combine
to Make 1t Clio
riOus.
War Now To Be Carried
at Once Into
Spain.
Many Important Results
of SIMPSONS Great
Victory.


mand by Gen. Shafter for the surren-
der of Santiago by u o'clock this noon
On pain of bombardment, word from
Admiral Dewey that the Ladrone ISL
ands had been captured, that Span
hundred or more Spanish officers and
men were taken and that our first Phil
ippine expedition had landed-this in
part was the thrilling record OF such
fourth of July as has not been
known since the bell of independence
hall rang out the tidings of American
freedom. 1t was day when one
momentous event followed another il
rapid succession, each bril- sing forth
something more startling than the
last. At o'clock, amid wild cheering
which fairly shook the walls of the
navy building to it's foundation, Ad-
miral SIMPSONS dispatch announcing
the glorious victory and the entire de-
struction Of the Spanish fleet, was
given to the public. 1t was the busiest
day that the president has had since
the war began. Conference followed
conference with the heads of the mil
itary and naval departments. High
officers Of service came and
went in a. constant steady stream. The
president had not a moments respite.
kilograms came and went without ces-
sation and the historic old mansion
presented a scene such as has not been
paralleled since the mumentous hours
of the civil war. The story of the day
is best told in a series of dispatches,
from Sampson, Shafter and Dewey.
That of Sampson was accorded the
honor of chief Importance, not only
for the immediate results secured, but
also from the effects of this crushing
! defeat in weakening the defenses of
the city of Santiago and dealing Spain
such a staggering blow that she is left
practically without navy.
The following was received from
Sampson:
THE feet under my command
offers the nation as a fourth of July
present the destruction Of the whole
of Cervera's fleet. Not one escaped.
morning. At 2 the last ship, the
Christobal Colon, had run ashore 60
| miles west of Santiago and has let
down her colors The Infanta Maria
Theresa, the Oquendo and the Vizcaya
were forced ashore, burned and
blown up within 20 miles of Santiago.
The Furor and Pluton were destroyed
within four miles of port. Our loss is
one killed and two wounded. The
enemy's loss will probably be several
hundred from gun fire, explosions and
| drowning. We took about 1900 pris-
oners, including Admiral Cervera. Our
man killed was George Ellis, chief
yeoman of the Brooklyn"
That but one of our sailors, the yeo-
man of the Brooklyn, should have
been killed in an engagement of this
magnitude is without parallel in naval
annals save in that other unparalleled
record which Dewey made at Manila
With the Spanish feet destroyed the
way is partly cleared for the advance
of the American squadron into the
harbor Of Santiago. If Cervera's
a, med cruisers could cross the
mined field and cleared the Merrimac
at the entrance of the harbor the
American ships can follow the same
course. There are inner Notifications
and island forts still to reduce, but
they have passed through baptism of
fire recently and are little more than
ruins. The authorities here, military
and naval, say that Santiago has al
ready made it's best fight and that it's
occupation is only question of brief
time. Gen. Skaters strong position
was shown in a series Of dispatches.
The most convincing of all as to his
feeling of confidence in his strength
was dispatch in which Shafter gave
the text of his demand for the surren
der Of the city on pain of lombard
ment. The Spanish, however, notified
him Of their refusal. The present need
Of reinforcements for Shafter is no
is out Of the way. A considerable
number of men, however. are already
on the way and others will follow
The changes in the naval situation
will bring no abatement in the activity
of the authorities here in carrying the
war directly home to Spain. Secre-
tary Long made an official statement
that WatsOn's fleet would sail at the
earliest possible moment. Although
he would not go into details as to it's
purpose, it is well understood that the
fleet will devote its attention to the
Spanish coast and to Camara.
1t has been Acting Admiral Samp-
son for some time, but that it will be
Admiral Sampson in fact as we'll as
If name is the prevailing feeling in
naval circles as a result Of the victory
by the American admiral. Shortly
after the war broke oft Tan+ain ca~c
son was made acting admiral in order
to give him rank fitting his
nigh command although his actual
naval rank remained at captain. By