The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-31
EASYCONQUEST
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AMERICANS RECEIVED WITH OPEN
ARMS BY PORTO RICANs.
>
Details of the CapituIation of Ponce
and It's Port and Their Occupation
by General MiIes's Troops.
-
AN EXAGGERATED WELCOME
EVIDENCE THAT THE PEOPLE WERE
RIPE FOR REVOLT.
-A--
Spanish GarrisOns Taken by Surprise
and Retired Towards San Juan
Spanish Garrisons Taken by Surprise
and Retired Towards San Juan
without Firing "A Shot.
SEVENTY LIGHTERS CAPTURED
WHICH WE'RE USED TO LAND THE
SOLDIERS FROM TRANSPORTS.
Captain General Macias Intrenching
Himself at the Capital, Where He
May Make a Show of Resistance.

PONCE. Porto Rico, July %, evening, via
st. Thomas, July % (morning. 1.-The Ameri-
can conquest of Porto Rico has begun
auspiciously. The Spanish have abandoned
Ponce, the principal port on the southern
coast of the island, and in many respects
its most progressive city. Last night Cen
eral Miles landed and this morning took pos
session and raised the stars and stripes.
The inhabitants received the Americans
with open arms and gave them the widest
and most exaggerated welcome, indicating
that the population was ripe for the revolt
which was predicted as soon as American
troops touched the shore.
The forces landed at Guanica Monday
have been moved and now hold the terminus
of the railway connecting Yauco with
Ponce They encountered no opposition ex-
cept on Tuesday morning at daylight when
advance skirmishers pushed on to a force
of SpaniardS occupying a house the
Yauco road The skirmishers, under hot
fire, fell back and then again came gallant
ly forward, driving the enemy for a mile
from the Notifications into the bush. In
the encounter three Americans were
wounded. ~ eu
CAPTAIN EDWARD ]. GIBBONS. Com
pany A, ShOt IN lett leg.
CAPTAIN B. BOSTWICK, Company L, in
left arm, Slightfys a9 3a"s CSC.
PRIVATE JAMES DRUMMOND, Com
pany *, in neck.
The enemy lost three killed and fourteen
wounded. After the action it was believed
that the enemy intended to contest the ad-
vance from Guanca, and General Miles
made preparations to send General Wilson's
troops to Ponce with view of throwing
them between Ponce and the enemy and
closing in on the latter. from both direc-
tons. He sent word to Captain Higginson,
of the battle ship Massachusetts, yesterday
to be ready to cover the landing to-day.
An officer accordinglY4 was sent ashore yes
terday afternoon to formally demand the
surrender of the port of Ponce, three miles
from the city of Ponce. The officer was
greatly surprised to learn that not only the
port, but the city of Ponce was ready to
capitulate. The Spanish commandant,
Julison San Martin, with ], 900 men, without
artillery, had been taken completely by
surprise by the invasion occurring in this
quarter. On the advice of the British consul
he decided to make no resistance A force
of marines was Immediately landed from
the Annapolis and the American flag was
hoisted over the custom house in the port
of Ponce. During the night the Spanish
troops retired from the city along the mill
tary road towards San Juan, where it is
probable that Captain General Macas will
eventually concentrate all the Spanish
forces in the island. In the morning Gem
eral Miles established headquarters at the
custom house and raised the American flag
PRIZES FOUND IN THE HARBOR.
Among the prizes found in the harbor were
seventy lighters used in loading sugar ships
and these were used instead of cutters to
convey the troops ashore, during which OPP
Grafton not a man or animal was injured
The scene when the soldiers reached the
wharves along the water front was remark
able Thousands of residents of the city,
men, women and children, lined the water
front, and shouts of joy and cries of viva
Americanos!" "Buenos Diaz!' Puerto Rico
Libre!" greeted them. The soldiers were re-
ceived like liberators rather than intruders.
The red-shirted bomberes (firemen) came |
down to the wharf in body and cheered |
Justify. Captain Lyons, with Company X, |
OF the Sixteenth Regiment, Immediately |
marched TO the city and established a pro- |
vost guard in the municipal building, the |
soldiers being. billeted in the freScoed and |
gold-decorated room of the alcalde. On |
every hand the greatest satisfaction was |
evidenced. Women adorned themselves in |
hands and smiled as the troops marched |
through the streets. Public vehicles did a |
thriving business in conveying the curious |
to the harbor to view the American ships |
The doors of the merchant houses were |
opened and the whole city presented the |
appearance of celebrating a fete. The poor |
are especially rejoiced.
The city of Ponce is romantic and pic |
turesque. with buildings of old Moorish and |
Spanish architecture. Its broad plaza and |
blue, pink and green tinted houses present |
pleasing APP ana I{S SfFeets are
mostly native, Porto Ricans, a well-defined |
race, resulting from the blending of Spanish |
and original Caribs, with a sprinkling of |
foreigners, mostly French and Germans, and |
a few English and Americans.
A GOOD MILITARY ROAD.
All the approaches to the city are care |
fully guarded tonight. General Henry will |
effect juncture with General Wilson here |
as soon as possible and their troops will |
await the arrival of the other troops now |
on the way. The military road to San Juan |
is broad and well beaten and will offer no |
such difficulty to the passage of artillery |
and supply trains as did the soggy and al |
most unbroken trails of Cuba to the advance |
of General Shafter
The Spanish made a stand at a small |
town, resisting General Henry's advance |
seven miles north of Ponce tonight Ar |
ullery fire could be seen distinctly as the |
dispatch boat bearing this news left at /
Information received by General Miles in
dicates that there are less than 1000 regu-
lars and 5000 volunteers in the island.
Generals Miles and Wilson, with their /
staffs, accompanied by the British, French, |
German and Danish consuls called upon the |
alcalde this afternoon. The latter gave /
them a gracious welcome and asked to be /
advised as TO General Diies's desires with !
regard to the government of the city. Gen
eral Miles informed him that it was not his /
purpose TO interfere in any way with the I
local government, and advised the alcalde /
to conduct his administration as usual. He |
said however, that all persons having arms
given by the Spanish must give them up /
or be treated as enemies. The alcalde said |
that this should be done. AL the conclu-
of he w hs.af
the American officers stepped to the bal
cony OF the municipal building overlooking /
the plaza, where several thousand people, |
including the fire department and a number
of bands. were assembled. The crowd |
cheered Miles and the American bands
played national airs.