Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-02

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per Offices. each successive one conveying
information more gratifying than its pre-
deoessor, the crowds in the streets be-
came uproarious. Good. as we'll bad.
news spreads rapidly, and by 10 o'clock
the streets were crowded with people, all
discussing the one exciting topic of the
hour. Hundreds gathered in front of the
bulletin boards and every scntilla of news
and 1t was all glorious-was received
with enthusiastic cheers. While victory
had been expected, the news of it-coming
as 1t did come from Spanish sources-gave
has been pent up for days. 1t was spon-
taneous outburst Of patriotic feeling that
scarcely knew any bounds. Admiral Dew
ey's name was on every lip. and his praises
were sung in the rejoicings of the people.
Thus far no official advices have been
received by the government. but the As
sociated Press dispatches were transmit
ted to the president and officials Of the
administration as rapidly as they were re-
ceived.
The president. in company with several
of his advisers, read the bulletins in the
library of the White House early in the
to his Office on the second floor of the ex-
ecutive mansion, where. until a late hour.
he continued to peruse every dispatch with
deepest interest. The news was evidently
of the most gratifying character to him.
but no statement could be obtained at
the executive mansion concerning the bat
tie. or its possible consequences.
officials OF the navy department were ret
icent in discussing the conflict. in the alb
no pretense of concealing their great graf
ification. Secretary Long declined to COM
ment upon the subject. but 1t was evident
that he felt relieved. 1t has been known
for days at the navy department that
conflict at Manila was inevitable. and.
while no great fear of the result was ex-
pressed. there was yet a deep concern in
the heart of every official. To-nights
news removes a great weight from the
minds of all.
When Secretary Bliss was shown the
first dispatch. briefly recounting the vic
tory of the American squadron. he I'M
hesitatingly expressed his qualification at
the result. and gave utterance to the hope
that Admiral Dewey's fleet had not suf-
fered greatly. Senator Hanna and Mr..
Chauncey NJ. Depew, of New York. who
were with Secretary Bliss at the time
were delighted with the advices. and made
no concealment of their pleasure.
Secretary Alger declared that it was a
glorious victory" but. in common with
other officials of the administration. de-
clined to make extended comment upon it.
Navy. and army circles, after manlfesting
throughout the day the greatest eagerness
for news from the Philippines, received
with intense joy advices telling of the VIC
tory of Admiral Dewey's fleet. Their sat
isfaction that the defeat Of the Spanish had
been overwhelming had been strengthened
by reason of the news coming first almost
wholly from Madrid. and they were quick
ly unreserved in expressing their gratifica-
tion upon the signal triumph of the Amer
ican forces.
At the Army and Navy Club a large
company was gathered and read and COM
mented upon the story of the engagements,
as it was presented in the bulletins of the
Associated Press. AT the club. downtown.
at their homes. and wherever seen, the Of
fcers were free in giving vent to the pleas
ure they felt at the news, and declaring
the confidence which they had entertained
officers and men would demonstrate their
superiority over the Spanish fleet In the
Philippine waters.
The absence of any statement of specific
injury TO the American vessels, in the Ma
drid advices. was construed as convincing
indication that they had not suffered ap
preciable injury, and this was especially
pleasing to the naval students of the news
Not only was the preservation of tht
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