The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-06-23
TO BURN THE TOWN.


Residents 81 CafmaneraR Ready to App
ply the Torch-spanishsT FoOps stss
Are Panic-strIcken.
On Board the Dispatch Boat Dandy,
OF Guantanamo, via Kingston, Ja-s
maica, June 20. Cuban scouts report
that the inhabitants Of Caimanera have
strewn 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 Amer
lean ships, and the situation is desper-
lte. Starving and famine stricken,
convinced Of the ultimate triumph OF
the American arms and without faith
in the protection Of the Spanish sol
diery, the people are believed to have
determined to leave their houses IN
ashes behind them and seek safety in
the mounts ins 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 fear
full one. The people are eating horses
for fruits and herbs. Occasionally brief
commandments by the American fleet
leaves the helpless citizens terror
stricken, no preparations for defense
being made. It is also stated that the
Spanish gunboat at Caimanera has
been loaded with inf1ammables, and
will be burned with the city, her COM
mander declaring that she will never
become an American prize.
The scouts also say that the Spanish
soldiers are in almost as complete Z
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 sur
render, owing to the lack of food
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 have received information
that general attack by a force of
$500 Spanish soldiers and guerrillas on
Camp McCalla is contemplated within
night or two. Every preparation is
made for the expected assault.
Gen. Perejo, who is in command of
the Spanish forces, is undoubtedly des-
perate in regard to obtaining food for
his men. The prisoners who have been
captured appear to have been i'll fed
and are apparently Indifferent to their
fate.
There was brief bombardment of
blockhouse up the bay by the battle
ship Oregon Saturday, and it is believed
that during the firing at least a score
of Spaniards were killed. Scouting par
ties 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.
The marines are growing very rest
less owing to the delay in the arrival of
the achievements of troops, but it is
generally believed here that the trans
ports will reach Santiago not later than
to-day.
On Board the Dispatch Boat Daunt-
less, Off Santiago de Cuba, via Kings
ton, Jamaica, June 20.-Three large car
goes of supplies arc known TO have run
the blockade already and great quanti-
ties of food are Struggled to Havana
by way of the Isle of Pines, Cienfuegos,
and other points on the southwest coast
having direct railroad communications
with the capital. It is believed, how
ever, that nothing reaches Santiago
from any of those points. The auxiliary
cruisers Yankee and Yosemite are now
scouting for the Spanish steamer Puri-
sima Conception, which left Kingston
en- Thursday morning, flying the Span
ish flag, with food and ammunition for
Cuba.
Admiral Sampson has decided to re-
duce to ruins Moro castle at Santiago.
He has deferred attacking this fortifi-.
cation, knowing that the Spaniards
were holding Hobson and his men there
as shield. Sampson has learned that
the gallant band that sunk tie Merri-
mac are no longer held in Moro castle,
and he has decided to lombard the fort
He thinks that one shell from the Vesu-
vius will tear it to shreds. During the
| firing on Santiago's land batteries care
was taken not to hit MORO because of
the knowledge that Hobson ard his men
were confined there.
Key West, Fla, June 2O.-Juan San
tos, Cuban pilot who arrived here Sun
day morning on board an American
warship, reports that he entered San
tiago de Cuba and found there Span
ish garrison of Is, 900 men. He adds that
the vessels of Admiral Cerveras fleet
lying at that port are the armored
cruisers Cristobal Colon, Vizcaya and
Almirante Oquendo, two small cruisers,
two torpedo boats and the Reina Mer-
cedes, which had been stripped Of her
guns for the purpose of using them to
reinforce the land batteries.
Madrid, June 20.-A private dispatch
received here from New York says
Gen. Skaters expedition has landed
near Santiago de Cuba and will attack
the town Immediately.
London, June 2O.-The Hong-Kong
correspondent of the Times says: The
rebels hold Manila at their mercy, but
Admiral Dewey is anxious that the
American troops should have the honor
Of receiving the Spanish capitulation-
The steamer Yuen Sing reports passing
the United States troopship City of
Picking on the morning of the 18th near
Manila.