The National tribune., 1902-03-27

about Spain's defenses in the Orient was
not complete. 1t was into this grim and
silent relic of the past the Charleston
poured the shells from small-caliber guns,
awakening no response but the echoes
among the surrounding hills. The firing
attracted the attention of Spanish officials
ashore, who were ignorant that war had
been declared and that the fleet in Manila
Bay had been sunk. no ship having Wis
tied that port with news of the world
since early in April. So the Captain of
the Port, arrayed in full uniform, put off
in boat to pay his respects to the COM
mander of the American vessel. He mount
ed the ships side and upon being met by
the Officer of the Deck began a profuse
apology, accompanied by a'~multitude of
gestures and shruss, for not returning the
salute, since there was no powder for the
gun on shore. What was his astOnish
ment to be informed that it was no salute;
that war existed between his country and
ours, and that he must consider himself
prisoner.
He asked permission TO communicate
with the Governor, and n message was
sent on shore notifying the Governor Of
the condition of affairs, and directing him
to come on board Immediately.
Meanwhile something of how matters
stood had been learned on shore from q
man who had been on horseback along the
beach in the rear of the bOmbarded fort.
He saw that shells were striking the fort
or sailing over it and coming unpleasantly
near him, and he hastened out Of harms
way and to tell what he saw. For a long
time the Governor made no response, be-
ing in Agana, several miles across the
peninsula from the harbor, but finally
word was received from him that it was
contrary to the regulations of Spain for
Governor to 20 on board a foreign war
Chi IVa Nrna fnyntlt inf ,naIt
sage that the laws of Spain were in fu-
ture imperative in Guam, and that if he
did not come on board and surrender him
self and his garrison by the following noon
force would be landed to compel him to
do so. Arrangements were at once made
for this landing force, which was com
posed of the marines of the Charleston
and Cos. A and ID, of the Oregon regi-
ment
Proud of this selection of our regiment
by the brigade commander for the first
military duty that promised a fight, and
eager TO get into it III some way, there
was at once a scramble among the officers
for some special detail in connection with
the expedition. / had succeeded in con-
vincing the Adjutant that an officer was
needed TO be left in command of the boats
when the party landed, and as most of the
boat crews were detailed from my com
pany, ! was assigned to that duty and felt
cOrrespondingly elated. But my hopes
were dashed to the ground the next morn
ing by an order from the brigade COM
mander that no officers should be sent ex-
cept those belonging 10 the companies dcS-
| ignated, and | watched the men embark
with keen disappointment, nOtwithstand-
| ing regular typhoon was blowing and
rain was coming down in sheets. The
Governor. however, at the last minute
embarked on a boat and surrendered him
self on board the Charleston, and no force
was landed except a few men from the
| Charleston, who received the surrender Of
the small garrison and sent them on board
the ship as prisoners. After lying out in
| the rain in their open boats for about two
| hours the two companies returned on
board, looking more like drowned rats than
soldiers, and we who had been compelled
TO remain behind took our turn TO laugh.
One more alarm we had at sea. The
day before reaching Manila, while round
ing the upper end of LuZon Island, we
deserted in the distance the smoke of a
steamer. AT once all were interested 10
| know what vessel it was, for it was the
| first one we had seen for nearly Il month
at sea. She was headed directly toward
us and developed rapidly. Soon it was
seen that she had military masts and was
therefore war vessel. AT once the feet
fell in column behind the Charleston,
which forged ahead TO interview the
stranger. Before leaving San Francisco
we had known of the possibility of Spain
sending out a strong feet to endeavor 10
recover Manila, as she afterwards did
when Admiral Camera made his abortive
attempt, and that it was possible for such
q feet to leave Spain after we did San
Francisco and beat us to Manila Bay by
the Suez route. Therefore we We're not
at all certain this was not hostile battle
! a m iply l.