The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-06-25
WILL DESTROY CAIMANERA
CITIZENS WILL USE THE TORCH.
Spanish Are HALF starved asa In >
state % Pasic--csbass Give News
-Fiye Prisoners TakeB-Marfnes
Are Growing ResfIess-Bonbsraea
BIsekheuse.

On Board the Associated Press Dispatch
Boat Dandy, OF Guantanamo, via Kings
ton, Jamaica, june 20.--Cuban scouts re
port today that the Inhabitants Of Cal
manera have strewn the streets with
straw and oil, with the intention Of
destroying the city and fleeing 10 the
hills. CaimaEera lies four miles up the
bay from Camp McCalla under the gums
Of the American ships, and the situation
is desperate. Starving and famine -striek-
en-, convinced Of the ultimate triumph Of
the American army, and without faith in
the protection Of the Spanish soldieFy,
the people are believed to have deter
mined TO lesre their houses in ashes be-
hind them and seek safety in the hills Of
the north. The scouts declare that the
story is accurate, and say that every
building Of the town is being rapidly pre-
pared for the torch.
The situation Of the besieged is fear.
full one. The people are eating horses and
mules and are securing the hills for fruits
and herbs. Occasionally brief lombard
nents by the American feet leave the
helpless citizens terror -strieken, no prep
arations for defense being made. 1t is
also stated that the Spanish gunboat at
caimanera has been loaded with infialn-
mables and will be burned with the city,
her commander declaring that she will
never become an American prize.
The scouts also say 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 that they believe the Spanish troops
are on the verge Of surrender, owing TO
the lack Of food Captain MeCaIia Of the
cruiser Marblehead and Lieutenant Col
onel Huntington, in command of the ma
rines, are not 50 sure, however, Of the
Spanish rout.
The coast in the vicinity Of Guantana-
mo is dotted with bright-hued Cuban
dags. Numerous camps Of the insurgents
have been established along the beach
between Santiago and this place and are
used by the admiral as means of commu-
nieation with the insurgents in the in
terror. The information which these men
have given has been proven highly valu-
able 10 the Americans Their stories OF
the disaster TO the Spanish soldiers in this
vicinity have been corroborated by pris-
oners captured around the camp.
Another body Of Eve Spaniards was
captured by Ensign A. A. Pratt Of the
Marblehead. While cruising in a steam
launch outside the hay he picked up =
S0foot slOop containing = Spanish cap
tain named Torres and four sailora They
said they were ON their way to Guam
tanamo TO get a supply Of coal for the
lighthouse at Cape Nays, but the papers
found on the sloOp proved that they had
been sent to obtain information relative
TO the American forces.
There was n brief bombardment Of
6lockhouse up the bay by the bAttleship
Oregon yesterday, and il is believed that
at least score of Spaniards were killed.
Scouting parties report that the block
house 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 of
by their comrades.
The marines are growing restless, owing
to the delay in the arrival Of the rein.
forcement Of troops, but it is generally
believed here today that the transports
viii reach Santiago not later than Mon
day.